The luxury housing market is heading into 2026 with a high level of confidence most other sectors can’t claim—that’s the clear takeaway from Sotheby’s latest outlook report, which draws on global sales data, agent surveys, and buyer behavior at the top end of the market. After outperforming traditional real estate in both sales and value last year, luxury home sales are expected to keep their edge, fueled by wealth creation, international demand, and deep-pocketed buyers who are far less rattled by interest rates than the average homeowner. Two of the biggest reasons for the optimism are who’s buying high-end homes and why. According to the report, many luxury buyers aren’t shopping for their first home; they’re adding to a portfolio. Globally, just over half of luxury purchases in 2025 were primary residences, while second homes made up a significant share. In Florida, that figure climbed even higher, with more than half of luxury transactions tied to second-home purchases...
