One of the reasons for this shortage is that luxury buyers are less affected by interest rates and other economic factors that may impact buyers with more modest means. According to Zonda chief economist Ali Wolf, there is a pool of higher-wealth individuals, such as baby boomers, international buyers, or young people, who have wealth from other sources that are less sensitive to interest rates, if at all. Despite this inventory shortage, the luxury home market remains strong. In 2020 and 2021, luxury home sales skyrocketed across the country, and LPI predicts that demand will remain vital for new projects and high-end developments. However, the imbalance between buyers, sellers, and supply may slow home-buying.
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LPI also found that the lack of inventory has created new pockets of luxury, defined as locations with median prices exceeding $1 million. Idaho saw the fastest-growing luxury market between 2019 and 2022, while traditional favorite states such as California, Colorado, Florida, Texas, and Washington also experienced ongoing growth. Despite the overall market slowdown, luxury builders such as Toll Brothers have been performing well and exceeding expectations on Wall Street. For example, in December 2021, Toll Brothers reported a profit of $640.5 million and home sales of $3.6 billion, which was 21% higher than the previous year’s fourth quarter. Additionally, even though new construction has slowed down across the country, the home-building company, Toll Brothers, remains optimistic about the housing market’s future despite the current construction challenges.
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LPI research indicates that luxury consumers can adapt to global economic and social circumstances better than the general population. Due to this, they have become more efficient home buyers, focusing on key facts and figures about the quality of their investments and considering the emotional aspects of the purchase.
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In conclusion, despite the unique challenges facing the luxury home market, such as a lack of inventory, the market remains strong. Nevertheless, it is expected to continue, with future growth on the forecast. As a result, luxury buyers are less affected by economic factors and continue to prioritize the quality of their investments while also considering the emotional aspects of their purchase.
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