Exclusive: Luxury Market Index 2014

Tech is booming—and so is the Silicon Valley luxury real estate market. According to a new report by Coldwell Banker Previews International®, Woodside, Calif. (also known as the “Bel Air of Silicon Valley”) has topped an index ranking of 100 luxury markets across the United States.

The Luxury Market Index (LMI) compares real estate activity using a number of measurements—including positive or negative changes, annualized sales in units, volume, average and median sale price and reductions from original list price.

Homes like this 10,000 square-foot contemporary are in high demand in Silicon Valley's Woodside, which topped the index.

“These results are then calculated and weighted into the index results,” explains Patrick Veling, president of Real Data Strategies, Inc., the firm that collaborated with Coldwell Banker® to create the index. “The LMI values are then used to rank markets against one another. The index gives affluent consumers a top-line view of the most active luxury markets in the United States and the trends that drive buyer demand.”

The 2014 LMI reveals a number of interesting trends:

• Booming Industry—Woodside leads three other Silicon Valley suburbs on the LMI—Portola Valley (No. 3), Hillsborough (No. 4) and Atherton (No. 10)—as the tech sector’s growth fuels unprecedented demand in this area.  

• Asian Influx—California’s Arcadia (No. 7) lies approximately 13 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles and has continued to attract wealthy Chinese buyers with its affordable luxury housing stock and acclaimed schools. 

• Proximity—Adjacency to higher-priced communities has played a role in other index rankings—like Southport, Conn., which earned the No. 8 position and is located near Greenwich and Westport. 

• The Value of Water—Nearly 70% of the markets in the top 25 are located near a body of water, proving that consumers tend to seek out real estate opportunities with water views. 

LUXURY MARKET INDEX FULL RANKING 

The complete Luxury Market Report can be downloaded here.