New York Remains the World’s Top Super-Luxury Property Market

New York retained its title as the world’s top super-luxury housing market last year—though it had to share the laurels with London, according to the latest index from Knight Frank.

Both cities registered 43 sales of $25 million or more. In London, that marked a 26% increase from 2021; while New York’s figure was down 35% from the prior year.

“Despite rising economic headwinds and growing uncertainty, the world’s wealthy have been committing to luxury residential property, with London and New York the standout cities in demand for ultra-prime sales,” Liam Bailey, global head of research at Knight Frank, said in the report released Wednesday.

Claiming the third spot was Los Angeles, with 39 sales priced at $25 million or above. It was followed by Hong Kong, with 28 ultra-prime sales, even during a tumultuous year for its housing market; and Miami, with 23.

Not surprisingly, these cities also had the most $10 million-plus sales in 2022. New York topped the list with 244 sales at this price point, Los Angeles and London had 225 and 223, respectively, according to the report.

Across the top 10 cities—which also included Singapore; Palm Beach, Florida; Geneva; Sydney; and Paris—there were a total of 1,392 sales at or above $10 million, a decline from the record 2,076 transactions at this level recorded in 2021, but up 49% from pre-Covid 2019.

Of the 100 prime property markets tracked by Knight Frank, 85 recorded positive or flat price growth in 2022. Dubai led the pack with a staggering 44.2% annual growth rate, boosted by its visa incentives that have attracted many ultra-high-net-worth buyers, Knight Frank said.

Other prime markets that saw surging home prices included Aspen, with a 27.6% increase year over year; Riyadh, capital city of Saudi Arabia, with a 25% annual growth rate; Tokyo, with 22.8%; and Miami, with 21.6%.

Markets that had some of the strongest growth during the pandemic recorded the deepest price declines in 2022, which included the New Zealand cities of Wellington (-24%) and Auckland (-19%); Stockholm (-8%); Vancouver (-7%); and Seoul (-5%), according to the report.

Overall, the Knight Frank Prime International Residential Index rose 5.2% on an annual basis in 2022, the highest growth rate since the global financial crisis excluding the record year of 2021.

“Wealth preservation, safe-haven capital flight and supply constraints played their part in driving prime price growth, but it was the post-pandemic surge that continued to push prices higher,” Kate Everett-Allen, partner of residential research at Knight Frank, said in the report.

Australia’s housing debate is often dominated by affordability and supply, but a new collaboration between Brickworks and acclaimed architecture firm Kennedy Nolan argues the conversation should also focus on the quality and longevity of the homes being built.

The project, titled Our Next Neighbourhood, examines how suburban housing could evolve in response to shrinking block sizes, rising energy costs, increasing density and changing family structures.

Rather than proposing luxury dream homes, the initiative focuses on what its creators describe as achievable suburban housing models that are more flexible, sustainable, and better suited to modern Australian life.

Brickworks commissioned Kennedy Nolan to investigate what suburban housing might look like if “design, long-term liveability and enduring materials were placed at the centre of the conversation”.

The result is two housing concepts, known as the Street Terrace and Canopy Terrace, which explore higher-density living while maintaining access to green space, natural light and privacy.

The designs incorporate adaptable floorplans that can evolve as family needs change, along with passive design principles intended to reduce reliance on mechanical heating and cooling.

Brett Ward, General Manager of Marketing at Brickworks, said the company wanted to broaden the discussion around housing beyond simply increasing supply.

“Much of the housing conversation today is understandably focused on supply and affordability, but there is an equally important discussion to be had about the quality and longevity of the homes we build,” he said.

“We wanted to explore how thoughtful design, combined with durable, resilient materials, could create homes that not only function well today, but continue to support Australian families and communities long into the future.”

Kennedy Nolan said the project was partly inspired by concerns that contemporary housing often struggles to adapt to changing household structures and environmental pressures.

The architects said innovation in suburban housing was “essential” to address changing family groupings, energy use, urban heat island effects and growing disconnection from place.

According to the design team, the concepts draw on lessons from some of Australia’s most influential housing projects while seeking to create neighbourhoods with stronger links to landscape, community and local identity.

Rachel Nolan, founder of Kennedy Nolan, said the practice saw an opportunity to reimagine suburban housing as something “more connected to our climate, our landscape, our communities and our Australian identity”.

The project comes as policymakers, developers and planners continue searching for ways to deliver more housing without sacrificing liveability, neighbourhood character or long-term sustainability.

New York Remains the World’s Top Super-Luxury Property Market

London, Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Miami complete the top five in Knight Frank’s annual index

Brickworks has enlisted acclaimed architecture studio Kennedy Nolan to explore how homes could become more adaptable, energy-efficient and connected to community.