IN THE CITY

The pandemic shifted the priorities of the luxury real estate market as affluent buyers flocked to sleepy rural towns, resort markets, and suburbia. Now cities all over the world are roaring back to life as high-end buyers return ... flush with cash. According to Coldwell Banker's The Report 2022, global wealth rose by double digits in 2021.

IN THE COUNTRY

The appeal of an "escape home" only grew in the eyes of affluent buyers in 2021 and the trend is expected to continue throughout 2022. With more freedom to work from home than ever before, many cash-rich buyers chose to live and work in what was their vacation home in the country, or opted to own multiple properties in different locations.

PENTHOUSES

A penthouse, the building's crown jewel, offers sky-high living, premium finishes and furnishings, incredible views, massive outdoor spaces, and, in most cases, a private elevator. These sitting-on-top-of-the-world homes have a certain wow factor and, because of their scarcity, can be a savvy investment. Today's buyers range from new romantic couples (think empty nesters) to cashed-up millennials.