Luxury for Less: Realtor.com® Report Reveals the Top Metros for More Accessible High-End Living
MWN-AI** Summary
The recent Realtor.com® report titled "Luxury for Less" highlights the evolving landscape of the U.S. luxury housing market, revealing the top metropolitan areas where high-end living is more accessible. As of February 2026, the national luxury threshold has reached $1,205,081, reflecting a 1.0% month-over-month increase but a 3.1% decrease from the previous year. Notably, San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas, tops the list with an entry point of just $750,510, making luxury living significantly more attainable compared to regions like Heber, Utah, where the luxury entry price exceeds $7 million.
The report identifies a clear trend: Southern and Midwestern metros, such as Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Orlando, offer entry points below $1 million. These areas benefit from ample supply and robust inventory, allowing for a balance between luxury pricing and average market rates. Conversely, elite coastal markets in California and the Northeast maintain high barriers, driven by limited land and high demand.
Real estate experts, including Realtor.com® chief economist Danielle Hale, note that the luxury market is recalibrating, with prices stabilizing as spring approaches. The luxury market is distinctly localized; what constitutes "luxury" varies greatly depending on the region, with some buyers able to enter at comparatively lower price points while others face steep premiums.
This report serves as a vital resource for potential luxury homebuyers seeking to navigate the complexities of the housing market, offering insights into where value can be found without sacrificing quality. It underscores the importance of context in luxury pricing, encouraging buyers to consider less traditional areas for high-end living.
MWN-AI** Analysis
The recent Realtor.com® report highlights significant opportunities in the luxury housing market, particularly in regions where high-end living is now more accessible. San Antonio tops the list with a luxury entry point of just $750,510, presenting a compelling case for buyers seeking luxury without the coastal price tag. This trend indicates a potential shift in the luxury real estate landscape, as buyers increasingly explore markets offering comparable amenities at lower entry prices.
Investors and buyers should consider the Southern and Midwestern markets, where luxury properties are intermingled with broader market dynamics, keeping prices relatively stable. Markets like Houston ($794,170) and Dallas-Fort Worth ($951,679) are also attractive, suggesting that a luxury lifestyle doesn’t have to come with exorbitant costs. The robust inventory levels in these areas allow for a competitive environment, supporting quicker turnovers—with luxury homes in Houston selling in an average of just 54 days.
Conversely, high-entry markets like Heber, Utah, with a staggering luxury threshold above $7 million, reveal the stark contrasts in regional pricing dynamics. Buyers looking for investment opportunities should heed these discrepancies and focus on markets where entry points are more favorable.
Overall, as the luxury market recalibrates, prudent investors should capitalize on the current landscape. The entry-level luxury segment shows year-over-year declines, yet the monthly uptick suggests stabilization as 2026 progresses. By targeting the right markets, buyers can enjoy a luxurious lifestyle at a fraction of the cost associated with traditional coastal hubs. As such, this may be an ideal time to seize potential bargains before further upward trends manifest in these more accessible markets.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
PR Newswire
San Antonio leads the nation in accessible luxury, while Heber, Utah remains the steepest entry point at more than 6x the national threshold
AUSTIN, Texas, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. luxury housing market is showing signs of a seasonal floor, even as prices continue to soften on a year-over-year basis. The national luxury threshold rose to $1,205,081 in February, according to the Realtor.com® February Luxury Housing Report. While national entry-level luxury prices rose 1.0% month-over-month and slipped 3.1% from a year ago, the report highlights a significant opportunity for luxury for less, identifying several major markets where the financial threshold to enter the top tier is substantially lower than the national average.
In a cluster of supply-rich markets across the South and Midwest, the barrier to entry for luxury is notably lower. San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas, leads the nation with a luxury entry point of just $750,510. Conversely, in elite resort and coastal enclaves like Heber, Utah, and Bridgeport-Stamford, Conn., the bar for luxury can be five to six times higher than the national luxury median.
"We are seeing a continued recalibration in the luxury sector as we move into the spring season," said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com®. "While the national threshold remains below year-ago levels, the monthly uptick across all luxury tiers from entry-level to ultra luxury suggests that pricing is beginning to find a firmer footing. However, what luxury means remains highly localized; in some metros, a buyer can reach the top tier for under $800,000, while in others, $3 million is barely the baseline."
National Luxury Overview
Pricing | January 2026 | Monthly Change | YoY Change |
Luxury Threshold 90th Percentile | $1,205,081 | 1.0 % | -3.1 % |
High-End Luxury Threshold 95th Percentile | $1,987,555 | 3.9 % | -0.9 % |
Ultra Luxury Threshold 99th Percentile | $5,767,743 | 2.4 % | -3.7 % |
Million-Dollar Listing Share | 12.6 % | 0.6pp | -0.3pp |
The Sun Belt: Lower Barriers to High-End Living
The report identifies Texas and the Sun Belt as the strongholds for more accessible luxury. Seven of the ten markets with the lowest luxury entry points are located in the South or Midwest. In these areas, expansive development and healthy inventory levels keep high-end pricing tethered to the broader market.
San Antonio ($750K), Houston ($794K), and Dallas-Fort Worth ($952K) all feature luxury thresholds under the $1 million mark. Houston stands out for its market velocity, with luxury homes moving in just 54 days, signaling an active and deep buyer pool. In Orlando, the luxury threshold of $894K is just 2.2 times the local median, which is the tightest ratio in the country.
"Sun Belt metros allow new-construction luxury to proliferate because land is more available," said Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com®. "In these markets, the luxury tier hasn't detached from the median home price. A buyer in San Antonio or Charlotte can achieve a luxury lifestyle for a fraction of what they would pay in coastal hubs, often getting significantly more square footage in the process."
Markets With the Lowest Luxury Entry Points (Top 10)
Rank | Area | Metro/Micro | 10% Most | 10% Most | 10% Most | AverageAnnual | Multiple to |
0 | USA | Country | $1,205,081 | -3.1 % | 83 | 13,4530 | 3 |
1 | San Antonio-New | Metro | $750,510 | -4.1 % | 110 | 771 | 2.3 |
2 | Houston-Pasadena- | Metro | $794,170 | 2.4 % | 54 | 2,100 | 2.3 |
3 | Orlando-Kissimmee- | Metro | $893,671 | 2.8 % | 94 | 1,068 | 2.2 |
4 | Charlotte-Concord- | Metro | $898,840 | 2.2 % | 95 | 846 | 2.2 |
5 | Philadelphia- | Metro | $899,465 | -0.1 % | 71 | 939 | 2.5 |
6 | Chicago-Naperville- | Metro | $909,884 | -4.8 % | 44 | 1,337 | 2.6 |
7 | Jacksonville, Fla. | Metro | $923,845 | -2.3 % | 84 | 810 | 2.4 |
8 | Atlanta-Sandy | Metro | $925,852 | 3.4 % | 55 | 2,299 | 2.3 |
9 | Dallas-Fort Worth- | Metro | $951,679 | 2.4 % | 62 | 2,701 | 2.3 |
10 | Minneapolis-St. | Metro | $1,050,386 | 2.7 % | 82 | 790 | 2.5 |
High-Bar Markets: Mountains, Coasts, and Constraints
At the other end of the spectrum, Heber, Utah, retains its title as the nation's steepest luxury entry point at $7,250,000. Driven by proximity to Park City and premier ski resorts, Heber's luxury floor is more than six times the national benchmark.
Coastal constraints continue to define pricing in California and the Northeast. Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, Conn., features a luxury multiple of 5.5x the local median, which is the widest divide in the nation. This reflects a deeply bifurcated market where Greenwich estates exist in a different economic reality than inland communities. Meanwhile, California claims four of the top ten most expensive spots (Los Angeles, San Jose, Santa Rosa, and Oxnard), even as these markets continue a year-over-year price recalibration.
Markets With the Highest Luxury Entry Points (Top 10)
Rank | Area | Metro/Micro | 10% Most | 10% Most | 10% Most | Average | Multiple to |
0 | USA | Country | $1,205,081 | -3.1 % | 83 | 13,4530 | 3 |
1 | Heber, Utah | Micro | $7,250,000 | 1.4 % | 85 | 880 | 4.4 |
2 | Key West-Key | Micro | $5,004,500 | 2.3 % | 95 | 830 | 3.8 |
3 | Bridgeport-Stamford- | Metro | $4,259,000 | -11.5 % | 77 | 539 | 5.5 |
4 | Kahului-Wailuku, | Metro | $4,232,400 | -6 % | 91 | 714 | 3.9 |
5 | Los Angeles-Long | Metro | $4,214,620 | -10. % | 59 | 9,336 | 4 |
6 | Naples-Marco | Metro | $3,717,175 | -1.5 % | 88 | 2,402 | 5.1 |
7 | San Jose- | Metro | $3,496,250 | -5.4 % | 26 | 1,048 | 2.6 |
8 | Santa Rosa- | Metro | $3,272,500 | -7.8 % | 118 | 509 | 3.3 |
9 | New York-Newark- | Metro | $3,107,220 | -6.4 % | 115 | 11,572 | 4.1 |
10 | Oxnard-Thousand | Metro | $3,000,000 | -16.7 % | 60 | 666 | 3.2 |
New York and California: Signs of Stabilization
While the most expensive markets mostly saw year-over-year declines, data suggests the rate of descent is slowing. In the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro, the luxury entry point ($3.1M) has increased in five of the last six months, hinting that prices may be finding a floor despite a longer 115-day median selling time. In Silicon Valley, San Jose remains the outlier for speed; despite a $3.5M entry point, luxury homes sell in a median of just 26 days.
Methodology
All data in this report is sourced from Realtor.com® listing trends as of February 2026, reflecting active inventory of existing homes, including single-family residences, condos, townhomes, row homes, and co-ops. Listings reflect only those posted on MLS platforms that provide listing feeds to Realtor.com. New-construction listings are excluded unless actively listed on participating MLSs.
Luxury segmentation is based on market-specific price percentiles, with the 90th percentile representing entry-level luxury, the 95th percentile marking high-end luxury, and the 99th percentile indicating ultraluxury. All calculations are based on listing prices, not final sales prices.
Metropolitan and micropolitan areas are defined using the Office of Management and Budget's OMB-2023 delineations, with Claritas 2025 household estimates used for relative comparisons. Where appropriate, we limited analysis to metros or micros with a minimum threshold of active million-dollar listings on average over the past year to ensure meaningful comparisons.
Historical listing trend data extends to July 2016, but year-over-year comparisons in this report use February 2025 as the baseline.
Luxury by the Numbers
90th percentile = Entry-level luxury (top 10% of prices)
95th percentile = High-end luxury
99th percentile = Ultraluxury (often rare or custom properties)
About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.
Media contact: Emily Do, press@realtor.com
SOURCE Realtor.com
FAQ**
How does the reported luxury entry point in San Antonio compare to other major metros, and what factors contribute to its status as the leader in accessible luxury, according to the Realtor.com® report by News Corporation NWSA?
What key trends in luxury housing pricing were highlighted in the report, particularly regarding the year-over-year changes, and how do they impact investment opportunities identified by News Corporation NWSA?
In what ways might the inventory levels in Southern and Midwestern markets maintain lower entry points for luxury living, as discussed in the Realtor.com® report by News Corporation NWSA?
What implications do the disparities in luxury entry points across markets like Heber, Utah, and San Antonio have for future investment strategies, according to the insights shared by News Corporation NWSA in the Realtor.com® report?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWSA).
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