13/08/2025
News
Activity at the highest end of the residential market remains strong even in the face of economic uncertainty around the world
Amidst a backdrop of global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, ultra-high-net-worth individuals are doubling down on one timeless asset: luxury real estate. From oceanfront villas in the Caribbean to modern masterpieces in Los Angeles, ultra-prime homes continue to attract discerning buyers seeking privacy, prestige, and long-term price appreciation.
“We continue to see strength at the highest echelon of the market, even in locations where overall activity has cooled,” said Gavin Swartzman, president of Christie’s International Real Estate. “These buyers aren’t just seeking a home; they are in search of a special lifestyle marked by rarefied design, services and amenities.”
Throughout the Christie’s International Real Estate network, several transactions stood out in the first half of 2025 as bellwethers for the state of luxury real estate around the world. Each of these sales offers insight into what is driving the top tier of today’s market.
Presenting 10 of the most significant transactions from Christie’s International Real Estate in the first six months of 2025. All prices are in USD unless otherwise noted.
Sold Price: Approx. $76,500,000
Sold By: Elena Balashova, Miells | Christie’s International Real Estate
Monaco’s real estate market set new records in 2024, and the trend continues in 2025, largely driven by the arrival of Mareterra, a new district created through a land extension into the Mediterranean Sea. Both sustainable and prestigious, Mareterra offers luxury apartments, private villas, a marina and abundant green spaces. Prices have reached unprecedented levels, rising as high as €150,000 per square meter (approximately $16,000 per square foot). This four-room apartment, sold earlier this year, sits on the second floor of the Le Renzo building, designed by noted Italian architect Renzo Piano.
Sold Price: $58,000,000
Sold By: Ryan Elston, Christie’s International Real Estate Aspen Snowmass
Listed By: Carrie Wells, Coldwell Banker Mason Morse
The luxury real estate market in the perennially popular mountain town of Aspen, Colorado attracts a continual flow of well-heeled buyers looking for instantly available, turnkey properties in a market where homes and land are hard to come by. With an extremely motivated buyer and two well-connected and creative brokers, the Woody Creek Ranch sale combined three unlisted adjoining parcels totaling more than 80 acres, including a 6,000-square-foot main house and 5,000-square-foot guest house, resulting in Aspen’s highest-priced transaction of the first half of 2025.
Sold Price: $55,500,000
Sold and Listed By: Margit Brandt, Premier Estate Properties | Christie’s International Real Estate
A town of just over two square miles with roughly 400 residents, the oceanside enclave of Manalapan, Florida has long been a target of the wealthy, but historically lacked the prestige of Palm Beach, its more established neighbor. However, over the past five years, Manalapan’s market has seen a shift – and today, the town is ground zero for ultraluxury real estate, attracting some of the world’s most affluent buyers. This under-construction, 23,000-square-foot waterfront estate at 1140 South Ocean Boulevard sits in the heart of Manalapan’s most affluent corridor, where homes command upwards of $40 million.
Sold Price: $51,750,000
Listed by: Aaron Kirman, Lucas Cintra and Emily Gaul, Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California
Sold by: Carl Gambino and John Bercsi, Compass
Beverly Hills’ ultra-luxury real estate market continues to see strong demand, as high-net-worth buyers from the U.S. and abroad look to blue-chip property investments. Case in point: the $51.75 million sale of the 12,295-square-foot Alpine Drive estate known as Villa Oliva was the highest-priced 2025 residential sale in Beverly Hills when it changed hands in April. Trading for $4,200 per square foot, the sale price surpassed market norms in a shifting Southern California market, underscoring the enduring value of architectural pedigree, a prime location and timeless design.
List Price: Approx. $37,700,000
Sold and Listed By: Zarek Honneysett, Sibarth Real Estate | Christie’s International Real Estate
The former location of the celebrated St. Barth’s hotel Les Castelets, this lush, three-acre oceanside property with panoramic ocean views sold earlier this year and is now on the cusp of redevelopment with a permit for the construction of three luxury residential villas. The sale of this premium parcel of land highlights strong market demand for rare, well-located land with exceptional views and approved building permits – particularly valuable when obtaining such permits on the island has become increasingly difficult.
Sold Price: $32,100,000
Sold By: Nathalie de Saint Andrieu, Christie’s International Real Estate Sereno
Listed By: Mara McCain, The Agency
Atherton, an idyllic town in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley, continues to reign as one of America’s most exclusive residential enclaves. Despite tariff concerns and tech-stock fluctuations in the first half of the year, Atherton’s ultra-luxury segment above $30 million remains remarkably resilient, especially among international buyers, who increasingly view Silicon Valley real estate as a safe harbor. The Melanie Lane listing was a nearly unheard of offering in Atherton: a new, custom-built 13,000-square-foot home with views of the city lights and San Francisco Bay, with just about every amenity imaginable.
Sold Price: $22,900,000 (Approx.)
Listed By: Faith Wilson, faithwilson | Christie’s International Real Estate
Set at the head of the Jervis Inlet along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, the 418-acre Princess Louisa Lodge presented a rare opportunity to own a truly one-of-a-kind estate: a fully self-sustaining waterfront wilderness compound offering both intimacy and scale. With seven primary structures and several additional buildings surrounded by breathtaking scenery and powered by free hydroelectricity supplied by the mountain waterfalls that dot the grounds, the property drew immediate interest when it hit the market.
Sold Price: Approx. $19,000,000
Sold By: Liang Qin (Khim), Christie’s International Real Estate Thailand
Listed By: Chinnatatt Sirichanachai and Leonard Low, Christie’s International Real Estate Thailand
A partnership between Porsche Design and Ananda Development, the Porsche Design Tower sets a new benchmark in Bangkok’s ultra-luxury residential market as the most expensive condo development in Thailand. Underscoring the building’s exclusivity, Porsche Design Tower Bangkok will include only 22 apartments ranging from duplex to quadplex, from 5,649 to more than 12,000 square feet. Scheduled for completion in 2028, the building naturally caters to car enthusiasts, with “passion spaces” – a private garage area perfect for a car collection, fitted with top-of-the-line exhaust fume extractors, a humidity control system and acoustic insulation.
Sold Price: $18,495,000
Sold By: Suzanne Williams and Noah Hendricks, Sun Valley Real Estate | Christie’s International Real Estate
Listed By: John Sofro, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices | Sun Valley Properties
The epitome of high-end mountain living, the 12,354-square-foot Sheep Meadow Lane estate in Ketchum, Idaho was designed to feel like a luxury hotel – which makes sense considering it was the home of international casino magnate Steve Wynn. Its sale speaks to the ongoing popularity of the Sun Valley market among high-end buyers, who are attracted to the region’s beauty, amenities and Old West mining-town charm. Christie’s International Real Estate is tied to at least two other Wynn properties: his former Lake Tahoe, Nevada estate, which was one of the network’s highest sales of 2024, and his Beverly Hills mansion, which is currently listed with an asking price of $75 million.
Sold Price: $18,000,000
Sold By: Mary Stapleton, John R. Wood | Christie’s International Real Estate
Listed By: Bill Earls and Larry Lappin, John R. Wood | Christie’s International Real Estate
While Southwest Florida’s broader real estate market has started to cool, the region’s luxury market remains buoyant, especially in Naples. The coastal enclave, which boasts more millionaires per capita than nearly any other city in the U.S., continues to see a steady flow of high-net-worth buyers lured by low taxes, a temperate climate, pristine beaches and an upscale lifestyle. The sale of 960 17th Avenue South, a 6,861-square-foot waterfront estate in Naples’ prestigious Aqualane Shores neighborhood, is a perfect example of the continued appeal of the region among the world’s most affluent buyers.
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