Women become major players in U.S. luxury real estate

Wealthy women are becoming significant figures in the luxury real estate market in the United States, earning the nickname "she-elites." This trend is detailed in Coldwell Banker Global Luxury’s Trend Report 2025.

Data from Wealth X indicates that women with a net worth of $5 million or more now own 15.2% of high-priced residential properties. Jade Mills, president of Jade Mills Estates, noted: “We are seeing an extraordinary evolution in home design that reflects the changing dynamic of luxury real estate.”

Despite a sluggish overall real estate market last year, the high-end segment remained strong throughout 2024, with women playing a key role. Hannah Jones from Realtor.com observed that homes sold for over $1 million increased by 7.1% year over year in 2024. She added: “Despite a challenging housing market, the luxury segment picked up last year as luxury buyers tend to be less affected by elevated mortgage rates.”

The report forecasts that wealthy women will increasingly influence luxury real estate in coming years. McKinsey & Company projects that by 2030, American women will control most of the $30 trillion in assets held by aging baby boomers.

While older men still dominate luxury homeownership among those aged 35–64 years, younger generations show different trends. A study found that women under 35 constitute 54% of luxury-home owners.

The influence of married and single women on real estate decisions is growing. A survey cited in the Coldwell report revealed that 94.5% of respondents believe women share decision-making power or have authority over home purchases.

Single female homebuyers are also increasing their presence; they represented 20% of buyers in 2024 compared to just 8% for single men, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Women are investing more not only in real estate but also other financial assets. Fidelity research found that "71% of women own investments in the stock market," which Sangeeta Moorjani described as encouraging progress for women's financial independence.