Each Friday, Russ Anderson, the president and CEO of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty and the CEO of Pacific Sotheby's International Realty, writes about luxury, trends, business and more in the advertising pages of the Mansion section of The Wall Street Journal. Below is his letter of January 30, 2026.
FROM THE PRESIDENT'S P.O.V.
Knowledge, they say, is power.
That’s why I highly suggest you spend some time scrolling the 2026 Luxury Outlook from Sotheby’s International Realty. This annual report is a must-read for everyone who loves luxury real estate — owners, buyers, sellers, agents and fans. It provides insights into trends and developments that affect the global luxury real estate market — which can absolutely affect our beloved North Texas. Very good news: Luxury properties outperformed traditional real estate in 2025, both in sales and increased value, and we have every reason to believe that will continue in 2026.
I’m going to very briefly summarize the report’s intro, by A. Bradley Nelson, the all-seeing CMO of Sotheby's International Realty:
There are effectively two real estate markets — luxury and general — which perform differently. That phenomenon is seen also in banking, finance and even the airline industry. The resilience of the luxury real estate market reflects a premium economic foundation that provides greater stability against volatility.
This year’s report examines broader forces shaping luxury real estate decisions. We explore how political and economic policies impact the upper end of residential real estate markets; the rising influence of cryptocurrency; and how major global sporting events can create lasting impacts on the luxury housing markets in host cities.
Today’s wealthy homebuyers are prioritizing safety and privacy in ways that are reshaping design. We’re also seeing a meaningful shift toward multigenerational living among wealthy households. This trend is about more than a lifestyle: It is also about long-term estate planning and legacy building.
Ultimately, though, luxury real estate purchases are about much more than a financial investment.
See what that is — and a whole lot more — at luxuryoutlook.com.
Russ Anderson
President and CEO, Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty
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