As the Sotheby’s International Realty brand releases its 2025 Mid-Year Luxury Outlook^SM Report, we look ahead to the trends and developments affecting the global luxury real estate market.

Luxury real estate outperformed traditional real estate markets throughout 2024 and in the early months of 2025. The top half of the wealthiest households in the U.S. saw the greatest gains in real estate value, according to an April 2025 report from Realtor.com^®. Upscale property transactions slowed slightly in response to global economic disrupt ion in spring 2025. Still, there’s optimism that the luxury real estate market will withstand financial volatility as a perennial safe haven.

With lush forests and parklands, tranquil lakes, and majestic mountains, Canada is home to some of the world’s most idyllic cottage destinations. Here are seven of Canada’s top cottage destinations promising an unforgettable escape from the chaos of everyday life. 

TORONTO, ONTARIO, June 4, 2025 – The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) housing market experienced an improvement in affordability in May 2025 relative to the same period a year earlier. With sales down and listings up, homebuyers took advantage of increased inventory and negotiating power. GTA REALTORS® reported 6,244 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in May 2025

On May 27, 2025, the Government of Canada announced a new federal GST rebate designed to ease the path to homeownership for first-time buyers. With housing affordability top of mind for many Canadians, this rebate could offer meaningful financial relief, particularly for those purchasing newly constructed homes.

Make like a king or queen with panoramic views from the turrets, luxe interiors, swimming pools – and even the odd moat, writes Aimee Dawson. They say an Englishman’s home is his castle. Certainly that has been the case for the Howard family who’ve called Castle Howard in North Yorkshire, England, home for more than 300 years.

Our monthly series asks: What decor best suits each zodiac sign? Homebody Taurus craves comfort and ease—and a sizable closet, writes Jill Krasny

April 2025 home sales in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) followed the regular seasonal trend with an increase relative to March. However, total residential transactions were down compared to the same time last year, as potential buyers continue to wait for lower borrowing costs and certainty about the economy's trajectory. GTA REALTORS® reported 5,601 home sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in April 2025, marking a 23.3% decrease compared to April 2024. New listings amounted to 18,836, up by 8.1% year-over-year. The MLS® Home Price Index Composite benchmark was down by 5.4% year-over-year, with the average selling price at $1,107,463, down by 4.1% compared to April 2024. Elevated inventory levels provided substantial choice for households, resulting in lower average prices across market segment

To weather the future’s proverbial storm, it’s clear that construction requires a pivot to climate-resilient design: in short, architecture and landscaping that anticipate the effects of climate change and natural disasters, and are thereby best placed to recover from them.

In Canada, the key interest rate – which is the rate at which banks are able to borrow money when they are low on reserves funds – is determined by The Bank of Canada. Fluctuations in interest rates have an impact on nearly all aspects of the economy. Here are some of the ways interest rates can shape the real estate market.

When looking for your next home, attending open houses can be a great way to get a sense of a potential property and decide if you can imagine yourself or your family living there. It can be easy to be influenced by the curb appeal or the staging of a home, but there are several other important things to consider. Here are the most important things to check out at an open house.

Explore the latest insights on the Greater Toronto Area housing market in March 2025, where affordability has improved but home sales have dropped sharply. This in-depth market report analyzes price trends, buyer behavior, interest rate expectations, and inventory growth, with expert commentary from TRREB. Learn how economic uncertainty, the upcoming federal election, and potential Bank of Canada rate cuts are shaping the GTA real estate landscape—and what it means for buyers, sellers, and investors.

Toronto’s real estate market is facing a sharp decline in sales, rising inventory, and shifting buyer sentiment. In this in-depth analysis, we break down the latest TRREB data, exploring the impact of high interest rates, affordability challenges, and economic uncertainty on home prices and demand. With a potential Bank of Canada rate cut on the horizon, could the market be poised for a rebound? Stay ahead with expert insights on GTA housing trends, investment opportunities, and future market outlook.

In the heart of Quebec’s enchanting Eastern Townships lies 18 Allée Darbe, a residence so extraordinary it could be the setting for your most decadent dreams. This sprawling Lac-Brome estate isn’t just a home—it’s an experience, an escape, and an embodiment of effortless elegance. Think soaring cathedral ceilings, refined living spaces, and an outdoor sanctuary that whispers of endless summer afternoons.

If you’re looking to sell your condo, small upgrades can go a long way in boosting the value of your home and ensuring you get the best return on investment. Whether you’re short on time, money, or both, here are eight DIY projects that will enhance your condo’s value in only an hour or less.

At ModaMiami, RM Sotheby’s will showcase an eclectic mix of motoring masterpieces and the shared experience that fuels car collectors worldwide, writes Thor Svaboe. While motoring is on the road to a more sustainable future, nothing can detract from the petrol-infused joy of a classic car.

Constructed in the 1980s, this Beverly Hills manor has been rejuvenated by celebrated designer Michael S. Smith to blend refined European style with luxurious American modernism. Stately magnolias, august privacy hedges, manicured greenery, and an ornate iron gate create an appropriately distinguished milieu for this elegant traditional-style home in the heart of Beverly Hills, long renowned as one of the world’s most exclusive, sophisticated locales

From a €$21M sale in Saint-Tropez, France, to a US$17.225M sale in Cambria, California, here are four sales represented by the Sotheby’s International Realty global network in January 2025.

TORONTO, ONTARIO, FEBRUARY 5, 2025 – The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board’s (TRREB) Market Outlook and Year in Review report reveals that a well-supplied housing market will keep average annual home price growth at the rate inflation, with the average selling price increasing moderately in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) over the course of the year.

A hundred years ago, Toronto’s Harbourfront was a bustling and dirty port full of noise and industrial activity. Ships hauling cargo frequented a landscape of huge wooden wharves and smokestack chimneys overlooking Lake Ontario. Although Toronto surpassed Montreal as Canada’s leading city in the 1970s, its industrial decline meant this waterfront district needed new purpose, starting an ambitious process of transformation into an area for recreation and culture.

No matter how many bookshelves a home may have, there’s something special about a dedicated library. Who hasn’t dreamt of curating their own shelves, dusting off old favorites and getting lost for countless hours between the pages? The popularity of the personal library as a luxury home feature seems to have increased over the past few years, perhaps as a reaction to the pervasive presence of digital consumption. In the online era, a room of books is a regular reminder to reconnect with the pleasure of reading, to surround yourself in words with personal meaning, and to define a space that’s screen-free.