Los Angeles’ super‑prime rise: inside the market shaping global luxury property

“In a time when the real estate landscape is experiencing major disruption, our new alliance represents a deliberate and defining choice,” explains Paddy Dring, head of global prime sales and Knight Frank’s Private Office. “We believe the future belongs to firms that uphold excellent standards of client privacy and combine the strength of a global platform with the agility, intimacy, and deep local expertise of a boutique brokerage. This alliance sets us apart - it’s about quality over scale and partnerships that truly understand their markets.”

The resilience of the Los Angeles housing market

Los Angeles, like many major global cities, has navigated a series of challenges that continue to shape behaviour. “We have come through some very challenging headwinds over the last 36 months from tax reform to fires that have impacted the entire community on a host of different levels - not only from a shortage of housing and the emotional toll that it has taken individually and in our community, but also then the reverberation of insurance and how that has impacted transactions,” says Nick Segal, managing broker for Carolwood Estates.

Despite these pressures, market performance has remained strong. “If you look at our statistics from November 2024 to November 2025, Carolwood did just under $5 billion in real estate sales with 160 agents,” Segal notes. “That is a microcosm of a marketplace that is not only resilient, but we are poised to be an even better market as we approach 2026. We are in our infancy of how this is all going to reshape the landscape of Los Angeles.”

The forces shaping Los Angeles’ prime neighbourhoods

Segal highlights that Beverly Hills continues to perform well, bolstered partly by its exemption from the ULA tax - an excise tax of up to 5.5% on high‑value sales. Santa Monica also remains resilient, while the Palisades is positioned for major change. “I think we’re going to see a complete recalibration of pricing in the Palisades based on its location and the fact that there’s going to be so much new construction there,” he adds. “It is going to be a shining beacon in Los Angeles.”

As Head of US Residential Sales at Knight Frank, Jason Mansfield sees the partnership as a gateway to some of Los Angeles’ most desirable neighbourhoods. “Carolwood operates exactly where our clients want to live. In Los Angeles, choosing the right location is essential - consider your commute, schools and where you plan to spend your free time. Everyone knows about LA traffic so it’s important to be strategic about where you live,” he explains. “Many of Carolwood’s transactions take place off‑market, allowing us not only to introduce buyers to exceptional opportunities but also to help sellers maintain privacy.”

Opportunity and community in Los Angeles

Demand continues to evolve, with wellness and lifestyle playing an increasingly central role. Homes are being designed with elevated leisure and health facilities - from cold plunges to saunas and gyms - responding to buyers’ desire for amenities that enhance daily life. “Now it’s about the quality of your environment, and what you can experience in your environment,” Segal adds.

Hollywood’s entertainment sector remains an important source of demand, but the buyer pool is now broader, with tech and other industries playing a greater role. For Segal, Los Angeles’ enduring appeal comes down to something deeper. “Quality of life has a value, and people will pay for that value - whether climate and opportunity, but also friendships,” he says. “Community on that base level really drives decisions of where people live, and we are seeing people come back to the California market.”

To get in touch with our Private Office please email privateoffice@knightfrank.com