Younger customers, experiential living and value over cost were among the real estate insights on the agenda at the Fine & Country Annual Conference, where European Tour Destinations exhibited to property professionals from around the world.
The event, held at The Belfry, celebrated excellence, shared insights and marked a milestone 25th anniversary for the global network of luxury real estate agents.
European Tour Destinations real estate consultant Sandra Ruttle was present to promote the wide range of residences at network venues, along with representatives from INFINITUM Resort in Spain and Palmares Ocean Living & Golf in Portugal – two of the newest member venues in the network.
“The Fine & Country conference was an excellent opportunity for two of our network venues to share the incredible real estate on offer at their resorts,” said Ruttle.
“It was also a temperature check on the market in general, and there were some important takeaways both from the presenters and from fellow professionals.”
One of those centred on the continued need to deliver ahead of customer expectations. Another highlighted the fact that luxury resort homebuyers are looking for a safe, secure and emotional connection with their new home, while a third outlined how experience living still remains big business.
“The shift towards experience-led lifestyles and the preference for real estate that tells a story supported by quality, craftsmanship and service shows no signs of slowing, whilst women remain the main drivers in the buyer decision,” Ruttle continued.
“Another point was that customers are younger than they have typically been previously, particularly those from outside Europe. A new generation of affluent purchasers is entering the market earlier and shaping demand for modern, lifestyle-driven properties.
“AI is also making buyers more educated – and sometimes more complex. They arrive with higher expectations and more specific demands thanks to deeper research using AI tools.”
Ruttle also noted that India, Mexico, Nigeria and Vietnam are strong emerging markets for real estate, and that buyers are placing value over price.
“People are seeking quality, longevity and meaningful experiences and often those values mean more to them than how expensive a property is,” said Ruttle.
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