Did You Know?

LUXURY LIFESTYLE INSIGHTS

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S 2022 READER’S CHOICE AWARDS FOR BEST BIG U.S. CITY: 1. Chicago 2. Honolulu 3. San Diego 4. Nashville 5. New York City 6. Boston 7. San Francisco 8. New Orleans 9. Washington, D.C. 10. Seattle P RICES ARE OFF THEIR PEAKS IN 97 OF THE 100 LARGEST U.S. markets, but they’re still roughly 40% higher than they were in 2019, before the pandemic. (Black Knight)

POPULAR HOMEBUILDING TRENDS HOLDING STRONG: Main fl oor primary suites and main fl oor guest suites and studies remain a trend within new construction as do large scullery pantries, wine bars and impressive outdoor living spaces. (Triangle Business Journal)

HOME FLIPPING VOLUMES reached almost $150 billion, or 10% of total home sales, in 2022. (Marketwatch) T HE MOST SEARCHED ARCHITECTUAL STYLE ON GOOGLE over the past years in major cities around the US is ‘Mid-Century Modern’, followed by ‘Modern Architecture’. Interior design search was topped by ‘Bohemian’. Bohemian styles are defi ned by a lack of structure, opting instead for carefree layers of pattern, texture, and color. (Architectural Digest)

GRANTOR-RETAINED ANNUITY TRUSTS, OR “GRATS,” ARE A wealth-transfer technique that shift investment growth out of an estate to heirs taxfree. They generally work best for assets like stocks that have fallen in value and are expected to rebound relatively quickly. It works like this: assets like stocks in a privately held business are placed into a trust for a specifi ed time, maybe 2, 5 or 10 years. Afterward, any investment growth passes to their heirs and the owner gets back the principal. By shifting any future appreciation out of their estate, the wealthy can avoid or reduce estate taxes at death. The investment growth becomes a tax-free gift to heirs. Absent growth, the asset simply passes back to the owner without a transfer of wealth. (CNBC) ‘N EWSTALGIA’ IS THE most popular home décor design trend of 2022. The look blends vintage and retro furnishings with luxe fi nishes and top-of-the-line tech, so it feels current and evocative. Elements include sculptural lighting, green everything, jewel toned furniture pieces, and stone and clay materials. (PURE WOW)