What to Expect in Today’s 7-Figure Home

February 05, 2026•4 min read

What to Expect in Today’s 7-Figure Home

By Jay Kalinski, Broker/Owner RE/MAX Elevate and Owner of RE/MAX of Boulder

For years, Boulder County has redefined what “luxury” means in real estate. Homes priced at $1.0 million once matched the expectations for a high-end property, but locally—and increasingly across the country—that threshold no longer guarantees a luxury home.

Now, the shift is national. The entry-level luxury home price for the U.S. soared to $1.3 million in July 2025, according to the Realtor.com® report, What Is Luxury. That’s a 61% jump from 2016, when the benchmark hovered near $800,000.

Then, a $1 million home sat above the luxury bar. Today, buyers need to spend closer to $1.6 million to reach that same level of luxury status and amenities, writes Realtor.com.

The new luxury

Luxury isn’t one-size-fits-all. A home’s location can dramatically influence its perceived and actual value.

"With or without a seven-figure price tag, luxury is often about exclusivity and relative standing in a local market,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “In many areas, a high-end home can rise many multiples above the area's typical home price.”

A home that defines “luxury” depends on the neighborhood. A $1 million home in Santa Clara, California, may sit close to the nationwide entry-level luxury threshold, but it looks significantly different from one in Toledo, OH. The Santa Clara home is 985 square feet, compared to 4,952 in Toledo, per Realtor.com’s analysis.

Redefining luxury price brackets

Because real estate varies widely based on location, Realtor.com classifies luxury homes by their share of the most expensive nationwide and by market:

Today, the nationwide price points break out like this:

Entry-level luxury: Top 10% of homes nationwide; starts at $1.3 million.
High-end luxury: Top 5% of homes; starts at $2.0 million.
Ultra-luxury: Top 1% of homes; starts at $5.4 million, where uniqueness, location, and amenities often outweigh traditional valuation.

While these categories capture national trends, in Boulder County, demand, lifestyle and geography drive home values. The local definition of luxury looks different.

Luxury Boulder County style

Boulder County buyers view a luxury home as more than an exceptional home—it’s an investment in a lifestyle. The area’s mix of mountain views, cultural vibrancy and tech-driven economy has long skewed its housing prices above the national average.

Here, the million-dollar mark hasn’t signified luxury for some time. Even in 2022, we reported that “million-dollar homes” had stopped equating to luxury well before then.

Still, the number carries psychological weight for many buyers and sellers. This is supported by statistics that show million-dollar homes account for only 13% of listings nationwide.

In Boulder County, the share is far higher—four to five times the national average. Today’s $1M to $2M range includes a mix of regular and luxury homes, especially within the city of Boulder.

According to recent Realtor.com data, 45% of Boulder County’s 1,476 homes for sale—about 668 properties—are priced at or above $1 million. Within the Boulder city limits, the number rises to 56% of listings—414 of 745 homes.

When looking at local inventory in the new luxury price points, the trend continues. Boulder County’s entry-level $1.3 million and above inventory made up 27% of listings, while the city of Boulder’s comprises 44%. The chart shows the full breakout.

Bottom line: Considerations when buying or selling a luxury home

In Boulder County homes, luxury inspires visions of elegant finishes, supreme locations, electrifying views, trailhead access or downtown chic. Boulder Valley offers some of the most desirable amenities and locations worldwide.

For a homeowner selling a luxury property, it’s critical to consult your agent on how to soften less-appealing features.

For buyers shopping in the seven-figure range, expectations should be calibrated. A knowledgeable Realtor can help assess the home’s qualities relative to its price, providing confidence in the value. Homes in prime locations may lack amenities or square footage, but they can still offer access to the Boulder Valley lifestyle so many find priceless.

Learn more in Realtor.com’s report, What Is Luxury? (https://www.realtor.com/research/what-is-luxury/).

Luxury Price Points

Luxury Benchmark. Boulder County - 1,476 listings. City of Boulder - 745 Listings
Entry Level luxury: $1.3M+ 405 listings (27% of market) 328 listings (44% of market)
High-end luxury: $2M+. 261 listings (18% of market) 225 listings (30% of market)
Ultra luxury: $5.4M+ 49 listings (3% of market) 46 listings (6% of market)

Source: Realtor.com listing data, November 2025

About Jay Kalinski

Jay Kalinski is the broker/owner of RE/MAX Elevate and owner of RE/MAX of Boulder. He is also an experienced Realtor, lawyer and veteran of the U.S. Air Force. He focuses on both residential and commercial real estate and is experienced with real estate development and investment. Jay lives in Boulder and is a zealous advocate for his clients as well as an avid triathlete, runner, reader and supporter of Veterans’ causes.

Jay Kalinski

Jay Kalinski is an experienced Realtor, lawyer, and veteran of the U.S. Air Force. Jay grew up in and around Boulder, Colorado, obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder and his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley Law School, and his MBA from the University of Colorado. Jay is the owner of RE/MAX Elevate and RE/MAX of Boulder and leads the Kalinski Team, which has decades of experience helping people buy and sell real estate along the Front Range.