Americans are fascinated by the rich and (sometimes) famous. Entire industries, including real estate, exist at least in part to satisfy the needs, wants, whims and tastes of this top 0.2% who now, according to the Federal Reserve, control $100T.

Just like every other demographic group, the top 0.2% spends most of their money on real estate. Where do l they ive? Zillow aimed to find out.

Zillow scanned its data to find the zip codes with the highest home prices from June 2017 to June 2018. Zillow limited these high priced zip codes to 2 zip codes/state, no more than 1 zip code/metro area, and to zip codes that averaged 12 listings/month to make sure that not just one high ticket house skewed the results.

Here are Zillow’s 2018 Most Expensive Neighborhoods.

  1. Atherton, CA – 94027
    1. Median home price – $10,194,000
    2. Metro area – San Francisco
    3. Alirza Fayhari with Alain Pinel Brokerage said, “It’s mostly venture capitalists and very successful high tech people who buy here. It’s not gated communities but there are some very high profile people living here…” such as the co-founder of Microsoft, Paul Allen, and former Hewlitt Packer CEO, Meg Whitman.
  2. Los Altos, CA 94022
    1. Median home price – $6,326,000
    2. Metro area – San Jose
    3. 25 minutes south of Atherton, Los Altos is more a town with local businesses and services; it has modern, tech-friendly mansions.
    4. Sergey Bin, local resident and co-founder of Google, is buying up “as much as he can to beautify and transform the sleepy town.”
  3. NYC – Tribeca – 10013
    1. Median home price – $5,137,000
    2. Metro area – NYC
    3. Blend of ultra-lux, new condos and converted turn-of-the-century lofts in formerly industrial buildings.
    4. “You can’t build stuff like this anymore. It’s just not cost effective,” said Tamir Shemash with Douglas Elliman Real Estate.
    5. Neighborhood is a combination of singles, professionals, international families that live, eats, create in a former warehouse vibe.
  4. Medina, WA 98039
    1. Median home price – $4,894,000
    2. Metro area – Seattle
    3. Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates call this waterfront city home.
    4. Located on opposite side of Lake Washington – covered in evergreens, private beaches and boat docks with a mix of homes from 1960’s to ultra-contemporary.
  5. Miami Beach (Fisher Island), Fla – 33109
    1. Median home price – $3,707,000
    2. Metro area – Miami
    3. Island is 3 miles off mainland and used to be entirely owned by Vanderbilt family.
    4. Accessible by boat or helicopter only
    5. Favorite of Russian businesspeople
  6. Glenbrook, NV – 89413
    1. Median home price – $3,225,350
    2. Metro area – Gardenville Rancho Nevada, near Reno
    3. Buyers from CA, TX and NV come to this community that sits on the banks of Lake Tahoe
    4. Generally cash buyers
    5. Valet services for boats.
  7. Boston (Beacon Hill), MA – 02102
    1. Median home price – $3,155,000
    2. Metro area – Boston
    3. Combination of doctors, attorneys, financial managers
    4. Near St. Charles River with its great esplanade for running, biking and thinking
  8. Woods Hole, MA – 02543
    1. Median home price – $3,150,000
    2. Metro area – Barnstable Town
    3. Buyers are attracted to big Colonial homes on the waterfront with private piers
    4. Some pay $10M, knock it down and build another home to their own specs
  9. Snowmass, CO – 81654
    1. Median home price – #3,031,000
    2. Metro are – Glenwood Springs
    3. More space than Aspen and Snowmass Ski Resorts but just 20 minute ride to both places
    4. Great investment opportunities
    5. Abundance of wildlife
  • Wilson, WY – 81654
    1. Median home price – $2,798,000
    2. Metro area – Jackson
    3. Near the Snake River…lot of development in the area so residences are newer and larger
    4. Andrew Elliot with Engel & Volkers said, “Wilson checks all the boxes for buyers…it’s close to everything except the hustle and bustle.”

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