Whether you've been living in the luxury home market for years or you're looking to move up with your next home purchase, it's worth knowing what home features are currently making an impact. Here are four trends that buyers are looking for in 2017.

Smart Home Systems
In today's market, homebuyers spending top dollar expect all the bells and whistles, including the latest in smart home automation. This can include everything from voice activation to LED wall pads offering convenient control of lighting and thermostat settings to infrared cameras keeping an eye on every angle of the property.

Blended Living Spaces
Buyers are less interested in beautiful, unoccupied yards and well-furnished but untouched interiors. Instead, functionality reigns, particularly when it comes to indoor-outdoor living spaces. Features like collapsible window walls, outdoor kitchens and cabanas can add value to a home by extending the useable square footage.

Gyms, Pools and Sports Courts
Physical health and wellness rank high on the list of priorities for many in the luxury market, making amenities like private basketball courts, Pilates studios, fully equipped gyms and soundproof meditation rooms more and more common. Outside, buyers often expect a pool, whether it's resort style with an infinity edge or Olympic sized and meant for laps.

Personalized Services
Buyers of high-end condominiums, particularly in top metro areas, are also looking for thoughtful design and modern technology, as well as options that simplify their on-the-go lifestyle. More personalized features, like personal drivers and limitless concierge services, rank high on their trend list.

As jobs and culture progress in cities across the world, so do their housing markets. Each of these locations has an alluring combination of healthy job growth and high-end tastes, making them especially desirable to upscale buyers.

Booming Markets for Luxury Real Estate

Toronto, Ontario - Named one of the best cities to live in by PricewaterhouseCoopers in the 2016 Cities of Opportunity report, Toronto boasts a thriving economy, cultural diversity and accessible health care and education -- all huge draws for luxury clientele.

Victoria, British Columbia - This thriving technology hub has attracted many new investors and high-end buyers to Canada's westernmost province. The area boasts a temperate climate, balanced age demographics and a progressive public school system.

San Francisco, California - San Francisco's technology boom continues to appeal to high-end residents. Modern cuisine, a well-curated fine arts scene and the city's historical significance make San Francisco a cultural epicenter for creative thinkers in major industries.

Austin, Texas - From budding startups to tech powerhouses like Facebook, Apple, Google and Dell (all of which maintain offices in the Texas capital), a range of career opportunities abound for longtime residents and recent transplants alike. A thriving real estate market complements Austin's low unemployment and its extensive number of outdoor spaces to enjoy.

Market to Watch

Charleston, South Carolina - With its combination of complex history and sophisticated culture, it's no surprise that this luxury market is climbing the lists of cities to watch. Between its soaring job growth and unique architecture and landscapes, Charleston is a city that many luxury homebuyers are starting to consider when exploring their next move.

See Jim Schwietz's latest hot property listing - 462 N Hermosa Dr in the Greenhouse East Condo Development in Palm Springs, California!

A preferred 3 bedroom - 3 bath poolside, builder premium location with glorious East facing morning light and is protected from the harsh afternoon sun. This highly sought after and rarely available, one level residence is inside the gates of this desirable low density downtown adjacent community.  Separated and spacious dual master bedroom suites PLUS a third bedroom/den open to the expansive lushly hedged privacy walls that wrap the front courtyard and sunbathing patio. This very special floor plan enjoys ten foot ceilings in the living room. Dining room opens to a second patio perfect for Bar-B-Que grilling.  Just outside is the HOA 75 foot Junior Olympic lap/exercise Pool and Spa. Beautifully remodeled kitchen and baths with quality heavy duty insulated energy-efficient thermal pane sliders and French doors.  Recently upgraded mechanicals include - air conditioning, gas furnace & hot water systems.  Features both garage and on site gated guest parking.  YES, you own the land.

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Read the latest article from Luxury Living magazine about the luxury Real Estate scene in Palm Springs, CA. This excellent article is written by famous interior designer, James Peters. To view the article please click on the link below.

Luxury in Palm Springs, read the article here

The Coachella Valley Real Estate Market is starting to heat up now that the summer has come to a close. Read more about the changing state of the Coachella Valley Real Estate Market by clicking this link: http://bdhomes.com/blog/index.php/2016/10/the-summer-of-hope-leads-to-hot-real-estate-market/.