Kristen Johnson Kristen Johnson

Is Atlanta Luxury Cooling or Still Strong? What the 2026 Numbers Actually Show

Atlanta's luxury market is rebalancing, not crashing, and the distinction is everything if you are transacting above $1 million. The metro is now K-shaped: tight and seller-leaning below $600K, but tipped toward buyers at the top, where inventory has grown, homes sell at roughly 97 percent of asking, and bidding wars have faded. Prices still rise in the $1M to $2M range, slow in the $2M to $3M range, and go flat above $3M. Nearly a decade working Atlanta's luxury submarkets means I read these numbers at the street level, not the headline level. Here's what buyers and sellers need to know.

Read More
Kristen Johnson Kristen Johnson

Do Private Exclusives Work for Atlanta Luxury? What Sellers Need to Know in 2026

Do private exclusives work for Atlanta luxury? Yes, for the right seller, and luxury is where they fit best. A private or pre-market strategy lets you sell discreetly and on your own timing, and at the top of the market the price tradeoff that costs an ordinary home shrinks to almost nothing. The real question is fit, not yes or no. I break down the data, the new NAR delayed-marketing rules, the ongoing Zillow and portal fight that has touched Georgia listings, and exactly when going private serves an Atlanta luxury seller and when full exposure wins. This is the private exclusive question. Here's what you need to know.

Read More
Kristen Johnson Kristen Johnson

Luxury Homes That Sold Above Asking in Atlanta: Q4 2025 Breakdown

In Q4 2025, most of Atlanta's luxury market normalized — extended days on market, price reductions, patient buyers. But a specific segment of homes still sold above asking: turnkey product in Tuxedo Park and upper Buckhead, school-zone inventory in East Cobb, new construction in Brookhaven, and a narrow tier of premier condos in Midtown. Nearly a decade of working with buyers across Metro Atlanta means I know what the data doesn't show — and what separated the above-asking sales from everything else in Q4. This is Atlanta's luxury market. Here's what you need to know.

Read More
Kristen Johnson Kristen Johnson

Where Should You Actually Buy Your First Home in Atlanta? (A Native's Take on 2026)

Thinking about buying your first home in Atlanta? Stop picking neighborhoods based on what you can afford on paper. As a native Atlantan who's lived everywhere from East Point to North Fulton to intown, I'll walk you through the 2026 market reality, budget expectations for every area, and the biggest mistake first-time buyers make. Let's figure out where you actually want to live—not just where you can buy.

Read More
Kristen Johnson Kristen Johnson

Luxury Real Estate Spotlight: Dwight Howard's $11.3M Atlanta Mansion

Luxury Real Estate Spotlight: Inside Dwight Howard’s $11.3M Atlanta Mansion

NBA star Dwight Howard’s 32,500 sq. ft. estate is the epitome of luxury living in Atlanta—featuring a basketball court, resort-style pool, home theater, and state-of-the-art kitchen. With Atlanta’s luxury market booming, what does this mean for high-end buyers and sellers? Explore the trends shaping the metro area's exclusive real estate scene and discover how you can find (or sell) your dream home.

Read More