Millionaire migration: where are the ultra-wealthy buying property in 2025?
Each year, the global property market reshuffles as high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) migrate - bringing their fortunes, portfolios, and demand for prime real estate with them. In 2025, we’re seeing distinct trends emerge in this movement of wealth, and it’s reshaping what - and who - the property industry needs.
Where are millionaires buying property?
According to recent data, the UK continues to attract ultra-wealthy buyers, despite competition from more tax-friendly markets like the UAE, Singapore and Portugal. London remains one of the world’s top cities for millionaires, thanks to its resilience, lifestyle offering, and international connectivity. But it’s not the only UK hotspot in demand.
Prime coastal towns, countryside estates in the Cotswolds, and historic cities like Bath and Oxford are seeing a sharp uptick in ultra-wealthy interest. In prime north Cotswolds postcodes, property values have climbed over 30% since 2020, driven by both UK and overseas buyers.
International buyers from the US, Middle East and Asia are still active, but we're also seeing UK-based millionaires investing closer to home - particularly in long-term assets like farmland, luxury rental portfolios, and private residential estates.
Why this matters for real estate recruitment
Behind every deal is a team of professionals making it happen, and right now firms are struggling to find them. In particular, we’re seeing surging demand for:
1. Valuation surveyors
Whether it's a £10m estate in the Cotswolds or a luxury rental portfolio in Mayfair, valuation surveyors are critical to both the advisory and transactional process. Clients want accuracy, speed, and discretion. Firms want qualified, commercially-minded professionals who can handle complex assets. The problem? There aren’t enough to go around.
2. Capital markets and investment surveyors
We’re also seeing more institutional activity creeping back in. Family offices, boutique funds, and HNWIs are exploring mixed-use schemes, branded residences, and alternative assets. As interest rates begin to settle and confidence returns, capital markets teams are gearing up. That means investment surveyors with transactional experience are becoming increasingly valuable - particularly those with private client, PRS, or operational real estate experience.
What this means for employers
If you’re hiring, expect competition to be fierce. Employers need to move fast, offer flexibility, and think strategically about long-term retention. That could mean:
Offering clear routes into private client work or cross-sector valuation roles
Highlighting opportunities to work with international HNWI portfolios
Upskilling junior staff before they’re poached elsewhere
It also means understanding what today’s valuation surveyors want: a decent work-life balance, a strong peer network, and the chance to work on interesting, high-impact projects. That's where recruitment partners like SONDR are making the difference - connecting firms with talent that fits their culture and growth plans.
What this means for real estate professionals
If you're in real estate and you've been thinking about a move, then this is your market. You’re in demand not just for the work you do, but for the trust and precision you bring to high-value assets.
Whether you want to step up, specialise in a premium niche, or relocate to one of the millionaire migration hotspots, we can help you get there.
The ultra-wealthy are on the move. Are you ready?
Let SONDR help you find the valuation talent (or opportunity) that unlocks growth in this shifting landscape. If you’re wondering whether now’s the time to move, or you’re looking to hire real estate professionals for your company, drop us a message.
Download our 2025 Real Estate Salary & Trends Guide for exclusive insights into what’s driving professionals in the UK property sector.