The work of JamesEdition in the luxury real estate market

In December 2022, Perlin Gentil, Head of Sales at JamesEdition, spoke with CASAFARI about the post-2020 luxury property market and the benefits of publishing property listings on international portals. He explained how the marketplace reaches 1.5 million monthly buyers across 120 countries, its freemium model for over 12,000 agencies, and why a tailored personal approach remains key for high-net-worth clients.

1. How does JamesEdition differentiate itself in the luxury real estate market?

We are a marketplace which is a bit different from the general portal. We were founded in 2008 and for the past 15 years, thanks to our focus on items across the whole luxury lifestyle spectrum, we have managed to build a brand that attracts a very large community of international Ultra- and High-Net-Worth customers.

Our traffic today is coming from all over the globe (40% North America, 40% Western and Northern Europe and 20% from key regions such as Asia, South Africa, Australia, etc.).

2. How would you describe the behavior of the market, from 2020 to the present day?

Covid had an exceptional impact on the luxury real estate markets in most of the countries in Europe and North America during the last two years and brought an unprecedented volume of transactions for premium and high-end properties.

After a period with limited properties for sale, it seems that the market is now normalizing, meaning a fiercer competition to find buyers and sellers. Marketing will play a key role in the next 12 to 24 months.

3. How many properties were traded each year (from 2020 until today)? Can you give predictions for 2023?

Data specifically for the luxury segment across all our markets is scarce, but what we have seen is that initially we had a significant increase in transaction volume of luxury properties in more rural areas – especially in the US vs Europe, which was slower to react due to cross-border restrictions.

Cities were lagging behind as people were looking for both lifestyle changes and more space. Now we see this trend reverse. Demand for apartments, penthouses, and condos in cities such as New York, London, Paris is coming back.

As we believe 2023 will be a normalization of the market, we probably are looking at transaction volumes closer to pre-Covid – 2018-2019 levels. What we need to remember though is that even if transaction volumes fall, prices have stabilized on a higher level, so the total transaction values will still increase in comparison.

4. In which countries are you operating?

All over the world. We have properties for sale in more than 120 countries and more than 12,000 real estate businesses already work with us.

5. We noticed you’ve started to work on a “freemium model”. What is your goal? And how was the market acceptance?

Our traffic has multiplied by 5 times over the past 24 months and we have around 1.5 million unique buyers coming each month to JamesEdition. We do not always have enough properties available which can be frustrating for buyers. This is why we decided to welcome any agency that has qualified listings to join our portal.

There is however still a preference for our paying clients and any agency joining us needs to take into account the competition in their specific market. Many agencies who joined JamesEdition on the free level understood the quality of the leads we deliver and rapidly moved to our paid subscription to generate more leads.

6. What details do customers value most when looking for JamesEdition?

High-end resolution pictures, a luxury presentation and an international listing selection.

7. What does a luxury market customer value most when buying a home?

This varies a lot depending on the market and the region. But one thing that will always prevail is the personal approach of the agency/agent. An agency should always tailor its approach to the needs of high-net-worth clients.

8. What are the nationalities of your target?

The top in-demand markets are the US, Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. Among buyers in all these countries, Americans are always in the top three.

This year has been especially exceptional with the Americans not only looking for an attractive lifestyle in Europe, but also the USD/EUR exchange rate has influenced a lot. This last quarter, more than a third of all buyers on the site came from the US.

Thanks for sharing all about JamesEdition’s business with us, Perlin!

Frequently asked questions

How does JamesEdition differ from standard property portals?

Founded in 2008, JamesEdition operates as a global luxury lifestyle marketplace rather than a standard portal. As reported by Perlin Gentil of JamesEdition in December 2022, the platform attracts high-net-worth buyers across more than 120 countries and works with over 12,000 real estate businesses worldwide.

Where do luxury property buyers on JamesEdition come from?

According to Perlin Gentil, Head of Sales at JamesEdition, in December 2022, 40% of traffic originates from North America, 40% from Western and Northern Europe, and 20% from regions such as Asia, South Africa and Australia. American buyers consistently rank in the top three across primary destinations like Spain, Italy, France, the US, and markets following luxury real estate market trends in Portugal.

How does JamesEdition’s freemium model work for estate agencies?

To satisfy demand from around 1.5 million monthly unique buyers, as reported by Perlin Gentil in December 2022, JamesEdition allows agencies with qualified listings to join on a free tier. While the freemium tier provides initial access, paying subscribers receive preference in visibility across the platform.

What do high-net-worth buyers value most when purchasing a luxury home?

When browsing online, high-net-worth buyers look for high-resolution photography, luxury presentation, and an international selection of properties. When making a purchase, a tailored and personal approach from the estate agent remains the most critical factor.

How can estate agencies distribute luxury listings and analyse market data with CASAFARI?

Agencies use FeedCruncher to distribute property listings to portals efficiently across international marketplaces. For competitive intelligence, professionals rely on Area Insights for property market analysis to monitor asking prices and property trends. Professionals can sign in to the CASAFARI platform to access these tools directly.