A new trend dubbed « stealth wealth » is transforming the U.S. luxury real estate market. Ultrawealthy buyers, particularly tech and AI executives based in Silicon Valley, are purchasing multimillion-dollar mansions through limited liability companies, privacy trusts, and off-market « whisper listings » that bypass public databases. Atherton, a sought-after Bay Area enclave, posted a median sale price of $8.33 million in 2025, with a record $51.5 million transaction for a 10,000-square-foot estate. This privacy strategy comes at a cost: off-market sales typically sell approximately $5,000 below market prices, representing a median 1.5% gap nationally and 3.7% in California.
Source: Read the original article
