Experts in premium residential real estate are identifying a distinct new category forming at the very top of the market: the “presidence.” This format, which combines private residences with shared infrastructure anchored by a five-star hotel, is designed for multigenerational ownership and is seeing rising demand worldwide. The trend reflects a structural shift in global wealth, with the number of individuals worth more than US$30 million climbing from 551,435 to 713,626 between 2021 and 2026, according to Knight Frank's Wealth Report 2026. Forbes records 3,428 billionaires with a combined net worth of US$20.1 trillion.
This wealth is increasingly mobile. Henley & Partners projects that 165,000 high-net-worth individuals will relocate internationally in 2026, a 16% rise from the record 142,000 in 2025, as affluent families build cross-border portfolios of homes and residence rights. The appetite for professionally serviced, brand-anchored homes is evident in the development pipeline. Savills reports that the number of branded residential schemes worldwide grew 19% in 2025 to around 910, and is expected to reach 1,747 by 2032, with the Middle East and North Africa being the fastest-growing region.
As the apex of the wealth pyramid rises, demand at the top is moving away from headline price-per-square-foot toward space, privacy, wellbeing, autonomy, and a home that can be held and handed down across generations. The case for treating this as a distinct category was set out in a recent column by real estate adviser Ku Swee Yong, CEO of International Property Advisor Pte Ltd and an adjunct faculty member at Singapore Management University. “Luxury residence has a new crown, and it has a name: presidence,” he writes.
According to Ku, a property of this kind should meet several defining criteria: it should occupy an exceptional location among peer residences, be built to the highest standards of quality, provide space, a healthy natural environment, security, and self-sufficiency, and create a place where owners can live out every stage of life. Privacy does not mean isolation; rather, members become part of a community of peers with comparable values and interests.
These principles are being formalised into a fuller set of criteria that distinguish a presidence from a conventional luxury development. At its most complete, the format includes: a five-star hotel operated by an international brand present in at least three countries, located within the development; a single estate of 200 hectares (around 500 acres) or more; full-spectrum infrastructure within one perimeter, including indoor and outdoor sport, a central clubhouse, wellness, dining, parks, a medical centre, recreation, security, and a lifestyle anchor such as a golf, equestrian, or yacht club; a clear separation of public and private zones; a 24/7 premium service model with a dedicated resident care team and concierge services; a unified architectural code; and an equal-neighbour principle that fosters a community of like-minded owners.
Fully integrated examples remain rare worldwide, and demand is running ahead of supply as the number of ultra-wealthy households continues to grow.
