Quality of life is the 'number one reason' right now driving real estate: Katrina Campins

July 31, 2026 - 03:12

Real estate expert Katrina Campins says that the desire for a better quality of life has become the single most important factor driving today's housing market. Appearing on a recent business program, Campins explained that buyers are no longer just chasing square footage or the best school district. Instead, they are prioritizing how a home makes them feel and the lifestyle it enables.

Campins pointed to a powerful example of this shift: the sudden wave of newly-minted millionaires from the SpaceX IPO. These buyers are flooding luxury markets, but not simply to park their cash. They are looking for properties that offer peace, privacy, and access to nature. This trend, she argued, is not limited to the ultra-wealthy. Across all price points, people are reevaluating what they need from their homes after years of change.

The expert noted that remote work has untethered many people from their offices, allowing them to move to areas with better weather, lower crime, or more space. She described this as a fundamental change in buyer psychology. The old rule of "location, location, location" has been updated. Now, the rule is "lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle." Campins concluded that as long as this focus on personal well-being remains strong, the real estate market will continue to see demand in places that offer a genuine upgrade in daily living.