The National Wealth Inflow Index™ | Own Luxury Homes®

The National Wealth Inflow Index™ tracks high-net-worth household migration patterns across U.S. states using publicly available data from the Internal Revenue Service Statistics of Income, U.S. Census Bureau migration estimates, and state revenue department filings. The Index identifies which states are net inflow or outflow destinations for high-income filers and how those patterns correlate with luxury real estate market dynamics.

What the Index Measures

The National Wealth Inflow Index™ tracks four specific categories of data across all 50 U.S. states:

Net high-income filer migration. State-to-state movement of individual income tax filers earning above $200,000 annually, using IRS Statistics of Income migration data published annually with a one to two year lag. The IRS releases this data publicly each year showing both gross inflows and outflows by state and income tier.

Effective tax rate differentials. Top marginal state income tax rates, property tax effective rates by jurisdiction, and combined state-and-local tax burdens for high-income filers. State tax foundation data, state revenue department publications, and Tax Foundation comparative analysis are the primary sources.

Luxury real estate transaction correlation. Where IRS migration data shows specific state-to-state pipelines, the Index examines whether luxury real estate transaction patterns in destination states reflect those pipelines. Sources include public real estate transaction records, MLS aggregate data, and state-level real estate commission reports.

Demographic concentration of HNW migration. The age, household composition, and reported income of relocating filers, where publicly available. This data informs which luxury markets are receiving which type of buyer pool.

The Index does not track individual household movements, private capital flows, or proprietary transaction data. All inputs are publicly verifiable from federal and state government sources.

Why This Index Exists

Most luxury real estate market intelligence is published by aggregators with structural conflicts. Portal directories report transaction volume but cannot publish migration analysis that would reveal which markets are gaining or losing high-income buyers. Brokerage publications focus on local markets and do not analyze cross-state capital flow. Editorial sources report on individual high-profile relocations but rarely synthesize the underlying data into systematic patterns.

The Index fills this gap with publicly sourced, transparently methodologized analysis of HNW migration patterns. Buyers and sellers using the Index can see where capital is flowing in aggregate, which informs:

For buyers planning a relocation, whether the destination state is a net-inflow market with rising demand
For sellers in origin states, whether the buyer pool is migrating away and how that affects pricing strategy
For specialists in destination markets, what origin states are sending the largest buyer pools
For specialists in origin markets, how to position listings against an outflow-driven buyer pool dynamic

The Index is editorial market intelligence — it informs decisions but does not constitute investment, tax, or financial advice.

Data Sources

All Index data is drawn from public sources. No proprietary or unverifiable inputs are included. Primary sources:

Internal Revenue Service Statistics of Income (SOI) Migration Data — Released annually by the IRS, showing state-to-state filer movement with income tier breakdowns. Available at the IRS SOI Tax Stats portal.

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey — Annual estimates of state-to-state migration with demographic breakdowns including income, age, household composition, and education.

State Revenue Department Publications — Annual reports from state departments of revenue showing changes in resident filer counts, departure trends, and tax collection patterns.

Tax Foundation State Comparative Reports — Independent analysis of state-by-state tax burdens, marginal rates, and effective rate calculations.

Public Real Estate Transaction Data — County recorder offices, state real estate commission aggregate reports, and MLS public-facing aggregate data.

Each Index analysis includes specific source citations for every data point. Where IRS migration data has the standard one to two year reporting lag, that lag is stated explicitly.

Methodology

The Index uses a transparent four-step methodology applied consistently across states:

Step 1 — Migration data extraction. IRS SOI migration data is parsed for filers in the $200,000+ adjusted gross income category. Inflows and outflows are calculated for each state across all relevant origin and destination state pairs.

Step 2 — Tax differential calculation. For each state pair, the effective tax rate differential is calculated using top marginal rates, property tax effective rates, and applicable state-specific tax mechanics (homestead exemptions, assessment caps, etc.).

Step 3 — Real estate correlation. Public transaction data in destination states is examined for correlation with the migration pipeline. This is descriptive analysis, not causal — it identifies whether and where migration patterns appear in luxury market activity.

Step 4 — Demographic context. Where Census or IRS data permits, the demographic profile of relocating filers is summarized to inform buyer pool composition.

Each Index publication is dated, sourced, and includes the specific data vintage of every input. Where conclusions are drawn, those conclusions are framed as hypotheses informed by the data rather than as deterministic predictions.

State Divisions — In Development

The Index parent framework is established with the methodology and source documentation above. State-specific Index publications are in development. As state-by-state data analysis is completed, dedicated state pages will be published covering:

State-of-residence inflow and outflow patterns from IRS SOI data. Tax differential analysis between the state and its primary origin or destination markets. Luxury real estate market correlation specific to the state. Demographic context of the inbound or outbound buyer pool.

State Index publications are sequenced by data availability and market relevance. The first published state divisions will likely include states with the largest documented HNW migration flows — Florida, Texas, California, New York, Tennessee, and the Mountain West states. Additional states will be added as analysis is completed.

How the Index Connects to Specialist Placement

The Index informs market intelligence. The Property-Type Specialist Placement service connects buyers and sellers with verified specialists who operate in the markets the Index analyzes.

For relocation buyers and sellers using Index data to inform decision-making, the Tax-Bridge calculator produces specific state-to-state purchasing power calculations, and the Institutional Relocation Protocol coordinates the real estate execution side of relocations including audit defense documentation for high-tax origin states.

The Index is editorial. The Specialist Placement, Tax-Bridge, and Relocation Protocol are operational. Together they constitute the full Own Luxury Homes® framework for high-net-worth real estate decision-making.

Editorial Standards

All Index publications are authored by Ryan Brown, Principal Broker (FL BK3626873). Data interpretation, source attribution, and analytical conclusions are subject to editorial review against the same institutional standards documented for Own Luxury Homes® specialist placement.

Index data is not investment advice. It does not predict individual property outcomes, individual transaction success, or individual residency audit results. The Index is descriptive market intelligence drawn from public sources, intended to inform — not direct — high-net-worth real estate decisions.

Authored and verified by Ryan Brown, Principal Broker (FL BK3626873) — Own Luxury Homes® LLC