Source: Tim Allen Properties

Are we headed for another spike in housing prices? The wealthy seem to be moving money around again…

Wealthy home buyers are quickly running out of mansions to buy.While housing inventory is falling throughout the country, its falling especially fast in some of the countrys richest ZIP codes. A study from Altos Research, the Mountain View, Ca., real-estate research firm, found that inventory in the nations 90 wealthiest ZIP codes fell 15 percent over the past year, slightly faster than the broader market.But in the richest ZIP codes, inventory is down more than 50 percent. In a ZIP code in Carmel, Calif., inventory fell 76 percent over the past year. There were only four homes left on the market priced at $1 million or more as of the end of May, according to Altos.In Palm Beach, Fla., the number of $1 million-plus homes has plunged by 70 percent, falling from 89 to 26. And in the Old Greenwich, Conn. ZIP code, there are only 10 homes left priced at $1 million or more, down 58 percent, according to Altos.

via Mansion Shortage Could Slow Sales in Rich Towns.