FUTURE OF HOUSING: TRENDS IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY

Home office as a permanent state

Originally intended as a temporary solution during the pandemic, remote work has become firmly established. Companies are responding by reducing office space and implementing hybrid work models. Hybrid office concepts and shared workspaces are becoming increasingly popular. At the same time, the demand for larger and more flexible living spaces is rising. The importance of working from home will continue to increase in the future.

Flexibility in the use of spaces

The demand for flexible usage spaces in living and working areas is increasing in order to respond to changing requirements, whether for family growth, new work models, or additional storage space. This flexibility offers advantages for both individuals and companies that need to react quickly to changing needs. Although this trend is slowly gaining traction among providers, it presents innovative construction companies and real estate developers with the opportunity to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Breakthrough of Smart Homes

Smart homes are gaining importance as integrated computer systems make living more enjoyable and efficient by automating various functions such as food monitoring, heating regulation, and security. The variety of offerings allows for a tailored integration, which ideally is already considered in the planning of a property. Nevertheless, retrofitting existing properties with smart home technologies is also a popular trend to take advantage of the benefits.

Energy efficiency as a central trend

Energy efficiency has become a key trend in the real estate industry due to unstable energy prices. This concerns the drastic reduction of energy consumption through modern insulation materials and the use of renewable energy sources. Heating systems are particularly in focus, as many apartments are still heated with fossil fuels. Additionally, efficient planning during the design process plays a crucial role in minimizing energy demand. In light of the current energy crisis and the increasing demand for efficiency, heightened activity from regulatory authorities, construction companies, and real estate buyers is expected in the coming years to reduce energy consumption and transform the industry.

Growing demand for self-storage

Due to rising housing costs and limited space in urban areas, city dwellers are looking for alternative solutions to create space. Self-storage facilities offer a way to store personal items short- or long-term without having to dispose of them. This trend is particularly evident in cities, where the demand for self-storage with micro-storage spaces is increasing and is expected to gain further importance.

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Building Information Modeling (BIM) describes a working method for the interconnected planning, construction, and management of buildings and other structures using software. These programs help create three-dimensional models, generate reports, plan maintenance work, and avoid deficiencies. BIM is increasingly gaining importance in the real estate industry as it helps optimize workflows, identify problems early, and increase productivity. In the future, BIM will undoubtedly be among the leading trends in the real estate industry.

Virtual tours as standard

The pandemic has severely impacted traditional property viewing options, highlighting the potential for alternative solutions such as virtual tours. Although the technology behind it has existed for some time, it has gained significance only in recent years as hardware and software have improved and become more affordable. Virtual tours offer numerous advantages to both sellers and landlords as well as potential buyers and tenants, such as saving travel time and facilitating appointment scheduling. However, the use of virtual realities extends beyond the real estate industry to other sectors, such as furniture stores, which enable their customers to virtually tour and even furnish apartments. Although virtual tours of residential properties still make up a small segment, this trend is expected to gain further traction in the coming years. AKKADIA also offers virtual tours for all properties.

Urban gardening for self-sufficiency

In response to energy and resource scarcity as well as dependence on global supply chains in food supply, urban gardening is gaining significance as a trend in the real estate industry. This development is reflected in the increasing efforts of many people to partially meet their food needs through their own cultivation. Especially in urban areas, this requires creative solutions such as rooftop gardens to strengthen local supply and reduce the CO2 footprint. Urban agriculture offers various advantages over conventional field farming, including local food production, which saves transport energy and CO2 emissions, as well as a lower risk of spoilage due to shorter transport distances. Local production could be beneficial in the future, as climate change and resource scarcity may influence food production and distribution. Additionally, it allows for easier verification of social standards and requires less fertilizer and water, thereby minimizing soil depletion.

Although urban gardening is currently still in a niche existence, it is expected that this trend will continue to gain popularity in the coming years due to ongoing energy and raw material shortages, as well as increasing uncertainties in global supply chains.

Artificial Intelligence in the Real Estate Industry

In the coming years, the importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the real estate industry is expected to continue to grow. AI increases efficiency by implementing automated processes and handling routine tasks automatically. The use of AI enables real estate companies to save time and resources and work faster and more effectively by collecting and analyzing data, evaluating properties, and conducting market analyses. Moreover, AI is expected to be increasingly used to create personalized digital customer services, for example, to quickly and efficiently respond to inquiries through intelligent chatbots. Companies that effectively utilize this technology gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. The deployment of AI systems enhances the efficiency of companies and improves customer satisfaction through personalized services.

The trends clearly indicate an increased focus on sustainability, efficiency, and flexibility in the real estate sector, driven by technological innovations and societal changes.

As a leading real estate agency, AKKADIA places great importance on always being in tune with the times. That is why we rely on innovative trends such as virtual tours and artificial intelligence to continuously improve our service. With modern approaches, we aim to make the real estate market more efficient and accessible. Trust in our experience and benefit from contemporary solutions for your real estate concerns.

Source: Planradar