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 spaces and introducing hybrid work models. Hybrid office concepts and shared workspaces are becoming increasingly popular. At the same time, the demand for larger and flexibly usable living spaces is rising. The importance of working from home will continue to grow in the future.

Flexibility in the use of spaces

The demand for flexible usable spaces in residential and work 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 quickly respond to changing needs. Although this trend is slowly gaining traction among providers, it presents innovative construction companies and property developers with the opportunity to stand out from the competition.

Breakthrough of Smart Homes

Smart homes are becoming increasingly important as integrated computer systems make living more comfortable and efficient by automating various functions such as food monitoring, heating control, and security. The variety of offerings allows for tailored integration, which is ideally considered already 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 relates to the drastic reduction of energy consumption through modern insulation materials and the use of renewable energies. Heating systems are particularly in focus, as many apartments are still heated with fossil fuels. Additionally, efficient planning at the design process plays a crucial role in minimizing energy needs. In light of the current energy crisis and the rising demand for efficiency, increased 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 seeking alternative solutions to create space. Self-storage facilities offer a way to store personal items temporarily or long-term without having to throw them away. This trend is particularly evident in cities, where the demand for self-storage is increasing along with micro-storage spaces and is expected to gain further significance.

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, schedule maintenance, and avoid defects. BIM is gaining increasing importance in the real estate sector 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 significantly disrupted traditional property viewing options, highlighting the potential for alternative solutions such as virtual tours. Although the technology was already available, it has only gained importance in recent years as hardware and software improved and became 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 scheduling. However, the use of virtual realities extends beyond the real estate industry to other sectors like furniture stores, which allow their customers to virtually tour and even furnish apartments. Although virtual viewings of residential properties still make up a small portion, this trend is expected to become more established in the coming years. AKKADIA also offers virtual tours for all properties.

Urban Gardening for Self-Sufficiency

In reaction to energy and resource scarcity as well as dependence on global supply chains in food provision, urban gardening is gaining importance as a trend in the real estate sector. This development is reflected in the increasing efforts of many people to meet at least part of their food needs through their own cultivation. Particularly in urban areas, this requires creative solutions such as rooftop gardens to strengthen local supply and reduce the carbon footprint. Urban agriculture offers various advantages over conventional field farming, including local food production, which saves transportation 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 could impact 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, this trend is expected 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 significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the real estate industry is expected to continue to increase. AI enhances efficiency by implementing automated processes and handling routine tasks automatically. The use of AI enables real estate companies to save time and resources and to work faster and more effectively by collecting and analyzing data, assessing properties, and conducting market analyses. Moreover, AI is expected to be increasingly used to create personalized digital customer services, for instance, to quickly and efficiently respond to inquiries through intelligent chatbots. Companies that effectively leverage this technology will gain a competitive advantage over their competitors. The use of AI systems boosts the efficiency of companies and improves customer satisfaction through personalized services.

The trends clearly show a heightened focus on sustainability, efficiency, and flexibility in the real estate industry, driven by technological innovations and societal changes.

As a leading real estate agency, AKKADIA places great importance on being in touch with the times. That’s why we focus 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 needs.

Source: Planradar