In the coming decade, housing will change thanks to new technologies which will impose a new lifestyle. We can catch a glimpse of these tendencies in the European real estate system for the next ten years. In Spain, we are very much aware of this reality. In this blog, some time ago, we wrote an article about using technology to look for a flat. We live in a tecnological world and our real estate system is already incorporating technology into housing, as well as in understanding business. According to experts, we must think about using technology, regarding property, in the coming years. In addition, Spanish people are leading a different lifestyle and this fact, undoubtedly, affects their homes. For instance, a photograph showing a retired Spanish man living in a rural area is something that is slowly disappearing. At present, most elderly people live in urban areas and, often, even share a house with young people. In the blog of Estate One, we already wrote about the difficulty and challenge that emancipation can be for young people in Spain. This reality has changed our idea regarding housing and thus, it is frequent for retired and young people to live together in harmony. This will probably continue to happen in the next ten years.

AN INCREASINGLY ELDERLY POPULATION

Many experts state that when elderly people live secluded in surroundings for the third age, then guettos are created and these are not beneficial either for the elderly or for our model of society. The new situation of elderly and young people living together is very positive, as it means a social integration of our elders as well as an offer of a more stimulating life. Human contact is the key factor to feeling active. Therefore, it is very important that our social model handles, in an adequate way, the predicted ageing of our population in Europe. The situation that is currently taking place in Spain, retired and young people living together, is also happening in other European countries. In fact, in some European countries, housing is being built to accommodate young and elderly people together in a comfortable way. This hybrid model of residences for elderly people and students is being implemented in some countries. We should take note of this in Spain. It is a fact that our population is ageing and, in consequence, we must accept the challenge of the social integration of our elders.

TECHNOLOGY IS INSEPARABLE FROM HOUSING

As we have already said, technology will be the future of housing. According to the Financial Times, in 2018, the United States real estate sector invested nearly 20 million dollars in technology, whereas in 2011 this amount had been less than one million dollars. This enormous increase helps us to get an idea of the tendency that prevails in a worldwide real estate market. In Europe and in Spain, the use of technology and automation in housing is becoming more and more common. Also, the same happens regarding sales. This tendency is fixed and it will increase in the coming years.

Picture 01: Chase Lindberg