What trends to expect in real estate in 2022

As the year 2021 comes to an end, it’s time to look back at the lessons learned and prepare for the year ahead. Here is what I think 2022 has in store for us when it comes to pre-construction trends.

Common office amenities

Since working from home is no longer just a passing fad, developers have recognized the need for access to convenient work spaces for condo residents by introducing co-working spaces as common amenities. Providing residents with an option to have a change of scenery once in while, or perhaps pop by in order to attend an important Zoom meeting in privacy (without having to blur their background or hush their spouses) is an amenity that will surely get more use than a party room.

I’ve heard of a couple of upcoming projects including this in their designs already, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this amenity becomes a staple in many future developments.

Home offices

Further to this, we are seeing architects putting a lot of effort into ensuring that every new home is designed equipped with a home office or at least a desk nook. Even in really small condo units, I’m noticing built-in desks or small dens being included in the floorplans.

This is a no-brainer really—consumers are looking for homes that provide that space. Every single buyer I’ve worked with in the last almost two years has included “home office” as one of the top items on their must-have list.

Greater focus on sustainability and environment

Green is in! Consumer interest in sustainability has seen an increase like never before, driving a market trend of higher demand for environmentally friendly developments. This trend includes everything from energy-efficient building envelopes to sustainably sourced construction materials.

Rising public interest in fighting climate change is motivating some buyers to invest exclusively into projects with LEED certification. While also benefiting from tax credits for helping the environment, supporting socially conscious businesses for many buyers feels like a win-win scenario.

Following in the footsteps of LED light bulbs and low-flush toilets, electric vehicle charging stations should also soon become a basic inclusion and not an upgrade. Perhaps not in 2022, but certainly in the next few years, EV chargers should be made easily and readily available to the masses.

More technology

From keyless entrances to smart home systems, these features are quickly becoming the default in many pre-construction projects. As developers look for ways to stand out, I’m expecting to see a lot of new and exciting add-ons. Perhaps some auto-darkening windows, built-in virtual home assistants, and elevated smart home experiences?

The other aspect of developers becoming more tech savvy is the ability for consumers to now purchase new homes without leaving the house.

With the convenience of e-signatures, virtual tours, online reservation systems and virtual project launches, we have all gotten a tad lazy and, let’s be honest, that’s not about to change any time soon!

With 3D printing becoming more available and better suited for home construction, many exciting new applications have been created in response to growing demand for affordable and efficient construction solutions. This has already affected the popularity of pre-manufactured homes, which in turn should decrease construction time and costs.

Less delays, lower construction costs (please…)

This could be just wishful thinking on my part, but with supply chains hopefully stabilizing in the upcoming year and things getting back to normal (whatever that may be at this point…), this could mean less shipping delays and more available construction material. Would those savings be passed down to the consumers? Possibly! If developers can start building more homes and therefore providing more housing supply, perhaps we will see a more balanced market in 2022.

On that positive note, I’m wishing you all the best over the holiday season and lots of real estate success in the New Year!