Remote working is on the rise ever since the pandemic. By 2025, an estimated 70% of the population in the US will work remotely at least five days per month. As such, many multifamily properties have introduced new amenities to accommodate tenants working from home. The right technology can help remote working tenants work at ease from the comfort of their homes.  

One such amenity is a reliable internet connection. According to an NMHC report, more than 91% of residents want high-speed internet and more than 74% want pre-installed WiFi in their properties. This matters, especially to the multifamily sectors as more tenants, rely on a single connection for their work. 

The demand for co-working spaces is also on the rise. Shared workspaces can provide a professional atmosphere for tenants looking to work away from home. Co-working spaces are also better than corporate offices as they have a relaxing yet professional ambiance. Property managers can charge a small monthly fee to give access to shared cubicles with all the required amenities.  

The first prediction was increased investments after the 2018 economic decline. Logistics seemed to be the main focus for investors. The prediction was for these expenses to become more popular, and it’s somewhat true. 

Even with the current global crisis, there hasn’t been a recession. It also makes sense, the crisis has actually increased that need. 

They also predicted that prices for homes would rise. That’s an interesting prediction, as it’s both a hit and a miss. The COVID crisis has impacted supply negatively, and that has raised prices. However, other experts now predict that prices are only going down. With high possibilities for future foreclosures, the picture isn’t quite clear yet. 

House renting used to be the main option for people. Today, it seems to stay that way. However, given the new influx of financially stable millennials, affordable home demand is more likely to rise. We also need to consider that affordable homes are somewhat scarce in the real estate market, so a shift will be necessary. 

That actually leads to the article’s second prediction. First-tier cities mean higher prices for real estate, and that’s pushed even larger firms towards second-tier. Now, the remote work trend further moves people towards these locations. As such, this trend seems to have an upwards future statistics-wise. 

The real estate sector has also experienced lots of innovations throughout the years. ERP platforms today do almost everything you need. Therefore, the article pointed out that new tech would remain a priority for 2020 and 2021. Now, we can see that’s true, especially considering the ability to collaborate remotely with software like Office 365. 

Another interesting prediction is that interest rates would rise after remaining stagnant for years. We’ll cover the real state of mortgage interest rates in a moment. For now, we can say this prediction wasn’t accurate at all. The COVID crisis shook the market, and mortgages are actually one of the reasons why home buying will likely become a trend.

Luxury inventories from real estate firms were also expected to grow. That’s because higher prices would incentivize companies. The main consequence would be lower prices, and that’s what we’re experiencing right now. Yet, the reason isn’t solely the higher prices, but we also need to consider current supply and demand. 

The last prediction was the need for amenities to drive more customers towards company offers. Some of these amenities include parking, gyms, communal gardens, and even movie theaters. This prediction is also an interesting one, for it was accurate for the wrong reasons. Remote work becoming the rule has increased the demand for fully-featured homes and residences. 

Marketing company Linchpin released an article a few months ago, detailing several trends for 2021. We’ve chosen this article because of how it contrasts the trend predictions from FinancesOnline. In fact, several of their suggestions relate directly to the previous article. It serves as a combination between both forecasts to bring a better outlook for the future.

The first prediction builds on the previous millennial-related forecast. It uses the same statistics from Forbes to solidify their stance. Given how millennials adapt to remote work, there’s little reason to believe this prediction will fail. Even if they’re hit considerably by the COVID crisis, they’ll likely overcome it better than other generations. 

Down payment loans in 2020 are actually growing in popularity. Many requirements have loosened, making it a lot easier to find a lender for buying a home. People who were turned down could actually apply and win their loan request. First-time buyers have the bigger advantage here. It doesn’t mean it’s easy, but it’s more possible. 

2018 tax laws deterred foreign investors from buying luxury homes like they used to. Most buyers come from either Europe or Latin America, but China is also a prominent location for these buyers. Given the political tensions between the US and China, it’s no surprise that their investments experienced a recession. 

We go back to affordable housing. RIght now, high-tier homes have experienced slower sales, but that’s not the case for their low-priced counterparts. Millennial influence over the market has a lot to do with that, and affordable home inventories have seen the most success. 

As mentioned, mortgage rates have plummeted during the crisis. That’s quite the opposite of what FinancesOnline predicted a year ago. However, that’s good news for the real estate industry, for prospective buyers actually have more incentives to purchase a home than ever before. 

Again, the first article was quite accurate with its assessment of second-tier city demand. Forbes hit the same prediction earlier this year. As society starts to recover from the crisis in the future, affordable housing will play a vital role next year—and maybe beyond that. Even larger companies like Toyota have moved to second-tier cities to curve the crisis’ financial impact. 

The most prominent markets for real estate will definitely shift during 2021. We already mentioned the demand for second-tier city housing, and that means these locations will likely become some of the most important markets for real estate. However, we can’t forget about mortgage rates and how attractive they could become for foreign investors and luxury housing. 

It’s worth noting that housing amenities are key for the housing market today. Students and remote workers will boost this demand considerably. As people recover from the crisis, they’ll likely get used to these conveniences. That means this competition will likely remain—and even increase—in the future. 

As competition in the real estate sales sector increases, home staging will also become more important. With increased supply, and millennials’ introduction as a prominent demographic, sellers will need to improve their offers’ attractiveness. That takes us back to logistics investment, as we already mentioned, which will likely remain a priority. 

Naturally, solid infrastructure also plays a huge role in your property’s profitability. Maintenance and CapEx are vital factors to consider, so infrastructure condition is paramount to keep in mind when investing. 

Office space usually requires specific metrics, like room space, power outlets, and proper insulation. Ideally, you want to stick with low-maintenance design, like metal and glass instead of wood. 

On the other hand, there’s no shortage of articles going through promising markets in 2021. Many of the mentioned markets are easy to expect. The housing market has seen prominent winners, particularly in more isolated areas. 

However, vaccination and recent developments have brought new potential players into the picture. Lower demand decreases the prices in larger cities, making them more attractive. People adopted new needs, like open spaces and support for all the software they've implemented.