Businesses have established new workplace norms that consider remote working as no longer just a band-aid solution for a pandemic but a permanent aspect of the modern workplace. According to Mckinsey’s American Opportunity Survey, almost 14,500 out of 25,000 people receive work-from-home opportunities at least once a week. 8,750 were reported to be given an option for remote work 5 days a week. Another finding from the survey revealed that 87% of people take advantage of flexible work opportunities. This dynamic is prominent in all demographics, professions, and locations. The world of remote and flexible work was created in a panic in response to an unexpected crisis, but it has persisted as a desirable job for millions of people.
This year, price increases and inventory shortages start to level as the pandemic is ending. There are many opportunities for the real estate market, especially with the sharp rise in permanent remote employment options. It’s a good time for individuals to take advantage of the options available to them since more people are settling down with work-from-home jobs.
Statistics given by the National Association of Realtors stated that rent increases will typically be 10% (7.8% in 2021), and the vacancy rate will further decline to 4.8% in 2022 from 5.1% in 2021. Work-from-home trends are one of the driving factors behind the property market boom. Many employees took advantage of the opportunity to relocate from high-cost areas to more lifestyle-friendly locations across the country once they understood they could work from anywhere.
Given that a large portion of the workforce could now be successfully undertaken remotely, residents may wish to establish roots in locations where their money is most effectively spent. City prices became no longer considered as there is no reason to commute or require a residence in the city for work.
According to the most recent housing starts report from the Census Bureau, smaller cities are rapidly gaining market share from large metro areas. Data shows that in December 2021, 811,000 newly built homes were sold in the United States. Only 3% of those properties were in the Northeast, with 56% of them being in the South. Despite the fact that this trend is not new, Covid has undoubtedly sped it up as younger workers look for a better work-life balance and older people retire in nearly record numbers.
“People want that 15-minute lifestyle if they can get it. They want walkable, amenitized, real places that allow them to live fuller lives without having to get into a car and transition from one segment of their life to another.”
-Anonymous
This situation has been noted in the report on Emerging Trends in Real Estate 2022. Top-ranked real estate markets this year are found farther from the coasts in the faster-growing suburb areas. However, they are expanding rapidly. And despite a pandemic, they have incredible economic resilience. They regained jobs considerably more quickly than other cities did during the recession.
The Bottom Line:
Individuals who are relocating from the city and reside in the suburbs are gaining greatly from the idea of remote work. These experienced buyers or sellers are aware of the trends that Covid-19 has accelerated and know how to profit from them. Markets that are uncertain and unpredictable always provide some of the biggest possibilities, but they also carry some of the potential implications for investors who are not used to taking into consideration emerging trends. These patterns and how they change in the upcoming years is something people should watch out for.
What To Do:
Did you find this read interesting? Need expert and white glove advice? Get in touch for local and professional real estate advice in your neighborhood. Fill in the form above to speak with a real estate professional that specializes in this topic and more!