Society changes. We want flexibility, adaptation, and services responding to our needs.

In the real estate world, we talk about flexible environments. It is initially designed for millennials and centennials who represent more than 50% of the workforce and who are changing the rhythm of the markets and, but also for other generations who need flexibility in spaces and services due to their specific conditions. In short, spaces have ceased to be static houses to be fully adapted services to people’s needs.

One of the key trends in the real estate sector is coliving.

Even without clear legislation in this regard, each time we find more co-living initiatives in the country’s main cities.

These initiatives are the answer to the unsatisfied real estate needs of various social groups. These creative and social environments with shared services are not only designed for the younger generations. Obviously, with this model, we think about students, young professionals, or digital nomads. However, other generations are also interested in a lifestyle with shared services, such as seniors or, why not, families with children who need to share costs and services for the little ones.

What benefits do these spaces have?

  • Community: Living in a community can bring many benefits when social isolation threatens millions of inhabitants in cities
  • Personal growth: Living with people with the same interests generates relationships that lead to sharing ideas and enjoying leisure time. Flexibility: We can come and go whenever we want and change the place where we live, depending on our life’s rhythm and changing needs.
  • Location: Usually, the coliving spaces are in central and well-connected places for their target audience.
  • Quality services: Colivings are well-designed spaces with integrated services that adapt depending on the type of community inhabiting the space.
  • Proptech: These spaces use technologies, especially those of spaces sensorization, to optimize access to rooms, logistics, and communication among people.
  • Ease: There is also no need to hire necessary services, such as the internet, water, or electricity. All of them are included in the monthly fee. Depending on the coliving nature, the services by which the coliving is identified will also be included. For example, medical services in a senior care coliving.
  • Affordability: Colivings are usually cheaper than renting a flat in the center of a city.

Those who seek this housing alternative usually have a common profile. They are people uprooted from the culture of property, seeking to share expenses, live experience in community, first-rate services, and maximum flexibility.

We still have to wait to see which will be the colivings implementation, see if investors and the population choose this option. Provinding a housing alternative to a part of the population that needs real estate services different from those we have seen up to now.

Sheila Gracia

Services Director at the Real Estate Agents Association in Catalonia