How does alternative financing influence real estate trends?

Trends in the real estate market are not only influenced by changes in consumer preferences and technological innovations, but also by economic variables that have an impact on business growth and society as a whole.

Today, the way properties are bought and sold is changing due to the use of technologies such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and big data, from virtual property tours to predictive market analysis.

On the other hand, more and more buyers are looking for properties that use renewable energy and have efficient systems in place to reduce their environmental impact and long term operating costs - the much in vogue 'ESG factor'.

Equally, it cannot be forgotten that the covid-19 pandemic increased the need for versatile spaces that can be adapted to a variety of uses, such as remote working, distance learning or home entertainment: both the flexibility in the design of such spaces and their functionality are clearly transforming.

Real estate companies, in this environment, are prioritising the customer experience from the first interaction to the post-sale, in order to stand out in a highly competitive market in which they provide the added value of a personalised service, focused on the customer's needs.

From DEXTER, its vice-president, Alfonso Merlos, concludes that "it is difficult to interpret the strong ramp up of real estate in Spain without the presence of alternative financing with private capital. The development and construction sector is clearly 'de-bankarising', and this means that the funds, as operators, are contributing to the execution of projects and, therefore, to the generation of wealth and jobs," concludes Merlos.