Hey there, fellow investors! Ready to dive into the wild world of real estate and discover a gem that’s not only profitable but can also be inflation-proof? Get ready to explore the pros and cons of apartment blocks, those majestic beasts of real estate that promise adventure and financial stability!
Unraveling the Apartment Block Mystery
Picture this: a towering structure with multiple units, lovingly referred to as apartment blocks, block apartments, or blocks of flats. These real estate wonders are owned by savvy investors like you, who rent out individual units to lucky tenants. It’s like building your own empire within a single edifice!
Let’s talk money, because that’s what investing is all about, right? With a tower block, you hit the jackpot of diversified income streams! Imagine collecting rent from multiple tenants all under one roof. Cha-ching! Say goodbye to relying on a single tenant’s rent and hello to a symphony of cash flow!
The Inflation-Proof Dance
Now, here’s the juicy part: how apartment blocks can be inflation-proof. Check it out:
a. Rental Income Bonanza: When inflation rears its ugly head, rental prices tend to go up, up, and away! That means you can increase those rental rates and ride the wave of rising living costs. It’s like having a golden goose that lays bigger and better rent checks!
b. Sweet, Sweet Appreciation: Unlike those fickle stock markets, real estate has a history of appreciating over time. And guess what? Apartment blocks are prime candidates for jaw-dropping value appreciation. Location, demand, and property improvements can all work their magic, turning your investment into a treasure chest of wealth.
c. Bye-Bye, Currency Depreciation: Picture this: while your friends cry over the diminishing value of their cash due to pesky inflation, you’re happily sipping margaritas on your yacht. Why? Because apartment blocks are like superheroes in the face of currency depreciation. Tangible assets like real estate tend to retain or increase their value, making you the inflation-fighting champion!
The Not-So-Funny Side
Now, let’s not get too carried away in this joyous adventure. As with any investment, there are a few hiccups to keep in mind. Check out these downsides:
a. Property Management Caos: Managing an apartment block isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. It takes time, effort, and a splash of cash to handle maintenance, deal with tenants, and tackle dificult vacancies. So, grab your superhero cape and be ready for some serious property management action!
b. Rollercoaster Markets: Brace yourself for the wild ride of real estate markets. Just like life, they can be unpredictable and subject to economic turbulence. A sudden downturn can impact property values and rental demand, giving you a taste of the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with being a real estate investor.
c. Show Me the Money: Let’s face it, investing in an apartment block isn’t a spare-change kind of deal. It requires a hefty initial investment. So, make sure your pockets are deep enough to seize this opportunity and embark on your real estate adventure.
Conclusion
Apartment blocks are like the superheroes of real estate investment, ready to conquer inflation and shower you with financial bliss. Hence, with their diverse income streams, potential for appreciation, and resistance to currency depreciation, they are the real deal. Just remember to put on your property management cape, stay updated on market conditions, and do your due diligence.
A turn-key home is a new construction that includes all the finishing touches and is ready for occupancy.
It is easier than ever before to find the perfect turn-key finish home for your needs. There are many different styles of homes available, from traditional to modern, and you can customize the home to suit your tastes. You can also find a turn-key finish home with a yard or without, depending on what you’re looking for in the perfect property.
With so many options available, it’s no wonder that this option has become increasingly popular over the years.
What is a Turn-Key Home?
A turn-key home is a house that is ready to move into or occupy without any additional construction. It has all the necessary components, such as plumbing, electricity, and heating already installed.
The term “turn-key” can also be used in the context of a business, where it means that the business is fully operational and ready for customers. In this article we will concentrate on the advantages of a turn-key finish home.
What are the Benefits?
Buying a turn-key home is a great way to enter the real estate market, with minimal hassle. You can find turn-key houses in many different styles and sizes, so it is easy to find one that fits your needs.
A turn-key home may be built from modular or prefabricated parts. In this case the house has already been constructed in a factory and then transported to the site where it will be put together like a puzzle.
A turn-key building is usually cheaper than buying an existing house because the contractor does not have to pay any additional labour costs for constructing it on site.
A Turn-Key Home – Traditional Construction
The architect designs the layout of the house, and the builder builds it according to the design. The builder then hands over the keys to the homeowner, who can move in right away.
There are many benefits to building a turn-key house, such as having all of your needs met in one place without having to worry about finding separate professionals for every job. But there are also disadvantages, like not being able to customize your home as much or living with someone else’s design choices.
But the good news is that usually you can decide how much you like to get involved in the project. Most builders would let you choose colors, tiles, flooring etc. within a certain price range.
A Turn-Key Home – Prefabricated
A turn-key finish house that is prefabricated, is made in a factory and then assembled on site.
Prefabricated homes are also known as modular homes. These are assembled in a factory and then delivered to the construction site where they are put together. You can buy these houses from catalogues or from companies that specialize in this type of housing.
The process of picking from a catalogue means you have to find the house that fits your needs, order it, and wait for it to arrive to the construction site before you can start building it.
Prefabricated houses and modular houses have their own advantages and disadvantages. It’s important to understand these differences before you make your decision of buying one of them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, buying a turn-key building is great for people who are looking for a home that has everything they need and want. They don’t have to worry about the hassle of finding different contractors to install different things in the house.
The fear of inflation is currently a big topic, especially in Europe. This is not the only reason why the desire for an inflation-proof investment is greater than ever. Investors are therefore concerned with investing in real estate as a suitable protection against inflation.
But is this type of investment Inflation-Proof?
Real estate can be a good investment for a variety of reasons. It is a tangible asset that has the potential to grow in value over time. In addition, it can also serve as protection against inflation.
However, there are some risks associated with this type of investment as well. For example, if the market takes an unforeseen downturn and values drop, then your real estate investment will likely follow suit. In addition, if you are not financially able to afford the property or pay for its upkeep when necessary, then you might lose it to foreclosure or have to sell it for less than you paid for it.
In case of an inflation, tangible assets are worth more than their monetary value and can therefore offer owner-occupied real estate protection against inflation.
What is inflation?
Inflation is a term that is used to describe the rise in prices of goods and services. It is when the cost of living increases due to the increased availability of money.
When inflation occurs, it can affect people’s spending habits and their perceptions about their own finances. Inflation can also affect people’s investments, as well as their ability to buy certain products or services.
When this happens, there will be an increase in demand for goods and services which will cause prices to rise.
Less-dependent investment opportunities are generally regarded as inflation-proof investments. These include real estate, but also other tangible assets and precious metals.
What are the risks of investing in real estate in times of inflation?
The risk of investing in real estate is that the prices may not increase as predicted. This could be due to deflation, which would mean that prices would go down again.
Then the investor would lose money if they bought at a high price and then the price goes down.
Conclusion: Real Estate – Is It Inflation-Proof?
The answer to the question is not simple.
The real estate market is a very volatile one, and it can be difficult to predict how it will do in the future. It depends on the type of property you are investing in, and whether or not you are looking at a short-term investment or long-term one.
The extent to which investing in real estate to protect against inflation is worthwhile depends on the individual case. In general, owner-occupied, well-maintained properties are more likely to be inflation-proof, but inflation security can be difficult for properties that are rented out or in need of renovation.
The extent to which inflation protection applies to individual properties also depends on the purchase price and the supply and demand on the real estate market – not only on the development of inflation.
This article will provide an overview of the current state of the construction industry, as well as what to expect from it in the future.
Construction projects are a major source of employment and economic growth, but they’ve been lagging in recent years due to a number of factors. It’s important that we take a closer look at these factors so we can better understand how they affect our economy and what we can do about them.
The construction industry is a crucial part of the economy. Construction jobs are projected to grow by 10% through 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s also one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation.
How Higher Interest Rates Affect the Construction Industry
Construction is a cyclical industry, and the market is currently in a period of expansion. However, higher interest rates can affect the construction industry in two ways. Firstly, they can lead to higher mortgage rates which will increase the cost of home ownership. Secondly, they can lead to decreased demand for homes which will decrease new construction starts.
Age Effect
The age effect is a factor that can cause the demand for housing to change. The changing of the factors in the population over time can impact on what people are looking for when they look to buy or rent a home. For example, older people typically want larger homes with more space and amenities due to their health and declining mobility. Younger people, on the other hand, want single-family homes with smaller spaces. Market conditions can also impact home values, meaning a property may be worth more during a boom or less during a bust.
How Expensive Material Affects the Construction Industry
The construction industry is a business that is highly dependent on materials. The cost of these materials can have a significant impact on the profitability of the company.
The price of materials has skyrocketed in recent years due to inflation and scarcity. This has made it difficult for companies to keep up with demand, especially smaller companies that cannot afford to pay higher prices.
The prices of these materials are not expected to change anytime soon, so companies will need to find ways to work around this problem if they want to remain competitive in the market.
One idea that is to build with cheaper materials, for example rammed earth houses. It is environmentally friendly, usually available on site and available at very little cost.
How to Prepare for a Future with Higher Interest Rates and Expensive Material
The conclusion is that the future of the economy is uncertain. We can’t predict the future and we don’t know how it will change. It’s up to us to prepare for any possible scenario – for example to consider alternative construction methods – and be ready for anything.
The war in Ukraine has had a significant impact on most economies around the globe – therefore it comes as no surprise that it also affects house prices.
Higher House Prices Due to Inflation
Especially, the conflict has led to an increase in inflation rates, you probably already noticed it, no matter which country you live in. In some countries – due to this inflation – prices are increasing faster than wages. As a result, people are getting poorer and possibly can’t afford to buy houses anymore.
Many people already gave up looking for the cheapest property for sale. There still are some out there but usually those are in need of some work and further investment to be able to live in them or rent them out.
The cheap houses for sale, now seems to be those that were just a normal price before. Especially in bigger cities there is a shortage of housing. Also, when it comes to creating new housing, they are usually luxurious expensive stuff – as there is just a lot more money to be made.
How the War in Ukraine Affects House Prices of Newly builds
First the pandemic and now war, those has been major factors in the shortage of building materials. This in turn has led to a considerable increase in the price of new build houses all around the globe.
Also the increase in gas and energy prices have been a great hit in the market. Running machinery on the construction site, having to pay higher wages – all of this contributes to an considerable increase.
This might be felt stronger in some countries than in others.
What are the Effects of War on Housing Markets?
Housing markets are always affected by wars. The effects of war on the housing market depend on a lot of factors, including the duration and intensity of the war, the location of the war, and how it affects other countries and other aspects of life.
War can lift housing markets in some cases. For example, during World War II there was a shortage in construction materials like steel and timber. This led to higher prices for these materials and an increase in demand for homes as people wanted to buy houses before they became too expensive.
However, most wars have negative effects on housing markets. For example, during World War I there was an economic depression that led to lower demand for homes because people were not earning enough money to afford them.
Conclusion: The Impact of War on House Prices
The conflict has led to a significant shortage of houses and higher prices for those that are available. This is due to the increased cost of construction materials, as well as the number of refugees fleeing from the conflict zone. These people need housing but there is not enough supply, leading to higher prices and shortages.
If you have a house for sale, now is a good time to get a good price for us.
We all get old, that is just a fact. How do we imagine our future as an old person? Where do we like to live? Here we will look at two options: independent living such as in a retirement village and living in a nursing home.
What is a Retirement Village?
Retirement villages are a type of retirement home that provide accommodation and communal activities. For example, they offer meals, social activities, medical care and other services to the residents.
Retirement villages were originally designed for elderly people who wanted to live with others in their age group. But nowadays, there are many different types of retirement homes that cater to various needs. Some even offer houses for sale, that they buy back again if you don’t need it anymore.
What is a Nursing Home?
A nursing home is a residential institution for the care of elderly people. It provides medical and social assistance to those who, because of age or infirmity, are unable to live independently.
Nursing homes are also often called “retirement homes.” The term “nursing home” is not just a euphemism for an old-age home or rest home. It refers to the fact that many residents require nursing care.
What are the Benefits of Living in a Retirement Village?
Retirement villages offer a variety of benefits for those who are looking to live independently but still have a sense of community.
One of the benefits is that they provide on-site or nearby medical care. Retirement villages also provide socialization opportunities for their residents and also offer activities for them to do during the day.
What are the Benefits of Living in a Retirement Village?
Living in a retirement village is a great way to enjoy your golden years. Not only is it good for your mental and physical health, but it also offers many other benefits.
Some of the most popular benefits of living in a retirement village are:
-You don’t have to worry about maintaining your property
-You can live with other people who are at the same stage as you are and share advice, experiences, and knowledge
-You have access to amenities such as swimming pools, spas, gyms, etc.
What are the Benefits of Living in a Nursing Home?
Living in a nursing home can be a great option for seniors who are unable to live on their own. Here are some of the benefits of living in a nursing home:
1. A nursing home is an environment that is designed to help people with disabilities, illnesses or injuries live as comfortably and safely as possible.
2. Nursing homes provide 24-hour medical care, which can be difficult to find at other types of housing.
3. The staff at a nursing home is specifically trained to care for people with special needs and works around the clock to meet those needs.
4. Living in a nursing home allows seniors to remain connected with their loved ones because they are surrounded by friends and family members who visit often and share meals together on weekends or holidays.
What are the Drawbacks of Living in a Retirement Village?
The main drawback of living in a retirement village is that it is not for everyone. For example, if you are a person who likes to travel and explore the world, then this might not be the best choice for you. Retirement villages are usually located in a remote area with limited access to public transportation.
What are the Drawbacks of Living in a Nursing Home?
There are many drawbacks to living in a nursing home.
Some of the drawbacks that people find most difficult are the lack of privacy, the lack of independence, and being unable to control your own life.
Nursing homes have strict rules about what you can do and when you can do it.
Conclusion: Which is Better for You?
The answer to this question is not an easy one. It greatly depends on your needs and what you are looking for.
I believe most of us would choose the independent living option and enjoy a more independent life as long as possible. But what if you start needing a little extra help? Or maybe it is not you but your spouse who will need more professional care. Unfortunately, there is a lot of uncertainty about what exactly your needs will be when you are old. Will you wish for more company, help around the house, or a more intensive medical help? When planning your future, it would be good to keep all of this in mind.
A great idea is also those retirement villages that have a small nursing home on site just in case.
The expression “Secret Real Estate Agent” almost looks like it was borrowed from some action movie. In reality it is a little bit less spectacular but, without a doubt, equally exciting.
What is a Secret Real Estate Agent?
“Secret Real Estate Agent” – does not mean you do this profession without being registered. Of course, also a secret (real estate) agent has to be registered and fulfil everything that is required by law. By “secret” we mean, that the agent is not publicly advertising a specific property he or she was asked to sell. He/she may not even have a website or advertise the business and in many cases the main profession is another real estate related profession, such as architect or engineer.
They are usually approached by a client who asks if they may know someone who would be interested to buy one of their properties. And that’s the only way there are allowed to sell it, by offering it directly to someone.
This might seem strange at first, but among certain groups that is exactly what they want. The best to explain this is by giving an example.
Seller doesn’t want to look like he needs money
In many cases the properties in question are from rich families. Having a certain popularity and their place in society they like to give no reasons for gossiping.
Huge estates can cost a lot of money in maintenance, tax and so on… If they actually don’t use it anymore it makes sense to let it go. This is regardless of their financial situation – nobody likes to throw money out of the window, no matter how rich you are.
Of course, if people see the big family estate for sale, the first thing they may conclude is that the family is in financial difficulties – that’s how people start talking…
That’s why it is better to sell it secretly – through a secret real estate agent of course.
Or in another case, the seller might be having an apartment block for sale and he doesn’t want his tenants to find out. Also, he would approach such agent, who will then go and talk directly to investors who may be interested to buy.
How does a Secret Real Estate Agent sell?
The only way you are allowed to sell it, is by offering it directly to someone. Or in some cases you are allowed by the seller to advertise it in another country. Like this you can get a foreign buyer.
It is a far more difficult job than a regular agent. You need a pool of good contacts, including millionaires, investors … etc. But of course, it pays off big time as the properties that are sold this way usually have a high value. You can find foreign buyers by listing real estate internationally.
Are you one of those agents? Then drop us a line and let us know how did you get started? Do you have any advice?
All year long most of us are looking forward for the few weeks when we can go on vacation and finally embrace our true passion: travel. If we could prolong this to a few months it would be a dream come true. If you can’t work while travelling another way to be able to do this is through passive income.
The pursuit of passive income has become increasingly popular these days. No wonder, because it gives people the freedom to pursue their passions without relying on their salary for sustenance. So now, you can start a travel blog or create content for another website where you can share your experiences with others and make money at the same time! Writing about you experiences in a travel blog is top of the list on how to generate some passive income while you travel. Another big one is to rent out your home while you are away.
The Wealth of Experiences that can be Achieved on Full-Time Travel
A full-time traveller can visit one of the best places in the world. He can go to an exotic location and enjoy the culture. He can also go to places which are more offbeat and less visited.
The world is a very large place, and it is imperative that you make sure that you take time out for your own self-discovery. This will give you valuable life experiences which you will never forget.
Making Your Travel Dreams a Reality
The steps to make your dream a reality is about goal setting, investing, and the mindset shift.
First you need to set goals that are achievable in the next one, three, five or ten years. The rule is simple, if you don’t have goals, you will not achieve them.
Then you need to invest in yourself by learning new skills or strategies. And lastly you need to change your mindset because there is no such thing as “too late”. You can achieve anything!
Creating Your Own Path in Life while Embracing Every Moment Along the Way
You have to create your own path in life while at the same time embracing every moment along the way.
It’s time to take control of your life and start making choices that will define who you are. You have to be making decisions on a daily basis about what you want for yourself and for others. It’s also important to set goals for yourself so that you can move forward with your life instead of just drifting around aimlessly.
Full-Time Travel with Passive Income as the Ultimate Goal
Making full-time travel a reality is not everyone’s ultimate goal. This might be your goal if you’re an avid world traveller or if you like to explore new cultures and experience different lifestyles. Many people, though, want to do it because it seems so awesome and romantic. They might be retirees who want to spend their days doing what they enjoy the most after working for 40+ years and saving up for their retirement.
Achieving this ultimate goal will take a lot of time, effort, and money. Some people do it by saving up money while they’re still working and then quitting their jobs to travel the world while others work hard until they quit their jobs at 65 or 67 or whatever age that is in your country.
Of course, wasting all your life and energy to only achieve this goal at an advanced age seems a bit sad. That’s why some came up with a way of making this work before – with passive income.
Make Your Maths – How much passive income is needed?
The first thing to do would probably be to get your numbers right. How much money do you need every month to support yourself during your trips (food, accommodation, transport, travel insurance…)? How much money do you need to keep things back home?
The next thing would be to look at how much money you could possibly generate through passive income, such as renting out your home, having a travel blog etc. if the numbers don’t add up you might need some money and more time to build up more ways to generate passive income. On the other hand, you can also explore ways to save money on your travels, such as living in a van.
How Does the Van Life Work and How to Make it Work for You?
“Van life” is a popular lifestyle choice for those who are looking for a simpler life. You can find people living in vans all around the world. They are called “Van Dwellers.”
Van Dwellers choose this lifestyle not because they have no other choice, but because it best suits their needs. Living in a van lets them travel the world, be mobile and do what they want to do without having to answer to anyone else. The idea of living in a van is not only about the freedom and adventure, but also about saving money and enjoying sustainable living with minimal impact on environment.
Every summer, we can see hundreds of vans parked along the beaches where there are public toilets and showers. There is hardly any cheaper way to live.
How to Live in a Van and Travel Full-time on Low Budget
Some van dwellers will spend hours each day on Instagram and Facebook to document their adventures and share tips with others interested in joining the community. Of course, having an internet connection is a must.
If they have enough followers, they can also enjoy the financial benefit that comes with it. But what if you are not good at writing at all? Some choose to make certain investments that will give them passive income.
Investments You Can Make on a Low Budget
When you think of investing, you might think, “wow! That’s a lot of money.” But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, there are many low budget investments that can make a difference in your life.
The key to making the most out of your limited budget is to know what will give you the best return on your investment. You may be able to make a low investment and with your own work turn it into a big one. For example, if you are a handyman, you could look out for a cheap house. By putting in your own work you probably are able to sell it for a lot more later or even rent it out for good money, giving you a regular income to finance your travels.
Real estate Investments are one of the best ways to generate a regular passive income. Some people for example have looked up apartment blocks for sale as it is a lot easier to manage a whole block than to have apartments scattered around the country. Also, there are some management companies that can handle all issues that might come up with the tenants. By getting someone to look after your building you have a lot more time to enjoy your next travel adventures.
6 Other Ways You Can Get Passive Income
No matter if you want to travel the world or just like to have some more time with your loved ones. We all like to have a bit more money in our lives and there is a lot of opportunity these days with the rise of e-commerce and e-business. There are so many ways to make money from your home or van! Here are six ways that have been proven as lucrative by those who have tried them out:
1) Rent your property on Airbnb
2) Sell old clothes
3) Sell online courses
4) Invest in the stock market
5) Create an app or website that people use often and continue to pay for it with ads or subscriptions
Real estate investment is a great way to make a passive income with a lot of potential. But what should you do before starting your own business?
There are a few things that you should know before you start your own real estate investment firm. The first thing that you need to know is what kind of business model do you want to use? Do you want to work with investors as an information broker or as an investor yourself? If this is something that appeals to you, then it is important for you to understand the risks associated with both options.
The Current State of the Real Estate Industry
The real estate industry has been a longstanding and profitable industry that has been around for decades. The market has shifted over the years where more and more people are going to real estate investment firms to buy property because of their low capital requirements as well as the profitability of the trade.
Might sound like an oxymoron but a lot of people want to be a “real-estate agent” these days. They want to be an authority on all things real-estate, but what they don’t know is that there are many other ways for them to invest in the field without being an agent.
How does One Determine if they have Enough Funds or Credit Scores to Start an Investment Firm?
A strong investor with a successful track record is not the only requirement to start an investment firm. They also need to have enough funds or credit scores that are relevant for the type of investment they are starting.
There are many factors that one needs to take into account when considering investing in an investment start-up. One of the most important ones is your credit score and your ability to borrow funds for investment start-ups.
Introduction of Potential Investors in Your Real Estate Business Venture
The first step in getting potential investors is to have a plan. You need to write down all the risks, the benefits, what will the company look like after it’s been funded – basically everything that can go wrong and what could go right.
The next step is to find people who are interested in your project. This typically involves networking or reaching out on social media.
The third step is to create a pitch deck for potential investors who are thoroughly interested. A pitch deck typically includes financial information about your business, information about the team running it, and other important details about your company’s future goals.
Networking Strategies for Successful Real Estate Investors
Finding a network of people with the same interests and goals is one of the most important steps in becoming a successful real estate investor.
Networking is a broad term that means connecting with others to share knowledge, skills, and expertise. There are many different networking strategies for entrepreneurs who want to make connections with others in their field. In order to create successful connections, you need to be remarkably genuine and offer something of value in your interactions.
In addition, there are many ways for entrepreneurs to get started when it comes to networking. For example, you can go out and attend events that will allow you the opportunity to meet new people and potentially find potential connections in your field. You can also use sites like LinkedIn or Facebook groups for this purpose as well.
What are The Different Types of Property You can Invest In?
Owning property is an exciting prospect, but can also be daunting. There are many different types of property you can invest in, and the price ranges vary widely. To make it easier for you to narrow down your options, here are some of the most common.
There are four main kinds of properties that you can invest in: residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural properties. Residential properties are the most common type of property for people to buy because they require less work than other types when it comes to upkeep and they already come equipped with things like plumbing and electricity for your convenience. You may want to look for apartment blocks for sale.
Financing Your Investment Properties
Investing in property is not always the safest way to make money. However, it does offer a lot of investment opportunities and can be a great way to grow your wealth over time.
One of the most popular ways for investors to finance their properties is by taking out a loan from their bank. This option offers the simplicity of being able to get approved for up to 95% LTV on purchase or refinance transactions. The downside, however, is that you are not only securing your own house but also any other investments you have.
There are also many private lenders who offer financing options for real estate investors who have good credit scores and cash reserves set aside for their own down payment. As with any other investment opportunity, there are risks involved with private lending.
What Helps You Succeed as a Real Estate Investor?
It’s important to know that investing in real estate is not always an easy task. There are many ways to lose money and there are also many ways to make it. If you want to be successful as an investor, then the following tips will help you.
1. Do Your Research
Develop a game plan before you purchase your first property so that you’ll know exactly what you should buy and how much it will cost. You’ll also need to decide if you want the property for rental, flipping or long-term hold so that you can find the right place for your investment strategy.
2. Get Creative with Your Finances
It’s important that real estate investors have enough capital because their money is their most valuable asset in this business – they need enough of it to cover all ongoing expenses.
Irish housing estates are just lovely. Lots of green, space, cute houses and windy roads where kids are playing. They look like a perfect little village – the best place to raise a family with all modern comfort available. They are remarkable examples in many ways.
Most of these housing estates that fit this description are developed during the Celtic Tiger period. The “Celtic Tiger” is a term for the very successful Irish economy that emerged during the 1990s and reached its peak in 2000. Ireland made a remarkable transformation from a country of poverty to one of prosperity before the world economic crisis.
Remarkable design of Irish Housing Estates
It is outstanding that the Irish housing estates are designed in a way to promote safety, comfort and general wellbeing. This is achieved by introducing lots of curvy roads in the estates and have only one way in and out, avoiding fast traffic or having a lot of cars that would just pass through.
The houses are designed to the general liking – friendly and homy looking rather than modern. There are rules to implement public greens in the estate as well as dedicating a certain percentage of houses to an affordable living program. Like this also less fortunate families are integrated in the neighbourhood. By doing so, they are avoiding the development of poor neighbourhoods somewhere else that would come with a number of social problems attached.
The Celtic Tiger and the Real Estate Bubble
Image by Zotx on Pixabay
When Ireland’s growth began to slow down in 2007, there were many warnings that it would not be able to avoid the impending global recession.
In 2008, Ireland was hit by a severe financial crisis as its property market collapsed due to over-speculation and over-development. This is leading to a substantial rise in unemployment rates and substantial falls in wages.
Simply explained, the property bubble started due to a real estate shortage. That’s why many property developments were initiated, that lead to shortage of workers. As more workers were needed, many foreigners came to Ireland to work, who also needed housing… Slowly but surely this was blowing up the bubble.
As a result of the 2008 crisis, high unemployment rates lead to people leaving the country or in case of foreign workers, they would return to their home country. Therefore, no more housing was needed and Ireland was left with a situation of over-development.
How the Irish Government dealt with the Property Bubble
Successfully addressing the housing and property market in Ireland has been a major challenge. That’s why NAMA comes to play.
NAMA is the National Asset Management Agency of Ireland. Set up in 2009, they take on some of the burden of loans from Irish banks. They try to address the financial crisis that Ireland experienced in 2008. The main role of NAMA was to take on some of the burden of bad loans from Irish banks. Also, they try to address the financial crisis that Ireland experienced in 2008.
NAMA purchases assets from financial institutions for cash or bonds, aiming to reduce lending risks for banks and other financial institutions.
We Can Learn From The Irish Housing Estates
We can learn a lot of lessons from the Irish abandoned housing estates. It is important to keep in mind that these developments are still wonderful homes where people live. They will do so for decades to come.
What happened to the Irish housing estates is a good example to study further when it comes to urban planning decisions.
