New Life, New Home - JLL Research

New life, new home?

Has the Covid-19 altered our housing needs?

July 2020 Research Publication | Living | Portugal

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According to the survey released to the Portuguese population by JLL, as a direct impact of the pandemic ...

43%

A 22 pp increase in respondents who have come to consider the existence of a “Private outdoor space” as very important (compared to the pre-covid period)

would look for a new home as a result of the

24% increase compared to the period

pandemic – a before the pandemic

A 20 pp increase in respondents who have come to consider the existence of a “Private work space” as very important (compared to the pre-covid period)

15% would move away from the urban centre

49%

would make adjustments in the home, of which:

51% 34% 33%

intend to create an office space intend to upgrade the outdoor area intend to redecorate the house

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Sample of participants

1,376 which:

Age Group 32%

34%

survey respondents, of

13%

59%

41%

Female

18 - 24

Male

The house is...

Alone

With husband / wife or partner

2% With friend(s)

With husband / wife or partner and children

With parents

35 - 44

45 - 54

55 - 65

+ 65

The residence area is...

14%

10%

5%

25 - 34

25%

55% 17%

5%

2%

Living circumstances...

11%

13%

59%

With children

27%

75%

1% Rented

Other

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Own home

Urban Centre

City suburbs

Not in a city

Changing home and priorities In early March 2020, Covid-19 arrived in Portugal and quickly began to spread throughout the country.

A few weeks later came social confinement that led to the closure of many companies, schools, restaurants, stores and offices. To contain and fight the virus, the country went into lockdown and the Portuguese population locked themselves at home.

The home that, for many, represented merely the basic functions of “eating and sleeping�, became, from suddenly, the place where everything happens, accumulating both the functions of work and leisure.

This enormous challenge at a personal, family and professional level, led to the need for new solutions to facilitate and adapt the homes to the multiplicity of purposes they had to meet. It was with this in mind that JLL challenged the Portuguese to respond to a survey regarding their homes to understand what changes the confinement brought about, and which will remain in the future.

Given your experience at home during the pandemic, would you make adjustments to your current home?

49%

51%

49% would make home adjustments, of which: 51% 34% 33%

Yes

intend to create an office space intend to upgrade the outdoor area intend to redecorate the house

No

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What adjustments would you make?

With scarce outings and only allowed for specific purposes like the supermarket, to walk pets or for professional reasons, the house has become the office, the school, the health centre, the entertainment space, the resting space, the place of silence and the place of chaos.

Professional life, and the challenges added by the pandemic, was mixed with day-to-day tasks, to which others were added such as an overload in domestic tasks, remote school monitoring and even more attentive care for family members at risk or ill.

The way in which this time was lived was inevitably marked not only by the way we interacted towards whom we lived with, but also by the spaces that were available for our use, the comfort they provided, access to technology and the services that were available to us at close by location wise.

The results of this survey aim to unveil the new concerns that have arisen and the way in which the homes of the future must accommodate the structural changes imposed by this experience.

51%

31%

33%

32%

34%

25% 18%

Expand the home

Almost half of the respondents would make changes to their home, the main change being the creation of an office space. Combined with the trend towards remote working, this seems to be a fundamental issue at a time when a transformation is expected both in the time we spend at home and in the way we regard our homes. They cease to be an end-of-day resting space, often with a purely utilitarian perspective, to be a space where comfort, leisure and the accommodation of a wider range of activities must be possible to exist.

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Improvement in internet conditions

Renovation works for upgrade in energetic efficiency

New decoration

Upgrades in outdoor areas

Office space

Gym space

Conclusion 1 Changes within the home but not in the lifestyle

Were you looking for a new home before the pandemic?

Of the respondents, 43% would move home as a result of the confinement, whereas before the pandemic, only 19% wanted to move.

43%

19%

Will the pandemic mean a step back from the Urbanization trend? Will we now prioritize a life outside the big cities, along with a strong possibility of great adherence to remote work (both from employees and the companies) in the post covid era?

Respondents who live outside cities are nevertheless the most averse to change, which reveals the well-being associated with life in these places.

Did you know: According to a 2019 United

Nations report “the world population is increasingly urban and it is estimated that 76% would live in urban centres by 2030 (in 2019 it was 50%) �

24%

81%

Yes

Yes

No

No

As a direct impact of the pandemic would you move within the next two years?

Suburbs

Yes - to a similar zone

57% Yes - outside the city centre

15%

Where you currently live

International experts from the World Economic Forum believe that the pandemic could somehow reverse the trends of globalization and urbanization, slowing the growth of cities, given the new motivation to live in large spaces with less people. However, the pandemic, despite evidencing some needs for change in our homes, did not impact enough to change our lifestyle - according to the results of this survey, only 15% would move away from cities / urban centres.

As a direct impact of the pandemic would you move within the next two years?

58%

16%

72%

Does not live in a city

6%

20%

8%

20%

4%

Yes - to a more central and urban area

49%

would make adjustments in the home, of which:

51% want to create an office space

City centre

52% No

16% 3%

29%

Yes - outside the city centre

Yes - to a more central area

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Yes – to a similar area

34% intend to upgrade the outdoor area

33%

intend to redecorate the home

Conclusion 2 Priorities that change as a result of the pandemic The “post covid” home will reflect a space reimagined in order to accommodate priorities that came about with the intense living experience in homes that were not conceived to serve moments such as the ones we are going through. New needs have become apparent, thus despite the certainty that the home’s main function will always be related to the personal day-to-day, it’s a given that school, work and even leisure will continue to take place mostly outside the residence.

So what are the biggest changes, what are the new priorities? The greatest increase is the possibility of having a private outdoor space. The search for outdoor spaces was a growing reality before the pandemic and the confinement only intensified the importance attributed to these spaces. Remote work was also a growing trend, intensified by the pandemic, reflected in a 20% growth in the need for an area of the home destined for work. The capacity and speed of the internet scored third place, an increasingly relevant factor both inside and outside the home.

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Natural light Reduced noise Temperature

+18pp

Powerful Internet (fast / constant) Energetic efficiency Kitchen size Modern home appliances

+22pp

Private outdoor space Extra room Private space for work

+20pp

Outdoor area in the condominium Condominium pool or gym Storage space Private parking Proximity to quality schools Proximity to public transport Proximity to parks / green areas Proximity to convenience and take away services Post - Covid Pre - Covid

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Did you know: In the last 3 months, during the

The most important factors in the Before, During and Post confinement periods

pandemic, JLL experienced a 24% increase in sales and rentals of homes with a terrace/outdoor area.

With an average rating above 3.5 (from 0 to 5) – i.e., it’s always been and will be ‘important’ or ‘very important’ before, during and after covid

Proximity to parks / green areas

Energetic efficiency

Powerful Internet

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Natural light

Reduced noise

Private outer space

Temperature

Conclusion 3 Remote work as the biggest driver of change in home spaces During the confinement, many were forced to work from home. This experience is far from representing a typical picture of remote work, but it will accelerate a reality that was bound to happen sooner or later - the massification of remote work.

The results reflect a clear preference for remote work on the part of younger generations: 70% of participants aged between 25 and 44 would like to work from home between 1 to 3 days a week. Older generations, on the other hand, prioritise presence in the office with more than 30% of participants aged between 55 and 65 or more never expressing a preference for working from home.

+20%

Increase in the number of respondents who started to consider as very important the existence of a “Private space for work”.

Did you know:

According to the Remote Work survey conducted by JLL, the results of which were published in the “Remote Work in Portugal” study, 84% of respondents value working from home for professional reasons and 86% mentioned a good adaptation of companies to remote work during the pandemic.

This way, the need for a workspace has gained a significant relevance, which, as we saw earlier, reflected a 20% increase in priorities when looking for a new home.

In home design and organization, the main idea is to minimize distractions and adapt the space for work calls (minimize background noise and have an appropriate setting), creating comfortable spaces that provide conditions for maximum productivity and at the same time a sense of evasion and for a ‘pause’, thus permitting a balance between personal and professional life.

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The willingness for remote work How many days did you work from home before the pandemic?

59%

of the participants did not work from home any day of the week before

the pandemic

84%

believe it would be ideal to work from home at least one day per week

Pre-covid

Post-covid

16%

14%

2%

6%

4%

7%

21%

14%

29% 59%

14% 16%

Never

1 day per week

2 days per week

3 days per week

4 days per week

5 days per week

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How many days would you like to start working from home after the pandemic?

Conclusion 4 The increasing importance of leisure spaces Given the impossibility of leaving home during the confinement, we witnessed, literally from one day to the next, a huge increase in the value given to outdoor spaces. These spaces not only provide the feeling of freedom that one feels outdoors, but can also be places for physical exercise or even to relax and have fun.

This is confirmed by the factors that gained more importance right behind the work spaces: the private outdoor spaces, the condominium pool or gym, or even the outdoor areas in a private condominium. But it is the private outdoor spaces that gain importance with a 20 percentage point increase in the degree of importance among the participants. Those living in an apartment were naturally the ones who began to attribute a greater value to this factor - increasing 23% when compared to those who already lived in a townhouse or isolated home, where the increase was only 5% and 3%, respectively.

As expected, those who rated these spaces as the most important were the respondents who live, ‘with husband / wife or partner / partner and children’ and ‘with parents’. In contrast, those who live ‘with friend (s)’ attribute less importance to these spaces, despite valuing the existence of a gym.

The home is more and more the place where dreams of a lifetime are generated. If pre-covid, the criteria was more marked by a utilitarian and daily perspective, there is currently a notorious concern related to well-being and leisure.

Condominium Swimming pool or gym

+9pp Pre-covid

Outdoor area in private condominium

+11pp Post-covid

Outdoor space

+22pp

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

% of qualification Very important

Of the most important, depending on who one lives with, from 1 to 5, how do these spaces quantify

4,4

4,1

4,0

4,1

1,8

2,7

2,7

3,0

3,0

2,7

2,6

2,5

2,6

2,8

With friend(s)

With child(ren)

With husband/ wife or partner

3,4

11

With With parents husband/ wife or partner and children

3,8

Private outdoor space

2,5

Outdoor area in private condominium

2,3

Alone

Condominium Swimming pool or gym

Conclusion 5 Investing in a resilient market 49% of respondents have already invested or plan to invest in residential real estate, which reflects their confidence in this market as an investment alternative.

The main factors to take into account remain those of the past.

Location and price dictate the rules. But there is an increasing demand for properties with outdoor areas, parking and a preference for small types.

Have you already invested or do you plan to invest in residential real estate?

If so, what are the top 3 property search criteria

51% 33%

42% 59 %

16%

Location / neighbourhood

Existence of outside area

Price

Private parking

Small typologies

New / refurbished

Large typologies

View

Condominium

Facade

12% 8%

Yes, to rent

Yes, to sell in the future

2% 15%

No

16% 22%

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4%

8%

A vision of Europe JLL EMEA team launched a similar survey to all its employees across 15 countries as a result of which 2000 responses were obtained.

• The biggest conclusions are that almost half (46%) of the participants want to move home as a direct result of the pandemic experience. Before the pandemic, only 30% considered to move homes. A greater effect among those who live in cities (52%) and apartments (54%). It was in southern Europe and Poland that this choice prevailed.

• Almost half (43%) intend to make changes to their homes as a result of the pandemic, with improvements in decoration (79%) and modernization of outdoor spaces (38%) at the top of the priorities. The youngest age groups (18-34 years) were those who most appointed these preferences.

• More than two thirds of respondents (69%) already work intermittently from home, the high percentage of which intend to continue, the majority opting for 1-2 days a week.

• At a European level, the effects of the confinement and working from home are also obvious, as can be concluded from our survey to the Portuguese population. In the centralized European survey, results show that priorities at home also include an increase in the importance of outdoor spaces, private spaces for work and internet speed. Interestingly, the importance of proximity to public transport has fallen in all countries.

Top 5 post-covid priorities Benelux Private outdoor space Natural light Air quality Temperature Strong Internet Energetic efficiency Modern home appliances Noise Extra room Private work space Proximity to green spaces Proximity to public transport Proximity to quality schools Proximity to convenience services

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France

Germany

United Kingdom & Ireland

Poland

Southern Europe (PT, ES, IT)

Conclusions More comfortable and leisure-oriented houses that allow any family member to have their own space whenever possible

Therefore, it may be time to reconsider more sustainable alternatives. Sustainable and self-sufficient houses in energy and water: the buildings of the future will be independent, from detached houses to apartment buildings, they may even have their own water and energy source as security.

Small autonomous stations generating alternative energy will become a reality with the larger purpose of one day, if necessary, being able to survive independently from the outside world and minimizing the risks of a general shutdown or suspension of services.

A pandemia trouxe um novo modo de viver e por isso nem tudo voltará a ser como dantes – A casa do “pós covid” terá os seus espaços reimaginados de modo a acomodar prioridades que se criaram com a intensa vivência durante o confinamento.

No aspect of the house loses importance

More outdoor spaces

A major conclusion of the study is that all aspects of the house, gained importance, even if slightly.

Time for a ‘break’ has always been and will always be very important for each one’s wellbeing. Outdoor spaces, from a balcony to gardens with a swimming pool, as long they are private or have limited access to the condominium, provide something that everyone enjoys and needs, without breaking the social distance. Some grass, flower pots and garden chairs may be enough to create the feeling of being ‘on the street’, to enjoy quality family time, to have meals or even a little conversation with others without compromising the safety distance.

Spaces dedicated to remote work gain priority and are associated with greater sustainability With many positive meanings associated, namely, another barrier that falls between work and personal life making it healthier (there is evidence in the recent JLL publication ‘Remote Work in Portugal’ that working from home is positive for our well-being); Daily trips to the office are reduced, which in addition to decreasing stress due to hours spent in transport or traffic, reduces our ecological footprint.

An opportunity for investors and promoters

With confinement, naturally, the consumption of water, electricity and gas increased considerably, and consequently the monthly costs associated to these essential goods

The residential market has been seen as one of the most resilient markets during the pandemic. According to official data from Confidencial Imobiliário, prices remained stable with house prices rising 0.9% in May. Also, with this survey we were able to provide the market with a vision of the new priorities for those looking for a home.

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Contacts

Maria Empis

Patrícia Barão

maria.empis@eu.jll.com

patricia.barao@eu.jll.com

Head of Strategic Solutions

Head of Residential

© 2020 Jones Lang LaSalle IP, Inc. All rights reserved. The information contained in this document is proprietary to JLL and shall be used solely for the purposes of evaluating this proposal. All such documentation and information remains the property of JLL and shall be kept confidential. Reproduction of any part of this document is authorized only to the extent necessary for its evaluation. It is not to be shown to any third party without the prior written authorization of JLL. All information contained herein is from sources deemed reliable; however, no representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy thereof.

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