Many employers have found that their operations are not negatively affected by remote operations , and some are even enhanced . When employees are notified they will continue to operate remotely indefinitely , they are free to live anywhere in the world that has access to an internet connection .
($ 2,380 for a two-bedroom apartment in San Francisco in November 2020 , a 25.5 percent decrease compared to the previous year , according to Apartment List ). But rents still aren ’ t as low as they are in Sacramento ($ 1,781 for a two-bedroom apartment in October 2020 , according to Rent Jungle ).
The location of the residence is another one of those changes . Many employers have found that their operations are not negatively affected by remote operations , and some are even enhanced . When employees are notified they will continue to operate remotely indefinitely , they are free to live anywhere in the world that has access to an internet connection . A significant number of Bay Area workers have chosen to move to the Capital Region , with some deciding to go further to Reno or near Lake Tahoe , since that still makes it relatively easy to go to the Bay Area for a meeting when needed .
Here are the main trends with homeowners today :
1 In addition to more flexibility on geographical location , buyers are also shunning certain types of properties . Due to the fear of the spreading of infectious diseases , some are steering away from upper-level apartments or condominiums that are served by elevators . They also are avoiding buildings that have interior hallways for front-door access . The threat of the virus and disease causes them to want to be able to isolate from their neighbors . When they step out of their front door , they want to be outside .
2 What many buyers are looking for are larger single-family detached homes with yards spacious enough to be able to enjoy with their families . Some are looking for space to put in a swing set so they don ’ t have to go to the local park . Some want a pool or space for a pool to avoid going to the fitness center . Buyers are also looking for enough room inside to set up a home office or exercise room . The experience with remote work coupled with remote schooling has demonstrated that the new home needs to have sufficient space to be able to isolate those activities to be a functional and happy home .
3 Some homeowners who don ’ t move are considering adding on or renovating their property to meet some of those identified needs . Some of the easier fixes are upgrading to a higher speed internet connection or replacing the current air filters in the heating and cooling system with superior filters to remove more of the particulate matter from the air . For those willing to take on more ambitious projects , they may be looking at providing room for the home office or gym , either by adding on or by reallocating existing space .
How long these trends will continue remains to be seen . We should expect that for the near future , there is going to be pressure for more development in the suburbs to be able to supply the type of housing buyers are seeking . That would normally be of concern regarding the increase in commute miles , but with more people working remotely , the actual number of commute miles should be reduced significantly . Working remotely may turn out to be a benefit for the environment for the long term .
Dave Tanner is CEO of the Sacramento Association of Realtors . Tanner , a longtime Sacramento real estate executive and attorney , has served on the board of directors of SAR , California Association of Realtors and National Association of Realtors .
How has your home environment changed since the start of the pandemic ?
TWEET US @ COMSTOCKSMAG
January 2021 | comstocksmag . com 25