It has been another relatively quiet week for industry news. Below is a selection of the main stories of the week together with highlights from the broadsheets today – in between coverage of the Pope’s visit. If you missed last week’s Sunday Property Round-Up, which was packed with construction technology and proptech news, you can catch up here: https://propertydistrict.ie/sunday-property-round-up-august-19th-2018/
As always, you might let me know if I have missed out on any relevant property news by emailing carol@caroltallon.com.
(Apologies in advance for any typos, it’s difficult to get good help on a Sunday. Also, I use voice to text dictation so just sound out anything that really doesn’t make sense in a strong rural accent and that should help!)
Sunday Read/Watch
For estate agents who think that industry marketing hasn’t changed with the rise of #proptech, this HouseSimple pop at PurpleBricks might change your mind…
The Agile Agent
Getting Ireland’s property marketplace digital by default
Final call for estate agents and auctioneers across Ireland to apply for ‘The Agile Agent’ 12-month digital transformation programme, which will kick off in September. This programme will be delivered by a multi-disciplinary Irish and UK team and will go beyond proptech adoption to help agents get their industry digital by default. The ‘buddy system’ is something that we have been trialling among a few existing clients in an informal way and when it works, that is to say, when trust is formed and real sharing starts to happen, it is great for both agencies. By the way, this is something that I encourage all agents (and all businesses for that matter!) to try out, it can be a great resource, like an experienced but objective sounding board.
For further programme details and free monthly Proptech Prompts, please
Other Property News
- It’s that time of the year again – the great student accommodation scramble. I joined a number of the student unions’ accommodation officers on the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk to discuss alternative options for frustrated students and their stressed-out parents. Listen back here: https://www.newstalk.com/listen_back/13240/47126/21st_August_2018_-_The_Pat_Kenny_Show_Part_1/
- Number of new homes built up 30%, CSO figures show https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/number-of-new-homes-built-up-30-cso-figures-show-1.3603079
- 13,000 house builds started https://amp-irishexaminer-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/13000-house-builds-started-864176.html
- More than 70 homes in Dublin docklands on sale for €52.5m https://www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/over-70-homes-in-dublin-docklands-on-sale-for-52-5m-1.3601995?mode=amp
- Insurer Friends First buys Eyre Square building for €22m https://www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/insurer-friends-first-buys-eyre-square-building-for-22m-1.3602427?mode=amp
- In the Sunday Independent today Ronald Quinlan reports that Hickeys Heuston site on Parkgate Street in Dublin 8 has been sold for a sum in excess of €30 million.
- The commercial property editor also reports that a high profile site in Foxrock with planning permission for 20 apartments has now been sold for €3.6 million.
- Also, Bowbeck DAC has apparently applied for fast-track planing permission to build 250 new homes on a 6.42 acre site in Carrickmines.
- The lead story in The Sunday Times today is by Brian Carey and Gavin Daly. They report that the McKillen family is apparently in exclusive talks to buy the former Clerys Department store on O’Connell Street in Dublin 1 from Natrium consortium (Deirdre Foley). The guide price is €61.4 million.
- Also, Scanlon (Kieran Gannon) has apparently moved to buy a 6.6 acre site in Drumcondra with planning for 358 homes together with commercial space for €30 million.
- Gavin Daly confirms that Johnny Ronan has submitted revised plans for the proposed Tara Street tower, after his previous application was rejected.
- Utilities Owning Departments Of Transport Is Not A Crazy Idea | ETS Insights https://etsinsights.com/insights/utilities-owning-departments-of-transport-is-not-a-crazy-idea/
- Merrion Hotel owners pay €11.2m for two apartments in new wing https://www-irishtimes-com.ampproject.org/c/s/www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/merrion-hotel-owners-pay-11-2m-for-two-apartments-in-new-wing-1.3604210?mode=amp
- U+I Launches Landmark Donnybrook House Development | | Irish Building Magazine.ie | Ireland’s Leading Construction News & Information Portal https://www-irishbuildingmagazine-ie.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.irishbuildingmagazine.ie/2018/08/23/ui-launches-landmark-donnybrook-house-development/amp/
- Cork is looking up with skyscraper developments on the horizon https://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Cork-is-looking-up-with-skyscraper-developments-on-the-horizon-ae75ee32-4569-41da-9c70-12a233cb1c96-ds
- Welcome to the Liberties: New students get a taste of inner city Dublin life https://www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/welcome-to-the-liberties-new-students-get-a-taste-of-inner-city-dublin-life-1.3605846?mode=amp
- Construction-related courses show increase in interest https://www-irishtimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/education/construction-related-courses-show-increase-in-interest-1.3087951?mode=amp
- Value of Dublin office deals beats top UK regional cities by 78pc https://amp-independent-ie.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/amp.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/value-of-dublin-office-deals-beats-top-uk-regional-cities-by-78pc-37229337.html
- We may be on verge of a global financial crisis | David McWilliams http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/we-may-be-on-verge-of-a-global-financial-crisis/
- HUD complaint accuses Facebook ads of violating Fair Housing Act https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/19/hud-complaint-accuses-facebook-ads-of-violating-fair-housing-act/?guccounter=1
- ‘A good wander unveils the wonder of a city’: readers on urban walking https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/aug/06/a-good-wander-unveils-the-wonder-of-a-city-readers-on-urban-walking
- Thomas Street: A Terrace Reborn – The Liberties http://libertiesdublin.ie/thomas-street-a-terrace-reborn/
- Europe Construction Equipment Market to garner lucrative proceeds over 2018-2024: Global Market Insights, Inc.http://industrynews360.blogspot.com/2018/08/construction-equipment-market.html?m=1
Proptech and Construction Innovation
- 2018 PropTech That Is Changing The Commercial Property Industry and Jobs: https://www.deverellsmith.com/proptech-that-is-changing-the-commercial-property-market-in-2018/
- Advancing Real Estate Into The 21st Century – International Blockchain Real Estate Association: https://www.ibrea.network/
- REBNY launches PropTech Challenge, Global Virtual Hackathon Series | Real Estate Weekly http://rew-online.com/2018/08/22/rebny-launches-proptech-challenge-global-virtual-hackathon-series/
- Expedia Is Coming After Airbnb, Booking in Home-Rental Market https://www-bloomberg-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2018-08-08/expedia-is-coming-after-airbnb-booking-in-home-rental-market
- International proptech accelerator open for applications: AcceliCITY
As recently reported, Proptech Ireland has been selected to partner with Boston-based Leading Cities organisation to innovate technology-driven solutions for Smart Cities. This is a massive leap forward for Ireland-based innovators, who will have the opportunity to pitch their planning, construction and property solutions to cities all around the world. It is also important validation for the work coming from this emerging sector. This takes a decade of ‘Smart City’ initiatives to the next exciting level. Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny was recently appointed to the Global Advisory Board and the global accelerator program AcceliCITY will now have a delivery based here in Ireland, in addition to the Boston program and Barcelona Smart City EXPO: http://buildingirelandmagazine.ie/proptech-ireland-selected-to-partner-with-boston-based-organisation-to-innovate-technology-driven-solutions-for-smart-cities/
- AcceliCITY Challenge Deadline Looms – Monday 27th August | Smart & Resilient Cities via @LeadingCities
https://www.smartresilient.com/accelicity-2018-deadline
- Are you an Irish-led or Ireland-based #proptech business? If so, please take five minutes to add or update your details to our internationally-shared listing here: SIGN UP: http://prop-tech.ie/proptech-innovators-ireland/ and to keep up-to-date on all things tech and innovation for the planning, construction and property industries, head over to http://www.prop-tech.ie, the national resource website for innovators, investors and mentors or email news@proptech.ie .
Crowd-sourcing: New Facebook Group for Irish Property Buyers & Investors
As many of you might know, my annual property book The Irish Property Buyers’ Handbook (since 2011) has undergone a rebrand for 2018 and will now appear as part of The Property Insider series, published by Oak Tree Press, the first three titles are now published and available here.
For the first time, the 2019 edits will be crowd-sourced and will include home-buyer and investor queries, with crowd-sourced and editorial team answers. Join the Facebook Group here to contribute: https://www.facebook.com/groups/IrishPropertyBuyers/