Good afternoon folks, if you missed last week’s Sunday Property Round-Up, which was full of industry and tech/innovation news, you can catch up here: https://propertydistrict.ie/category/sunday-property-review/
For many reasons, The Sunday Times is the newspaper of choice today, but the most compelling reason is for ‘The Big Landlord Quiz’ by property editor Linda Daly on page 10 – it’s excellent!
Before we get started, I just want to draw your attention to two news items that might be of particular interest:
- Parking prices to go up in Dublin city (parking, traffic, inaccessibility, staff convenience are just a few of the reasons why Property District will be expanding to Citywest from April 1st, more details next month!) https://amp.breakingnews.ie/ireland/parking-prices-to-go-up-in-dublin-city-902305.html
- This is the start of it, only foolish organisations will ignore this: Housing developer fined for ignoring data request https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2019/02/housing-developer-fined-for-ignoring-data-request/
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 Listen: #PropertyMatters Tuesdays 6-7pm
As mentioned last week, Ireland’s first weekly property radio show, Property Matters, launched last month on Dublin South FM 93.9 and is now available internationally via iTunes and Spotify podcast (@iPropertyRadio). Seasoned political journalist and broadcaster, Bryan Fox, and I (Carol Tallon) team up to deliver 60 minutes of industry chat with guests from areas of planning, construction and property.
Guests this week included Robbie Dillon, Head of Residential at Savills to talk about the upcoming Irish property showcase in London; Healy Hynes of Beagel .io to discuss how home buyers and sellers are transitioning to online bidding for private treaty sales right across Ireland; and we were joined by Karen Muldowney of Shapoorji Pallonji, international engineering and construction giant, to discuss some of the issues facing the construction sector today.
*Listen back to #PropertyMatters here: https://anchor.fm/ipropertyradio
- Next Week:
Our guests next Tuesday 6-7pm include Colm Costello from JLL, Jim Urell from Property Button and Shane Dempsey from the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).
- We will also be talking about the big property stories of the week, and we will introduce a new planning round-up. You can email the show directly on hello@iPropertyRadio.com
- Speaking of on-demand listening: Interestingly, Steve Dempsey has an article in the Sunday Independent today headed ‘Streaming and a podcast boom may kill the radio star’. In the article, he cites figures that show podcasting as an unexpectedly massive part of Spotify’s growth and is causing users to spend more than double the time on their platform!
PLACEMAKING
Public Consultation and Community Engagement
I look forward to chairing the Urban Development Conference 2019, which takes place in Dublin in a few weeks. There is a great line-up of speakers who will present a range of ideas and proposed solutions to the challenges that population growth presents. The crossover of planning, property development, implementation of emerging technologies and rapidly changing user demands promises to make for an interesting discussion. I hope to see many of you there!
Details here: Urban Development Conference 2019: How we can bring our towns and cities back to life?
*One-day conference, Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. 21st February 2019*
Booking here: http://cmgevents.ie/events/urban-development-conference-2019/
- People interested in this conference are also likely to be interested in an interview with Ballymore’s Sean Mulryan on page 13 of the business section in The Sunday Business Post today.
- In recent months, I have written extensively about NIMBYism coming from our current politicians and senior broadcasters and the need for greater public consultation and community engagement when it comes to new development projects. In this vein, I note from an article in the SBP today that objections made by RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan husband were not upheld and their neighbours have now been granted planning to renovate and extend their family home in Rathmines (as is wholly appropriate).
- Readers’ blog: City planners reducing Cork history to rubble https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/yourview/readers-blog-city-planners-reducing-cork-history-to-rubble-902986.html
- Monkstown site given green light for 56 homes https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/monkstown-site-given-green-light-for-56-homes-1.3777610?mode=amp
- Petition launched by residents who want to stop demolition of historic pub https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/cuckoos-nest-tallaght-demolished-sdcc-15792845
- Gannon eyes huge Wexford housing project https://m.independent.ie/business/irish/gannon-eyes-huge-wexford-housing-project-37794612.html
- Landowners win legal battle over North-South power line https://www.rte.ie/news/ulster/2019/0208/1028350-north-south-power-lines/
*PLACEengage: The future of speedy, successful placemaking for property developers is here – Property developers and project owners ready Public Consultation are encouraged to contact the PLACEengage team for full details*
Other Property News
- One of the lead business stories in The Sunday Times, reported by Niall Brady, is that mortgage brokers have apparently been told to prepare for a “likely withdrawal of cashback incentives” by lenders this year. Given that these types of incentives usually cover up less favourable long-term interest arrangements, this is (in my opinion) a positive move for the marketplace.
- The same journalist also writes that Rebuilding Ireland has exhausted its three-year allocation of funding for the low-interest, State-backed mortgage scheme in only 12-months. Further funding is currently being sought.
- Gavin Daly reports on an ongoing case between developer Michael O’Flynn and ex-employee Patrick Cox involving a €60m deal that was “diverted” away from the group by the former employee. While there is nothing unusual about this dubious practice (it is, anecdotally, how many development companies get started), what is unusual is to have the legal case proceed to this stage rather than mediated and settled privately.
- In a story that is about to become a lot more common, Johnny Ronan’s RGRE is seeking to double the height of a proposed apartment tower at Spencer Place (7 storeys approved, now 13 sought). This will be an interesting planning application to watch.
- Ireland’s persistent rent crisis makes the front page of the Sunday Independent today, although there appears to be some good news on the horizon. While still at record high levels, rent prices are showing signs of slowing down for the first time in three years. A number of factors are contributing to this: improved supply of new homes, rent caps in RPZs, and, crucially, It seems that tenants in Ireland simply could not afford to pay any more. Finally. This is marginally good news for the half a million households (one-third of the country’s population) that are currently renting. Page 10 also carries a snapshot of rents nationally, courtesy of Daft. ie.
- In the property supplement of the SBP today, house-hunter Liz O’Kane gives a characteristically open and upbeat interview about her current role with Hunters Estate Agent and the thrill of property negotiations. As one of our very favourites in the industry, it’s great to Liz front and centre once again!
- Property: Welcome to the pop-up home https://www.metro.news/welcome-to-the-pop-up-home/1411660/amp/
- Take me to churches: Two properties for less than €215,000 https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/take-me-to-churches-two-properties-for-less-than-215-000-1.3785730?mode=amp
- Five gorgeous Dublin houses for less than €250,000 https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/property/dublin-cheap-house-property-sale-15779001.amp
- Home or abroad: Which cities can we afford to live in? https://www.irishtimes.com/business/personal-finance/home-or-abroad-which-cities-can-we-afford-to-live-in-1.3778993?mode=amp
- Housing market could be facing a hit in 2019 https://m.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/housing-market-could-be-facing-a-hit-in-2019-37776825.html
- Call for banks to cut mortgage rates as new figures reveal expense of Ireland’s home loans https://m.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/call-for-banks-to-cut-mortgage-rates-as-new-figures-reveal-expense-of-irelands-home-loans-37796053.html
- Home Economics: Our property finance expert answers your questionshttps://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/home-economics-our-property-finance-expert-answers-your-questions-37789215.html
- A century of housing: How the State built Ireland’s homes https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/a-century-of-housing-how-the-state-built-ireland-s-homes-1.3785939?mode=amp
- Should the State stop building social housing? https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/should-the-state-stop-building-social-housing-1.3783268?mode=amp
- Almost 40,000 mortgage holders hit by tracker scandal as numbers of those affected rises – Independent.ie https://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/almost-40000-mortgage-holders-hit-by-tracker-scandal-as-numbers-of-those-affected-rises-37780579.html
- No social homes in State’s tallest apartment block in Dublin docklands https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/no-social-homes-in-state-s-tallest-apartment-block-in-dublin-docklands-1.3783193?mode=amp
- Social housing price caps need to be dropped for docklands https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/social-housing-price-caps-need-to-be-dropped-for-docklands-1.3785992?mode=amp
- DCC set to abandon rapid build home plan over high cost https://www.rte.ie/amp/1027635/
- Government urged to ‘apply more dynamic thinking’ to solving housing crisis https://www.thejournal.ie/housing-crisis-brexit-4482671-Feb2019/?amp=1
- Construction worker productivity decline linked to lack of foremenhttps://www.independent.ie/business/irish/construction-worker-productivity-decline-linked-to-lack-of-foremen-37790659.html
- Attempts to protect construction sector from Brexit https://www.rte.ie/news/brexit/2019/0207/1028136-brexit-construction-sector/
- Dublin apartment complex residents considering ‘rent strike’ https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/dublin-apartment-complex-residents-considering-rent-strike-1.3784260?mode=amp
- An apprenticeship is not simply for those who ‘don’t get the points’ for university: Construction Industry calls for an end to snobbery on trades https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/An-apprenticeship-is-not-simply-for-those-who-dont-get-the-points-for-university-Construction-Industry-calls-for-an-end-to-snobbery-on-trades-ab103e8b-38f0-4913-a0b2-cfeb3a818304-ds
- Gridlock fears as three major construction projects begin in Cork this monthhttps://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Gridlock-fears-as-three-major-construction-projects-begin-in-Cork-this-month-4daa4a2b-31af-4656-b2ca-7cb2f99a555c-ds
- IDA put out call for tenders on €10m centre at Limerick technology parkhttps://www.limerickleader.ie/news/home/362979/ida-put-out-call-for-tenders-on-10m-centre-at-limerick-technology-park.html
Agile Agent – Digital Transformation for Independent Estate Agents
Sales Training
We are delighted to play host to one of Ireland’s top sales trainers for an intensive day of industry-specific sales training for independent estate agents later this month. This training will be held in County Carlow (instead of our usual Citywest) to facilitate agents in the South and South East of the country. Email for further details and availability: info@propertydistrict.ie
Also, Agile Agent Q2 Programme updates here:
To get involved and for free Proptech Prompts, please
Proptech and Construction Innovation
- 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: PROPTECH INNOVATORS 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. Also, we are on a mission to get every Irish construction and property technology business registered on the global proptech database UNISSU. More details here:https://prop-tech.ie/global-proptech-data-platform-unissu-com-is-launched/
- RICS – Future of Surveying: Disruption is impacting on the industry at a rate faster than ever before. The RICS consulted on this recently, as a professional body, with a responsibility to lead, through both ideas and actions. The infographic above summarises the responses to the question ‘Is technology impacting on your role’ – with a high % of the view it will More info can be found at https://lnkd.in/gwBpfpj
- PlaceTech | VTS: How to start getting in shape for digital world https://placetech.net/analysis/vts-how-to-start-getting-in-shape-for-digital-world/amp/
- How This Former Humanitarian Is Leveraging Cutting-Edge Technology In Real Estatehttps://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylrobinson/2019/02/04/clelia-warburg-peters-real-estate/#7f6bdf0b394e
- Cornish estate agent quits high street AND Rightmove in same week https://thenegotiator.co.uk/cornish-estate-agent-quits-high-street-and-rightmove-in-same-week/
- Why I Left Google for PropTech | Propmodo https://www.propmodo.com/why-i-left-google-for-proptech/
- Firms recast their future in proptech http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Real_Estate/30363466
- Trends and Technology Shaping the Housing Market – DSNews https://dsnews.com/daily-dose/02-07-2019/trends-and-technology-shaping-the-housing-market
- Ordnance Survey and Land Registry unveil new £10,000 grants for proptech firms – Property Industry Eye https://www.propertyindustryeye.com/ordnance-survey-and-land-registry-unveil-new-10000-grants-for-proptech-firms/
- Berlin-based proptech startup Architrave secures €2M to digitalise real estate documentation | Silicon Canals https://siliconcanals.nl/news/startups/contech-proptech/berlin-based-proptech-startup-architrave-secures-e2m-to-digitalise-real-estate-documentation/
- PropTech can help prevent fraud – here’s how… https://www.estateagenttoday.co.uk/sponsored-content/2019/2/proptech-can-help-prevent-fraud–heres-how
- Thai real estate firms recast their future in property technology, Post Property, Phnom Penh Post https://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-property/thai-real-estate-firms-recast-their-future-property-technology
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) was rebranded 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/