Welcome to the first Sunday Property Round-Up of 2019. Industry news across all broadsheets today is relatively light, most has already been covered throughout the week and is included below.
The Sunday Times is the newspaper to pick up today if you have an interest in residential property prices in Dublin. Today’s edition includes the Property Price Guide 2019: Part One – Dublin (next week’s paper will include the regional price guide). While useful, there are no surprises here in terms of the prices disclosed. Happily, there are colour pieces by local residents including David Norris, Rachael English and Holly White that most people will enjoy and lots of short, interesting articles.
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/
Before we get started, I want to draw your attention to the following:
- Global proptech database UNISSU goes live today!
This is the most comprehensive resource for planning, construction and property professionals looking for innovative solutions and to get a sense of changes coming down the track, nationally and globally. Crucially, there is an Irish discussion forum for proptech innovators, users and investors. This might be a good opportunity for estate agents in Ireland to speak directly to proptech companies designing solutions
Here is a feature on the Irish contribution to the evolution of PropTech globally in 2019:
https://www.unissu.com/resources/Irish-Contribution-to-the-Evolution-of-PropTech-Globally-in-2019
*Log in or sign up here for access: UNISSU *
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
Chinese solution to an Irish problem?
‘Hong Kong plans to build islands for new homes – Finance & Commerce’
https://finance-commerce.com/2019/01/hong-kong-plans-to-build-islands-for-new-homes/
Then Healy Hynes shared this Celtic Tiger flashback (honestly, I thought it was by the Waterford Whispers gang!):
PLACEMAKING
Public Consultation and Community Engagement
It’s a placemaking bonanza across the broadsheets today…
In the business section of The Sunday Times today, Gavin Daly reports that ‘Thousands of new homes in the pipeline from property giants: An Board Pleanala to fast-track strategic housing schemes’. He is referring to the “flurry of applications and consultations with An Board Pleanala” (ABP) as follows:
- Adwood (Mick Whelan), 624 houses and 354 apartments in Corkagh Demense, Clondalkin.
- Marlet, 438 apartments and 403 student beds at Belgard West.
- Greenacre Residential (Pat Doherty/Harcourt), 488 apatrments at Fortunestown Lane, Saggart.
- Dwyer Nolan, 260 homes in Lusk.
- Ires Reit, 428 apartments at Rockbrook, Sandyford.
- Prime Living, 700 student beds in Sandyford.
- Cairn Homes, 429 homes in Delgany and 380+ homes at Griffith Avenue in north Dublin.
- Glenveagh, 560 BTR apartments at East Wall Road and 273 apartments at Blackrock, Cork.
- Gerry Gannon, 1,500 apartments at Congriffin
- Gem Group, 900 homes in Dunshaughlin
- Tailford, 662 homes in Drogheda
- Shannon Homes, 352 homes in Drogheda.
- McAleer & Rushe, 485 homes in Dundalk.
- O’Flynn Construction, 167 houses and 84 apartments in Celbridge.
In the business section of the Sunday Independent today, Michael Cogley reports that Bartra Capital (Richard Barrett) has appealed the decision of ABP to reject the application for 105 shared/colivng units on the Ardee Road in Rathmines.
Roisin Burke, in The Sunday Business Post today, reports that An Board Pleanala is struggling with staffing issues, which is delaying decisions on hundreds of homes currently in the planning pipeline. More than 550 decisions are now beyond the “statutory goal” of 18 weeks – only 62% of applications are being dealt with on time.
The same journalist also has a great composite piece on page 8 of the business section on the “many developer squabbles” brewing, including:
- Johnny Ronan’s clash with ABP and An Taisce regarding the controversial ‘Tara Tower’.
- Local opposition to Marlet’s 536 home development at St. Anne’s Park in north Dublin.
- The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Innovation Campus in funding limbo after a falling out between the principal investors.
*PLACEengage: The future of speedy, successful placemaking for property developers is here – LAUNCHING JANUARY 2019, contact the PLACEengage team for roll-out details*
Other Property News
- First housing story of the New Year… Viability of many housing projects now in question; https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/viability-of-many-housing-projects-now-in-question-894907.html
- Speaking of viable prospects… Leo ‘Losing Faith’ In Housing Minister As Build Targets Set To Be Missed: https://extra.ie/2019/01/06/news/politics/leo-varadkar-eoghan-murphy?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialWarfare
- Which Budget changes kick in today? Many of the changes kick in today, and here’s how it will affect you: https://www.thejournal.ie:443/budget-2019-changes-4323054-Jan2019/https://www.thejournal.ie/budget-2019-changes-4323054-Jan2019/
- End of Conveyancing Delays for Property Buyers and Sellers – https://caroltallon.com/end-of-conveyancing-delays-for-property-buyers-and-sellers/
- Employment growth in IDA firms last year averaged 7% https://www.rte.ie/amp/1020110/
- Plans for Liffey bridge derailed by Dart Underground scheme https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/plans-for-liffey-bridge-derailed-by-dart-underground-scheme-1.3746924?mode=amp
- Cork needs a plan for now, not just the future https://www.eveningecho.ie/corknews/Cork-needs-a-plan-for-now-not-just-the-future-da481466-25a1-4149-8382-614d1871647b-ds
- Green light for 341 homes near British ambassador’s residence in South Dublin: https://amp.independent.ie/business/commercial-property/green-light-for-341-homes-near-british-ambassadors-residence-in-south-dublin-37676627.html
- Glenveagh buys land in Cork capable of delivering 500 homes: https://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/glenveagh-buys-land-in-cork-capable-of-delivering-500-homes-37680112.html
- Divided market: Fewer houses within reach of working families as sales of €1m-plus properties on the rise: https://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/divided-market-fewer-houses-within-reach-of-working-families-as-sales-of-1mplus-properties-on-the-rise-37682212.html
- Also in the SBP today, “Trophy homes are continuing to sell at the high end of the market, but the peak price paid this year is a full €1 million less than last year’s equivalent – and experts are beginning to wonder if something is wrong with the market”. This analysis is based on a handful of high end 2018 transactions – for greater clarity, I recommend The Sunday Times complete breakdown, suburb by suburb.
- House prices 2019: property owners warned no deal Brexit will take Ireland ‘into the unknown’: Steady rise in prices dependent on Brexit, say agents: https://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/house-prices-2019-property-owners-warned-no-deal-brexit-will-take-ireland-into-the-unknown-37668643.html
- ‘Property owners not to blame for State ignoring issue up to now’ https://m.independent.ie/opinion/comment/paul-melia-property-owners-not-to-blame-for-state-ignoring-issue-up-to-now-37674182.html
- No wriggle room left on failing policy – Housing crisis in 2019 https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/ourview/no-wriggle-room-left-on-failing-policy–housing-crisis-in-2019-895031.html
- ‘Only certainty is more uncertainty as UK exit moves toward endgame’ – Independent.ie: https://m.independent.ie/opinion/comment/mark-keenan-only-certainty-is-more-uncertainty-as-uk-exit-moves-toward-endgame-37668644.html
- 19 simple steps to finally getting the housing crisis under control https://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/19-simple-steps-to-finally-getting-the-housing-crisis-under-control-37671965.html?__twitter_impression=true
- Ex-Housing Agency boss says affordable housing should not come ‘fully completed’https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/ex-housing-agency-boss-says-affordable-housing-should-not-come-fully-completed-895329.html
- Social housing stock dries up but Nama says it’s still on course to deliver 20,000 homes by 2020 https://www.thejournal.ie/nama-progress-report-4421912-Jan2019/?amp=1
- New rules start today to make it easier for mortgage customers to make savings: https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/new-rules-start-today-to-make-it-easier-for-mortgage-customers-to-make-savings-895326.html
- New rules making it easier to switch your mortgage kick in from todayhttps://www.thejournal.ie/mortgage-switching-4319979-Jan2019/
- Banks now required to tell mortgage holders how to save https://www.rte.ie/amp/1020092/
- Drop in the number of first-time buyers approved for mortgages https://amp.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/drop-in-the-number-of-firsttime-buyers-approved-for-mortgages-37680116.html
- And yet… Mortgage lending growth highest in 9 years https://www.rte.ie/amp/1020289/
- ie predicts house prices will rise by 5% this year https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/myhome-ie-predicts-house-prices-will-rise-by-5-this-year-1.3745426?mode=amp
- The government is paying €88m to rent private properties – but it also owns almost 100 empty buildings https://www.thejournal.ie/properties-rented-by-goverment-4418526-Dec2018/?amp=1
- A ranking of the 15 very worst properties we spotted on the Dublin rental market in 2018 – The worst of the worst: https://www.dailyedge.ie:443/a-ranking-of-the-very-worst-properties-we-have-spotted-on-the-dublin-rental-market-in-2018-4341541-Dec2018/https://www.dailyedge.ie/a-ranking-of-the-very-worst-properties-we-have-spotted-on-the-dublin-rental-market-in-2018-4341541-Dec2018/?amp=1
- Some landlords issuing fake cleaning invoices to deduct money from tenants’ depositshttps://amp.breakingnews.ie/ireland/some-landlords-issuing-fake-cleaning-invoices-to-deduct-money-from-tenants-deposits-895571.html
- McGrath urges Government to expand supply of affordable homes: https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mcgrath-urges-government-to-expand-supply-of-affordable-homes-1.3747108?mode=amp
- Cork to withstand tech stock turmoil: l https://amp.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/business/cork-to-withstand-tech-stock-turmoil-895459.html
- Ireland in push to handle business moves to Dublin as Brexit nears: https://amp.ft.com/content/55361cc6-0227-11e9-9d01-cd4d49afbbe3
- Understanding Offsite Construction with Brexit Looming via Offsite Construction Consultants, Evolusion Innovation: https://www.evolusioninnovation.com/news/understanding-offsite-construction-with-brexit-looming
- Owners of firm facing legal action over school buildings pay themselves €10m in two-year period https://amp.independent.ie/irish-news/owners-of-firm-facing-legal-action-over-school-buildings-pay-themselves-10m-in-twoyear-period-37676974.html
- New Viking invasion: Ikea rival Jysk to open 15 stores in Ireland – Independent.ie: https://m.independent.ie/business/irish/new-viking-invasion-ikea-rival-jysk-to-open-15-stores-in-ireland-37679719.html
- US perspective: San Francisco Doesn’t Have A Housing Crisis, It Has A Governance Crisis: https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogervaldez/2019/01/03/san-francisco-doesnt-have-a-housing-crisis-it-has-a-governance-crisis/
Agile Agent
12-month digital transformation programme for independent estate agents and auctioneers across Ireland
Getting Ireland’s property marketplace digital by default
To get involved and for free Proptech Prompts, please
Proptech and Construction Innovation
- As mentioned above, the big Proptech story today is that – as of 12pm GMT – Global proptech database UNISSU goes live, best of luck James Dearsley and Eddie Holmes! This site aims to be the single resource for all international news, innovations, likely applications and key trends for the sector. Sign up here: UNISSU
- Property & Technology: 2018 A Year in Review https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/technology-2018-a-year-in-review
- The Duke Long 2019 Top 25 Under The Radar #CRE #TECH Companies You Must Watch!http://dukelong.com/the-duke-long-2019-top-25-under-the-radar-cre-tech-companies-you-must-watch/
- Top 10 Global Proptech Influencers You Should Be Following: https://youtu.be/Xwuccn7wrkE
- PlaceTech | What property companies don’t want to hear from techies https://placetech.net/analysis/what-property-companies-dont-want-to-hear-from-techies/
- Building with Big Data and High Tech. Throughout the life of a project, technology and data help clients and teams understand which design strategies may be the most effective, from initial site selection to how a design will work on site. https://lnkd.in/eCAc3-f
- Real estate tech companies will be tested in 2019 – Curbed https://www.curbed.com/2018/12/28/18151739/real-estate-tech-companies-opendoor-offerpad
- Augmented Reality to speed up delivery of new homes http://www.engineersjournal.ie/2019/01/02/property-district-wins-dcu-ryan-academy-competition-by-using-augmented-reality-to-speed-up-delivery-of-new-homes/
- Dublin’s Roomigo is on a mission to ease the headache of finding decent housemates – Forahttps://fora.ie/roomigo-dublin-4393480-Jan2019/
- Hello, proptech: Real estate industry poised for a tech disruption in 2019 | Business | The Telegram https://www.thetelegram.com/business/hello-proptech-real-estate-industry-poised-for-a-tech-disruption-in-2019-271934/
- PlaceTech | Innovators prepare for year of opportunity https://placetech.net/analysis/innovators-prepare-for-year-of-opportunity/
- More proptech disruption expected for real estate sector – Investment Property Forum: https://www.propertyforum.com/property-trends/more-proptech-disruption-expected-for-real-estate-sector.html
- PropTech and RentTech Are Poised to Take Off in 2019 | Propmodohttps://propmodo.com/proptech-and-renttech-are-poised-to-take-off-in-2019/
- How is PropTech being used in real estate? | Lexology https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=3cd0437b-be1b-492c-ac76-8b78bfa8dee7
- ‘Weaker’ proptech start-ups will be weeded out this year, claims investor: https://thenegotiator.co.uk/weaker-proptech-start-ups-will-be-weeded-out-this-year-claims-leading-investor/
- Irish Gov’t Approves Anti-Money Laundering Bill Affecting Cryptocurrencyhttps://cointelegraph.com/news/irish-govt-approves-anti-money-laundering-bill-affecting-cryptocurrency/amp
- Amazon has finally shared some data on how popular the company’s Alexa voice assistant technology has become. Over 100 million Alexa-enabled devices have been sold: https://uk.pcmag.com/amazon-echo-dot-2018/118988/amazon-over-100-million-alexa-enabled-devices-have-been-sold
- Artificial Intelligence and the Privacy Challenge – CPO Magazinehttps://www.cpomagazine.com/amp/2018/12/26/artificial-intelligence-and-the-privacy-challenge//?__twitter_impression=true
- Proptech firm to create 30 jobs in Manchester: https://www.businesscloud.co.uk/news/proptech-firm-to-create-30-jobs-in-manchester
- 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, 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) 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/