How will technology affect Real Estate Investing?

How will technology affect Real Estate Investing?

Rental Property Investor · Omaha, NE · Member since 2008 · 62 posts · 14 votes

We live in a fast moving world. What technology improvements do you see in the next ten years that will change how you invest?

One thing that I always think about is driverless cars. Google has driven a half million miles now without a driver, they have a license to operate in Nevada, and I really think driveless cars be available in five years to enthusiasts.

This will change the world. We will no longer need taxi drivers or semi drivers. Goods will become cheaper and it will cost less to ship things. There will be very few deaths from automobiles. The commute to work will now be done reading the news on your computer or tablet. Cars will be able to drive just a foot from each other and they will all communicate, eliminating traffic jams.

On one hand this will mean that people might be willing to live farther from work if they don't have to drive. This might be good for housing in the suburbs.

On the other hand, we might not own cars at all. There may be no reason if you can just hit a button on your smartphone and the nearest car drives to your GPS location and takes you where you want to go without needing the expense of a driver. This might benefit real estate in urban areas as we won't need to worry about parking.

Thoughts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdgQpa1pUUE

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  • Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    14y

    I think we will see more nanotechnology and I wouldn't be surprised if technology as we know it is replaced.

  • Mobile Home Investor · Spanaway, WA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 578 votes
    14y

    Things change so fast that I have stopped trying to keep up with all of it. Back in "the good old days" things were much simpler. There is so much confusion going on in the world that People do not have the time to adjust and may be driving people crazy - (Aurora shooting). Sometimes you need to turn off all the electronics around you and take a day or two to "unwind". Then you can get back in the swing of things feeling refreshed or recharged.

  • Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    14y

    Dale Osborn I agree. I quit even trying to keep up with the Joneses long time ago. I have trouble enough learning the technology I already have.

  • Rental Property Investor · Omaha, NE · Member since 2008 · 62 posts · 14 votes
    14y

    Hi Charles,

    How will nanotechnology affect Real Estate Investing? Obviously, Amazon and eBay have crushed Commercial Investing for storefronts and even larger chain spaces.

    What is the next trend we need to be aware of? I work from home every day for a fortune 500 company. Will telecommuting crush office space as well?

  • Mobile Home Investor · Spanaway, WA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 578 votes
    14y

    We can let the next generation have all of the modern technology.

    Perhaps computers will be eliminated? With all the new gadgets and gizmos coming out there may not be much of a need for computers anymore.

  • Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    14y

    Eric L. I don't even pretend to know how technology might be used. Nanotech might be utilized in building materials for all I know.

  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    14y

    Eric even if cars could take to each other I can see computers crashing and the cars crashing as a result.

    Your idea sounds good in theory but I don't think it's practical and is a long way off.

    "Amazon and eBay have crushed Commercial Investing for storefronts and even larger chain spaces."

    This is true for certain retail but not all.Retail is actually picking up speed.The issue isn't the stores are not doing sales.The issue is they built a really big footprint and then things went online not requiring the same space anywhere.

    Retail development has downsized more now for many aspects.Brick and mortar is not going away but evolving.

  • Rental Property Investor · Omaha, NE · Member since 2008 · 62 posts · 14 votes
    14y

    An interesting article came up today. eBay is offering same day shipping in San Francisco as a pilot for major retailers.

    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ebay-tests-same-day-delivery-191212623.html

    This will require a lot of couriers today, but with automated cars this will make same day or even same hour delivery for online orders the norm shortly. I think this is another blow to brick and mortar retail real estate.

  • Involved In Real Estate · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2010 · 341 posts · 86 votes
    14y

    Trying to keep the topic on course here. I would say that with the recent success of RedFin, Zillow, eppraisal, the industry is becoming more efficient. I'm starting to feel that margins will shrink as more and more people can get closer to perfect information. As a real estate professional working with some of the biggest lenders, I've noticed that there are less conversations and everyone is just a step in the process. In essence, homes will be traded like commodities and the spreads will thin out.

  • Mobile Home Investor · Spanaway, WA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 578 votes
    14y

    Sure hope that real estate investing doesn't turn into another mini Wall Street or commodities trading.

  • Investor · Lucas, TX · Member since 2010 · 620 posts · 352 votes
    14y
    Originally posted by Andy Chu:
    I'm starting to feel that margins will shrink as more and more people can get closer to perfect information.

    Andy hit the nail on the head there. In the old days if you wanted to do title searches you had to either pay a title company or go downtown to the county clerks office and search through microfilm. Now days it's all online and easily accessible.

    Only a few years ago you used to have to dig through the local newspaper for Sheriffs sales. Now they are posted online.

    As everything gets easier to do the barriers to entry lower and the competition increases. Thus the shrinking profit margins.

  • Sterling, VA · Member since 2012 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    14y

    The biggest change in Real Estate because of technology will be/is MOBILE DATA and SMART PHONE APPLICATIONS. I'm over 50 and I no longer fight technology. I have a Real Estate Analysis application on my phone that allows me to analyze a potential buy and hold in less than a minute. It crunches the data and lets me project the cash flow, NOI, ROI and more on my darn phone. I use my camera phone to remind me which house is which when I drive properties and I keep all my forms and files in the cloud and access them from anywhere I can get cell service or grab unprotected wifi. I'm now fascinated by mobile applications. I wanted to know if the setting sun was going to blast thru the glass doors on a house so I looked at the compass on my phone. I use it to remind myself of tasks to be done and where I'm supposed to be and when (it's more reliable than a wife). You will step up your Real Estate game if you stop fighting technology and begin to embrace it.

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