Alternative living concepts for the 55-plus age group are in demand: the “zusammenhalt” co-operative easily filled 75 flats in Winterthur. Winkelhalden AG in Oberrieden attracted almost a third of its residents from the “hip” city of Zurich. What these housing concepts have in common is that they are based on a committed community. However, it often takes a lot of initiative and luck for the communities to obtain plots of land.
Developers and investors who have plots of land and want to supplement them with stimulating offers can attract such building groups as partners. The decisive factor here is the question of the right time to connect the building groups and the form of involvement in the development process. An evaluation of the Winkelhalden AG project provides answers to these questions.
The Winkelhalden AG project comprises 44 flats and a wide range of communal spaces such as a bistro, star bar, fitness centre, sauna and studios. The project was initiated by two private individuals who acquired the land, developed the business model for the public limited company, secured the financing, carried out a study commission, looked for fellow campaigners and realised the project. All of this was only possible because the initiators had a high level of entrepreneurship and a lot of experience with community-orientated business models.
One of the biggest challenges was generating the equity capital to finance the project. This required enlarging the group early on in the process and finding people willing to invest who were prepared to commit to the initially uncertain development process and the as yet unspecific housing concept. The consequences are visible in the evaluation. A tenant survey one year after moving in shows that the time of entry into the project characterises the relationship to the community: those who joined in the two years when the construction project was developed, the building permit was submitted and the flats were selected were the most successful in integrating into the community. They feel the least pressure to participate in community life. Of those who joined earlier, a third feel more under pressure to participate. They also have the highest proportion of those who have found it difficult to integrate into the community.
In this context, developers and investors can make a valuable contribution to community concepts: they can relieve building groups of the burden of financing and thus the early integration of less convinced residents by providing temporary equity and pre-financing the project development. In return, they can benefit from a small and committed building group, which ideally develops the alternative living concept from the time the spatial programme is defined and initiates and implements the participation process from the time of the preliminary project, with which future co-inhabitants are connected and integrated into the community. The building group can be a mixture of people who will live in the project in the future or who have relevant experience in developing alternative housing projects.
Alternative housing concepts do not appeal to the mainstream, but demand is far from being met: the fully let Winkelhalden AG currently manages a pool of interested parties with over 60 applications. Cooperations between professional developers and investors with experienced and proactive building groups help to distribute strengths and competences among the most suitable players.
Tag: Grundstücke
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Developing alternative forms of housing with building groups: Lessons learnt from the Winkelhalden
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Housing and building land too scarce – cities want pre-emption rights
The aim of the survey was to understand the housing situation in the cities and urban municipalities and to gain up-to-date insights into housing policy activities. For this purpose, the consultancy firm Wüest Partner had asked the 130 members of the Association of Cities and Towns from November to December 2022. 59 cities took part in the survey.
Too few affordable flats – even in smaller cities
The survey confirms on the one hand that affordable housing is an important housing policy concern of the cities. On the other hand, it underlines the problem that is currently dominating the public debate: The supply of available housing is very scarce. Around two-thirds of the cities rate it as “far too small” or “somewhat too small”. In addition to housing offers in the lower price segment, there is also a lack of opportunities for home ownership.The lack of low-priced housing primarily affects households with children, especially single-parent households. The situation in the large cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants is perceived as particularly tense. But smaller cities also consider the housing supply in this segment to be insufficient.
There isa lack of building land and it is too expensive
68 per cent of the cities surveyed state that they give away land in building rights, linking this to conditions such as favourable rents. The aim is to create more affordable housing.More than 80 percent of the cities also state that they have too few building land reserves. Many would like to buy up more land. However, this is often unrealistic due to the high market prices. A good half cite the long and often complicated procedures as well as a lack of interest from private investors as factors that make it difficult to create affordable housing.
There is a need for action
60 percent of all cities surveyed see a “high” or “very high need for action” at the federal policy level. Around 70 per cent of the medium-sized and large cities share this view. As a possible solution, the respondents most frequently named a right of first refusal for building land and properties (80 per cent).Almost 70 per cent of the respondents also believe that rents can be reduced if the previous rent is made transparent when a tenant changes hands. The cities assess their own possibilities to influence the housing market as rather low. The cities see the greatest possibilities for exerting influence in the promotion of non-profit housing construction.
The Association of Cities will use the findings of the report as an opportunity to formulate measures and demands. Furthermore, on 12 May, a round table chaired by Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin will address the issue of housing shortages. Among others, representatives of the cantons, cities and municipalities as well as the construction and real estate industry are invited.
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The balance between realistic analyses and visionary creations
On behalf of the client, real estate developers look for suitable sites for a real estate project or ideas for the use of an existing property. At the beginning of a project, they investigate the potential of a site and prepare feasibility studies for various use options. They initiate contact with the municipal spatial planning and building authorities for clarification.
Real estate developers lead interdisciplinary teams of experts, including architects, authorities, real estate marketers, cost planners, lawyers and client representatives. They work on financing solutions, assess valuations as well as land purchase and work contracts. They plan the construction project, analyse the planning basis and ensure compliance with legal regulations and standards. At the end of a project, they ensure that the property goes smoothly into operation and that the relevant documentation is handed over to the client.
For professional handling, real estate developers have knowledge of market research and real estate marketing, investment appraisal, planning and construction processes as well as planning and construction law.
Requirements for training
A 3-year basic vocational training, school-leaving certificate, degree from a higher technical college, university or equivalent qualification is required for the federal certificate. Analytical skills, good business and construction knowledge as well as customer and service orientation are essential for the training.The training lasts 1 1/2 years and can be completed part-time.
Gérard Lerner, how would you describe your day-to-day work in five sentences or less?
The day-to-day work of a project developer is many-sided and varied. In the search for new development opportunities, one is constantly in conversation with brokers, private and institutional property owners and project sellers. An essential part of the daily acquisition routine is the clarification of building regulations based on the applicable planning and building laws as well as discussions with the authorities and architects. Furthermore, profitability calculations and general market analyses play a central role in the evaluation of project opportunities.What basic training is suitable for later work as a real estate developer?
In my opinion, you have good prerequisites with interdisciplinary courses of study such as architecture and urban planning.There are various training programmes. Which course do you recommend to future professionals?
You certainly can’t go wrong with an architectural education in combination with construction economics and construction law.What talents and qualities are important?
In this profession you benefit from conceptual, creative and networked thinking. A flair for numbers as well as curiosity, openness and flexibility are also important.What do you particularly like about your job?
I especially like the variety and the interdisciplinary processes – you are in constant exchange with the most diverse actors such as owners, authorities, user groups, investors, banks and sellers. Every day you balance between realistic analyses and visionary creations, which I find very exciting.How do you become a good real estate developer?
To develop real estate, you need, above all, broad and well-founded experience in the fields of architecture, construction economics and building law. Proactive behaviour, networked thinking, decisiveness and sociability are indispensable social skills that you should have.What advice would you give to young professionals in order to successfully gain a foothold in the profession?
You have to have stamina and be far-sighted. A passion for creativity, curiosity and openness also pave the way to success.What milestones and highlights have you achieved and experienced in your professional life so far?
After my studies, I gained various experiences as a design architect in different architecture firms in Germany and abroad. In the process, I was able to gain fundamental knowledge in construction project planning. Afterwards, I had the opportunity to work as a construction trustee on major construction projects such as Europaallee Zurich. During this time, I was able to gain valuable experience in the areas of technical tenders, contracting and construction processes. In recent years, I have been increasingly active as a client representative and construction manager for private companies such as Visionapartments. In the role as Head of Real Estate, I was able to apply my entire knowledge of acquisition, development, planning, contracting and realisation. I reached a milestone in my professional life a year ago when I started working for Schmid Immobilien AG. A company rich in tradition with highly concentrated competence, experience and quality standards. -
Immoleo offers 600 properties in Spain
The Dietiker real estate company Immoleo GmbH is expanding its portfolio, according to a media release. Properties in Spain are now being offered for sale. Immoleo is not entering the rental market. The almost 600 houses, flats and plots of land in the new offer are located on the Mediterranean coasts of the mainland as well as on the Balearic and Canary Islands. On its special website with the new offer, Immoleo describes itself as the market leader with 583 Spanish properties.
The offers are located on the three coastal sections Costa Blanca around Valencia, Costa Calida near Murcia and on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia with a focus on Marbella. Further properties are offered on Mallorca, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote.
Immoleo also wants to serve the seller’s market in these regions and sell properties on offer. Interested parties will be looked after by Immoleo employees and local partners on site, the company adds. This ranges from initial contact to handing over the keys and can be carried out in German.
The real estate company is also strengthening its domestic offering. Immoleo has been offering independent buyer support for new construction projects since autumn 2022. The consultation begins at the notary appointment and leads from the adjustment of the floor plan with regard to the room design to the materialisation for the interior fittings with the interior architect to the handing over of the keys.
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Canton of Zurich launches new shop for geodata
The Office for Spatial Development of the Canton of Zurich has developed a shop for geodata . According to a press release , users receive free access to spatial data in the canton of Zurich and can order them at the touch of a button.
With the new shop solution, use-restricted, i.e. non-open data is now also being added. Previously, cantonal geodata sets were available to users free of charge as open authority data via the GIS browser maps.zh.ch or a geoservice and could only be called up manually.
A total of over 500 products from the geographic information system can be viewed and ordered in the geodata shop, including data on buildings, air, noise and climate. Later, data on buildings and land, so-called object data from the ObjektwesenZH platform, will also be added.
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Living more beautifully and energy-efficiently
SwissAlp Immobilien AG is a Swiss real estate company based in Buchs SG: “Our thoughts and actions are geared towards identifying and implementing the potential of properties, real estate projects and properties. From this we generate growth: for our investors and for us, ”says Ardian Emini, CEO of SwissAlp Immobilien AG. «Our main activity is value-added portfolio management. We acquire properties with very high quality requirements in selected locations in German-speaking Switzerland. Renovation properties are acquired if their value can be increased significantly through renovation, new construction or renovation. We market, rent and manage our properties ourselves. "
SwissAlp Immobilien AG has specialized in the development of a solid real estate portfolio: "Thanks to our know-how, our many years of experience and our professionalism, we offer our investors the best possible security to achieve their return targets," says Emini. "Thanks to our professionally managed property portfolios, we enable our investors to participate in all of German-speaking Switzerland."
A prime example is the new building project by SwissAlp Immobilien AG in a central location in Sargans SG. Within walking distance of the train station, 22 high-quality rental apartments will soon be built: “The apartment building impresses with its modern and exciting architecture, combined with the concept of sustainability. Both a photovoltaic system and efficient energy management are of course part of this concept. The parking garage and bike room are equipped with charging stations for electric cars and bicycles from the start. ”
The apartment mix of 2.5 to 4.5 room apartments appeals to singles, young couples and families alike. Shops and schools are in the immediate vicinity within walking distance. According to Emini, the apartments are characterized by a high-quality finish and leave nothing to be desired: "Each apartment has a small reduit, and the larger apartments have a master bedroom with its own bathroom." With this project, architects and specialist planners had the opportunity to create a special building: for today, for tomorrow and for eternity!