The phenomenon of co-housing it is already widely spread abroad, particularly in the Nordic countries, but it is also starting to take hold in our country, constituting a significant investment opportunity. The research “Co-housing in Italy. A new real estate trend”, carried out by Gabetti and Homers Group, brands of Homes4All Srl B Corp specialized in the design and construction of co-housing, it aims to reveal the potential of this form of shared living in the Italian real estate market.
Co-housing, a growing phenomenon
The co-housing phenomenon is already widely developed in Europe, especially in northern countries. In Denmark and Sweden, between 1% and 2% of the population lives in co-housing. Even in Italy, the potential is enormous, with significant implications for sustainable development and urban regeneration. If 1% of the Italian population adopted co-housing, this would lead to the renovation of over 130,000 buildingsbecoming a driving force for the Italian economy and contributing to the achievement of sustainability objectives and the improvement of housing conditions in cities
“In Italy there are around thirty cohousing projects, all located in the north of the country. This is a market that is still virgin but potentially capable of growing to the benefit of an increasingly aware demand that requires new housing products in line with the current change in lifestyles, especially in large urban centres,” he maintains Enrico Cestari, director of Gabetti Home Value.
The main trends of co-housing
The report by Gruppo Gabetti and Homers, based on case studies in Italy and Europe with co-housing ranging from 5 to over 100 apartments, analyzes the main components of the phenomenon, comparing them with the wishes expressed by the interviewees. Here are the main trends that emerged:
Common spaces
The most common common spaces include multifunctional rooms, equipped kitchens and laundries, while the open spaces include gardens and vegetable gardens. These elements reflect the most frequent requests of the Gabetti Group interviewees. Concierge services and wellness areas are also required and present in the most recent cohousing.
A more modern house
A questionnaire released online by Gabetti and Homers revealed that, although half of the respondents declared themselves satisfied with their home, 37% would be open to moving house. This suggests that the traditional home may no longer fully meet current needs. Potential buyers are looking not only for space and finishes, but also proximity to services and quality of life.
Attention to the environment
The research highlights that attention to the environment and an active neighborhood are the key words to describe the ideal home. These aspects are particularly important for the population group between 25 and 44 years old and for the over 45s. Regardless of age, respondents want to share experiences with their neighbors, such as solidarity purchasing groups and common spaces such as gardens and wellness areas .
Living in sharing
The research results demonstrate that buyers’ desires reflect typical characteristics of co-housing, such as collaboration and mutual support, in line with new lifestyles and the different family and relational forms of contemporary society. Co-housing represents a conscious choice of a community lifestyle, aimed at improving the quality of life. Intentional communities share spaces and services, promoting collaborative life paths while maintaining autonomy and privacy.
Why live in co-housing
Those who choose co-housing adopt a collaborative model right from the conception of the spaces to be shared with one’s neighbors, obtaining a level of customization superior to market standards. This combination of intentionality and responsiveness to buyers’ desires makes co-housing an extremely current product, configuring itself as a real asset class in which to invest.
The research highlights new desires among Italians: 58% believe it is essential to have an open space at home. These new priorities must be reflected in energy efficient design, increasingly attentive to the relationship with external space and the environment.
Co-housing not only responds to the needs of those looking for a home, but also represents ainvestment opportunities in the real estate sectorthanks to its ability to combine collaboration, customization and sustainability
“We think that co-housing will also have strong repercussions on the urban fabric of cities, partially modifying it,” says Enrico Cestari, director of Gabetti Home Value. – In this sense, co-housing represents a valid opportunity for building regeneration initiatives and areas in a state of abandonment – think of the large farmhouses now in disuse, often of historical value – to be returned to the community. Addressing mainly those who intend to redesign their living experience in the name of sharing and aggregation, shared living presents itself as a further model which, together with other examples of co-living, contributes to redefining the concept of living and to enrich current housing models. We believe that this sector will be among the most promising in the medium to long term.”
 in co-housing — idealista/news){kind=link}