Real estate is the world’s largest asset class, valued at almost $300 trillion in 2017. It is largely fragmented, inefficient and with entrenched incumbents. Sooner or later, most industries with these features get disrupted, and the culprit is always “data”.

The vast amount of data being generated, analyzed and applied to real estate, is producing a digital transformation in the property sector. Information and communication technology (ICT) applications, fueled by data, help reduce information asymmetry, provide transparency, and overall contribute toward more efficient markets. In real estate, this trend is enabled by a wide array of converging technologies: mobile, broadband, cloud, big data, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, 3D printing, and others.

Real estate has a complex lifecycle with several stages. These include land appraisal, acquisition and permits, construction, purchase, sales and leasing, refurbishment, investment and financing. To describe all the technology-enabled business models and tools that are transforming these different phases, the term “PropTech” (property + tech) has been recently coined; to some degree it’s still somewhat diffuse and expanding. At its core, PropTech embodies the transactional side of the property industry, and at its extremes touches on fintechs, construction technology and smart cities.

PropTech business models

Let’s face it, real estate transactions are painful. When we think of the digitization of real estate, we imagine an ideal world in which realtors, property managers, notaries and other intermediaries are cut out. However, when one talks to these rooted market players, Mark Twain’s famous quote always comes up: “The rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated”. We agree.

Follow the proptech money

When the opportunity is good, smart money follows. PropTech has been attracting the attention of the savviest international and local investors. Among the most prolific is SoftBank, which has invested in WeWork, Opendoor, Compass, Clutter, View, Katerra and Fortress. In LAC, it recently made a $250 million investment in Quinto Andar, together with Dragoneer, Kaszek and others. Loft, on the other hand, has raised close to $90 million through heavyweights such as Andreesen Horowitz, Monashees, QED and Valor Capital. And last month, Flat and OpenCasa, two i-Buyers, raised equity and debt.

Development finance institutions are also starting to venture into the space, especially since adequate and affordable housing helps to diminish fragmentation and inequalities, which are key to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the New Urban Agenda. Designing holistic urbanization models and encouraging innovative and inclusive financial solutions are also critical to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

All indicators show the pace of innovation in the real estate value chain is accelerating. While rumors of traditional real estate players disappearing may be greatly exaggerated, it is also likely that your next property transaction will be smoother, cheaper and more digitized.■