{"id":162460,"date":"2023-11-17T13:06:35","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T20:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/?p=162460"},"modified":"2023-11-17T13:06:38","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T20:06:38","slug":"how-the-pandemic-changed-real-estate-forever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-the-pandemic-changed-real-estate-forever","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways Real Estate Was Transformed This Decade\u2014And the City That Everyone Wants To Buy In"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It\u2019s been six months since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/coronavirus\/2019-ncov\/your-health\/end-of-phe.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">ended<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and while the virus is still around, lockdowns feel like a distant memory as economic activity has rebounded and the labor market has&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/home.treasury.gov\/news\/featured-stories\/the-us-economic-recovery-in-international-context-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">recovered<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The chips have fallen, and the effects of the pandemic have been pervasive in the real estate industry. While the housing market will continue to evolve, some trends may be here to stay, and real estate investors will need to adapt their strategies to a post-pandemic way of life. It\u2019s an era full of new opportunities and challenges, largely driven by changes in how people work and play.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Here are five outcomes of the pandemic that changed real estate.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  <div class=\"lg:block\" x-data=\"{ ad_block_block_6557c7b3a4630: popAds(1) }\">\n      <template x-for=\"ad in ad_block_block_6557c7b3a4630\">\n        <a\n          :href=\"ad.linkURL\"\n          class=\"no-underline text-black\"\n          x-on:click=\"adClicked('https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-the-pandemic-changed-real-estate-forever', ad.sponsor, ad.title, ad.id, 'blockAdClicked', 'blockAd', '')\"\n          target=\"_blank\">\n          <div\n            class=\"py-4 border-b flex flex-col flex-nowrap text-sm border-t px-0 rounded-none\"\n            x-init=\"\n              analytics.track('blockAdLoaded', {\n                referrer: 'https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-the-pandemic-changed-real-estate-forever',\n                sponsor: ad.sponsor,\n                ad_title: ad.title,\n                ad_page_location: ''\n              })\n            \"\n            x-intersect:enter.once=\"adViewed('https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-the-pandemic-changed-real-estate-forever', ad.sponsor, ad.title, ad.id, 'blockAdViewed', 'blockAd', '')\">\n            <div><span class=\"text-xs text-slate-light block bg-slate-50 p-1 inline-block rounded-md\">Sponsored<\/span><\/div>\n            <div class=\"flex items-center text-sm space-x-4\">\n                <img :src=\"ad.imageURL\" :alt=\"ad.imageAlt\" class=\"h-10 w-10 object-cover rounded-full\">\n\n                <div clas=\"text-sm\">\n                    <span class=\"font-bold block\" x-text=\"ad.sponsor\"><\/span>\n                    <span class=\"text-slate\/80\" x-text=\"ad.description\"><\/span>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div>\n                <span class=\"font-bold\" x-text=\"ad.title\"><\/span>\n                <p class=\"mt-2 text-slate\/80\" x-text=\"ad.body\"><\/p>\n                <span class=\"mt-2 text-themeBlue block mt-2 underline\" x-text=\"ad.linkTitle\"><\/span>\n            <\/div>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/a>\n      <\/template>\n  <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1. Hybrid Work Remains Common, Affecting Demand for Office Space<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">According to a recent Gallup&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gallup.com\/workplace\/511994\/future-office-arrived-hybrid.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">report<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, the share of remote-capable employees working fully on-site dropped from 60% in 2019 to just 20% in 2023, while the share of fully remote workers has grown. About 40% of remote-capable workers who once worked fully on-site have moved to either a fully remote or hybrid work model. Globally, office attendance is down by 30% in major cities, according to a McKinsey&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/mgi\/our-research\/empty-spaces-and-hybrid-places\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">report<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s had a major impact on&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/commercial-real-estate-fundamentals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">commercial<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;office buildings, especially in downtown submarkets. The nationwide office vacancy rate reached&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbre.com\/insights\/briefs\/most-us-office-buildings-more-than-90-percent-leased\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">18.2%<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;in Q2, a 30-year high, with older buildings in distressed downtown areas hit the hardest, according to CBRE.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Loans secured by office buildings are driving an&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mba.org\/news-and-research\/newsroom\/news\/2023\/10\/20\/commercial-and-multifamily-mortgage-delinquency-rates-increased-slightly-in-third-quarter-2023\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">increase in delinquencies<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The problem could get worse as more office leases expire, and nearly&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialedge.com\/blog\/loans-on-nearly-1-in-5-class-b-offices-to-expire-soon-where-are-the-hotspots\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">20%<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;of office loans will mature between 2023 and 2026 in a high-interest rate environment that spells trouble for borrowers.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Analysts at major firms are&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/morgan-stanley-says-commercial-real-202952701.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">split<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;on whether the commercial real estate market is headed for a severe crash.&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/with-commercial-real-estate-crashing-these-could-be-your-next-big-opportunity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Other asset classes<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;in the commercial space are still performing, which may mitigate systemic risks\u2014office space accounts for less than 5% of total bank loans.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Nevertheless, it\u2019s unlikely the demand for Class B office space will rebound any time in the near future. That\u2019ll have a ripple effect on downtown businesses, driving down tax revenue for cities and potentially setting off what\u2019s known as the \u201curban doom loop,\u201d where deteriorating amenities and services lead people to abandon city centers.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2. Migration Away from Urban Cores Shifts Investment Opportunities<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Whether the urban doom loop takes hold, migration away from downtown areas is already evident. Between mid-2020 and mid-2022, New York City\u2019s population in the urban core dropped 5%, while San Francisco saw a 7% decline, according to&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/mgi\/our-research\/empty-spaces-and-hybrid-places\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">McKinsey<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Meanwhile, suburban populations grew. Activity remains depressed in the urban core\u2014recent&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/downtownrecovery.com\/charts\/rankings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">mobile phone data<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;shows that most U.S. downtown areas have yet to recover relative to pre-pandemic traffic.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">People also crossed state borders to leave high-priced markets for smaller metropolitan areas.&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/new-census-data-shows-where-americans-are-moving\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">2022 census data<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;showed people leaving states like New York and California while the population in Florida, Texas, and the Carolinas grew.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Migration trends continue to shift since pandemic-fueled demand in cities like Austin, Texas, led to skyrocketing rents that priced out residents. But recent&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/q3-2023-migration-report\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">data<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;from Redfin shows continued outflow from superstar cities like San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s partly because many knowledge workers in those cities now have the option to&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/the-real-world-impacts-on-remote-work-and-what-it-did-for-investors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">work from anywhere<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u2014and they\u2019re trading in their current residences for lower-priced options. As more big-city dwellers migrate, there will be new opportunities for real estate investors in markets like Sacramento, California; Las Vegas; and Orlando, Florida.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3. People Are Traveling for Longer, Increasing the Popularity of Midterm Rentals<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">With the growing prevalence of remote work, travelers are no longer confined to weekends and holidays or scheduled time off. According to a study conducted on behalf of MBO Partners, the number of American workers who describe themselves as digital nomads skyrocketed&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mbopartners.com\/state-of-independence\/digital-nomads\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">131%<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;between 2019 and 2023.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That may be why travelers are booking longer stays on&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/6-steps-started-airbnb\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Airbnb<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. Global data from Airbnb shows that stays longer than 28 days accounted for&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.com\/resources\/hosting-homes\/a\/setting-a-price-for-longer-stays-379\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">21%<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;of bookings in 2022 and 18% of bookings in the first quarter of 2023. The midterm rental platform Furnished Finder, which originally focused on connecting rental hosts with travel nurses, has grown to&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.furnishedfinder.com\/blog\/furnished-finder-insights-from-the-first-ever-mid-term-rental-summit\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1.1 million<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;monthly users.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While it\u2019s likely that the midterm boom will continue to slow as hybrid work arrangements&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2023\/09\/11\/90percent-of-companies-say-theyll-return-to-the-office-by-the-end-of-2024.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">replace<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;fully remote arrangements for many workers, there\u2019s an opportunity for investors to explore the strategy as occupancy rates for short-term rentals&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/is-the-airbnb-collapse-actually-happening\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">decline<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4. Suburban Shopping Creates New Retail Investment Potential<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Shopping at brick-and-mortar retail stores plummeted during the pandemic, and foot traffic near suburban stores is rebounding faster than in urban cores, according to McKinsey. More people are shopping near where they live\u2014in the suburbs\u2014rather than visiting stores in the downtown areas where they once commuted to work daily.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Retail vacancy rates are lower in suburban areas than they\u2019ve been in more than&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.globest.com\/2023\/07\/17\/urban-retail-availability-increases-as-suburbs-flourish\/?slreturn=20231014163556\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">15 years<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, while retail availability in urban areas is increasing. Many suburban landlords have been seeing an increase in leasing activity since the beginning of 2023.&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/commercial-real-estate-has-one-last-asset-class-still-standing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Suburban retail<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;appears to be a bright spot for commercial real estate, especially in suburbs that are still conveniently located close to urban hubs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Some experts have pointed to&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialsearch.com\/news\/designing-the-suburbs-of-the-future\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">mixed-use developments<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;in the suburbs as an opportunity for real estate investors, as low-end, enclosed shopping malls fail to draw shoppers, and more people seek neighborhood amenities when relocating to the suburbs.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5. Miami Has Emerged as a Top Real Estate Market<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The U.S. housing market is rebounding, according to Zillow, with most of the value concentrated in notoriously high-priced cities like New York and Los Angeles\u2014but&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/us-housing-value-has-surged-gaining-more-than-2-6-trillion-in-the-past-year-301938414.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Miami<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;is new to the list of the top five most valuable metro areas, moving up from its ninth-place spot in 2021, according to Zillow.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Indeed, four of the six markets that increased in value the most since the onset of the pandemic were in Florida, with Tampa boasting $18.5 billion in added real estate value. Florida is now the second-most valuable state after California.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In June, BiggerPockets reported that high earners in New York and San Francisco could save thousands annually by&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/moving-to-miami-could-save-thousands-but-what-is-that-doing-to-prices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">moving to Miami<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. The savings, and perhaps the warm weather, make Florida a top choice for movers\u2014the state ranked first for total net migration, according to the latest census data. More than&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/tampabayedc.com\/news\/how-many-people-moved-to-florida-this-past-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">1,200 people<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;relocate to the Sunshine State every day.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Challenges like rising rents, property taxes, and homeowners insurance premiums may begin to slow down migration to the state. However, RentCafe estimates that Miami was the&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/rental-market\/market-snapshots\/us-hottest-rental-markets\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">most competitive<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;rental market for the summer moving season.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Miami housing market is currently less competitive, according to&nbsp;<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.redfin.com\/city\/11458\/FL\/Miami\/housing-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Redfin<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. And median prices are more attainable for investors than in other top cities.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That doesn\u2019t mean investors should flock to Miami\u2014but keeping an eye on the city and nearby Florida markets may prove worthwhile. Investors can also look at other areas gaining rental demand due to pandemic-related changes in housing and migration behavior. As remote workers leave pricey areas, which city will be the next Miami?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Bottom Line<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The pandemic has had a ripple effect on real estate, and there are more waves to come. But, it appears that hybrid or remote work arrangements are the new normal for remote-capable businesses. That\u2019s motivating changes in migration patterns, and it\u2019s affecting how people shop and where they go for leisure activities.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">This new era presents opportunities for new\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/which-real-estate-investing-strategy-is-best-for-your-goals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">investment strategies<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, like mixed-use development, long-distance investing, and midterm rentals, while creating challenges for urban retail and office property owners.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n    \n  <div id=\"visibility-group-block_38418388fa47943be850108e450dc88d\" class=\"visibility-group alignwide  hidden\">\n        \n\n<div id=\"hero-block_deeddb2c23f939202c047ae74407fda1\" class=\"first:mt-0 hero-block py-4  alignwide   has-background has-slate-200-background-color has-text-color has-theme-gold-color\">\n    <div\n        class=\"gap-10 lg:gap-20 flex flex-wrap lg:flex-nowrap max-w-screen-xl mx-auto px-4 relative lg:items-center \">\n\n        <div class=\"relative z-30 lg:w-1\/2 \">\n            <main class=\"py-4\">\n                \n\n<p class=\"has-slate-800-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:800\">Find the Right Agent, Close the Best Deal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"my-3 md:my-5 lg:my-8 has-slate-900-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:18px\">Step #1: Use Agent Finder to match with top <em><strong>investor-friendly<\/strong><\/em> real estate agents to help you find, analyze, and close your next deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=button-custom-event-block_2e29067c636bbced82556d9e79ae5e69 class='button-custom-event'>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/agent\/match\" x-on:click=\"window.analytics.track(&#039;Blog Block | B2C Marketplace Agent Finder&#039;, {\n      referrer: &#039;https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-the-pandemic-changed-real-estate-forever&#039;,\n    });\" class=\" btn-shape inline-block no-underline has-background has-theme-blue-background-color has-text-color has-white-color\" target=\"_blank\">Find an Agent<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n            <\/main>\n        <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"lg:w-1\/2 first:mt-0 relative h-full lg:flex lg:items-center\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"object-cover w-full relative z-20 my-0  rounded-md hidden lg:block\" src=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Marketplace-Blog-Blocks-Agent-v3.png\" alt=\"investor friendly real estate agent\" title=\"\">\n        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n  <\/div>\n  \n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n    \n  <div id=\"visibility-group-block_64dd31c79f00f\" class=\"visibility-group  \">\n        \n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"hero-block_64dd2875dba9d\" class=\"first:mt-0 hero-block py-4    has-background has-slate-100-background-color has-text-color has-theme-slate-color\">\n    <div\n        class=\" flex flex-wrap lg:flex-nowrap max-w-screen-xl mx-auto px-4 relative lg:items-center \">\n\n        <div class=\"relative z-30 w-full \">\n            <main class=\"py-4\">\n                \n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading my-0 tracking-tight font-extrabold has-theme-slate-dark-color has-text-color has-large-font-size\">Join the community<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"my-3 md:my-5 lg:my-8 has-theme-slate-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:16px;font-style:normal;font-weight:400\">Ready to succeed in real estate investing? Create a free BiggerPockets account to learn about investment strategies; ask questions and get answers from our community of +2 million members; connect with investor-friendly agents; and so much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=button-custom-event-block_64dd2888dba9e class='button-custom-event'>\n      <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/signup\" x-on:click=\"window.analytics.track(&#039;Blog Block | Acquisition | Free Membership Signup&#039;, {\n      referrer: &#039;https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/how-the-pandemic-changed-real-estate-forever&#039;,\n    });\" class=\" btn-shape inline-block no-underline has-background has-theme-blue-background-color has-text-color has-white-color\" target=\"_blank\">Sign Up<\/a>\n  <\/div>\n\n            <\/main>\n        <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div>\n  <\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When the Covid-19 lockdowns began in March 2020, the real estate industry was set on a new course. Now, months after the official end of the pandemic, we&#8217;ve taken stock of how everything&#8217;s changed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":613615,"featured_media":162464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-162460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate-trends"],"acf":[],"comment_count":0,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162460","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/613615"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=162460"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/162460\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/162464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=162460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=162460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biggerpockets.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=162460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}