Australian Property Investor Ian Ugarte: Bringing Life Back Into Australian Housing One Door at a Time
Jun 5, 2025
Ian Ugarte, the innovative owner of INVIDA, has revolutionized housing with his focus on co-living properties. He dives into the urgent need for affordable living spaces, especially for vulnerable groups like single women over 55. Ugarte candidly discusses the challenges of navigating property investment and the ethical implications of development. With an ambitious goal of opening one million new front doors by 2027, he shares insights on creating sustainable solutions for homelessness while reflecting on the vital role of integrity and teamwork in property strategies.
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Understanding Homelessness Demographic
- The fastest growing homelessness demographic is single women over 55 who face financial hardship.
- Co-living houses can be designed around a matriarch figure with a balanced mix of tenants for harmony.
Designing Effective Co-living Spaces
- Design co-living layouts to give tenants private spaces with their own bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette.
- Avoid excessive shared areas to maintain harmony and long-term residency.
Conversions vs New Builds Dynamics
- Converting existing homes enables rentals in infill urban areas with quicker tenant uptake than new greenfield builds.
- New build co-living developments in greenfield estates take longer to fill despite offering full depreciation benefits.