Big property developers often get a bad wrap for putting profit over people.  We’ve all seen those cookie-cutter subdivisions with houses packed like sardines into tiny parcels of land, no trees, no playgrounds.  As mothers, we talk about the importance of “the village” and how much we need a community of people around us to raise our children.  Unfortunately, this sense of community and connectedness is what’s been missing from our modern lifestyle.  Typically speaking, we all live in our separate homes, fenced in and unaware of what’s happening in the lives of the people next door, even if their wall is only 3 feet away.

Our guest today has been in the property development biz for a number of years and is keeping community front and centre with her exciting new project.  Cheryl Leong, Chief Impact Officer at Big Impact Group, talks with us today about the co-living spaces being built in Sydney and we dive deep into the details of how it all works on a community level and from a financial perspective.

Frustrated by the lack of community considerations whilst working on bigger development projects, Cheryl decided that if she wanted to create things that made a difference in people’s lives that she would need to do it herself.  This is where Big Impact Group came to life, a company with a focus on sustainability for people, their social and financial needs, and nurturing our environment.

Co-living spaces are more common in places like Europe and the USA and, depending on the area and size of the development, often consist of self-contained apartments with additional communal spaces for shared meals, games and good community vibes.  This is what Cheryl and her team are going for and we think it’s a really exciting project.

In addition to the focus on community and connectedness, these co-living spaces also offer an opportunity for individuals to enter into a high cash investment.  Independent part ownership means that people who might not be able to afford to buy on their own can invest a smaller portion into the development and receive a 7% return on their investment.  How awesome is that?

Co-living might not be for everyone, but there is certainly a market for it and we think Big Impact Group are really living up to their name.  Tune in to find out more about this unique project.