I used to think those 'digital nomad' towns were just a social media thing

Saw a bunch of videos about places like Tulum and Bali being full of people working online, and I wrote it off as a rich kid fad. Then a friend who installs floors in Austin told me he's been getting calls from landlords converting whole apartment buildings into co-working spaces with fiber internet (he said one project had 120 new desks). That's not just a few influencers, that's a real shift in how people can live. It made me see the remote work push from the pandemic didn't just go away, it turned into a new way to build a town's economy. So, is this the future of some smaller cities, or will the hype die down when the next big thing comes along?

4 comments

4 Comments

emery_jackson292mo ago

Man, that's a lot of desks... you ever think about just packing up and trying it?

reed.jana2mo ago

That's wild about the apartment buildings. Wonder if those landlords are betting on this being permanent or just trying to cash in fast?

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murray.robert2mo ago

Betting on permanent for sure. They see a long-term shift and want to lock in the higher rates now. Classic cash grab while they can.

wells.christopher1mo ago

Reminds me of my old landlord who tried to raise the rent 40% after the first year. His excuse was "market adjustments" but he'd just bought a new boat. Last I heard the place sat empty for eight months.