As people seek to avoid daily routines, they are looking for ways to circumvent rising fuel prices, time lost in traffic jams, and municipal service issues. Consequently, the real estate market is once again focusing on the value of proximity, mixed-use areas, and neighborhood convenience.
Decades ago, residential areas were designed with pedestrian accessibility and local daily life in mind. This trend is linked to active discussions about the '15-minute city' concept as a modern and progressive approach to suburban planning. As Gerhard Kotze, CEO and franchisor of RealNet Properties SA, notes, in older neighborhoods, medical clinics, corner cafes, schools, and parks were located either on a main street or near it, within a short walk from home.
He explains that with increased car ownership and highway plans, development shifted towards dispersed suburbs and lifestyles requiring long commutes. Kotze emphasizes that today the real estate market is reassessing the importance of proximity, mixed-use, and neighborhood convenience, as people seek an escape from daily hustle amid rising fuel costs, traffic congestion, and municipal service problems.
The CEO adds that this is not just a local trend; globally, major cities are rethinking their structure. For instance, Paris has pedestrianized entire districts, while Melbourne is building '20-minute walkable neighbourhoods.' However, in South Africa, this trend looks different because one cannot rely on municipal policy to change spatial structure. Instead, private developers are taking the initiative to create self-sufficient, safe micro-districts.
The real estate agency provides examples of this idea being implemented across the country: Century City in Cape Town, Menlyn Maine in Pretoria, the large Westown project in Durban, and the new Central Park in Johannesburg. Kotze asserts that these highly integrated zones are successful because they offer the market exactly what it is looking for: a safer, well-managed environment, reduced travel, and backup utilities to bypass municipal difficulties.
Last November, Paul Keursten, CEO of Workshop17, stated that the work model in South Africa is fundamentally broken. He noted that it forces people to spend hours in traffic jams to work in overcrowded business centers, sacrificing time, well-being, and productivity.
Keursten added that a global movement is gaining momentum that is turning this model upside down—the 15-minute city concept. This is no longer just academic theory but rather an urban reboot that is already changing people's lifestyles, shopping habits, and work patterns worldwide. As CEO of Workshop17, he observed how work geography affects quality of life and business efficiency, and believes that for South Africa, with its sprawling cities and poor traffic, this concept offers a plan to rethink where and why people work, highlighting the need to bring professional infrastructure closer to where people live.
Keursten explained that at its core, the 15-minute city challenges decades of urban planning that prioritized cars and long commutes. He advocates for creating human-scale environments where workplaces and lifestyles exist side-by-side, supporting not only efficiency but also genuine quality of life. This model promotes sustainable development, as well as social cohesion and balance—values that deeply resonate in cities struggling with overcrowding, environmental issues, and changing work patterns.
In April, Brett Bendall, National Sales Manager at BetterBond, stated that against the backdrop of global uncertainty and rising fuel prices, secondary cities can also serve as an economic buffer for those who can work fully remotely. He noted that moving to functional regional centers that offer many amenities and opportunities of large cities can be financially justifiable, as most such cities provide a '15-minute lifestyle' with necessary conveniences within a 5-kilometer radius. Furthermore, Bendall mentioned that the relative affordability of housing in secondary cities helps households cope with rising fuel-related expenses.
Alphabet is facing increasing investor pressure as it approaches the release of its second-quarter results. This pressure is compounded by the postponement of a strategic artificial intelligence (AI) model launch, adding to concerns about the return on large investments made in data center infrastructure.
This scenario contrasts with the optimism of previous months, when the company exceeded expectations thanks to the solid performance of its cloud computing unit. Google's parent company will present its second-quarter financial figures on Wednesday, the 22nd. One of the market's biggest points of interest is the delay of Gemini 3.5 Pro, which was set to be the company's next major AI model.
Originally scheduled for June, this model aimed to strengthen Alphabet's position in the agentic AI applications and AI-powered programming tools market. However, the company managed to alleviate some of this apprehension on Tuesday, the 21st, by releasing other updates for Gemini.
The delay of Gemini 3.5 Pro occurs at a time of intensifying competition, as Chinese open models are gaining ground against major US-based laboratories in the race for clients. Additionally, there are growing fears about the high costs inherent in AI development, raising suspicions that large technology corporations may be investing in capacity exceeding future demand.
Dave Wagner, portfolio manager at Aptus Capital Advisors, commented to Reuters that while Google might be falling behind in AI programming—which he considers a real and growing concern—Google's strategy is entirely focused on its ecosystem.
In April, Alphabet revised upward its capital investment projections for 2026, estimating expenses between US$ 180 billion and US$ 190 billion. Concurrently, the company announced plans to raise about US$ 85 billion through stock offerings, including an investment from Berkshire Hathaway.
Since the end of April, Alphabet's shares have fallen by approximately 9%, a period during which the company had achieved 63% growth in sales of its cloud division. Due to this performance, the stocks lagged behind other companies in the group known as 'The Magnificent Seven.'
In addition to financial pressure and recent stock movements, the company has also lost important talent to competitors. Among these professionals are Noam Shazeer, co-lead of the Gemini project, and John Jumper, a Nobel laureate and considered a key executive at Google DeepMind.
Despite these obstacles, analysts point out that Alphabet's main competitive advantage in the AI race lies in its vast consumer-facing distribution network, combined with its AI models, cloud computing infrastructure, and proprietary chips.
Looking at the full year of 2026, the company's shares still show an appreciation close to 13%, positioning Alphabet as the second best-performing company among the members of 'The Magnificent Seven.'
For the second quarter, analysts predict only a modest slowdown in revenue growth compared to the first three months of 2026, keeping the cloud division as the main driver of results.
According to data compiled by LSEG, Alphabet is expected to generate US$ 116.9 billion (R$ 594.7 billion) between April and June, representing a 21.3% increase compared to the same period last year. The forecast also indicates that cloud computing division sales should maintain an expansion rate of 64%, while advertising revenue growth should be more contained, at 13.7%.
The strong performance of the cloud sector has been driven by the expansion of contracts related to Google's custom AI chips, including multi-million dollar deals closed with Meta and Anthropic.
If the need is to replace a home or office printer, this is an opportune time to do research. Three multi-function models available on sale on Amazon have been gathered, all offering color printing, copying and scanning functionalities, in addition to attractive prices.
The Epson EcoTank L3250 stands out among those who print frequently and seek ink savings. Its reservoir system eliminates conventional cartridges, resulting in a considerable reduction in cost per page. Additionally, it has Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless printing, operates on home networks, and is dual voltage, eliminating voltage concerns.
For light home use, the HP DeskJet Ink Advantage 2975 Color Multi-function Printer presents itself as a compact and affordable alternative. It can print, copy, and scan with quality adequate for daily life, and HP's Ink Advantage system is designed to produce more pages per cartridge, making it a practical solution for those who prefer simplicity.
Another option is the HP Smart Tank 589 Multi-function Printer, which uses the ink tank system aiming for high long-term savings. With Wi-Fi and USB support, it adapts well to both home offices and work environments with higher demand. In addition to printing in good quality color, it facilitates document copying and scanning.
It is important to note that electronics promotions on Amazon are dynamic; stocks can run out quickly and prices are subject to change at any time. If any of these models have sparked interest, it is recommended to access the store immediately to secure the purchase before the offer ends.
Apple is about to introduce a new device subscription system called Apple Upgrade in the United States. This novelty is set to be offered to consumers starting July 28, aiming to stimulate sales amid rising prices on certain items.
This service will allow customers to pay monthly installments for devices and, at the end of the lease period, have the option to keep the device, pay it off, or trade it in. Klarna has been designated as the financial partner responsible for the entire operation.
According to Bloomberg News, Apple Upgrade emerges as an alternative for customers who prefer to spread the cost of their gadgets rather than making a traditional purchase. The program will operate under a subscription format and will be available both in the company's physical stores and through its online platform.
The functionality of the new service will support most models of iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch. The strategy aims to cater to users who wish to update their equipment more frequently without having to pay the full price of a new product immediately.
This launch occurs at a time of price adjustments in the Apple line, as the company has raised the prices of products such as iPads and MacBooks. This increase is attributed to the escalation in component costs like memory and storage chips, driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure.
With Apple Upgrade, the consumer gains the flexibility to prepay for the device, replace it with a different model before the contract ends, or continue using the equipment after the rental period expires. To focus on this new offering, Apple plans to suspend new registrations in its current payment schemes for iPhone, including the iPhone Upgrade Program and other financing methods.
Among the core benefits of Apple Upgrade are: lower monthly payments compared to conventional financing options; the possibility of trading in devices before the contract expires; compatibility with various Apple range products; and availability of contracting both in physical stores and on the company's website.
Although the program covers a wide range of devices, there are certain exclusions. Bloomberg reported that models such as Apple Watch SE, entry-level iPad, iPhone 16, and MacBook Neo will not be part of this modality. An important distinction from the current iPhone Upgrade Program is that the new service will not include AppleCare, which is the support and protection plan provided by the company itself.
Additionally, the initiative will be directed exclusively to individual consumers, prohibiting participation from purchases made by educational institutions or companies.
By implementing Apple Upgrade, the company seeks to align its products with a subscription model already established in other technology sectors. This transition may simplify device replacement for those who prioritize smaller payments and more frequent updates. More than just a new financing avenue, the program signals the company's intention to change the dynamic between consumers and their devices, converting equipment purchase into a continuous service.
