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Asia Property Investment – Hot Market in Asian Countries

November 30th, 2009 CheapFlatsInLondon No comments

Asia is currently going through what is widely known as a “Property Boom”. Real estate is a highly recommended area for investment in Asia. Almost all countries in Asia are flourishing in the real estate sector. China is going through a revolutionary phase in the real estate sector. Rural homes and paddy fields are transformed into roads and shopping attractions. However some parts of the country the foreign investment and job opportunities have not created a real flutter. Costs of real estate are steadily increasing and anybody who is investing in the region could make handsome profit.
China has begun a huge drive towards urbanization. It is understood that they are relocating about 20 million people each year from country border to the cities. Very much the same is happening in the whole of East Asia as this half of the continent undergoes a strong urbanization drive. Asian governments are doing everything in their power to woo foreign buyers and investors. However supply hasn’t kept pace with demand which has boosted rents and capital values.
Malaysia has a favorable government in terms of property investment as the interest rates are only 6.75%, which is lower when compared to interest rates imposed by other countries like Vietnam and Indonesia. Prices of different kinds of properties continue to be cheap, particularly in comparison with other countries in Asia.
However this situation may not remain the same for a long time as at the close of 2006, the government dispensed with the requirement that foreign buyers should have the permission from a foreign-investment panel. This move is expected to have a positive bearing on the property market, especially on the mid-to-high end property segment.
Hong Kong is also getting increasingly cheap. This is clearly shown by the fact that rental rates for office space staying at $1,105 in 2006, lower than $1,237 in 1994. Because of mortgage competition between the banks and the steady decline of apartments city’s residential prices are predicted to rise more than 50% by the end of 2007. Considering the case of The Zurich and Monaco the potential threat is the vulnerability that has plagued the US economy. Many East Asian countries, whose economies depend heavily on exporting goods to America, will be affected quite badly by the state of the US economy.
Keeping this in mind, Singapore has the most attractive property investment opportunities in this part of Asia over the next two to three years. The Chinese manufacturing boom has been a real eye opener for the Singapore government. The various governments have started to redistribute their resources with the aim to make their respective cities as financially viable as possible. Singapore offers the lowest tax rate in the world for beginning companies, while 80% of firms spent an effective tax rate of less than 10%. Singapore is also very popular among tourists and this makes it even more compelling for potential investors. Unemployment has come down to a floor of 2.5% and as a result immigration is given an active encouragement.
About half of the 176,000 new jobs created last year were taken up by foreigners. The government expects that another 450,000 jobs will be created over the course of the next five years. This has given a real boost to the property market, which was hardly affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1997. The Singapore government has ended restrictions on borrowing limits in 2005 and as a result purchasing among Singaporeans has become active again.
Even after all these alterations the prices have remained relatively cheap. In comparison with equal cities in the Western world cities like London or New York, Singapore is cheaper. Property is considered a safer bet when you take the equity markets into consideration because of its lack of stability to a US downturn.
If you are interested in property investments, there may not be so many better choices than the Asian property market. There could be some problems in the future though like the possible lack of availability of homes when foreign workers searching for homes could create a scarcity. However, at least for the time being, Asia is among the most lucrative property markets available. Always be alive to it at the time of investing because you could commit on a healthy investment.

Commercial Property & Real Estate Investment in China

November 25th, 2009 CheapFlatsInLondon No comments

China is an incredible country with a number of attractions to boast of. This favorite destination offers investors, tourists, and prospective residents a wealth of opportunities. Before 1990s, there were only few office buildings, commercial properties and housing units in the country. But the country has now undergone tremendous changes and you can see high-rise condominiums, luxury apartments, and commercial buildings dominating the skyline of China.
All of the destinations in the country including Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin are hotspots for investing in all types of properties. Beijing, the capital and seat of administration, has a population of 13.5 million people. Shanghai (16.4 million) is considered as the financial capital of the country, and it is also home to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Shanghai has been chosen as the venue for some parts of the 2008 Olympics. Investing in Chinese properties can certainly fetch you handsome returns.
There are several reasons why savvy investors are attracted to invest in the country’s real estate. China is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. With the formation of the World Trade Organization, the country has emerged as the leader of the global economy.
Property prices in many of the Chinese cities are one third of the prices of world’s leading cities such as New York, London and Tokyo, as a result of the huge number of direct foreign investments every year. The crime rates in China are very low, In contrast to other countries in Asia. This has made China a safe place to live in. To crown it all, China is welcoming foreigners wholeheartedly. Westerners are attracted to the country in large numbers thanks to the highly educated, amicable, and well mannered Chinese people.
Investors interested in entering the Chinese property markets can be classified into institutional investors, commercial property investors, and residential property investors. Institutional investors are interested in investing in multistoried office complexes and latest retail units, owing to their high demand and potential for shortage in future.
Commercial property investors invest mostly in properties such as office spaces, hotels, warehouses and commercial lands. Residential property investors largely invest in residential properties such as houses, single detached houses, townhouses, villas, condominiums, apartments, and serviced apartments. Many people invest in these properties with a view to sell them in future when their prices rise, and there are others who invest in these properties to rent them out and reap high profits.
The price of a property in China depends on many factors such as the nature of the property and the location. For example, a standard apartment in Shanghai costs about 20000 Renminbi (people’s money) per square meter. However, the price of a Chinese serviced apartment with high end amenities ranges between 25000 and 30000 RMB per square meter. Real estates around city centers or near transportation hubs are always likely become the most valuable. In China there is a growing demand for retail and industrial space, as more and more Chinese citizens move to urban areas seeking jobs.
If you are interested in real estate in China you can either directly invest in the property itself or through a Real Estate Investment Trust. An REIT is an investment firm specializing in real state business. It is a commercial organization that handles real estate portfolio in order to make profits. REITs engage in owning and operating income-generating real estate properties such as apartments, shopping centers, condos, hotels, offices, and warehouses. They offer investors financial instruments of the nature of mutual funds. While mutual funds focus on stocks, REITs concentrate on real estate.
One of greatest benefits of investing through a real estate investment trust is that it brings huge tax benefits, as investors are exempted from paying any tax over the dividends. Another great benefit in investing through REITs is that you can trade your assets just like stocks. Yet another advantage of investing through REIT is that no minimum amount has been fixed for the investment.
There are a number of real estate firms to help you find your dream property in China. They offer a range of real estate services such as market analysis, property search, advertising and negotiation with sellers. Most of these real estate firms provide services of professional attorneys to verify the authenticity of documents.