House and Land Packages

House and land packages are really in a class of their own. Why, you ask? What’s so special about the house and land package? Well, put simply, it is the land. Yes, the land.
Land is an extremely scarce and highly treasured resource. In fact, other than religion and women, it is one of the few things that can boast a hand in the division of families, countries and even dynasties. Yes, wars have been fought, empires have fallen and entire races have been wiped out in the quest for acquiring more and more land.

With house and land packages, you get considerably more land than you would with townhouses and apartments.
Considering that some house and land package prices are at times on par with that of other property types, you are getting much more added value for your investment. This added value that comes with the land means that you are also looking at significantly increased capital growth for your house and land package!

We know that as house and land packages mean that the house generally comes already designed, just waiting to be matched to the right piece of land, you are saving more money than when you do the land purchase and house designing and building separately. As they come ready designed, we know that the package may include extra trimmings, like air conditioners, full landscaping, and carpets, that make it ready to rent out almost immediately. We also know that with most of the house designs in the local area complementing the others, there is a resulting picturesque effect that only adds to the property value.

We even know that the right house and land package for you can mean serious tax benefits through tax credits for the extra deductibles and we also know that house and land packages are often brand new, so they don’t require much maintenance for five years, at least. Finally, we know that you may even be able to save stamp duty on the house, albeit not the land, depending on which state you are looking to invest in.
 Give us a call and let us work out the right house and land package for you. It will only serve to accelerate your wealth creation, more so than before. EEstates

Property Investment in South Africa

South Africa follows a system of land registration where every piece of land is reflected on a diagram and ownership recorded in one of the regionally located Deeds Registries, where documents are available for public viewing. South Africa is reputed to have one of the best deeds registration systems worldwide with an exceptional degree of accuracy and guaranteed tenure. Property can be owned individually, jointly in undivided shares or by an entity such as a company, close corporation or trust, or a similar entity registered outside South Africa.

NON-RESIDENTS
There are no restrictions on property ownership by non-residents, save for a prohibition on illegal aliens owning immovable property within South Africa. There are, however, procedures and requirements which must be complied with in certain circumstances, such as, the local registration of entities registered outside of South Africa where it purchases property in South Africa and the appointment of a South African resident public officer for a local company whose shares are owned by a non-resident. In the event of a non-resident purchasing property in the country with the intention of residing here for longer periods, permanent residency will have to be applied for in accordance with the given requirements and procedures of South African law.
BUYING A PROPERTY
All contracts to acquire land must be in writing, contain certain prescribed information and be signed by both buyer and seller to be valid and legally binding. Contracts most commonly take the form of an Agreement of Sale or Offer to Purchase which once accepted constitutes an Agreement of Sale. Once an Agreement of Sale has been signed by both parties it represents a valid and binding document from which neither party can withdraw without incurring legal consequences, save for certain instances where:

• the agreement is subject to certain conditions which are either fulfilled/not fulfilled;
  
• the purchase price is less than R250 000.00 and certain additional criteria in terms of the Alienation of Land Amendment Act are present entitling the Purchaser to "cool off".

The de facto ownership of property can also be obtained by means of acquiring the shares/members interest and loan claims in a company/close corporation respectively which company/close corporation is the registered owner of a property. These contracts, strictly speaking, need not be in writing and can be concluded verbally which, although legally binding, is not advisable and it is recommended to record the agreement in writing to ensure that the material terms agreed to are accurately recorded.
It is important, furthermore, to note that only a natural person can acquire the members' interest in a close corporation. Accordingly, if it is intended for a non-resident company or trust to be the ultimate purchaser, provision can be made for the close corporation to be converted to a private company at a nominal expense to facilitate same and this should be a condition of purchase.
Accordingly the decision to enter into and sign an Offer to Purchase/Agreement of Sale is not a decision to be taken lightly and it is recommended that an inexperienced purchaser obtain independent legal advice if uncertain in any respect.

Brazil Property Investment

 ABOUT BRAZIL

Brazil is Latin America's largest country. It covers almost half (47.3%) of South America's territory, totaling an area equivalent to 8,547,403 square kilometers. It is the world's fifth largest country, following the Russian Federation, Canada, China, and the United States. Except for a minor number of islands, the Brazilian territory extension is uninterrupted and continuous. The Equator line crosses the northern country, next to Macapá, while the Capricorn Tropic crosses the southern country, next to São Paulo.

Brazil's east-west territorial extension (4,319.4 km) is almost equivalent to its widest north-south distance (4,397.7 km). Brazil borders with ten countries: the French Guyana, Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, and Colombia at north; Uruguay and Argentina at south; and Paraguay, Bolivia, and Peru at west. Ecuador and Chile are the only two countries of South America with which Brazil makes no frontiers. The Atlantic Ocean extends along the entire Brazilian east cost, forming a 7,367-km seacoast.

Portuguese is the mother language, although very different from that spoken in Portugal and other ancient Portuguese colonies. Some people state that currently Brazilians speak “Brazilish”, with a pretty different accent and intonation. A comparison can be made with the English spoken by American and English people: each one has its own regional characteristics. Many Brazilians also speak German and Italian, especially in southern cities, thanks to the influence of colonization. 

 

 REASONS TO INVEST IN BRAZIL

• Brazil is the world’s seventh biggest economy with economic growth of 7.5% in 2010 and a projected 4.5% in 2011. (Source: International Monetary Fund, January 2011)
• Brazil is the world’s largest producer of ethanol. With 2 huge recent oil and gas well discoveries, it’s destined to become one of the biggest oil exporters by 2012.
• It’s the world’s largest producer and exporter of agricultural products including coffee, sugar cane, fruit juices, soy, meat and leather.
• Debt financing has become more available property prices increased by 22% in 2009 and continue to rise.
• In 2009, 5 million international tourists visited Brazil. There are also 50 million annual internal tour- ists, the majority of who holiday in Northeast Brazil.
• Population of 190 million with huge consumer power. Internal demand for 9 million+ new homes.
• Brazil will host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. The government has approved $440BN funds for infrastructure improvements.

• Its warm all year round in the northeast of Brazil increasing rental opportunities and yields.
• Some areas in the North East of Brazil have seen capital appreciation of over 20% per year even more in hotspot areas.
• Currency exceptionally favorable at the moment making it cheap for foreigners to invest / buy property, the currency over the last few years is strengthening year on year.
• President Lula has brought huge hope and improvement to Brazil, Inflation is at an all time low
• Foreign investment is encouraged, you own 100% of land and property (there are exceptions, but we will advise you of this)
• Cost of living can be as low as 30% of the cost in the UK/Europe
• Brazil is self sufficient in Oil and is finding more and more oil fields ready for exploration.
• Beautiful Country with fantastic scenery and beaches
• Some economists say Brazil will be one of the future economic leaders along with Russia, India, China (BRIC's).
• Brazilian people are always friendly and cheerful and inviting. Smiles go a long way. Cities in Brazil are vibrant and exciting with carnivals and music
• Brazil is considered a low risk in respect of War, Terrorism, SARS or Hurricanes

Investing in Property - Brazil

Investing in Property in Brazil

Sprawling across half of South America, Brazil has captivated travellers for at least 500 years. Powdery white-sand beaches, lined with palm trees and fronting a deep blue Atlantic, stretch for more than 7000km. Along the magnificent coastline are tropical islands, music-filled and enchanting colonial towns. Inland, Brazil offers dazzling sights of a different flavour: majestic waterfalls, red-rock canyons, and crystal-clear rivers – all just a small part of the natural beauty.

With all that being said, why would you not want to invest? Without doubt, the Brazil property market is one of the hottest markets in the world and presents the serious investor with a great opportunity to achieve strong income and capital growth returns.

Whatever type of property you are looking for, there are many reasons why it makes sense to purchase your property in Brazil.

-Growing economy

Brazil is one of the largest developing economies in the world. Many economists are predicting that Brazil will be one of the future economic leaders.

-Low building cost

Compared to most other destinations, building costs are low in Brazil. This represents excellent opportunities for property investors as they can buy a property in Brazil for a bargain price compared to what the future price level will be.

Investors that invest in Brazilian property while the building costs are low, stand to gain the most.

-Lower inflation and interest rates

The steady fiscal reforms and economic stability have pushed down the Brazilian interest rates and inflation significantly.

-Low cost of living

Compared to other more traditional destinations (Spain, France, Caribbean etc.), in Brazil you can afford a far more relaxed and luxurious lifestyle at a fraction of the price. Approximately 20% lower than that in the UK.

-The exchange rate is exceptionally favourable

At the moment the exchange rate is exceptional, making it very cheap for foreigners to buy property in Brazil

-Complete lack of natural disasters

Compared to many tropical destinations, Brazil benefit from a complete lack of natural phenomena such as hurricanes, tropical storms, flooding, tsunamis nor is it affected by earthquakes.

With all of these positive points why would you not consider investing in property in Brazil.  Don’t wait to buy in Brazil, buy in Brazil and then wait.

We have land and properties  available in Brazil, so contact us for more information. Eestates your one stop shop for land and property speculation for the global investor

Why Property is a good investment

Why property is a good investment

Ready to make some money on a low-risk investment? One of the best options is still property-investment. When it comes to investments, there are few that are always as reliable and easy to finance as real estate. Of course the real estate market has its up and downs, but the investment will always appreciate, unlike shares in the stock market. No matter what happens with the economy or how bad a recession is, property still is a good investment.

Land and property become more valuable as population increases and the land becomes more scarce. This in turn makes the land or property more valuable. This could be one of the most lucrative and advantageous investments that any person can make.

Investing in property can also assist create credit. This is really a valuable asset when applying for a home loan for a luxurious retirement property. Each and every payment which is created on the mortgage helps minimize the mortgage payments and build equity, developing extra credibility with lenders for future investments.

Investing income can be incredibly profitable for any person who understands what they’re performing. Understanding the positive aspects can assist people choose no matter whether or not property investing is really an excellent selection for them.

The benefits are financial in the long, medium and short term & these range from:

-long term - capital growth

-medium term - increased rental income due to inflation and the increase in market  rent

-short to medium terms - tax variations, tax minimisation, negative gearing and depreciation

However remember that it is best to seek proper advice from qualified experts in their respective fields in order to maximise the benefits from your investment property.

Of course with all the advantages there are risks involved too. The risks of investing in residential property include:

-Interest rates could rise.

-The property could be untenanted for a period of time.

-You could get "bad" tenants.

-It could take up a lot of your personal time.

-House prices could remain static, or even fall

When you invest in property, you are establishing the basis for a lifetime income. This requires persistence and self-education. The saying goes “Buy land, because they’re not making anymore of it”

Advantages of Investing in Property

Advantages of Investing in Property

No investment today offers the stability, simplicity and excellent returns offered by property investment.

• While the Stock Market offers high returns, many investors have found it to be a volatile and dangerous place. This is especially true for the non-professional investor as there are many hidden external factors that can effect a financial investment. Added to this, the major Stock Markets have been underperforming generally, and many investors are now turning to property as a far better option than other forms of investment.
• No other investment allows you to purchase with other peoples’ money (The Bank’s) and pay this back with other peoples’ money (the rental income from tenants).
• Buying specifically for investment purposes allows the investor to remove the emotion from the purchase and look at the property purely as an investment vehicle. This may mean utilizing our re-assignable contract option and selling at a substantial profit prior to completion while carrying no redemption penalty. Alternatively a "buy-to-let" situation can generate a reliable rental income, incorporating substantial capital appreciation.
• If you own property, you can release equity against this. Although there is no law that states that your property will increase in value each year, it is generally accepted that a well maintained property in a reasonable area will appreciate in value.
• It is a well documented fact that on average the value of a property doubles every seven years

A Few Facts

• 50% of the names mentioned on The Times Rich List made their money through investing in property.
• A property worth just €4,000 thirty years ago would be worth around €225,000 today.
• Equities or Stocks can be volatile, as with the .com crash. Property however is a historically stable investment.

Get Professional Advise

Making use of a professional investment service will save you a fortune in the long run. Harness their expertise and sound property knowledge to avoid making costly mistakes with your property portfolio.

Why Land and Property Speculation?

In this time of increasingly diminishing returns on many traditional investments such as CD's and "blue chip" stocks and bonds many investors are looking at alternative investment vehicles which may offer the opportunity for much higher yields. As part of this process many investors might want to consider investing in "pre-development" or "raw" land as part of their portfolios. 




Who Should Invest?
I am sure many readers have a friend or relative who bought a piece of raw land for a relatively small amount which was sold some time later for an astonishing sum relative to the purchase price. Be forewarned, however, raw land investment is not for everyone. As with any investment that has the potential to yield tremendous returns there is a significant risk factor as well. 

The two main qualities of the successful land investor are patience and common sense and a willingness to spend the time and effort necessary to understand the risk / reward tradeoffs. It is necessary at this point to differentiate between an investor who purchases raw land with the intent of actively pursuing its development and the investor who seeks to speculate on the probability of an increase in value but takes no active role in development and more or less "sits" on the land anticipating a point where it makes sense to sell. 


The Early Bird Gets the Worm
The bottom line for the speculative investor is to make their purchase at a point in the land development cycle where growth is close enough in both time and proximity that a reasonable determination that it will be in the path commercial development can be made but to purchase before prospective commercial users for the land have entered the market and caused to values to accelerate. 

In this land development cycle the most readily identifiable area(s) to find good land investments are at the stage in the development cycle where the municipal authorities have identified the area(s) where they wish to direct commercial growth but at least several years before the municipal infrastructure of services has been laid in. This type of property is often found just over the City municipal service boundaries in the County where urban (or suburban) and rural areas divide. 

This information is easily obtained by a visit to your local Planning and Zoning office. Most municipalities worth investing in have some sort of "Master Plan" document(s) for sale that specify the desired type and direction of growth for intervals of 5 to 30 years. A polite inquiry to a zoning official (who often spend a good deal of their time making these plans) can also be the source of some very good information about municipal attitudes toward growth in particular areas and current time lines for development of these areas.