Showing posts with label Investment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Investment. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Retirement Investment Ideas - How To Get The Biggest Payoff

You have done your share. Now, it is almost your turn to shine and feel relaxed after so many years of toiling and sowing greener fields just to earn a living. The next thing you have to worry about is to how you will put your money to good use so you can maximize how much money you will have during your retirement. For many aspiring retired persons the best action to take is to make a retirement investment. As a wise investor, you have learned already the importance of understanding risk and rates of return, asset allocation and diversification. So what are your options?

1. Real Estate

There are five things to consider before opting for this kind of retirement investment plan:

- Location
- Market value
- Structure
- What entity is selling it
- Financial standing.

According to some financial experts, real estate is an ideal retirement investment vehicle because it usually appreciates in value and can provide you with a steady cash flow. You may also use it to leverage for loans. Properties with delinquent accounts and those about to be foreclosed are usually sold 10% to 60% below their market value. That is why real estate can be good retirement investment for you. Before you buy real estate as your retirement investment, however, be sure to check first the property for any defects and see if you can get good returns.

One good advice for this kind of retirement investment plan is to buy the worst property in the best location - but remember that the real estate sector is always first to be affected by political instability or an economic downturn.

2. Bank And Trust Products

If you have good tolerance for risk, you may opt for a retirement investment on non-guaranteed funds or trust products for higher yields. Common trust funds pool resources from various investors and then invest money in mutual funds or stocks for higher earnings. If you want to play it safe, make retirement investments in government securities, bank products or guaranteed funds. These are very likely to give you stable returns, with of course the huge downside of much lower yields for your investment.

3. Art

You may have your retirement investment in art pieces that will become more valuable over time. If you are not sure about your ability to tell good art from bad, hire an appraiser to help you. Depending on your preferences, you may have your retirement investment in anything from jewelries, antique furniture and decorative arts like porcelain and saints. You may also place your retirement investment upon paintings, either from new or upcoming artist. Or you may also make your retirement investment in gathering collectibles such as stamps, paper money, comic books, or action figures. Just remember that placing your retirement investment in art objects can be expensive, and they may require maintenance. Also, art pieces are perhaps the most difficult to sell.

4. Life Insurance

You may still opt for this kind of retirement investment vehicle. Older people would still want to have their retirement investment placed on life insurances. In fact, many are investing in whole life plans because the premiums are generally lower, though, it varies according to one's age. There are, however, also short term plans for those that are paid in a shorter time frame and other life insurance terms to choose from. Just remember, before you place your retirement investment on life insurances, check the insurance company first before buying it. Make sure that the company will still be around when your policy matures or if you or your benefactors will need to file claims already.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Ubud, Bali, Property Investment: Five Great Reasons Why Ubud Real Estate Will Grow in Value

Bali is one of the worlds' most sought after tourist destinations. Its unique ancient Hindu culture is rich with elaborate religious ceremonies and processions that occur almost daily.

Five Great Reasons for Property Investment in Ubud:

1. Ubud is the art and dance cultural center of Bali. Located in the center of the island-state, this small village is one of Bali's three primary tourist areas. Ubud thrives on a steady, dynamic level of tourism that stimulates a fast growing real estate business climate for both commercial and residential properties. Bali's stable provincial government is democratically elected and encourages an open and welcoming business climate since economic growth adds greater tax revenues that permit new and ongoing development projects. The government's ever increasing investment in infrastructure stimulates even more foreign investment and the implementation of new business standards and regulations underpin long term economic success strategies that point to sustained growth in coming decades. Even during the recent global economic crisis, Indonesia maintained approximately a 6% growth rate. This burgeoning economic giant in the region was little influenced by the downtrend, primarily because the Indonesian financial system doesn't function as a credit-based economy. Most foreign investment in real estate is on a cash basis. Today property values maintain a steadily increasing growth curve and the investment value of property in Ubud continues to augment because of the town's popularity amongst tourists and locals alike.

2. Ubud, a quaint little village of only 8000 people, is a magical place. In 2009 it was rated "Best City in Asia" by readers of the US-based luxury magazine Conde Nast Traveler. Ubud dethroned Bangkok as the best Asian city. Bangkok had held the top spot since the category debuted in 2004. Ubud also beat out several other key travel destinations--Hong Kong, Shanghai and even Tokyo--all major contenders for the prestigious award. Ubud's validation by Conde Nast Traveler as being "The Friendliest Town of All" is just one of many aspects that will most likely boost property and business values in the area for years to come. On a side note for connoisseurs, Cathay Pacific's Inflight Magazine, named the martinis at Naughty Nuri's restaurant in Ubud as being one of the top five best in all Asia.

3. Adding to Ubud's media frenzy buzz, the town was prominently featured in the wildly popular, global best selling book, "Eat, Pray, Love," which remained on the New York Times Best Seller List for a staggering 187 weeks. Oprah Winfrey devoted two full episodes of her show to discuss the book's success, which was soon followed by a Hollywood movie of the same name starring Julia Roberts, who won the 2001 Academy Award for Best Actress. Ubud's recent accolades have intensified global investment interest in the town, which continues to show strongly augmenting revenues in the tourism sector of its economy. Property values and land rental rates for restaurants, shops, residences and hotels continue to skyrocket, which has stimulated even more interest in private real estate investment.

4. Notwithstanding the attraction of Bali's rich ceremonial culture and its lush tropical environment, one contributing factor to the island's dynamic rate of tourism growth is its low cost of travel expense when compared to high-key Western destinations in the States and in Europe or even in the nearby Southeast Asian cities of Singapore and Hong Kong. Indonesia's average per capita income is approximately US per day across much of the country and per capita income for workers in Bali typically is less than five dollars per day. Such low cost greatly reduces construction expense for new projects and the cost for staff once the projects are completed. This factor becomes highly attractive for not only foreign commercial real estate ventures but for private property investment as well. Retirees seeking exotic locales for retirement often place high-value-for-money-spent as a primary investment concern.

5. Living in Ubud has its rewards. Since the town is located in the center of the island at a higher elevation than the over-crowded beach areas further south, the temperature is several degrees cooler. And there's a bit more rain in Ubud, which generally is of short duration, that nurtures the nearby verdant rice terraces--some of the most dramatic on the island. Ubud's rich cultural heritage in art and dance has fostered a vibrant expat community of countless individuals involved in the creative arts, many as working professionals. The magic draw of Ubud has triggered the opening of numerous art galleries, fine dining establishments and five-star hotel accommodations. Many foreign investors seek property investment opportunities in Ubud to capitalize on Bali's lucrative tourist industry by tapping into the luxury holiday rental villa sector.

Ubud's vibrant residential real estate market has spawned some of Bali's most innovative architectural designs, many that incorporate structures rising from infinity-edged reflecting pools. The concept blends unique contemporary design with the traditional Balinese "alang alang" thatched roof. The climate is temperate all year long so glass-enclosed, open-air rooms can invite nature inside in an often striking juxtaposition of elements.

Today's Ubud seems to have captured the most exotic aspects of Bali's rich cultural heritage while it keeps abreast with the future. It surely has captivated the world's attention.


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