Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fromtheuk]

Well.......kind of.

My last post on this forum was about buying an Egyptian property. I ditched the idea and never signed the contract.

What did I do instead? I've decided to invest in land. Mainly, because there are no ongoing costs and it is a tangible asset. I can also afford to hold onto any pieces of land I purchase.

What have I bought so far?

1) A 200 square meter plot of beach land in Brazil. There are 100 plots on this site, construction of villas are due to begin this year, they are expected to be ready by 2011. Brazil is the world's 5th largest economy, they have no debts, they will host both the olympics & soccer world cup in the coming years. The plot of land is in a city called Natal, it is a fairly major city with an international airport.

From my research, many people say Brazil is the best place to invest in right now. I've been told I could double my money here, or even quadruple it once the villas have been built. We shall see.

2) 2.5 acres of land in California, Imperial County. It's a poor area with high unemployment. Some companies are buying land there because it is cheap. I've bought it at a dirt cheap price. The hope is once the US economy returns to normal, the value of this land will rise. My American realtor explained if a person has money to invest and can sit on the land, California is the best place to invest. I'm sure our fellow posters will shout me down if they disagree.

Lastly, I am now in the process of negotiating a deal. I will have enough money to invest in some more land by the beginning of July. I have decided to buy 10 acres of land in Texas, and I am waiting to hear about another plot of land I'll get, as a reward for being a regular customer.

I have been told I should get at least a quarter acre plot of land in New Mexico, right next to where a new hospital is being built. Land value here is expected to rise due to the new hospital. I hope so.

I must say I feel good about these investments. I am still in the black, I will never aim to be in debt, I'll pay with what I have or just bide my time.

Each US property has a fairly small amount of money that needs to be paid each year as property tax. The Brazilian land has no property tax on it.

Each piece of US land allows the buyer to build on that land, there are no time restrictions on that.

Could fromtheuk be the next Donald Trump?!

[conrad2]

Donald Trump is a really nice guy.

[tua111111]

[Globutron]

Not in a trollish way but... why are you asking a teacher forum? Buying land isnt the same as buying shoes...it needs know how and experience. Unless you are pointlessly rich and are just throwing money away

[Forward Observer]

http://article.wn.com/view/2010/03/01/Emerging_Real_Estate_Offers_16_Guaranteed_Return_on_Brazilia/

[sulperman]

I'd be really careful about buying some random land in the US. The US is a very, very, very big place. There are many areas that people just don't want to live in, that have no jobs, and that never will have any jobs, any industry, or any reason to be inhabited by humans, even in California.

Areas with no plumbing, no electricity, no telephone lines, and no hope of them ever coming.

Not much you can do with that kind of land.

Not sure about your land- I looked up Imperial County on wikipedia and it looks like it is all desert except for the irrigated farm land. You didn't buy 2.5 acres of desert, did you?

[fromtheuk]

Firstly, yes I have purchased 2.5 acres in Imperial County. It is near the Colorado River outside of Blythe, CA. This area has a high rate of unemployment, it's not exactly a place people are desperate to live in.

Property details:

Zoning: Residential- NO TIME LIMIT TO BUILD

Power: Solar or generator

Water: Drill a well or install a storage tank

Sewer: Septic system

Elevation: About 900 Feet

Terrain: Flat to Rolling Land

Some companies are buying land there now because it is so cheap. Apparently, if someone can afford to buy land and sit on it California is the best place to do so.

It's all a case of what you can afford, unsurprisingly it is cheap in Imperial County. Land in California is running out, the population is on the increase and so open land is in demand.

I am in this for the long term, so I will just wait and see. An American friend raised points similar to yours. I told him how much I paid for it and he said that was a good deal. He advised me not to buy in that area again, and I'm pleased to say I will not buy anymore land in Imperial County.

Nevertheless, over time, I think the value will go up. I was also told a few years ago in Riverside, California, there was plenty of open land, but now there is far less land up for sale there.

I was told many Americans are reluctant to buy land because of the recession, which makes it easier for those who are willing to buy.

In order of contentment, here are the investments I feel are best:

1) Brazil
2) New Mexico
3) Texas
4) California

[chellovek]

Is this a thread about bragging? You know, I recently got told by a woman that I have a massive Johnson. Pleasured her all night with it.

[gakduki]

Raw land is an alligator investment, must be fed periodically and doesn't produce a return until it is sold. I'm sure some of your investments will go fine, while others will never materialize.
Make sure you look into the rights foriegners have in owning land, it is typically different from locals, also there are big risks in investing in developing nations, especially in SA which is prone to leftist revolutions (however Brazil is in love with Lula now)
As for empty land in the US, expect to hold it a long, long time before it can be sold at a profit.
My recommendation is don't put too much money into raw land, as it is very illiquid and may never go up in value. And always make sure to have someone you trust actually take a look at the land. Things like access to roads, electricity and water are misleading, as you may need to get permission to go through anothers property. Also the word beach is very misleading.
Brazil is an interesting prospect, but they do have lots of land and problems.