investingwisely asked:

Warren Buffett says that distressed assets are a great investment in an interview with Charlie Rose. He talks about Mortgage-Backed Securities, the government bailout. He says if you buy distressed assets at distressed prices, you will make money. He also mentions his confidence in the US economy over time, and closes with his classic quote: “You want to be greedy when others are fearful, you want to be fearful when others are greedy.”

RUDY

berman250 asked:


I live in Chicago and already have bought a couple preconstruction condos as an investment. I have seen some land/lots for sale for what seems like reasonable prices in areas that have potential to be “up-and-coming” areas. What do you think, in general, about how how good of an investment land is? Would you recommend building on it, or waiting until the cost of the land appreciates a good amount and then flipping it? Do any of you own or have owned land as an investment in a city? What are some of the things I should consider, in this kind of investment?

SANG

Dennis Collins asked:


Investing in Spain, especially Almeria, is an excellent choice for overseas property investors. Thanks to the rapid appreciation in Spanish property prices,the demand for Almeria property in particular among Britons continues to grow at a fast rate. However, before buying Spanish property for investment, one should consider several key factors to determine the best strategy for investing in Spain and use the services of an experienced and reliable Spanish real estate agent for sound property investment advice.

According to an article last year in “The Times”, which quoted a study by “The Economist”, over 600,000 Britons have chosen to make property investments in Spain. However, it is not too hard to see why investing in Spain is so popular with the British.

For one, the returns on investment in Spanish property have been simply spectacular, to put it mildly! With property prices in some of the most popular destinations for overseas property investments rising almost in the 15-20% range annually, many of these investors have been rewarded for their enterprise in investing in Spain with exceptional returns.

Even amidst fears that this kind of appreciation is unsustainable, most overseas property analysts still project at least an average of 5-10% annual growth in Spanish property prices, a higher return than several other investment options.

Another reason that lures Britons to invest in Spain is their ongoing love affair with the country. The year-round sunshine; peaceful, easy-going life; extremely affordable cost of living; sumptuous food and above all, a certain exotic character, have all appealed to investors who want to combine business with pleasure.

The excellent and inexpensive air connections to most destinations in Spain are certainly an important factor: many Britons find it cheaper and faster to travel to Spain than come to London!

Couple that with luxurious Spanish property set in the backdrop of more than 1000 miles of the magnificent Mediterranean coastline at a fraction of the price you would pay in the UK and you can see that investing in property in Spain is a way forward for many British people.

While investing in Spain is certainly lucrative, it would be wise to consider various aspects of buying Spanish property for investment. A thorough in-depth analysis with an experienced Spanish real estate agent and overseas property consultant, who can understand specific investment objectives and requirements, is the key to making a sound investment.

You should seriously evaluate the following aspects before investing in Spain: It is very important to be sure about what you want from your overseas property. For some, it may be the lure of a holiday home; for others, it may be the prospect of having an inexpensive retirement home; and for many others, it may be a purely commercial investment.

“Buying to let” is a big trend - Britons buy property in Spain and rent it out to generate continuous rental income. Understanding your true motives for buying property will be an important factor in determining the most appropriate investment in Spanish property.

Where to buy property in Spain? “Location” is probably the single most important factor in any property investment. However, choosing the ideal location to invest in Spain can be challenging due to the numerous exciting options available - be it in Costa Blanca, Costa Almeria or Costa Calida.

Should you invest in an extremely popular destination that is nearing saturation or should you rather choose a relatively untapped but potential high-growth area?

For example, investing in property in the Costa Almeria may be a better option than investing in the Costa Del Sol, in terms of budget and property prices. Or, if you are buying property for retirement purposes, you may be able to get cheaper options on the outskirts of the popular tourist haunts or commercial centres, whereas if you are buying property to let, you will have to consider investing in a completely different area.

An experienced real estate agent can help you weigh up all these factors and help you choose the best location in which to invest.

Which estate agent? If you get this decision right, your success with investing in Spain is virtually guaranteed. Think of your overseas property consultant or real estate agent as your personal investment portfolio manager with whom you trust your hard-earned money.

What kind of Spanish property do they have in their portfolio? What is their track record and experience in helping people buy Spanish property for investment? What is their reputation both locally in Spain and in the UK? All important factors to consider when looking for a new home in Spain.



JEAN

Ramapati Singhania asked:


These countries are often less regulated than the host country and are hence preferred by offshore investors. Offshore investment gives greater freedom to the investor and has the potential for much greater return on investments. Since there is a wide portfolio of investments on offer offshore investment companies play a vital role in conducting these affairs.

Offshore investments can be made in the form of hedge funds, offshore investment funds, overseas mutual funds, offshore investment bonds, offshore unit trusts, offshore property funds etc.

An offshore investment offers a high level of privacy and is sometimes is looked at suspiciously as offering a channel for investing illegally acquired wealth. However offshore investments shield legitimate, affluent individuals from the financial pressures and constraints faced by them in their home country.

In fact offshore investments managed by offshore investment companies are completely legal and are regulated by the jurisdictions of those countries where investments are made.

Investors who live away from their home country, those who want to maintain their financial privacy and those who want to protect their assets legally usually opt for offshore investments.

Other reasons for offshore investments are benefits from a reduction in taxes, opportunity to remain discrete in financial affairs (due to family arrangements), and to expand investments beyond the investor’s current jurisdiction, to achieve a better return on investment.

Offshore investment companies with their years of investment experience gained by working in offshore jurisdictions help both corporate and individual investors to protect their assets through market savvy investments, thereby enabling investors to attain maximum return on their overseas investments.

Offshore investments shields investments from capital gain taxation and augments assets through a confidential and secure investment that is not governed by the rules and regulations of the home country.

It is very essential to choose the right offshore investment service provider to ensure that good advice is being obtained and more crucially an excellent ROI is achieved. Offshore investment companies work closely with their clients so as to get a detailed understanding about their investment and financial objectives, which enables them to give the best possible offshore advice.

Offshore investment companies prepare well constructed balanced portfolio of investments for their investors so as to ensure success. They update the investment portfolio because financial markets adjust according to world economies and are prone to internal and currency fluctuations. They make assessments on investments after every six months along with a full financial analysis once every 12 months. This is essential to maintain the growth of the investment portfolio.

Investing offshore can be a very attractive option to an investor who wants to explore and invest in markets outside the home country by acquiring overseas private investments. The common perception that offshore investments can be very risky does not hold any truth. In fact offshore financial centers rely heavily on offshore capital and as such are very concerned about maintaining their reputations.



DARRYL

Bloomberg asked:

Analysis by Bob Parker of Credit Suisse Asset Management

KURTIS