SA’s population will not be able to provide for themselves

We saw it again recently when the American credit crisis caused people to lose billions of dollars on the world’s stock markets. I read that the pension fund industry, in particular, lost a lot of money. However, the world’s wealthiest investor, Warren Buffett, did not lose a single dollar.

Many benefits for a lifestyle investor

Offshore investing can be a minefield for a lifestyle investor. What makes The Bahamas a very desirable place in which to invest when compared to other international financial centres in the area, such as the Caribbean, Bermuda, or the Cayman Islands.

Investing collectively increases your power and decreases your risk – exponentially!

Have you ever spent time with someone who has a great sense of humour, who sees the light side of everything and often makes you laugh? It’s a bit sad if you haven’t, and you’ll have to take our word for what comes next...

Where is the best place to invest and why?

With the current political and economic uncertainties in South Africa, astute investors are diversifying offshore as a hedge against the weakening rand. REIM will be running a series of Offshore Property Reviews to educate the investor on where and how to invest offshore.

Auctions can offer great value to creditworthy investors

The auction business is booming due to an increase in distress sales. Smart investors who are cash rich and/or creditworthy, and who understand the rules, can expect to find some great deals on the auction floor.

Know where the savings are to wipe out your tax liabilities

In this issue’s article, we outline five methods that can be used to reduce or even legitimately wipe out any property tax liability. It is important to note though that implementing some of these methods may require the help of a tax professional.

The law favours tenants – landlords need to protect themselves

In this second article in our series addressing the six main risks residential property investors face when managing their property portfolios, we consider legal risk and how investors can manage it.

The relationship between body corporate and tenant

Buy-to-let investors often choose to invest in sectional title units as opposed to freehold properties initially as unit prices are often lower and they can offer better value for money. This is because shared amenities like swimming pools and gyms would be far more costly to maintain on a freehold property.

Eliminate the fear factor – establish a trust to protect your assets

The old cliché about death and taxes is true, but with some smart planning, even death taxes can to a large degree be legally avoided.

You can recover from bad investment advice – learn from your mistakes

We at REIM encountered a number of investors who enjoyed phenomenal successes in 2008, but we also met investors who made some critical investment mistakes. In some cases, these mistakes led to investors either having to declare bankruptcy, or having to liquidate most, if not all, of their investment assets, resulting in huge losses.

Be aware and learn from people around you

Zitulele Combi, better known as ‘KK’ to his friends, is a maverick who has achieved great success in property and business due to his doggedly sticking to his task and defying conventional practices. He was given the name ‘KK’ for short after the former Zambian president and Dictator Kenneth Kuanda, due to his autocratic approach to firing people from the debating team at school.

The best time to start a property portfolio is as soon as possible

The best time to start a property portfolio is when you first start earning an income. The success stories of many young investors provide proof that it can be done, and the numbers show that the sooner you start, the more spectacular the results.