Make money in your sleep...

We all know that investing in property is a good way to secure your money. In today’s world, banks are not a safe option and investing on the stock market is highly risky and you are more likely to lose money than make money. Experts now agree that not only is investing in property a good way to secure your money, but it is now considered one of the best ways to make money while you sleep…passive income! Passive income is the way the richer get richer. The rich all own property, that is not a coincidence, it is a careful business strategy. With your investment doubling every 7 years, one would be crazy not to put your spare cash into property.

Going back to Location! Location! Location! -  if you buy property in the right area at the right price, you will see your investment grow in value. Property prices fluctuate far less than other investments and are not as susceptible to cyclical fluctuations as shares on the stock market. Property has always been a great way to secure loans or mortgages for your business as it is a tangible collateral and far more acceptable than share certificates or bank balances as both of the latter can be lost overnight!

So how does property make you rich:

•   Its value appreciates between 5 and 20% per annum depending on where it is in the world. Prices in Southern Africa have had the biggest appreciation year on year than anywhere else in the world. You don’t have to actively improve your property for it to appreciate in value. You can buy it and sit on it and it will quietly make you money while you sleep.
• Buy bargains and wait a few years and sell for a sweet profit. Look out for up and coming areas and have the foresight or seek advice on the best areas to buy in order to see a big return on your investment.
•   Rental income on your properties not only gives you a monthly income, but it can be used to pay off the mortgage if you bought the property through the bank. There are lots of scheme in Europe and Great Britain which are specifically designed for this type of property investment. "Buy to Rent", as the schemes are called, are designed for the property investor who does not have all the cash upfront. The bank lends you most of the money and your tenants service the bank loan. That’s how to get rich with someone else’s money!
•  Houses can be bought to renovate and resold quickly. Remember not to overcapitalize or personalize the homes too much, as this limits the pool of buyers. Look for cheap houses in good areas and do them up for a quick turnaround profit.

Property is by far the best investment to make. Your money is secure, it is tangible and it makes you money if purchased at the right time in the right place. Remember there are not enough houses to supply the ever growing population. When demand outstrips supply, prices will escalate. With a new surge of returning residents from the diaspora, the demand for property is increasing in Zimbabwe. Now is the time to buy property, and sit back and make a sweet mint on your investment.

Invest in Gold or Invest in Property in Zimbabwe?

With today's volatile economies in the world one wonders where the safest place to invest one's money is? I'm not talking about short term, get rich quick schemes here. Where would you get the biggest return on your money over the long term? Certainly not leaving it in the bank to earn a pittance on interest or worse still, to have the bank go belly up.

Some people I have spoken to think it is a great idea to buy gold. Actual gold, that you can hold in your hands or bury in the garden if the mood takes you. Speculating on the spot gold market, in these volatile times, is the quickest way to lose money. But let's say you had bucket loads of cash and you bought gold and sat on it..(well, not quite. Unless you were hoping for a golden chicken to hatch!),  how long would it take to double your money? Ten years? Twenty years? Who knows? In this economic environment you may lose money for several years before the gold price returns to its bullish trend seen in recent months.

I would invest my hard earned cash in property in Zimbabwe. Despite our harsher than harsh economic climate, (Greece and Italy have nothing on us,) property prices have consistently gone up. If you were fortunate enough to have bought property in 2006 or 2007 in Zimbabwe, your investment has tripled, quadrupled or more, depending on the property type and area. Since dollarization in 2009, the upward trend has slowed, but you are still getting a growth of around 25% per annum on your original investment. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that in 5 years your property has doubled in value.

Now if you had bought the property for an investment, you will have been earning rental revenue on it. The rentals have also tripled or quadrupled in the last 4  to 5 years.

Buying property and leasing it out is the best way to secure your money in these volatile times, and at the end of the day, if everything really does go pear shaped, at least you will have a roof over your head to keep you warm at night. Gold on the other hand is a cold, hard bed partner and not likely to keep you warm!

For property advice you can trust, email me at nicky@pageproperties.co.zw