Commercial Guidebook | Real Estate Investor Magazine Commercial Handbook 2013 | Page 7

EDITORS LETTER Investment Starts Here W elcome to the fourth annual edition of your invaluable Commercial Property Investment Guide. Despite the tough economic times facing South Africa, with rising costs and slow growth, there are still great opportunities in the commercial property investment sector. In this edition we explore those investment opportunities and show you how to take advantage of them. Now, more than ever, is the time to get back to the basics of commercial property investing, to rediscover what excited you about investing in the first place and then to apply that enthusiasm to adding more value to the investments you already own. It’s time to focus on creative renovation and rejuvenation, adding value to your existing developments and attracting the right tenants. The service sector is experiencing declining growth, vacancies are rising, wildcat strikes have shaken business conf idence, and with the 2014 elections nearing, the economic stability of the economy is uncertain. Commercial property investors cannot afford to be complacent. It is in these times of uncertainty that ingenuity and change can transform the property investment sector. It’s easy to succeed in the good times, it’s a lot harder to do so in tough times. Despite the challenges that lie ahead, investors who diligently apply themselves and use the research in this handbook to create a strategy for rising to the challenges, will not just survive but will enjoy success. So, challenge yourself! Head back to the drawing board, think outside the box and reap the rewards. Happy Reading! Angelique Redmond EDITOR “Real estate cannot be lost or stolen, nor can it be carried away. Purchased with common sense, paid for in full, and managed with reasonable care, it is about the safest investment in the world.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt www.reimag.co.za Commercial Handbook 2013 5