Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa July 2014 | Page 7

INVESTOR TALK
FROM THE EDITOR
As we hurtle past the halfway mark of 2014, it is time to stand back for a moment and
reflect on whether you are halfway to reaching the goals you have set for yourself this year.
Dr Joyce Brothers, American psychologist, columnist and author, tells us that studies
indicate that the one quality all successful people have is persistence.
Standing at this halfway mark of 2014, if you are not halfway to reaching your goals
for the year, don’t let it be a reason to throw in the towel altogether. We cannot make
up lost time, but we can get up and try again. There are still six months left – 176 days
in which you can turn this year into the defining turning point of your life.
This month is an opportunity to get going again, or to take a different approach.
Revisit your goals, review your progress, reconsider your strategy. When, where and
why did you become distracted from a persistent pursuit of the life you want to live? How do you get back on track today?
Then get started again, and keep going. Be persistent. It is the one quality that all successful people have

MONIQUE TERRAZAS

FROM THE PUBLISHER
I heard from a very wise investor recently that nobody designs the economy for you: you have
to adapt and work with what you are given. The successful investor already anticipated that
2014 would be a tough year and many made alternate plans to search for relevant opportunities
that suit the market at the time.
One of the challenges taking its toll on South African investors in 2014 has been the largely
downward performance of the rand, deteriorating South African economy, which has been
downgraded again, and corrupt government. Many investors have taken action, implemented
a global approach and set up offshore entities. Many have also invested offshore. If the
environment is right, go where the opportunities are, otherwise get out quickly.
This month’s Master Investor Jonathan Liebmann saw opportunity locally and turned
the east side of the CBD of Jo’burg into a vibrant district. So opportunities are certainly
everywhere. One of our previous Master Investors, Des de Beer of Resilient, says: “Africa is seen as a very fashionable investment
destination for real estate at the moment”. He believes there is too much over excitement about Africa, which holds serious risks for
real estate investors in terms of issues such as land, tax, legal and political issues. It is a warning to be very careful.
The biggest problem facing real estate investor’s today, whether you are in residential or commercial property, is still raising
finance. Many a successful property investor and entrepreneur have left the bank empty-handed at some stage. In fact, if you are an
experienced property investor, there is a good chance that the bank views you as being over-exposed. Crowdfunding, essentially a
way of pooling investor money via an online platform, is a new way of investing and funding properties globally. It is particularly
popular in the US market, but also is getting traction here in SA. Watch this space: I believe this trend is changing how investors
invest without the tedious red tape, massive deposits and torturous interest rates required by the banks. ?
NEALE PETERSEN
FOUNDER

“Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right’. Start where you stand, and work with
whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along”
NAPOLEON HILL, Author Of Think And Grow Rich
www.reimag.co.za

July 2014 SA Real Estate Investor

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