Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa March 2013 | Page 60

OFFSHORE INVESTMENT
Then you buy the property and the agent earns
their commission. I am sorry but you are a no
body on the other side of the world. You have
no critical influence and so it is very difficult
to contact them, you deal with time zones,
communication problems and generally it is
a nightmare – sitting on the other side of the
ocean and sapping, time, energy and money!

you are trying achieve, your thoughts and
concerns. The more open you are with them the
more they will be able, with their partners on
the ground, to help you make sure you achieve
all your objectives.

It is not possible to do this on your own or
with your brother or a friend who lives there.

6. Read all the recommended research before
you go.

I am not saying this because I own an
international property company. I am saying
this because when I lived in London in 1999
and I was coming back to South Africa to buy
properties on my own it was a nightmare. I am
South African, but dealing with the agents,
developers, law yers, banks, management
agents, etc all in a rushed time was fraught with
disaster. This is why we started International
Property Solutions (IPS) in 2003 to help people
negotiate the challenges of investing overseas.
We decided to use our experience of investing
in international property for 14 years personally
and helping over 2000 people invest to a
value greater than R1.6 billion, to investigate
to international countries and uncover the
opportunity by doing two things – getting the
right information and right partners.

7. Go on the Internet and see what some of the
competitors are offering, and take down all the
details.

Based on this I would like to offer advice as to
how to invest internationally, achieve wealth
creation and preservation, a plan B and peace
of mind and achieve a successful buying trip.

Here are the steps:
1. Be strategic – whatever you do, don’t make
crisis or emotional decisions.
2. Firstly read the report on the “6 things
you need to know and ask before you invest
offshore?” Go to w w w.ipsinvest.com to
download.
3. Based on this report, find a company who
ticks the boxes which are outlined to ensure that
you are dealing with the right partner. Someone
you can trust and someone who has your best
interests at heart.
4. Book an investment consultation with one
of their specialist in South Africa many weeks
before your planned trip. Outline exactly what
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March 2013 SA Real Estate INVESTOR

5. Work with the investment specialistto plan
the trip.

8. If the above steps are followed then when
you arrive overseas you can hit the ground
running.
9. I would suggest on the first day you land, you
plan a rest day as generally you will be jetlagged
and there is nothing worse than looking at
property and trying to seem intelligent when
you are shattered.
10. Make sure that they take you to see lots
of properties which suit your requirements.
This all should be pre-planned, based on your
discussions with the investment specialistin
South Africa, who will coordinate
everything. Make sure they
have printed documents
with everything about
the properties so you
have the full financial
picture on each property.

13. Make sure you meet the entire team –
lawyers, inspection agents, management agents.