Xenophobia, Visas and International Real Estate
One of the preparations for a trip to China is getting a visa. The process is aggravating. The cost is high $205 and I have to send my passport away. The visa is for single entry and is only good for 90 days. Do you think I would like to buy a vacation home in China?
As the holder of a US passport, there are very few countries that require a visa. But what about the way the US treats visitors from most of the world? The visa requirements and the treatment people receive at our borders and airports is a major deterrent to investment and tourism here. With the US dollar at ridiculously low levels and real estate prices dropping we could be a desirable target for vacation home buyers. An improvement in this market would help our real estate industry and our general economy.
As a private citizen and a real estate agent, what can I do? I can apologize; but I am pretty powerless to change things. I can recommend properties in Central and South America. As a matter of fact that is what I am doing. I don’t mean to be unpatriotic about this being the greatest country in the world and all that. I just don’t want my clients and friends to have to start their trip with a dose of Homeland Insecurity.
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte NC. His website is http://www.segrestrealty.com His email is david@segrestrealty.com
Showing posts with label International Real Estate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Real Estate. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Infrastructure, Trade & International Real Estate(Pt. 2)
Infrastructure, Trade & International Real Estate (Part 2)
I once had a listing in a small country in the West Indies. I spent a night there to understand the listing and get a perspective on marketing it. Getting there required a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico and an overnight stay. The next morning a prop jet carried me to the capitol of this island. A 3 ½ hour drive by jeep fording a small river twice got me to the property.
It was a wonderful home, built into the side of the mountain. Solar heat and electricity and spring water were not just adequate; but exceptional. By walking about 2/10 of a mile to the top of a hill I was able to use my cell phone.
Going back required the same drive. The overnight stay was in the capital of this country in a fairly primitive beachfront hotel instead of San Juan. The flight back to San Juan started with a hand search of my baggage in the public part of the airport and a repeat performance on the secure side of the airport. In San Juan the flight connected on the same day. It was a great trip and a wonderful experience. I never sold the property. What do you think was the problem?
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte NC. His website is http://www.segrestrealty.com His email is david@segrestrealty.com
I once had a listing in a small country in the West Indies. I spent a night there to understand the listing and get a perspective on marketing it. Getting there required a flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico and an overnight stay. The next morning a prop jet carried me to the capitol of this island. A 3 ½ hour drive by jeep fording a small river twice got me to the property.
It was a wonderful home, built into the side of the mountain. Solar heat and electricity and spring water were not just adequate; but exceptional. By walking about 2/10 of a mile to the top of a hill I was able to use my cell phone.
Going back required the same drive. The overnight stay was in the capital of this country in a fairly primitive beachfront hotel instead of San Juan. The flight back to San Juan started with a hand search of my baggage in the public part of the airport and a repeat performance on the secure side of the airport. In San Juan the flight connected on the same day. It was a great trip and a wonderful experience. I never sold the property. What do you think was the problem?
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte NC. His website is http://www.segrestrealty.com His email is david@segrestrealty.com
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Infrastructure, Trade & International Real Estate (Pt. 1)
Infrastructure, Trade & International Real Estate (Part 1)
In an earlier blog, the relationship between container facilities and trade was discussed. What happens to the trade articles after they reach the (air)port? They have to go somewhere. Even if intermodal facilities are available there still must be a way for the trucks and trains to disburse the goods or bring in goods for shipment. Whereever highways and rail lines go the demand for real estate increases. The prices increase too.
Other infrastructure is necessary as well. Manufacturing facilities need electricity and water. Delivery systems need fuel. The lack of available generating power has slowed growth on the border of the USA and Mexico. Manufacturers have actually built facilities that they could not operate. The business parks advertize available power. Several parks may be advertizing the same power. Users who do not check with the utility producers and reserve capacity may find themselves unable to operate.
In Brazil much of the electricity comes from hydro-electric plants. When there is a drought power is short and many companies have to work at reduced output. Using a competent real estate professional can help avoid these problems. I can introduce you to someone.
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte NC. His website is http://www.segrestrealty.com His email is david@segrestrealty.com
In an earlier blog, the relationship between container facilities and trade was discussed. What happens to the trade articles after they reach the (air)port? They have to go somewhere. Even if intermodal facilities are available there still must be a way for the trucks and trains to disburse the goods or bring in goods for shipment. Whereever highways and rail lines go the demand for real estate increases. The prices increase too.
Other infrastructure is necessary as well. Manufacturing facilities need electricity and water. Delivery systems need fuel. The lack of available generating power has slowed growth on the border of the USA and Mexico. Manufacturers have actually built facilities that they could not operate. The business parks advertize available power. Several parks may be advertizing the same power. Users who do not check with the utility producers and reserve capacity may find themselves unable to operate.
In Brazil much of the electricity comes from hydro-electric plants. When there is a drought power is short and many companies have to work at reduced output. Using a competent real estate professional can help avoid these problems. I can introduce you to someone.
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte NC. His website is http://www.segrestrealty.com His email is david@segrestrealty.com
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
International Trade & Wealth (pt. 5)
International Trade & Wealth (Pt. 5)
What is really important to us is “how does international trade affect real estate?”
The most obvious things of course are probably all of the imported items in any buildings that are built. In the USA a large portion of our lumber comes from Canada. Many of our fine wood items come from South America and Asia. The furniture comes from China. The cost of these items is held down by international competition. Some items of course are just things we could not have unless they were imported.
International traders and companies that operate businesses outside of their own countries are major users of real estate. Wherever a country touches the rest of the world is a major development point. Look at the areas around ports and international airports. Huge distribution centers spring up everywhere. There will also be manufacturing facilities that take advantage of the proximity to the transportation hubs. These places create jobs. They also bring in foreign workers who buy or rent homes.
Banking has gotten to be a huge industry largely because of the need to move money across national borders but also because of differences in national tax laws. Banks occupy a lot of office space. Their employees make a lot of money and occupy nice homes.
The travel people engage in for business creates an awareness that the countries outside of their own are not fearful environments. They learn to enjoy other cultures and other places. As their experience level grows so does their comfort level. 2nd homes in other countries becomes more desirable.
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte NC. His website is http:www.segrestrealty.com .
What is really important to us is “how does international trade affect real estate?”
The most obvious things of course are probably all of the imported items in any buildings that are built. In the USA a large portion of our lumber comes from Canada. Many of our fine wood items come from South America and Asia. The furniture comes from China. The cost of these items is held down by international competition. Some items of course are just things we could not have unless they were imported.
International traders and companies that operate businesses outside of their own countries are major users of real estate. Wherever a country touches the rest of the world is a major development point. Look at the areas around ports and international airports. Huge distribution centers spring up everywhere. There will also be manufacturing facilities that take advantage of the proximity to the transportation hubs. These places create jobs. They also bring in foreign workers who buy or rent homes.
Banking has gotten to be a huge industry largely because of the need to move money across national borders but also because of differences in national tax laws. Banks occupy a lot of office space. Their employees make a lot of money and occupy nice homes.
The travel people engage in for business creates an awareness that the countries outside of their own are not fearful environments. They learn to enjoy other cultures and other places. As their experience level grows so does their comfort level. 2nd homes in other countries becomes more desirable.
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte NC. His website is http:www.segrestrealty.com .
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Population Change and International Real Estate
Population Change and International Real Estate
According to an article in The Economist magazine, by the year 2015 the world population will begin to decline. What will this mean for international real estate? I am not an economist or a futurist; but I do read science fiction sometimes. The dire situations there are usually for the purpose of supporting an unreal environment for the purpose of speculation.
What will really happen? Already the population is moving from rural areas to urban ones. More efficient agriculture makes this possible for now. More efficient is not always better. People who can afford it are avoiding factory-grown food as much as possible. People are also moving from developing countries to developed ones for employment and standard of living reasons. Oddly enough other people are going the other way for the same reasons. Central Americans and Mexicans are moving to the US and Spain to find work and money. People from the USA and Spain are going to Central America and Mexico for a slower less expensive lifestyle.
People are living longer in most of the developing world. The birth rate is dropping. The economists seem to think that retirement ages will have to increase. The economists have been shown to be wrong about the things a country should do to increase GDP growth and improve their economies. Maybe they are wrong about this too. Over consumption is wasteful and expensive and after some time it loses its appeal. The Europeans work 36 hours a week and still have unemployment.
If work becomes more portable and people do jobs that do not use up valuable natural resources and energy and do not pollute the environment, think what a change that will make. Automobiles could last 20 years easily. Sure the old cars use more gasoline and pollute a little bit more. How much energy consumption and pollution is caused by making a new one? Why do we need to replace perfectly good clothes because of style changes?
Maybe instead of more consumer goods, a more leisurely population would need more music, more art, more literature. We could live anywhere and produce these things and enjoy life in our own way.
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte, NC
David S. Segrest, CIPS, CCIM, TRC, CEA
david@segrestrealty.com
http://www.segrestrealty.com
Serving the world in the Carolinas, Serving the Carolinas in the World
According to an article in The Economist magazine, by the year 2015 the world population will begin to decline. What will this mean for international real estate? I am not an economist or a futurist; but I do read science fiction sometimes. The dire situations there are usually for the purpose of supporting an unreal environment for the purpose of speculation.
What will really happen? Already the population is moving from rural areas to urban ones. More efficient agriculture makes this possible for now. More efficient is not always better. People who can afford it are avoiding factory-grown food as much as possible. People are also moving from developing countries to developed ones for employment and standard of living reasons. Oddly enough other people are going the other way for the same reasons. Central Americans and Mexicans are moving to the US and Spain to find work and money. People from the USA and Spain are going to Central America and Mexico for a slower less expensive lifestyle.
People are living longer in most of the developing world. The birth rate is dropping. The economists seem to think that retirement ages will have to increase. The economists have been shown to be wrong about the things a country should do to increase GDP growth and improve their economies. Maybe they are wrong about this too. Over consumption is wasteful and expensive and after some time it loses its appeal. The Europeans work 36 hours a week and still have unemployment.
If work becomes more portable and people do jobs that do not use up valuable natural resources and energy and do not pollute the environment, think what a change that will make. Automobiles could last 20 years easily. Sure the old cars use more gasoline and pollute a little bit more. How much energy consumption and pollution is caused by making a new one? Why do we need to replace perfectly good clothes because of style changes?
Maybe instead of more consumer goods, a more leisurely population would need more music, more art, more literature. We could live anywhere and produce these things and enjoy life in our own way.
David Segrest is a REALTOR in Charlotte, NC
David S. Segrest, CIPS, CCIM, TRC, CEA
david@segrestrealty.com
http://www.segrestrealty.com
Serving the world in the Carolinas, Serving the Carolinas in the World
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The Flat World and International Real Estate
The Flat World and International Real Estate
Ever since reading Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat, the implications of globalization have had entirely new meanings. A short summary of the book is that because of advances in technology and attitudes, and because of events like the fall of the Berlin Wall, anyone can have and operated a multinational corporation from their bedroom.
The most exciting implication of this to me, is that the bedroom can be anywhere in the world. There may be a few deep valleys somewhere, where a satellite dish would not work and no other internet service is available; but for the most part any location will work for many businesses.
Some businesses of course are highly localized. These people lose the flexibility that globalization affords; but they also avoid much of the global competition. I really love real estate; because my local business has protection from globalization and increased demand from foreign buyers. My international business gives me personal portability. My hardest decision is “where do I want to be”. Where do you want to be?
Ever since reading Thomas Friedman’s The World is Flat, the implications of globalization have had entirely new meanings. A short summary of the book is that because of advances in technology and attitudes, and because of events like the fall of the Berlin Wall, anyone can have and operated a multinational corporation from their bedroom.
The most exciting implication of this to me, is that the bedroom can be anywhere in the world. There may be a few deep valleys somewhere, where a satellite dish would not work and no other internet service is available; but for the most part any location will work for many businesses.
Some businesses of course are highly localized. These people lose the flexibility that globalization affords; but they also avoid much of the global competition. I really love real estate; because my local business has protection from globalization and increased demand from foreign buyers. My international business gives me personal portability. My hardest decision is “where do I want to be”. Where do you want to be?
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