Category: Money & Finance

Vietnam Real Estate Prices: A Full Guide

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Writing about real estate prices is not an easy task during a pandemic as no one knows for how long it will last and what the impact will be. We get contacted by many readers who want to understand how real estate prices have changed in various cities in Vietnam.

It’s crucial to understand what has happened in the past and what one can expect in the short and long-term. In this article, we review real estate prices in the most popular cities in Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City Real Estate Prices

Ho Chi Minh City has by no doubt the highest real estate prices in Vietnam. It’s no strange as it serves as the country’s business hub and where most investors and expats look for investment opportunities.

In the past years, real estate prices have increased by double digits in Ho Chi Minh. For example in the second quarter of 2019, the average price for apartments was USD 2,009 per square meter, equal to an increase of 21.6% compared to the previous year.

With that said, you can still find upcoming areas where we will see much appreciations in the coming years, like District 9, District 4, District 5, and District 10, even if these districts have fewer projects in general. Continue reading Vietnam Real Estate Prices: A Full Guide

How much does it cost to buy property in Vietnam?

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Vietnam has one of the hottest real estate markets and attracts foreign investors in vast numbers. The country has some of the most promising real estate markets in Asia and prices are still comparatively affordable, depending on where you buy.

In this article, we compare Vietnam’s property prices with other countries in the region, the prices in the most popular cities, and more.

How does Vietnam’s property prices compare with other Asian countries?

Vietnam has some of the lowest property prices in Asia and is only behind Indonesia and Cambodia. Looking at Ho Chi Minh City cities, property can be bought for as little as USD 2,269 per square meter on average in the central areas of Ho Chi Minh City.

Apartment prices surged by 22.7% (!) during the first quarter of 2019 in Ho Chi Minh, to an average of USD 2,028 per square meter in that year, according to JLL Vietnam. During the same period, the average price of apartments rose by 6.8% in Hanoi to USD 1,407 per square meter in Q1 2019.

Property costs a fraction compared to places like Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China. Prices in Ho Chi Minh City are around 14% of that in Hong Kong and 18% in Singapore.

That said, luxury property costs only 8% of that in Hong Kong on average, which is kind of amazing. Continue reading How much does it cost to buy property in Vietnam?

Sending Money To & Out of Vietnam: A Foreign Investor’s Guide

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vietnam-currency-transactions

Buying overseas property in developing countries like Vietnam requires due diligence and that you understand the buy and sell procedures in advance.

A commonly asked question is how foreigners can transfer money into and out of Vietnam when buying real estate. This is essential to understand to make sure that your money don’t get ‘stuck’.

After all, you probably want to exit the market sometime in the future.

In this article, I explain some key information you need to know when transferring money cross border in Vietnam.

Remark

This article is written for investors who wish to buy real estate in Vietnam.

General information about Vietnam currency controls

Vietnam’s foreign exchange controls are regulated by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Some of their responsibilities are:

Continue reading Sending Money To & Out of Vietnam: A Foreign Investor’s Guide

A Foreigner’s Guide to Property Loans & Financing in the Philippines

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Philippines is one of the favorite spots among foreign retirees and investors who wish to buy property in Southeast Asia. It’s one of the fastest-growing countries with a young population, we’ve seen many foreign corporations move in over the years.

When many investors look for property, they also want to know what financing options they have. Even if some are able to afford to buy a property with cash, it can be a better option to leverage some of the money by applying for a loan.

In this guide, I explain what it takes to get a property loan in the Philippines as a foreigner.

Can foreigners get property loans in the Philippines?

It was virtually impossible for foreigners to get property loans in the Philippines previously. Similar stories have heard of in other developing countries like Vietnam and Cambodia, just to mention a few.

With an economy that’s growing with 7% yearly, and a property market that’s hot among foreign investors, banks have become a bit more relaxed and you have a handful of options to choose from in the Philippines. Unfortunately, many of the banks require that you have a visa status, where a tourist visa is not accepted.

Common visas (or residential status) accepted when applying for loans often include:

Continue reading A Foreigner’s Guide to Property Loans & Financing in the Philippines

How to Get a Property Loan in Thailand: A Foreigner’s Guide

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Thailand is one of the prime destinations when foreigners look for investment and lifestyle property in Asia. Even if the country started to develop decades back, and is far ahead of countries like Vietnam, you’ll see a limited amount of loan options available.

Still, there are a handful of international banks and other loan providers that are worth contacting.

It’s important that you have a fundamental understanding of the application process and what documents that banks require. In this guide, I explain the basics you need to know when applying for a property loan in Thailand.

Process when applying for a property loan in Thailand

It was virtually impossible for foreigners to obtain property loans and mortgages in Thailand in the past. Things have become a bit easier since 2005 when Bangkok Bank and UOB Singapore started offering loans, but still, I wouldn’t say that there are many options available.

The same as it goes in Vietnam, things will become remarkably easier if you’re married to a Thai spouse. You should preferably also have lived in Thailand for at least one year (working) or be a permanent resident.

Continue reading How to Get a Property Loan in Thailand: A Foreigner’s Guide

Malaysia Property Loans for Foreigners: A Complete Guide

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malaysia-mortgage-foreigners

Malaysia is one of the top spots for retirees and investors alike. It’s not strange, buying a property here is fairly easy and the process comparatively transparent.

You’ll also enjoy a great quality of life with costs that are surprisingly low. It’s not strange why Malaysia has been ranked as one of the best places to retire in the world.

A commonly asked question is how easy it is, or if it’s even possible, to get a local property loan as a resident or non-resident foreigner. I decided to do research on the matter and have presented the results in this guide.

Let’s have a look.

How can I obtain a property loan as a foreigner?

Malaysia has some of the most generous and favorable ownership regulations for foreigners in Southeast Asia (it’s basically the only country that allows foreigners to buy land, as I don’t count Singapore). Still, banks can be a bit restrictive handing out loans, this is mainly due to the current economic climate and the recession which hit hard after 2008.

I’ve personally been in contact with a number of big banks in Malaysia, and I can see a clear pattern: be locally employed, a permanent resident, or an MM2H visa holder, and things will become remarkably easier. The same as for Hong Kong, where your source of income should preferably be in Hong Kong, to increase your chances of getting a loan.

If you haven’t heard about the MM2H visa before, you can find more exhaustive information by reading this interview with Andy Davison.

Simply put, the MM2H visa is a government-backed visa program which allows foreigners to stay in Malaysia for up to 10 years. There are a few countries that offer similar visas in the region, strong proof that Malaysia welcomes foreign investors.

Continue reading Malaysia Property Loans for Foreigners: A Complete Guide

Singapore Property Loans for Foreigners: A Complete Guide

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singapore-mortgages-foreigners

I often receive questions from readers who look for local mortgages in Asia, not rarely in Singapore.

Not only are there people with financial restrictions, but I also come across wealthy investors who own a dozen of properties or more in different countries, looking for options to leverage their money.

Being one of the most economically free and transparent countries in the world, you have significantly more loan options in Singapore, compared to developing neighbors like Thailand and Cambodia.

Therefore, I decided to write this guide where you’ll learn the basics when applying for a property loan as a foreigner in Singapore.

Buying real estate as a foreigner in Singapore

It’s generally easier for local citizens and foreign PR holders to be granted property loans. Being a non-resident foreigner will add to some requirements.

For example, verification of proof of incomes, the types of property you can buy, and more (non-resident foreigners can only buy private properties, whilst PR holders can buy HDB apartments and have easier access to the landed property).

You’ll also need to seek permission from the Singapore Land Authority, before buying property as a non-resident foreigner. PR holders and local citizens are exempted from this requirement. Continue reading Singapore Property Loans for Foreigners: A Complete Guide

Getting an Overseas Property Loan in Malaysia: A Complete Guide

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Buying an overseas property in markets that perform better than the one in Malaysia is the preferred choice for many investors.

Often, these investors are high-net individuals who don’t want to input a big chunk of their money into one project, hence they want to get some backing financially.

One solution for this is to apply for a so-called overseas property loan. Personally, I believe that overseas property loans will get more and more popular as we become more globalized and tend to move around.

I’ve dedicated this whole article to explain how it works when you apply for an overseas property loan in Malaysia, which banks offer the loans, what requirements apply, and more. Let’s have a look.

What is an overseas property loan?

Overseas property loans are designed for Malaysian citizens or residents who wish to finance a property overseas.

As mentioned, when the local market performs worse compared to overseas ditto, the preferred choice for many investors is to look outside the borders.

Stricter requirements normally apply, but you will find a handful of banks in Malaysia that offer overseas property loans.

Often, you can only get a loan if you’re a high-net individual and if the property is located in a prime location.

Why? Because properties in such areas generally generate higher rental incomes and have a higher resale value. This is standard for similar loans in Singapore and Hong Kong as well.

Which banks offer overseas property loans in Malaysia?

Continue reading Getting an Overseas Property Loan in Malaysia: A Complete Guide

Getting an Overseas Property Loan in Singapore: A Complete Guide

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singapore-skyline

I get increasingly more questions from foreigners who look for financing overseas, might it be for purchases in the country where the loan is obtained, or elsewhere.

Often, the buyers have sufficient cash but don’t want to put a big chunk of money in one investment.

There are countries in Asia that offer overseas property loans, one of the most popular ones in Singapore. I will continue writing about how you can get overseas property loans in Asian countries, but let’s start and have a look at how it works when obtaining one in Singapore.

What is an overseas property loan?

If you’re a Singapore citizen or a permanently resident foreigner in Singapore, you can apply for a so-called overseas property loan. Not all banks offer the loans, but you’ll find a handful of banks who do.

Simply put, overseas property loans are designed for investors who wish to buy property in another country, the banks normally offer the loans for purchases in a limited amount of developed countries, or sometimes even cities.

As a start, you can apply for the loan in your country of residence, but your main contact will be with a local branch in the country where you plan to buy.

Continue reading Getting an Overseas Property Loan in Singapore: A Complete Guide