Dateline: Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Let’s talk about cheap real estate.
Whenever I talk about ultra-cheap properties in countries like Georgia, Cambodia, Armenia, or Egypt, people often ask why they shouldn’t just buy properties for the same cost in countries like Italy or Spain instead. After all, those countries are more developed.
When looking to invest in real estate, you may find that there’s a lot more to consider than you thought. Think property value, return on investments, economic growth, and government deductions.
Looking over these areas and comparing emerging markets to the real estate markets in countries like Spain and Italy, I’ve found that it’s a safer and smarter decision to invest in properties in countries with emerging economies.
In this article, I am going to explain why you should invest in properties in emerging frontiers rather than purchasing real estate in Italy, Spain, and similar countries.
APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON
On a few different occasions, people have asked me, “Why should I buy property in Tbilisi, Georgia for a thousand dollars per meter? Why shouldn’t I buy cheap real estate in Italy or Spain where you can find properties for the same price?”
Great question.
This is where you have to make apples to apples comparisons.
If I’m buying in the center of Tbilisi or Bogata or next to the royal palace in Phnom Penh Cambodia, it’s not the same as a property located a four-kilometer walk away from the city center in a second or third-tier city in Italy or Spain. Even if that property is also a thousand dollars per meter, that’s not really an entirely fair comparison.
To do a fair apples to apples comparison, you need to remove the brand name from the product. In this instance, we will consider Western Europe as a brand.
These well-known countries come with a brand and a preconceived value already attached to them. In this case, think of Spain or Italy as a brand. A lot of people love the idea of moving to Spain or Italy. They love the romantic idea attached to these countries. They have bought into the country’s brand.
To make a better investment decision, remove the brand that is influencing your perception of the country and the risk involved with investing there. Then, look at the fundamentals of the countries, Spain versus Georgia or Italy versus Armenia, and you’ll get a different perception. Compare the taxes and regulations in each country. Consider the potential for growth and returns.
Look at all this without the brand attached.
With this in mind, let’s look into the four main reasons I avoid buying cheap properties in countries like Spain or Italy.
1. PROPERTY VALUE
The first reason I’m not buying cheap real estate in Italy or Spain is that while you may find a cheap property in a decent location, the properties are often ugly.
Someone once showed me some cheap real estate in Italy. As I was looking at the property, I found that it had some issues that people typically complain about when they look for properties in markets like Tbilisi or Phnom Penh. But this person wasn’t worried about the same issues with a property in Italy.
Why?
Recently, we had a real estate master class in Tbilisi where people came and looked at properties. Some of the things I heard at that class are the same concerns I’ve heard over the years from people looking at property in emerging markets. They worry about how the stairs look, or that the railing looks a bit shaky, or the patio needs to be renovated.
They can see that it’s not up to the standard.
These properties in Western Europe have the same issues. I can see it just looking at the pictures. These buildings don’t look like they’re in marvelous condition. These apartments are not in pristine shape. They need work. It is important to foreigners when buying real estate.
The challenges that people sometimes have when they look at property in emerging economies and city centers are mirrored in these countries as well. They shouldn’t be ignored just because the property is located in Italy or Spain.
2. LOWER RETURNS, MORE REGULATIONS
The second reason I’m not investing in real estate in Italy or Spain is that, generally, you will have lower returns as well as more regulations on how you can earn returns in these countries.
For various reasons, most Western European countries have worse returns on property. This could be due to all the bureaucracy, regulations, other people from other countries coming in and buying real estate, or making lifestyle purchases.
Because of all this, prices go up and yields go down. In a lot of emerging or frontier economies where there is less outside demand driving up prices, you can make 8 to 11% in returns, sometimes more.
You’re not going to make that in Spain.
Part of the reason you’re not going to make that is because many of these countries are going to restrict how you can use the property. For example, tourist rental laws in Spain put restrictions on whether you can use the property as an Airbnb or not, so you may not be able to make returns renting it out that way.
Another possible regulation is rent control. Prices could be depressed due to the property owner’s not being allowed to charge a fair market rent or raise the rent if necessary.
These markets often have very pro-tenant rules, where someone can just stay there and squat and it’s very hard to get them out. It takes months or years in some cases. So how do you make a return if your tenant isn’t paying you?
3. IS THE ECONOMY GROWING?
The third reason you don’t want to invest in real estate in Italy or Spain is because of the low growth potential in these areas.
Is Italy’s economy growing? No. Other countries are overtaking Italy in global economic rankings in terms of the largest economy. Italy’s GDP dropped 5.3 percent in the first quarter of 2020.
I really believe that for a lot of countries in Western Europe, their best days are behind them. The prospect of growth is less likely. The challenge that I see with a country like Spain or Italy is that it is beyond its glory days. It’s cheap for a reason, and it’s not because the country is growing.
Right now there is a continual movement to cities. In second and third-tier cities, if there’s not something unique that’s keeping people there, people might be clearing out and going to bigger cities.
Some cities like Madrid, Rome, or Milan for instance, still have possible growth opportunities. But a city near Naples or in the south of Spain where you’re going to find cheaper real estate prices has fewer growth opportunities as evidenced by the unemployment rates there, especially for youth in those countries.
Even in the United States, there are few opportunities for people in their 20s to be buying properties at the prices that their parents were. And a lot of Western countries have the same issue.
On the other hand, you go to the emerging economies and the younger generations are going to become much wealthier than their parents. Their parents never got to go to McDonald’s as a treat. There were no McDonald’s in their country! Now that is something the upcoming generations can enjoy.
This is just a simple way to illustrate how their economies are moving in the right direction. Evidence that there is growth. The economies are growing and their governments are pushing that.
When considering where to put your investment dollars, you want them in the places where there is the most potential for growth, and that’s just not the case with the cheap real estate in Italy and Spain.
4. GOVERNMENT DEDUCTIONS
The fourth reason looks at how the government impacts your investment. Even if you can manage to get past the three reasons discussed above and make money off your real estate in Italy or Spain, you are still going to have to pay high taxes on the money you make.
Plus, the Italian or Spanish government will take a portion of the money you make as they impose different fees on you. Remember, there are ways to minimize real estate taxes as a nomad.
For example, I had two rental properties in the United States. When I sold the properties, I was looking at the sheet of deductions and it was insane. There were so many deductions for various things. An incredible amount of fees.
Comparatively, if you were to sell a property in these emerging economies I’ve discussed where I’m generally investing, the deductions are significantly less. Rather than a lengthy list of deductions and fees, they took out 20 bucks and I could keep the rest.
It’s a big difference.
CO-WORKING SPACES IN ITALY AND SPAIN
We can’t blame you for still wanting to live in two of the most beautiful and historic countries in Western Europe.
But how can you sustain your business in Italy or Spain without commercial real estate hurting your financial returns?
There is a way around using commercial real estate without the commitment – or the cost.
That’s right, co-working office spaces is your go-to.
Here is a NC guide to the best co-working office spaces in Italy and Spain for rent, a fair market rent, that have everything you’re looking for.
Handpicked Co-Working Spaces in Italy
1. TSH Collab – Florence.
Work from one of the timeless cities in Italy with a view. Whether you’re looking to connect or zone-out when working, the TSH Collab working hub with a rooftop swimming pool will do it for you.
2. Copernico Carlo Felice – Cagliari
From the heart of the historic center of Cagliari, Copernico Carlo Felice levers your business with its prime location and networking with various companies throughout Italy.
3. Impact Hub Torino – Turin
With over 16,000 members in 100 locations worldwide, Impact Hub Torino’s co-working space is definitely one of Italy’s most dynamic business and cultural hubs.
4. Regus – Milan
Set your global work environment right from one of the most popular cities
in the world with Regus’ fully equipped and dedicated
offices for teams of all sizes.
NC Guide for Co-Working Spaces in Spain
1. OneCoWork Plaça Catalunya – Barcelona
All-inclusive, ready to move-in private offices that can handle teams of any size. It doesn’t get any better than OneCoWork’s co-working space with its 24/7 access.
2. Depoto Lab – Barcelona
Book the co-working space to work, host an event, or connect with other entrepreneurs. Depoto Lab is really an all-inclusive workspace.
3. Crec – Barcelona
A flexible working space with a community of over 300 professionals is a small part of what to expect at Crec. Harness the space to make your business get, and stay on top.
4. Itnig – Barcelona
This massive co-working space stretches over four floors in two industrial buildings. You’re in the right place in Barcelona; Itnig is 1 minute from the Bogatell metro stop and 10 minutes from the beach.
LIFESTYLE REAL ESTATE IN ITALY AND SPAIN
The considerations for making a purchase with the expectations of returns are different from considerations for making a lifestyle purchase.
No doubt there are some Western European countries that have never fully come out of recession where you could find some great property deals. We have people who use our services who simply want to live in Spain.
I spent a month living in Valencia, Spain several years ago and I remember back then you could buy a place for a thousand euros per meter. If you want to live in Valencia Spain or wherever else, that’s a lifestyle purchase you could consider.
A lifestyle purchase is not really an investment, and there’s nothing wrong with that if that’s what you want to do. If you want to live in Barcelona, Valencia, or wherever, go right ahead.
A lifestyle investment is more about your enjoyment rather than your financial returns. You don’t need to have an optimal return on every single dollar you put out into the marketplace. Investing in yourself and your quality of life is a very important investment.
But on an apples-to-apples basis, I want growth and I want potential. I don’t want to live in the past or assume that the brand name on real estate in Italy or Spain means that I’m making a good investment.
Don’t look at the brand name. Instead, consider these four things to know where to invest in real estate for the best returns and greatest growth.
