All Forum Posts by: Christopher Liu

@Theresa Harris I like your idea ! Accept that you will ultimately pay to avoid the issues stated in this thread but give the tenant the impression that you won’t and that they will lose utilities.

Places I've lived in sequence (1) Singapore (2) Kuala Lumpur (3) Hong Kong (4) Ithaca, NY (5) Washington DC (6) Rome, Italy (7) New York, NY (8) Hong Kong (9) Shanghai (10) Hong Kong (current)

Right now I think I'll stay where I am but in the future, I'd love to move back to New York City. 

I also just get the bank to give me a letter stating that I have the necessary funds.

I think the key point in your question is how much is enough to make you "feel comfortable". I would suggest that the "right" amount to have in reserves is solely dependant upon what makes you sleep better at night and avoid worry. I would not be concerned about what the "smart" financial thing to do is. That is how I approach it. 

I invested in two small condos at One Shangri-la Place several years ago but sold them after two years for good profit but wish I hadn't ! At that time rental yield in Manila was solid around 7-8% easily because costs were so low. Good appreciation as well. Investing in the Philippines can be very tricky but I think these are the critical items to get right. 

1) Buy only from good and reputable developers. 2) Make sure the property management team is solid and reputable. The bad ones are REALLY bad. 3) Unless you have people who know the construction industry intimately, forget about doing extensively renovations. 

Some very real risks to consider :

1) Currency risk. Fluctuation in the currency exchange rate can be severe. 2) Political risk but what country in SE Asia doesn't have this ! 3) They have been on a bull run for a long long time. Prices have appreciated dramatically over the last ten years.

Best of luck !

Wholeheartedly agree with Randy. SE Asia is a great place to invest if you are very careful and do your homework. His views on the region are spot on. I would work only with the best developers, property managers and double check everything. Referrals and recommendations from trusted sources are key.

I’m invested in Malaysia (KL and KK) and Thailand (Phuket) currently but have exited the Philippines. Bought two condos in Manila in 2014 and sold both in 2017 for a tidy profit. Both developed by Shang Properties. I would also trust Ayala Land who are a strong developer with a long track record. The rental yield can reach between 8-10% but I will tell you that even the best property managers will prove challenging to your sanity ! You do have to take on currency risk so be mindful of this.

I would also add what perhaps might be obvious. I would recommend investing in countries where you have family connections, retirement aspirations or frequent business travel. I personally wouldn’t invest in a country where I have no reason to go.