Property Markets - What´s interesting, what´s not

Let´s get the bad news out of the way first. The views I expressed on Ireland and Spain in the Xmas newsletter in December 2009 have not changed one iota. Both are high risk - low return investment destinations and I can´t see that changing in the near term (it will eventually). I also wrote a detailed overview of the Spanish market last month which you can view here.



Brazil will get a lot of attention next year from property investors. Most of the overseas interest will be in the (relatively) high end coastal properties and holiday resorts dotted along the north eastern coast. I´ve absolutely no interest in that though.



However, the second round of a huge social mortgage program (MCMV2 if you want to google it) is quite interesting. Millions of middle income Brazilians are purchasing homes for the first time with government backed mortgages, and there are a several ways international investors can get involved. It wouldn´t be for the faint hearted and it´s still early days as far as my research is concerned. I might have something in 3-4 months though.



Renewable Energy investments will continue to increase in importance in 2011. I´ve been on a steep learning curve with them this year as they are deceptively complex products that come in a very wide variety of structures. I think solar is best suited to regular €50,000 - €150,000 investors and we´re looking forward to promoting these in the new year.



Wind, hyrdro and biomass are more suitable for high net worth individuals. The low entry level (€20,000) forestry products such as teak, bamboo and agarwood strike me as a fad. I´ve looked into about half a dozen of them, some promoted by companies I respect, and I just don´t like the concept. My gut tells me to stay away.