Investor from Singapore/Indonesia

Investor from Singapore/Indonesia

Rental Property Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2014 · 18 posts · 9 votes

Hi all,

Thought it was about time I officially introduced myself. Been lurking the forums for a while, but the time has come to break the ice and take the plunge. Seems like a good place here with lots of like-minded folks and a good place to learn. Definitely somewhere I wouldn't mind getting to know some of you guys.

Just a bit of background on myself. I'm originally Dutch but have lived abroad most of my life in all parts of the world. Currently in a corporate role which I'm enjoying in Singapore but always had the entrepreneurial drive to do some things on the side. Running a small business out of Indonesia at the moment where I'm exporting furniture to Europe, and recently also invested in a plot of land there which I'm hoping to develop and sell once completed. I think there is further opportunity in Indonesia and I'm looking for further investments there so we will see how that goes.

Lived in the US (Cincinnati, OH, Tampa, FL & Beloit, WI) for around 3 years prior to moving to Asia (about 10 months ago) but unfortunately never picked up any properties there at that time. Kicking myself for that now since the US is definitely a market where there are deals to be had -- more so than any market that I have seen so far. Who knows, maybe I'll have to chance to do it from abroad at some point.

Anyway, that's about it for now I'd say. Eager to start meeting some of you guys. Cheers.

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Real Estate Professional · Currently Abroad, Currently Abroad · Member since 2014 · 12 posts · 4 votes
11y

@Tim Uittenbroek

I'm from Netherlands as well, currently living in Brunei. At the moment about to invest in my first rental property in The Hague.

I realize that US is arguably the best market for investing in rental property, however, how would you do so not being present locally? Living in SE Asia and investing in The Netherlands is daunting enough, even if it is my native country.

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  • SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE · Member since 2013 · 20 posts · 1 vote
    11y

    Hi @Jason Tham and  @Tim Uittenbroek , I'm from Singapore too and currently interested in the US market. Singapore property price is indeed too high, would like to hear more of you guys investing experience!

    By The Way @Jason Tham so far how is your partnership process working out for you? 

    cheers

    Elaine

  • Madison, WI · Member since 2014 · 9 posts · 3 votes
    11y

    @Arh Elaine - I started investing in the US before moving out here, so investing from here is much easier given I have a team at home for the groundwork. My partnership is working well.  My partner is someone I know and trust, and that has made things easy. 

  • Saarbrücken, Germany · Member since 2014 · 19 posts · 11 votes
    11y

    @Jason Tham Thanks for the encouraging advice! I think my situation will be similar to yours: I'll begin investing in the US when I move back there next year, and if/when I end up moving back overseas down the line, I'll have a local network built up by that time. Personally I'm not sure I'd be comfortable investing from abroad in a place I've never lived or that I don't know well, although with the strategy you recommend I'm sure even that is doable. Anyway it's great to know that there are people out there successfully investing from far off lands, so thanks again! :)

  • Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    11y

    Welcome to BP community @Tim Uittenbroek   It is a great place to meet new friends and learn about various aspects of real estate and more. 

    Wishing you the best! 

    @Tim Uittenbroek

  • Jon HuberPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Boca Raton, FL · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 713 votes
    11y

    @Tim Uittenbroek

    Welcome to the community! BP has a tremendous amount of information to help you, but it is only available if you seek it out. Be sure to be as active and engaging as possible. Read blogs, post questions, and the podcasts are gold! The best free education you can get. Good luck!

  • Investor · Chatham, NJ · Member since 2013 · 19 posts · 2 votes
    11y
    Hi Tim. Welcome. I am a fellow lurker here on the site. It has been a fantastic place to learn. I was born in the U.S. but have been in Singapore for the last 5 years. I'm here near Bukit Timah. I'm currently trying to overcome my analysis paralysis phase and have been diligently preparing to start my investing in 2015. I plan to be in the US looking at turnkeys start of next year. Glad to see another member from Singapore. Best of luck to you!
  • Real Estate Professional · San Francisco-East bay, CA · Member since 2013 · 340 posts · 50 votes
    11y

    @Tim Uittenbroek 

     Welcome to the site and global world or Real Estate. You had a question if anybody else has investments in Asia. Yes. In India ( Bangalore ).  Although I am here in the Us for 16 years now, I come from India and it was easier to invest there. I do hear from friends lot of Foreign direct investments floating into Bangalore. 

    Here is the US, I invest in multiple markets, FL, CA, TX and OH. Am currently in Cincinnati. So when you are remote, it doesnt matter if you are on different coasts or different side of the earth :).

    All the best.  

    Thanks. Naveen. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2014 · 18 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    @Dmitriy Fomichenko & @John Huber - Thanks for the welcome!

    @Anjana Vakil At least you'll be moving back so it should be easier to pull the trigger then knowing that you will be able to manage it as soon as you're back in the US. I agree with you that investing from abroad is always a bit more tricky, but not all of us are so lucky to have access to the US market from our doorsteps :)

    @AJ Sherman Great to hear AJ. Good to see some fellow expats in Singapore on here. We should meet up for a drink at some point. I met up with Jason the other day and it was good fun. Would be good to get a group of us from Singapore together to see if we can exchange ideas. Where are you planning on investing in the US?

    @Naveen Desai I'd say Cincinnati is a place where you can pick up some good value properties. I was there for about 10 months myself in 2012. Never pulled the trigger though. They're doing a good job revitalizing the downtown & OTR areas. 

    How is your Bangalore investment working out? I assume there are restriction on foreign investment there as well?

  • Investor · Chatham, NJ · Member since 2013 · 19 posts · 2 votes
    11y

    Hi Tim.  I'd welcome that.  I'll shoot you my info.  I'm hoping to jump in with my first property start of 2015.  Will be around for the holiday's if you want to meet up.  Cheers.

  • West Orange, NJ · Member since 2013 · 102 posts · 13 votes
    11y

    @Tim Uittenbroek

    welcoem to BG

    I love Singapore , specially  the income tax

    I hope that USA adopts one day the same  model and lower our income taxes 

    Its going to be a win win situation, we pay less and the large companies stay here (more jobs and paying  taxes)

  • Saarbrücken, Germany · Member since 2014 · 19 posts · 11 votes
    11y

    Good point, @Naveen Desai ! :)

  • Rental Property Investor · Cary, NC · Member since 2014 · 18 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    @AJ Sherman I won't be around for the holidays but will be back early next year. Will give you a shout then and maybe yourself and @Jason Tham can meet up for another beer.

    @Chai Sag I'm definitely not complaining about the income tax here. I'm able to enjoy those, but I thought as an American citizen you would get taxed globally so any benefit you would get in Singapore but get washed out by Good 'Ol Uncle Sam?

  • Investor · Toledo, OH · Member since 2010 · 26 posts · 6 votes
    11y

    Hi @Tim Uittenbroek

    We will need to connect at some point. My company provides real estate investment deals to foreign buyers in the Ohio market, mainly Toledo, OH. Ohio is one of the best cash-flow markets in the US. Depending on your risk tolerance, in Toledo, you can buy property with a 25% to 75% ROI all day long. I also work with a company that provides investment opportunities in SE Asia, mainly Indonesia. We have been building our network there for nearly 40 years. My business partner is actually traveling to Singapore next week. It would be great to have you two connect. Send me an email or IM and we can schedule a call.

    Talk Soon,

    Adam Kripke

    www.lsigroup.org | www.recashnetwork.com | www.arrowhead-investments.com

  • Cleveland, OH · Member since 2011 · 400 posts · 223 votes
    11y

    @Tim Uittenbroek , welcome to Biggerpockets! I was just in Singapore for an extended layover at the beginning of this month...I definitely got a good laugh out of the real estate pitch on the airport city tour!

    Good luck vetting the investment opportunities. Analysis paralysis is not a bad thing if it involves investigating the character of your potential business partners.

  • Investor · Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2015 · 17 posts · 7 votes
    11y

    Hi everyone! Good knowing so many people are from/in Singapore! I'm a Singaporean, residing in Singapore, and currently getting my LLC set up before I start buying property in the USA.

    I was just looking at the "better yielding" properties in Singapore. $720k for a freehold 1-bedroom condo, rents for $2400 a month. Mind-boggling! On the plus side of things, mortgage interest rates are only 1.6%, but still, people are snapping up these units as investment property.

    Anyway, if anyone in Singapore wants to meet up for a beer, let me know!

    Cheers!

  • Rental Property Investor · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 49 posts · 21 votes
    11y

    @Tim Uittenbroek  - 

    Welcome to BP from the other side of the world.  My wife is Indonesian (although she is very Americanized) and her mom travels frequently to Indo for her business.  As of lately, I have really been kicking around the idea of investing in Indo.  Do you have any plans to do the same there?  What's the market like in Indonesia?  Thanks!!  and WELCOME!!

  • Real Estate Investor · Washington, DC · Member since 2014 · 236 posts · 328 votes
    11y

    @Tim Uittenbroek  looks like you have the best of both worlds, you can make money in a thriving economy and invest anywhere.    I hear great things about Singapore, Jim Rogers (George Soros' first partner) moved there recently so that his daughters would grow up speaking mandarin.

    Good luck with your investing.

  • Investor · Downers Grove, IL · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 955 votes
    10y

    Welcome to BP! @Tim Uittenbroek

    I know this is over a year old late. I'm opposite of you and @Jason Tham

    I was brought up in Singapore, my parents are still there in Bukit Timah. I met my wife, from Malaysia in Western Michigan (go broncos!). We were supposed to work here for a few years after graduation.

    2 kids later, we're probably not moving back to Singapore or Malaysia anytime soon. 

    If you need boots on the ground in the chicagoland area (except the war zones!) , feel free to PM me! 

  • Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 3 votes
    10y
    I also live in Singapore and just purchased a SFH in Denver. I find I am not comfortable in the Asian markets at this particular time.
  • Singapore, Singapore · Member since 2016 · 4 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    Hi, I am currently based in Singapore too. I am interested in turn key properties in 2nd tier cities.

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