1/26/2012
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J & M, A. K. H. Canadian 1/18/2012
BALI tourism NEWS
Selamat Galungan
To The Balinese Hindus Happy Galungan
Feb 2 nd. 2012
Next week Balinese Hindus will be celebrating Galungan which occurs every 210 days and lasts for 10 days.
It celebrates the coming of the gods and the ancestral spirits to earth to dwell again in the homes of their descendants.
A very Happy Australia Day
Jan 26th.
Accordiong to Wikipedia:
Australia Day (previously known as Anniversary Day, Foundation Day, and ANA Day)[1] is the official national day of Australia. Celebrated annually on 26 January, the date commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.[2]
Australia Celebrates Australia Day with Rare Australian Open Semi-finals featuring the Top Four Seeded Players:
Editor's Note:
A Tennis buffs dream comes true later today when I fly down to Melbourne Australia to complete one of my "bucket list" items. That is to attend all grand slam tennis tournaments throughout the world starting with Wimbledon two years ago.
Charity a beacon of hope in Bali:
Charity beneficiaries Rusana and sister Sani visited Lia in Mandurah recently.
MANDURAH mother and daughter Lia Comben and Carol Evans are seeking help for their Carolia Charity that educates Bali youngsters whose parents have no regular income.
Spirited Traveller: Arak gives tipplers a Bali high:
NEW YORK - Pastry chef Will Goldfarb is living every stressed-out urbanite's dream.
After several successful years in New York running a dessert-centric restaurant with a cult following, he picked up and moved to the tropical paradise of Bali and is now executive pastry chef at Ku De Ta (kudeta.net/), a restaurant and beach club with a cult following.
Josie Gibson: I'll return from Bali toned, tanned and ready for some touching:
Big Brother 2010 winner Josie Gibson is enjoying a break in Bali without boyfriend Luke Sanwo because he's too busy with work to get the time off.
'I can't sit around at home just because he isn't free,' Josie explains.
'I worked flat out last year and after spending Christmas at boot camp, I really need a break.
Former Playboy Editor Explores Darkness Amid Bali’s
Ade Mardiyati | January 23, 2012
Erwin Arnada, former editor of Playboy Indonesia, has written ‘Rumah di Seribu Ombak’ and directed a film based on the story. (JG Photo/Yudhi Sukma Wijaya)
Do you know why God created the sky and the ocean?
So we know that there is a line that makes both things beautiful to the eye.
Away from the tourist madness of Bali lies a village in Singaraja, in the northern part of the island. It is in this idyllic setting that you can find the Bali of children’s books.
Veteran journalist and media entrepreneur Erwin Arnada visited the village in 2008 and writes about it in his first novel, “Rumah di Seribu Ombak” (“A Home on a Thousand Waves”).
Set nearly a decade ago, “Rumah di Seribu Ombak” tells the story of an unconditional friendship between two boys, Samihi and Yanik, despite their different backgrounds and religions.
Born to Sumatran parents, Samihi grew up in a strongly Islamic environment in Singaraja, which has the largest Muslim population in Bali. Yanik, like most Balinese, is Hindu.
Despite these differences, both children, and the rest of the people in their village, live in harmony. Muslims go to the mosque and recite the Koran, as their Hindu neighbors place offerings of flowers at the small temples in their yards.
The natural beauty of Singaraja has helped attract tourists, helping the locals make a living. One of the area’s gems, Lovina Beach, is known for its fascinating waters and dolphins, as well as its snorkeling and boat tours. Among the holidaymakers, however, criminals lurk.
Yanik has been the victim of a pedophile, which happens more than people realize in Bali. Traumatized, the scars stay with him, but the 12-year-old eventually decides to confide in Samihi.
Together with Samihi, Yanik finds the courage to sneak into the pedophile’s house and steal the evidence of the crime, including recordings. Yanik discovers he is not the only victim, and the villager’s ultimately learn his secret.
In “Rumah di Seribu Ombak,” Erwin beautifully captures the picturesque scenery of the village, which hides the dark side of life in Bali. The child-molestation case presented in the novel is based on the writer’s visits and research in Singaraja.
As well as tapping into the expertise of nongovernmental organizations and journalists who have reported on pedophilia, Erwin dug deeper for his book. He also incorporates the 2002 Bali bombings in Kuta, which rocked the religious harmony of the island.
“Rumah di Seribu Ombak” is both an eye-opener and a page-turner. The descriptions of the traditions — such as mekidung, or praising the gods through singing, and ngulah semal, or squirrel hunting — place the reader in Singaraja.
Part way through writing his book, Erwin was imprisoned for what many people believe were politically motivated reasons. Erwin, who was the editor in chief of the Indonesian version of Playboy magazine, was sentenced to two years in prison for “offending public decency,” but released after nine months.
While serving his sentence last year, he completed the novel along with two other books and a screenplay.
“Rumah di Seribu Ombak” has since been made into a film and will soon be released in theaters. “It is currently going through the editing process,” Erwin told the Jakarta Globe.
Directed by Erwin himself, the film will hopefully portray Bali, and all its beauty and ugliness, as vividly as the book.
Rumah di Seribu Ombak (A Home on a Thousand Waves)
By Erwin Arnada
Published by GagasMedia
387 pages, in Indonesian
Available in major bookstores
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lifeandtimes/former-playboy-editor-explores-darkness-amid-balis-beauty/493052
Can I believe what I read on TripAdvisor? for Bali
Michael Gebicki-January 22, 2012
I'm booking a resort for an Easter holiday in Bali and I'm comparing properties on TripAdvisor. I've read that TripAdvisor reviews should be treated with caution, since hotels will sometimes employ public relations agencies to submit inflated reviews to plump up their appeal. Can I believe what I'm reading?
- P. Hood, Terrigal
More than 45 million would-be travellers click onto the TripAdvisor (tripadvisor.com) website every month, which makes it a powerful decision-making tool for consumers. On the whole, I believe TripAdvisor does a great job and I am a regular user.
Advertisement: Story continues below
While it is true that it is possible to slip in a favourable review of a hotel that does not deserve it, what a hotel manager cannot do is stop the negative reviews. If you see a property that has wildly divergent reviews, from "excellent" to "flea pit", be suspicious.
Look for a hotel with numerous reviews over a long time; disregard the most gushing and most venomous and you can be confident that you are getting an accurate picture.
Reviewers who have submitted to the TripAdvisor site multiple times are more likely to be a trustworthy source than those with just one or two reviews to their credit. Do not be discouraged by a few negative comments - you cannot please all the people all of the time.
I always take it as a promising sign when a hotel manager answers reviewers with genuine complaints and explains the situation from the hotel's point of view. Chances are these managers are diligent professionals who maintain a high standard.
Boshe Dance Festival 2012 coming to Bali in February:
AsiaRooms.com -
Published on: January 19th, 2012 10:13pm by: hotel_guru
(1) Print This Release | Tell a Friend | Discuss This Press Release
(OPENPRESS) January 20, 2012 -- Dancers will be competing against each other for fame and fortune at the Boshe Dance Festival 2012, which commences in Bali in February.
Kicking off on February 8th at the Boshe VVIP Club, the festival will be free to enter and will allow performers to compete either on their own, or as part of groups of between three and eight people.
Showcasing dance styles such as salsa, modern and street, it will present competitors with the opportunity to put themselves in the spotlight, as well as giving them a chance to claim up to 32 million rupiah (£2,300) in prizes.
Elimination rounds will be held on February 8th, 15th and 22nd, with the semi-final to be held on the 27th and the grand final occurring on March 7th.
Prizes will be awarded to the overall winner and two runners-up, while further honours are available for the crowd favourites and those with the best make-up, choreography and costumes.
The festival takes place at one of Bali's hottest club venues, which is located in the Kuta district and offers live music, dancing and karaoke.
A wide selection of Bali hotels is available to dance enthusiasts at AsiaRooms.com, including the Jayakarta Bali.
---http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=128987
Friday, 20 January 2012
Confusion over subsidized fuel restriction continues:
Bagus BT Saragih and Linda Yulisman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 01/19/2012 9:33 AM
Conserving energy: Official cars of Cabinet ministers parked behind the State Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday. The government will soon install converters inside the cars of top officials to switch their fuel supply from gasoline to liquefied gas as part of its campaign to reduce fuel subsidies. Antara/Widodo S. JusufThe confusion over planned subsidized fuel restrictions continued on Wednesday with the government signaling that it might replace the plan with fuel price increases.
Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik said on Wednesday in Jakarta that the subsidized fuel restriction plan would lead to complicated technicalities that could make it difficult to implement.
The government has planned to ban private car owners from using subsidized fuels starting in April in Java and Bali, and on other islands in the coming years, limiting the use of subsidized fuels to public transportation vehicles, motorcycles and fishermen’s boats.
The government will only allow private car owners to use non-subsidized fuels, liquefied gas for vehicles (LGV) or compressed natural gas (CNG) and encourage them to install converter kits to allow the cars to run on gas.
“Gas supply ... OK, we have it from the Kangean Block which will start operating in June. However, what about the converter kits? We want to have them locally made, but our local producers will not able to produce all of the needed kits. Besides, the number of gas stations is also very limited,” Jero told reporters at the Presidential Office on Wednesday.
Earlier, the government said the plan to restrict subsidized fuel would cut its subsidy spending by almost 12 percent to Rp 208.9 trillion this year from Rp 237.2 trillion in 2011.
However, the plan has drawn criticism from various stakeholders who say it would place a heavier burden on private car owners as they would have to buy non-subsidized fuel at double the current price of Premium fuel, which is Rp 4,500 per liter (50 US cents).
Besides, many fuel stations in Java and Bali are not yet equipped with non-subsidized Pertamax fuel tanks, which would make it more difficult for car owners to find non-subsidized fuel.
To make it worse, there are only 10 liquefied gas for vehicle (LGV) stations and six compressed natural gas (CNG) stations in Greater Jakarta, and one CNG station in Surabaya.
Jero said that the government and the House of Representatives had mulled another option: To raise the price of subsidized fuel, which was also the demand of the critics of the subsidized fuel restriction plan.
“The option to push up the price is feasible. It is likely, even though the 2012 State Budget Law prohibits the government from increasing fuel prices for the people. But if the House agrees with the option, they must change the law,” Jero said, adding that the President had asked for fuel price increases to be avoided.
In spite of Jero’s statement, Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat said on the same day that the government would issue a regulation requiring all cars produced from 2014 to have converter kits. However, he acknowledged that as of today, there had been no formal talks on that matter with car producers.
Separately, Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) deputy chairman Jongkie D. Sugiarto said that local manufacturers were still waiting for further technical guidance from the government about making converter kits for new cars, as this would affect the after-sales guarantee.
“We need to pay attention to the technical application of the converters as this relates to the after-sales guarantee. We must be careful because so many producers in the world produce them,” he said.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/01/19/confusion-over-subsidized-fuel-restriction-continues.html
Rod Stewart and His ‘Hot Legs’ Coming To Rock
Katrin Figge | January 19, 2012
One of the best-selling artists of all time, Rod Stewart is bringing his distinctive, raspy voice to Indonesia for the first time.
The British singer and songwriter is scheduled to perform on Jan. 31 at the Jakarta Convention Center as part of his “Greatest Hits Tour.” It will be his only concert in Asia.
Stewart got his start in the music industry in the early 1960s and bounced around different bands before teaming up with The Jeff Beck Group in 1966, which proved to be his big break. While Stewart found his voice with the band and enjoyed a number of successes, he left in July 1969 to pursue a solo career. 
His first solo album, “An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down,” was released the same year and featured his first hit single, “Maggie May.”
Stewart was later brought in as the lead singer for Faces, the British rock band, joining guitarist and good friend Ron Wood in the lineup. He was soon juggling two music careers. As a solo artist, Stewart delivered songs that combined elements of folk, rock and country blues, while the music of Faces was often reminiscent of the Rolling Stones.
In 1975, Stewart and Faces parted ways, and he poured all his energy into his solo career. He quickly became an international star with a string of hits including “Never a Dull Moment” and “Sing It Again Rod.”
By the late 1970s, some critics were writing Stewart off as a fading star. He proved everyone wrong with a career revival in the early 1980s and his renewed stardom lasted for the next decade and included three platinum albums: “Foolish Behavior,” “Tonight I’m Yours” and “Out of Order.”
In 1998, Stewart’s life took a dramatic turn when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. After undergoing surgery, the veteran rocker found himself taking singling lessons as he tried to find his voice again.
Stewart has continued to sing and release albums, and he has changed his image from that of a playboy rocker of the 1970s to a crooner of ballads, the father of eight children and husband of former model Penny Lancaster.
In 2002, he released the first album in a series called “Great American Songbook,” for which he recorded pop standards and classic songs. More albums followed, with the latest, Volume 5, being released in 2010.
“As a musician, you’ve got to follow your own nose — which is quite easy for me, having quite a big nose — and so even though there was a bit of opposition to going this way, this is what I believed, and what I had to do,” Stewart said in an interview posted on his official Web site.
“American Songbook” fared well on the charts, and Stewart, now 67, was recognized for his contributions to the music scene. In 2006, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame that same year.
About his latest album, “Fly Me to the Moon … The Great American Songbook Volume V,” Stewart said: “It’s really a happy album when you look at it. For me, the hallmark is that I keep playing it a lot, and I very rarely go back and listen when I’ve finished an album. I’m my own worst critic, but I’m just knocked out by this one. I’m over the moon with it.”
His busy schedule has never allowed him to make a stop in Jakarta before, but now, 50 years after he launched his career, Indonesian fans will finally have the chance to see Stewart live on stage for a planned two-hour concert.
The Rod Stewart experience, however, doesn’t come cheap. Ticket prices range from Rp 1.5 million to Rp 15 million ($165 to $1,650). But according to Michael Rusli, president director of music promoter Big Daddy, which is organizing the concert, it will be worth it.
“Regarding the cost, this is the most expensive Big Daddy show to date,” he added. “That’s why we can’t lower the ticket prizes. The show will have a very high quality.”
“[The fans] will have a different experience,” he said during a press conference in December. “And for them, we would like to maximize the experience.”
Rod Stewart: The Greatest Hits
Tuesday, Jan. 31, from 8 p.m.
Plenary Hall Jakarta Convention Center
South Jakarta
Tel. 021 5366 4700
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/lifeandtimes/rod-stewart-and-his-hot-legs-coming-to-rock-indonesia/492380?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jgnewsletter
BALI DINING NEWS
Mama San - A Rare Bali Restaurant Gem
Editors Note: 
Lately I've been on a quest to discover Bali's best restaurants.
One that was recommended several times by discerning friends was The Mama San restaurant in Seminyak.
On a whim last night I decided to try it .
At first I was as a little concerned when I first entered and didn't have reservations.
The hostess looked eagerly through the reservation book to see if there was an opening. Fortunately she decided that she could take us.
As a restaurant owner and former chef ( in my college days) I was first impressed with the ambience of the place with serious professional air-conditioning units instead of the typical split systems that would break down and lose efficiency in a few years.
Next I was impressed with the quality of the service provided by bright, young waitresses and waiters attending to our every need.
Originally I was told it was a Thai restaurant but frankly I think the only word to describe it is a fusion of pretty well everything from Thai to Indian to Western etc.
So I tried several dishes include the Thai Fish Cakes, Tandoori Chicken and Duck complimented with a vegetarian dish and a mixed vegetable dish. 
All were served to perfection. I commented to my friend that finally somebody knows how to cook vegetables properly without soaking them in some silly sauce.
A good assortment of vegetables adapted for the duck which was exquisite and certainly unique.
A little pricey for locals but very reasonable for anybody coming from the West with a bill for a delightful dinner including four beers under $80.
A pleasant surprise was that we found our good friends Patrick and Joy Murray sitting upstairs enjoying one of their fine choices of wine.
All in all I think that Mama San will become one of my favorite hangouts
Reservations are highly recommended .
My compliments to the general manager Din Hakim who also manages the Sarong restaurant for running a first class establishment, one that can compete with many of the finest restaurants in the world.
Below is their description from their web site http://mamasanbali.com/
Mama San Restaurant:
DOWNSTAIRS
“The dream has always been to open a place that is more than just a restaurant” says Will Meyrick, who is the brainchild behind Bali’s success story Sarong restaurant. “An environment where people can feel comfortable to eat, try their hand at cooking or just lounge in a bar. Basically, not needing to leave the space until home time, whatever that time is. Mama San is for anyone who appreciates to lounge in style and eat quality food without it being too expensive.
”Known to be a madam of authority in an Asian gentlemen’s club, the name Mama San was selected because of the old and new world influence the interior and Asian cuisine would be. The team wanted to create a unique space to complement the sister restaurant Sarong rather than be in competition with it. A large “gudang” or warehouse as it is known in English has been converted into a two level retro-vintage restaurant, cooking school and bar.
Most Bali establishments are open-air making it difficult to escape the heat, especially during the rainy season, which is why Mama San is fully air-conditioned on both levels. The location of Mama San is where all roads meet to enter eat street and Oberoi road. Driving guests are offered valet parking, which is a bonus because anyone who regularly drives around the area understands how tricky it is to find a park.
Step into colonial Britain in Shanghai during the 1920s, with marble top mah-jong tables and oversized tan leather chesterfields, in a purpose designed industrial high ceiling warehouse. Gaze up to Mama San in all her glory staring down at patrons while dining and ponder over a travelogue of old style photographs. Colorful displays of retro inspired flowers tower up to vintage clocks and aChinese patterned mirror. A feature of the ground floor interior are two staircases either side of a service bar that climb a brick wall to the upper level.
The Mama San ground floor dining room is fully air-conditioned, seats up to 70 at any one time and is open for lunch at 11am -2pm and for dinner from 6pm – 11pm. Reservations are recommended for lunch and essential for the dinner service.
Please kindly note there is a no smoking policy in the ground floor dining room at during dinner service although guests are welcome to light up after 11pm. Mama San operates a “smart casual” dress code policy, therefore no branded singlet’s, board shorts or thongs are allowed:
Paying homage to the Mama San name, the feeling of the upper space reflects a bourgeois gentlemen’s club with the cooking school next to the bar bridging new worlds. Leather club chairs, ottomans and a plump banquette with scatter cushions allow guests to completely relax, while Raja palace lights, chandeliers and candles twinkle softly, creating the perfect ambience after bright sunny days.
The upper level at Mama San’s can fit a maximum of 80 patronsat any time. Guests can enjoy cocktails or drinks from 6pm – 2am and a grazing menu serves a select range of dumplings from 6pm – 11pm. Smokers are welcome to light up in the upstairs bar area at any time.
The Mama San cooking schoolis to open in 2012 with a calendar of events to run the course of the year.
His and her toilets stand either side of acommunal washbasinto the back of the bar area. Wines can be purchased from the wine room and taken home.
Bali, an island of spiritual mystique and lush beauty?
by Rosie Hamer on 24 Jan 2012 in Social
Or a place of cultural confusion maimed by a history of civil conflict and plagued with tourism?
I didn’t know much about the famous island before my flatmate and I took a trip there last summer, other than the infamous 2002 bombings and religious strife that mark a long and tiresome story in Indonesian history. We landed in the early hours on Java, the neighbouring larger island to the west of Bali, in the industrial hub of Surabaya. 
It was Ramadan and the place was bizarrely alive. After a day travelling through the south east of the island on local buses, ‘luxe’ tourist carriages, man powered rickshaws and a large passenger ferry, Bali was finally in sight. I could practically taste the Indonesian curry as we approached the island across the water, after a journey of 72 hours with no shower, bed or edible food.
Kuta- the first stop on the trip, also known as the Australians’ Magaluf. On first arrival it seemed to live up to its name: beer bellies, tattoos and Bintang vests galore. We headed to the streets ,‘Poppies Gangway 1 & 2, for somewhere cheap to sleep. This was the first surprise of the trip; the cost of accommodation, food, drink and activities in the tourist capital were not that cheap. At least, day to day spending was more than in Thailand where we’d just come from. The market caters for 2-week package deals that are comparatively cheap for the Aussies. MORE
http://thebeaveronline.co.uk/2012/01/24/travel-diary-an-island-of-two-tales/
world economic NEWS
Romney reports tax bill of $6.2 million for 2010-11:
Editors Note:
I hope Romney becomes America's next president.
At least he knows how to make money instead of the past presidents that only know how to spend it. 
It's time for a professional business man to manage America because America's business is business and they were the best at it in the world before Nixon.
TAMPA, Fla./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney released tax records on Tuesday indicating he will pay $6.2 million in taxes on a total of $42.5 million in income over the years 2010 and 2011.
Bowing to increasing political pressure to provide more detail about his vast wealth, the former private equity executive released tax returns indicating he and his wife, Ann, paid an effective tax rate of 13.9 percent in 2010. They expect to pay a 15.4 percent rate when they file their returns for 2011.
Romney's tax rate is below that of most wage-earning Americans because most of his income, as outlined in more than 500 pages of tax documents, flows from capital gains on investments.
Under the U.S. tax code, capital gains are taxed at 15 percent, compared with a top tax rate of 35 percent for wage earners.
Romney's campaign officials stressed that his tax rate is based mostly on income from investments that are held in a blind trust. Romney's holdings include an undisclosed amount in funds based in the Grand Cayman Islands and other overseas entities.
Regardless, the emerging picture was of a man of great means who contributes mightily to charity. The documents showed he and his wife contributed $7 million in charity over the two years, much of it going to his Mormon church. That represents more than 15 percent of the Romneys' income for those years.
Romney, whose estimated net worth is $190 million to $250 million, is among the wealthiest Americans ever to seek the presidency.
(Editing by David Lindsey and Paul Simao)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-campaign-romney-taxestre80n06u-20120123,0,3317889.story
What's Ahead In 2012: 
First Published in my Jan 1st 2012 Newsletter
In my Jan 1st newsletter I said." Gold will continue to rise"
Since Jan 1 it has risen
almost 6 % in just over two weeks
"I now believe that gold in this price range and even better at around $1,600 an ounce will be an excellent purchase and should go to $2,000 - $2,500 an ounce during 2012.
Silver which can now be purchased for as little as $30 an ounce should rise to $35-$50 an ounce.
Platinum which can be purchased for less than gold, which historically is the best time to buy, at around $1,525 an ounce should rise to $2,000 - $2,500 an ounce as well.
World Currency Predictions:
I admit there are many things I do not understand about the world economy and investors sentiment. The one quandary that continues to confuse me the most is why investors would consider buying U.S. securities at almost 0% interest.
Why would investors buy notes of obligation from a country that is virtually bankrupt.
Recently it's debt has risen to $15 trillion which means every man woman and child in America is almost $50,000 in debt the moment they come out of their mothers womb.
And even worse is the fact that every American taxpayer owes the world almost $140,000 on top of their own personal debt.
It just blows me away the fact that people believe that the U.S. dollar is still the strongest currency in the world. I personally keep most my money Canadian dollars. Not because I'm a Canadian, but because it has gone up over 30% against the United States dollar in the last few years and currently is worth more than the U.S. dollar.
Fighting the trend to buy U.S. dollar lately is like trying to swim against a strong tide. So I'm predicting a slight uptrend for the U.S. dollar for the first part of 2012 then a fall in the second half as reality finally sets in. For the year I believe the U.S. dollar index will fall slightly.
The Euro is going to have a dismal beginning of the year and may fall to as low as € 1.20 against the U.S.D.
The Australian dollar although supported by strong economy has had big moves recently and my prediction last year that it would drop in value came true. For 2012. I would be surprised to see much movement either way so I would stand aside.
The Singapore Dollar which I became very bullish on almost two years ago has had a nice movements since then and may also be neutral for 2012. Primarily because of what I believe will be a dramatic drop in Singapore real estate.
Other currencies such as the Brazilian Riau and even the Russian and Indian Rupee may surprise investors in 2012 to the upside.
world real estate NEWS
Vancouver Real Estate Bubble About to Bust:
Editor's Note: Vancouver Real Estate to Drop
I have accurately predicted most major real estate markets throughout the world the last 30 years. And I can prove it.
I predicted the worldwide crash in 2007, the Australia downturn 12 months ago and the Singapore and Hong Kong downturn six months ago
Now I predict that Vancouver, my old hometown, will see a major correction in real estate prices the next 12 to 24 months.
"Vancouver, my old hometown, will see a major correction in
real estate prices the next 12 to 24 months".
Why, Simple, Vancouver is vastly overpriced and with a more cautious Asian buyer and inflated Canadian dollar making it more difficult for Americans to buy the writing is on the wall.
Hint for Canadian owners. Sell now and move your money to Vancouver Island on the outskirts of Victoria where prices are still very reasonable.
For those of you that want to enjoy a place in the sun I can tell you as a Canadian living in Bali, Indonesia for 15 years, Bali has the best prices, lowest cost of living and one of the best lifestyles in world and I can prove that to.
Here you can still by beautiful two bedroom three bathroom luxury Villa for hundred and $189,000.
Could not even buy a garage in Vancouver for that for that price.
Vancouver Is Second-Costliest Housing Market:
Vancouver’s median home price of C$678,000 ($686,400) in the third quarter was 10.6 times its median pretax household income of C$63,800, making the city “severely unaffordable,” according to Demographia. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg
Vancouver displaced Sydney as the least-affordable housing market after Hong Kong among large English-speaking cities, as home prices rose faster than incomes, a study of 325 metropolitan areas worldwide showed.
Vancouver’s median home price of C$678,000 ($686,400) in the third quarter was 10.6 times its median pretax household income of C$63,800, making the city “severely unaffordable,” Demographia said in a report today. A ratio of 3 or less is considered “affordable,” according to the public-policy firm’s survey of markets in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the U.K., the U.S., Canada and Hong Kong.
Sydney’s ratio of median home price to income was 9.2, while Hong Kong’s was 12.6, a record for the eight-year-old survey, surpassing the previous high of 11.5 for Los Angeles in 2007. Home prices in Hong Kong, Vancouver and Sydney haven’t plunged as they have elsewhere, such as in Ireland, now the second most-affordable country, after the U.S., the study said.
“Housing affordability generally improved in the surveyed nations, though the most unaffordable markets, Hong Kong and Vancouver, became even more unaffordable,” wrote Wendell Cox, principal of Belleville, Illinois-based Demographia, and Hugh Pavletich, managing director of Pavletich Properties Ltd., a commercial developer and investment company in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Policies limiting lots available for construction drove up land prices, putting homes out of reach for middle-class buyers and younger workers in cities such as Vancouver and Sydney, the researchers said. The median price of a detached house in metropolitan Vancouver reached a record C$900,000 in April 2011, according to the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.
Bubble Bursting
Home prices in the eight capitals of Australia’s states and territories fell 3.7 percent in 2011 through November and were on pace for the biggest annual decline in at least 12 years on concerns that Europe’s debt crisis may damp the nation’s economic growth, according to figures released Dec. 30 by RP Data, a real estate researcher.
“The bubble is bursting in Australia,” said Pavletich, who operates PerformanceUrbanPlanning.org, a website on urban public-policy issues.
In New Zealand, Christchurch is “severely unaffordable,” with a ratio of 6.3, according to the study. The city is rebuilding after a series of earthquakes that started in 2010.
“There’s huge pressure on the government to open up land supply and get affordable new lots,” said Pavletich, who is an advocate for the effort.
From the end of World War II through the late 1980s, homes in the countries surveyed generally cost two to three times median income, according to Demographia. Today, only the U.S. is affordable by the study’s measure, with Ireland and Canada “moderately unaffordable,” at 3.3 and 3.5 times median income, respectively.
U.S. Cities
San Jose, California, and San Francisco were the least affordable among U.S. housing markets with populations of at least 1 million, according to the survey. Detroit was the most affordable market in that group, with a median multiple of 1.4 times income, according to the study. Atlanta followed with 1.9, and Phoenix with 2.2.
Honolulu, with a smaller population, was the least affordable U.S. city, with a median multiple of 8.7.
Outside the U.S., Dublin, with a median multiple of 3.4, and Edmonton, Alberta, at 3.5, were the most affordable cities.
To contact the reporter on this story: Hui-yong Yu in Seattle at hyu@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Daniel Taub at dtaub@bloomberg.net
Australia Home Prices drop but houses still up on global
list:
Editor's Note; My prediction that 
Australian real estate prices would fall that I made a little over a year ago appears to be coming true as prices in Australia continued to seek more reasonable levels.
Chris Zappone January 23, 2012
Homes
HOUSING affordability improved in Australia last year, according to an annual international ranking, but local real estate still remains some of the least affordable in the world.
Australia's national unaffordability ratio sank from 6.1 times in 2010 to the still ''severely unaffordable'' ratio of 5.6 times, helped by sinking home prices, according to analysis by a US research group.
''Australia exhibited the worst housing affordability of any national market outside Hong Kong,'' the eighth annual Demographia International Housing Affordability survey of 325 markets concluded. The unaffordability ratio is derived from dividing the median house price by the median household income.
Demographia considers a median multiple rating of three times or under to be ''affordable''.
Housing markets with a median multiple of 3.1 to 4 times are dubbed ''moderately unaffordable''. The ratio of 4.1 to 5 times is ''seriously unaffordable'' while ''severely unaffordable'' markets have ratios of 5.1 times or above.
''There were no affordable markets in Australia in 2011 and the overwhelming majority of markets were severely unaffordable,'' the report said.
Hong Kong's national median multiple of 12.6 times topped the list for unaffordability, followed by Australia, New Zealand (5.2), Britain, (5.1), Canada (3.5), Ireland (3.3) and the US (3).
Britain, Ireland and the US have suffered crippling house price collapses, while Australian prices, after falling in 2008, rose through the September quarter of 2010, helped by rate cuts and cash stimulus. Capital city home prices have slipped 3.7 per cent in the 11 months to November, according to RP-Rismark data.
The Housing Industry Association-Commonwealth Bank housing affordability index, released last month, showed a 1.2 per cent rise in September quarter affordability. The median home price in November was $450,000, RP data showed.
Australia's property has been characterised as the most overvalued in the world by The Economist magazine and the bubble-watching investor Jeremy Grantham, from the US investment fund GMO.
In the Demographia survey, Sydney was the 323rd most affordable with a house price-to-income ratio of 9.2. Melbourne was 320 with a ratio of 8.4. Coffs Harbour was 319, the Gold Coast 318, and the Sunshine Coast 317.
http://m.smh.com.au/business/property/prices-drop-but-houses-still-up-on-global-list-20120122-1qc99.html
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Aussie cities ranked among most expensive:
ELEANOR HALL: Australia is again leading the world when it comes to expensive real estate.
An international study of housing affordability puts Australia well behind the United States, Ireland, Canada, Britain and New Zealand.
The only housing market that was more expensive than here, relative to income, is Hong Kong.
Business reporter Michael Janda finds out why.
MICHAEL JANDA: You don't need to tell first home buyers that Australian housing's expensive.
But Demographia's eighth annual housing affordability survey confirms it.
WENDELL COX: The Australian figures tend to be a little bit worse than California which is the worst part of the United States. A little bit worse than the UK and so on.
Within Australia Sydney easily retains first place as the most unaffordable city, with the median house price 9.2 times the median household income. That made Sydney the third least affordable city in the study after Hong Kong and Vancouver but other Australian cities weren't much better.
Wendell Cox again.
WENDELL COX: Followed closely by Melbourne at eight, Adelaide is around I think what six, seven or seven something like that. Brisbane is 6.0 and Perth is down at 5.7 - actually having improved rather significantly in recent years. MORE
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-23/aussie-cities-ranked-among-most-expensive/3788284?section=business
US dollar index continues to fall.
It has fallen almost 3% in just the last 11 days.
I predicted at the beginning of the year "the US dollar index would continue to fall. It has fallen almost 3% in just the last 11 days. Further worries are that China has stopped or slowed down considerably their buying of US securities and treasury bills therefore reducing the demand for US dollars. Also more investors put risk on.
in strong stock markets since beginning the year is.
Worlds real estate
PREDICTION FOR 2012: .jpg)
First Published in my Jan 1st 2012 Newsletter
One thing I pride myself on is my virtually 100% accurate predictions on price trends in world real estate markets for many years now starting as far back as Hawaii in 1990 when I said Hawaii real estate prices would collapse, even though I owned a small real estate brokerage there. In the next few years Hawaii residential homes dropped 20% to 30%.
I predicted the recent huge drops in world wide real estate markets in 2007 six months before they happened. I also predicted the recent drop in Australian real estate and China and Singapore real estate.
I have been very bullish on Bali real estate for the last 10 years and we literally have not had a down year even after two major disastrous bombings in 2005 and 2007.
For 2012 I expect Australian real estate to continue to fall in major cities for the first half of the year and may level off and in fact and breakeven for the year.
In Singapore I am expecting dramatic drops of 10% to 20% as well as most Chinese cities.
In Europe most areas will see downturns including the United Kingdom.
The one area I am keeping a close eye on is southern Spain where tremendous bargains of 30% to 70% can be had. Of course there's no need to buy anything even at a deep discount if you can't find renters in a down economy.
There may even be some great opportunities in Greece in the near future.
I will have a more reliable opinion on European real estate after I travel the entire Italian peninsula by automobile over a 4 to 5 week trip in May of this year.
Buy American Real Estate:
The following prediction will probably come as a shock to my long time readers.
After being bearish on American real estate for five years I believe we may actually see a bottoming out and small increases in three bedroom residential homes in select areas in America in 2012.
Why? Simply prices have dropped as much as 70% in some areas such as Las Vegas and Detroit. As Barron Rothschild famously said "buy when the blood is running in the streets" and the blood is definitely running the streets of many real estate markets in America.
The fact there's been very little new supply in the last several years is attracting bargain hunters from around the world who may come in and pick up distress sales.
Even if it doesn't increase I think the downside risks on severely discounted American residential properties is miniscule at this time.
So here I go with another radical prediction American residential real estate in most major cities may have a slight increase for the first time in years in 2012.
"American residential real estate in most major cities may
have a slight increase for the first time in years in 2012"
Finally we come to Indonesia. The stage is set with rising credit ratings for Indonesia and the banks with large amounts of money available for loans, a booming economy, which will only get better in 2012 which leads me to project that most Indonesian residential homes, Apartments and commercial properties will rise in value in 2012.
Bali real estate NEWS
Bali- 2012 the Best Year Ever:
First Published in my Jan 1st 2012 Newsletter
Bali real estate prices are
still catching up with other resort areas in
the world such as Thailand and Hawaii which
because after the dramatic 2005 and 2007
bombings kept investors stayed away.
It's been along time since we've had a
bombing or even any radical Islamic attacks..jpg)
Recent free publicity from movies such as Eat, Pray & Love featuring Julia Roberts plus aggressive marketing program by the Indonesian government will once again probably provide Bali with another year of record tourism.
As I've always said Bali's real estate demand is directly proportional to tourism demand. It's quite simple the more tourists there are, the more they fall love with Bali and want to have a second home or a permanent home on what I believe after 15 years of living here, is the best island in the world.
When housewives discover that
they can eliminate their household chores
with maids that cost only $100 a month
drivers at $100 a month plus gardeners pool
man etc. at the same rate.jpg)
they will encourage their husband's with all
the normal female skills to purchase a
permanent or at least part-time home in
Bali.
The baby boomers born between
1947 and 1955 are retiring this year. They
represent approximate 25% of the population
of the world and I estimate over 50% of the
available cash. .jpg)
They are seeking warmer, safer ,cheaper places and than they now live in. It is much more cheaper and enjoyable to live in Bali than to live in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, England or Canada, or America .
After a few five dollar massages and $10 live prawn dinner's on the beach it doesn't take much convincing for people to consider moving to Bali.
As I said before Bali real estate demand will start to shift from strictly tourist demand to a combination of tourist and retirement demand.
In 2012 I will be spending a lot of time studying successful retirement villages in areas such as Australia and may in fact before the end of this year launch a retirement village in Bali.
As a result of the rising tourist demand and the new demand from retirees I believe that Bali residential homes will rise 5 % to 10% in value this year.
"Bali residential homes will rise 5 % to 10% in value this
year."
Investment villas and estate properties may rise 5% to 15 % . Beachfront properties may rise 10% to 20% .
The beauty of it all is no matter what happens in Europe or America it will have little effect on Bali's economy and the real estate market in Bali this year, and for years to come.
Location, Location, Location,
If you do decide to purchase a Bali investment property the first question in your mind should be where is the best location?
If you're buying for you to live in full-time the answer is obviously, whatever location suits you best.
If you're buying as an investment and will be renting it out the most important question is what is the most attractive area to high quality tourists who are willing to pay attractive rental rates?
The Five main areas of Bali are Southern Bali , Kuta , Seminyak , Canggu & Sanur.
Southern Bali has two major problems at this time the first and least important is water. A long time owner of several villas in South Bali who has been in Bali for 25 years advised me the other day that they haven't had city water to their location on the Hill for the last six months and have to pay approximately $200 a month for water trucks to deliver, which is also very inconvenient. Water is a serious problem in southern Bali. You have to drill several hundred meters in solid rock to get well water.
The most important problem in S. Bali that I've been warning about for years now is the gridlock traffic which has developed the last two years.
I repeat myself again you have 10,000 tourist travelling up and down on a four-lane road every day + 10,000 employees who cannot afford to live in the Nusa Dua Area. Add to that 5,000 to 10,000 tourists arriving every day at the airport and you have traffic hell most of the time.
What used to take me 20 minutes to drive from Sanur to the Nikko hotel is now taking me an hour and half one way.
Tourists will simply not return to a location if they have to spend two or three hours in traffic every day to get to the main attractions in Bali such as Seminyak fine dining and nightclubs, and Denpasar shopping or beautiful Ubud and the volcanic lakes of the Bedugal.
A new road has been contracted which will run over the mangrove swamps directly from to Serangan island all the way to Nusa Dua with intersections at the airport. But if history repeats itself will probably be at least two to four years before it's finished. In the meantime traffic closures and construction will cause even more mayhem than now. So until the road is finished I simply recommend not buying South of Sanur.
The other areas that have been popular in the past is Kuta which is attractive to low cost renters who are looking for the $50 a night room. Again gridlock traffic and poor infrastructure is a nightmare. Frankly I'm very confused what hotel owners are they thinking when they continue to build massive hotels on the beach road called Panti Kuta without doing anything to improve access to the hotels. I'm hearing of delays as much as one hour simply to get from the airport to these new and hotels which is only about 3 to 4 km as the crow flies. Nobody wants to fly only two hours from Singapore and then spend another hour getting to their hotel.
For years I verbally fought with others regarding the future of Seminyak. As it developed from a large amount of rice paddy land to a odd mixture of restaurants, nightclubs and boutique stores I came up with the saying "if you like drugs, sex and rock 'n roll you rent or buy in Seminyak . if you like it once a week you rent or buy in Sanur".
Seminyak, even with its new so-called on Sun Set" road ( which I could never understand because you cannot see the sun set from any portion of the road) is seeing massive traffic jams as well.
Just the other day a good friend took one hour just to drive a few kilometers along Jalan Legian.
So you may have a beautiful Villa it might be very difficult to drive anywhere and when it rrains watch out. Because of poor sewage and drainage I've been there several times including the other day when after just an hour of rain there was almost one meter of water on the main road of Jalan Oberoi. But if you're young and under 40 maybe you'll put up with it so your close to the nightclubs that don't even start until 11:30.PM.
I also argued extensively with other
realtors and fellow ex-pats about the future
of Canggu. Even close friends who bought
there refused to listen to my logic about
the fact that yes Canggu is pretty and has
Rice Paddies but in the near future Rice
paddies will be replaced by four meter walls
of another Villa complex and remove the
view.
Then
all you're left with is a Villa far from the
beach, an hour and a half the airport.
Most of Canggu is accessed by a road
that is a little bit more than the width of
one car which means you have to pull over to
let other cars go by. Not only are the roads
very narrow most are unpaved. Again this is
not what tourists are looking for. And as as
it builds up more and more it will
only get worse with massive traffic jams
especially where Canggu filters down into
the main road going down into Seminyak.
Did I forgot to mention what happens to the Kuta , Seminyak and Canggu beaches in the rainy season?
All the plastic comes down the river from East Java and West Bali including syringes, tampons and you name it, and it ends up the up right on the beach.
It is simply disgusting swimming there and I for one have stopped swimming there years ago after obtaining several ear infections.
Another problem with their beaches is that they are very dangerous. It'sa little known fact that probably at least one tourist dies every month in this area from drowning. They go into what looks like pleasant breaking waves and get caught in a rip tide and don't have a clue how to get out of it and simply fight until they drown. this is certainly not attractive to the baby boomer generation are or are there 60s and also for those who have young children. quite often I physically worn some parents who let their children play in these oceans not being aware of the severe dangers that lie within.
Sanur Good and Getting Better:
Fifteen years
ago I sailed into Bali on a yacht and asked
local expatriates "where was the best place
to live in Bali" they told me "Sanur"
.jpg)
I've been happy with that decision ever since. Yes I am 61 and I don't need to go to nightclubs every night, although I like to kick up my heels once a week and drive to Seminyak in only 20 minutes to 30 minutes in the early evening. After midnight I fly back to Sanur in 10 to 15 minutes .
Local ex-pats call Sanur or
Snore. For good reason. It's the way Bali
used to be. A quaint village but yet with
hundreds
.jpg)
of
shops and restaurants within a few meters of
sparkling clean six km white sand beach
which is very safe for children and older
adults which provides one of the most
magical sun rises in the world for those who
like to walk or bike.
Ubud- The Former Sleepy Artist Colony:
Finally approximate 20 to 30 minutes north of Sanur is what was formerly the sleepy artist village of Ubud.
I say formally because unfortunately it has gone the way of Seminyak with a few good restaurants on a one-way road which is often congested and sometimes gridlocked, especially if there is a ceremony on.
If you love the mountains and rivers, which are very difficult to get to+++
, Ubud is for you. But if you're buying for maximum rental income you don't want to buy in Ubud because out of the thousands thousands of rental requests I've had over the last nine years I would say less than 5% have been for a Ubud rental. Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to own or rent there.
What Features Do Renters Want?
If your intention is to purchase a place and rent it out for positive cash flow then you must compromise between what you want and what the tourist seeks.
After 15 years of being in the tourism business in Bali and handling ten's of thousands of requests for rentals I want to share with the most important considerations for tourists before they decide on a rental, in order of importance.
Affordable:
With the advent of the Internet discerning
prudent travelers do not have to rely on
fancy brochures to establish a very
affordable price for their vacation.
Although many villas and hotels in Bali tend
to have a standard price and not budge on
that price we have taken the course of being
affordable.
.jpg)
Our standard published price is only $99 per room per night in low season. A family of four or two couples can share a huge 400 m2 Villa for $198.00 or $99 per couple which if you're lucky would normally only secure a three-star hotel.
Our philosophy is simple it is better to have a large volume at affordable prices than they have low rentals at high prices. Our clients are very satisfied and as we always say "one satisfied client is 10 more a year from now and that 10 is 100 a year later".
2) Short Walking Distance of a Beautiful Beach: The rentals must be within a short walking distance of a beautiful beach. Less than 5% of requests are for mountain or other areas.
.jpg)
Why
come to Bali if you can't enjoy the beach.
Tourists don't want have to get a car or
taxi or walk a long distance across a busy
intersection to get the beach. This is why
Sanur and especially our
© Bali luxury villas are ideally suited
for tourists which is just a 5 to 8 minute
pleasant walk along shaded roads that are
not busy to the beach.
3) Private swimming
pool: The second most sought after
feature of a rental is that it has a private
swimming pool not one shared with others. It
should not be a p.jpg)
lunge
pool but a pool where you can do massive
strokes and get some exercise and enjoy the
pool.
Huge living space. Often our guests comment that after staying in one of our © Bali luxury villas they will never stay in a hotel again. Why simply because instead of staying in a 60 m2 to 90 m² hotel room they have the opportunity to enjoy 400 m² of living space with normally 250 m² under the roof.
5) Large
bedrooms with on suite bathroom's:
at least a shower or even better as in 90%
of our villas separate shower, separate
bathtub.jpg)
and outdoor shower where you can
shower in the in the great outdoors.
6) Large open living area. One of the great things about Bali living is that you can be in the living area all times the year as long as it has a roof on it. You don't need doors windows and air conditioning in the living area. There are few people that want a air-conditioned living space and we have a villas available for them as well.
7) Private full-time
housekeepers: When we receive
testimonials about our villas 70% of the
compliments is not about about our villas
but about our housekeepers. These English-.JPG)
speaking
housekeepers take care of the Villa from 8
AM to 4 PM every day. When guests arrive the
housekeeper offers them a cold drink and
asks them if they would like to wash or iron
some clothes free of charge because every
Villa has on-site washer and dryers.
Not only does this save money but it also is very convenient to simply tell your housekeepers to please iron a shirt for me for tonight. In addition of course all day long she is cleaning up the mess, especially if you have children. Chefs can be arranged at a small additional charge. When you need some groceries from the store simply give her the money plus a dollar extra for gasoline for her motorcycle and she will run out to the store and purchase it and put it away for you.
8) Close proximity to shops and restaurants. There are many villas in Bali that are out in the boonies, far away from any restaurants and shops therefore breakfast lunch and dinner becomes a major chore. In our villas we have a restaurant called Desiree's that caters to all the villas with room service at local restaurant prices, not hotel prices. So instead of trying to organize a family of six together for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which can be a major chore. Simply pick up the phone call the restaurant and your meals are delivered to your villa a short time thereafter. Also it makes it very attractive if you want to entertain to arrange for quality catering at a fraction of what you would pay in western costs.
Because hotel pool food can be boring there are hundreds of inexpensive restaurants and shops within 5 to 10 minute walking distance.
Close proximity to
water sports. In places such as
Seminyak if you want to go water skiing or
diving you would have to hop in the taxi
driver 3.jpg)
0
of 45 minutes and then you would arrive at
Sanur Beach close
© Bali luxury villas which is the diving
and boating center of Bali.
Our guests on the other hand simply have to walk out the front door and in 5-10 minutes they are there. No taxis or costly transportation required.
Close proximity to airport: There are many villas in Bali that may be an hour to an hour and a half away from the airport. The last thing that a tourist wants to do after flying 12 to 18 hours from aboard is drive another hour and a half to the Villa. From Sanur it normally takes an average of 20 to 30 minute to drive to and from the airport. With a brand-new road being built directly from the airport to just south of Sanur I expect that the drive time will be brought down to 10 to 15 minutes.
First class support staff: Booking a Villa all by itself may be attractive at first but could turn into a nightmare if there is not an on site staff for housekeeping, engineering, pools, gardening, room service, concierge and management staff to take care of your every need. If something breaks down in the Villa it is handled immediately.
Quality marketing and management company. Although I put this last it perhaps is one of the most important feature you want to look when purchasing a Villa in Bali and that is has a professional, experienced quality marketing and management company with a verifiable superior track record.
As one of the first pioneers in Bali investment villas eight years ago we set the standard. Instead of just waiting for customers to find us we spent hundreds of thousands of dollars going to travel shows around the world, meeting the largest travel agents. We keep in contact with them with our weekly Bali News & Views Newsletter to 27,000 readers including over 5,000 travel agents. In addition we have a huge internet presence with search ranking usually in the top ten searches for Bali hotels and accommodation.
We have one of the best reputations of hundreds of competitors on the world largest travel web site Booking .com and also Trip advisor Now we do virtually very little advertising because our villas are selling themselves with most of our business coming from referrals. If you're looking at purchasing a Villa in Bali ask for proof of occupancy rates and you want to compare to our last last year average of over 70%.
Quality Construction and Design: Regarding the construction of the Villa the things you want to look for include making sure that it has enough electricity. Unfortunately the standard in Bali is to provide only a minimum amount of electricity which usually runs into problems when there is a huge load. We have installed 16,000 KW in most of our villas. A typical Balinese villa may only have 6,000 KW.
Roofing is very important. Yes, grass roofs
look very exotic but after two years they
become a housekeeping nightmare ever.jpg)
y
day. After seven years they typically have
to be replaced which is very expensive
and cuts into your rental revenue. And
perhaps most important is they are an
extreme fire hazard. One spark could set off
a grass roof and it will be gone in a matter
of 15 minutes which may endanger the lives
of you and your guests.
In the early stages we discovered is very important to put insulation in between the roof tiles and the ceilings of the bedrooms for two reasons. One to reduce air-conditioned costs and more importantly for soundproofing. I have discovered from past living experiences that a typical Balinese roof has with no insulation therefore amplifies the sound from outside and you have to wear earplugs to sleep at night.
It continues to amaze me that even many of the new villas can fail to understand that you need to have screened doors and screen windows Why? It's quite simple many people don't want to use air-conditioners all day long and when they don't use air-conditioners their choice is to open the door and have a multitude of insects invade the room including Dengue and Malaria bearing mosquitoes which will drive you crazy when you try to sleep.
The above are just a few of the extras that are included in our Bali luxury villas which makes them so exceptional that buyers including the director of one of the largest prestigious hotel chains in the world and the S/E Asia director of one the top five companies in the world along with the head of the energy division of the same to the company. These gentlemen know quality and value.
Low Cost Monthly Charges: Finally you want to make sure that the common area costs, which usually include water and security guards are reasonable. For example our villa owners only pay an average of $150 per month which is equivalent of one nights rentals.
Long Lease: And perhaps most important is to make sure that when you purchase a Villa it has at least 25 years remaining on the lease with a guaranteed notarized agreement signed by the owner of the land that you can renew it in the future at a set price. Not something to be decided on in the future. Most of our villas right now have over 40 years existing on the leases.
2012-Summary:
In conclusion I believe that 2012 will not
be as bad as the press makes it out to be
and that the European economic Union will
survive. By the year end things may be
booming again.
Let's not forget that there is a built up demand from consumers who have not been purchasing big-ticket items such as electronics, automobiles and even real estate the last few years as they worried about the current economic state of the world.
As consumer confidence returns around the world in the second half of 2012 manufacturing will pick up and we could have a robust world economy for several years to come.
The recent adversity of deficit economies that forced governments around the world to take bitter economic actions for the future will benefit most countries in Europe. I hope the U.S.A. votes some leaders in Nov. of next year that are willing to make some major changes in the entitlement economy that has developed there over the last 50 years. If not the headlines for next year will be focus not on Europe but on the bankruptcy of America.
All us at Pt. Bali Affordable Lifestyles International and PT. Bali Luxury Villas wish you and yours a very happy and prosperous new year.
We hope that this newsletter, our daily blogs and tweets can help you to achieve success in 2012 and beyond.
My slogan for 2012 is " Success we shall delve in 2012
" Success we shall delve in 2012"
Lowest priced Bali 2 bedroom Bali Luxury Villa
Own this two bedroom © Bali Luxury Villa, pool for only $189,000.
Quaint luxury villa in five star resort:
This quaint recently built two bedroom elegant villa is located in the extremely popular Golden Villa luxury complex and comes complete with all the amenities of a five star resort.
Motivated seller at below market price: The current owner regrettably needs to sell fast at below market price.
.JPG)
Prestigious Location:
You can now enjoy this luxurious villa in one of the most desirable, prestigious, residential areas of Bali. Sanur was the first beach resort on Bali decades ago and has developed into a unique community of boutique hotels, restaurants, stores and shops. Top hotel chains such as the Hyatt hotel choose Sanur for its sparkling long white beach and stunning scenery.
To make a private appointment call or SMS 08123814014
Exciting Beachfront Estate Investment
FREEHOLD ESTATES STARTING AT $179,000 
Wake up to the sound of crashing waves, a magical view of the sun rising over the Channel Islands, and the stunning 3,000 MTR. (10,000 ft.) Mt. Agung, Volcanic Mountain from your own Bali Paradise Beachfront Estate.
Gorgeous Freehold Property:
Each property will have a separate Hak Milik Title (Deed). Foreigners may obtain 100% control of these prestigious estates for a small extra fee of $1,000. Each property will have its own separate title. Alternatively owners will receive 3- 30 year leases for a total of 90 years.
GREAT INVESTMENT:
From the very beginning these estates have been designed to achieve maximum rental income and appreciation. The owners of these estates will enjoy perhaps one of the highest returns on capital appreciation and rental incomes of all current Bali properties available for sale.
ATTRACTIVE FEATURES:
Ocean-front and ocean-view estates with postcard quality views of the Channel Islands and Towering Mt. Agung Volcano will not only bring back renters again and again, but also their friends and relatives.
GREAT LOCATION:
The rental income will grow exponentially from renters.JPG)
who will be attracted to the unique features of these first class estates including the fantastic location which is only a short 10 to 15 minutes from Denpasar and Sanur. Owners and tenants have several choices for first class dining, shopping and entertainment in Sanur or Ubud which is only 20 minutes away. Seminyak and Kuta are an additional 15- 20 minutes.
"It feels like you are on a remote Island far from the crowds."
Water Sports at Front Door:
Fishing, Sailing and many other water sports are yours to be had at this stunning beachfront venue.
World Class Surfing Location:
Paradise Beach Estates are located close to a famous, world class, surfing spot.
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ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY:
These Estates will have a green theme with features such as utilizing grey water for watering of plants. Photovoltaic cells will be utilized for producing 12 V electric lights throughout the complex.
Water gathering systems from the roofs and tanks will help to reduce dependence on ground water. Many other exciting new technologies will be incorporated to achieve our goal to make this an example for future Bali developments and to win a green award.
SUCCESSFUL PROFESSIONAL WESTERN MANAGEMENT:
These villas will be managed by PT. B.A.L.I. who already successfully manage almost 50 huge luxury villas in Sanur, a few minutes away, for the past eight years.
Last year they averaged over 70 % average occupancy and are on-route to do even better this year. Yearly returns of 15 % to 30% per annum are not uncommon on their previous developments.
GOOD THINGS - WORTH WAITING FOR:
This brand new beach front estate complex has taken almost eight years to obtain the zoning to build luxury estates that can be legally rented to tourists for short or long term rentals under Bali Law. They have already built the perimeter walls, an ocean entrance and are now in full construction on the first three exotic first class beachfront estates.
BELOW MARKET PRICE:
They are vastly under priced as they are one of the first complexes to be built on the East Coast of Bali, north of Sanur. Similar estates in other areas of Bali sell for twice as much. On other resort Islands such as Hawaii and in Thailand they sell for three times as much, so, they offer great value.
LUXURIOUS ESTATES STARTING AT $179,000:
The star of the complex, A-1, is a massive 480 m2 (5,167 Sq Ft.) curved exotic estate on over 1,040 M2 (11,200 Sq Ft) of gorgeous beachfront land selling for $995,000.
A2 is a huge 350 m2 (3,767 Sq Ft.) first class estate on over 460 M2 (
5,000 Sq Ft.) of land with stunning ocean and Mt. Agung views selling for $ 555,000.
A3 is a huge 350 m2 (3,767 Sq Ft.) estate on over 450 M2 (4,843 Sq Ft.) with stunning ocean, Mt. Agung, river and rice paddy views selling for $ 595,000.
Building Lots Starting at $179,000
In addition to the three custom designed estates listed above there are two large empty building lots with gorgeous ocean, mountain and river views starting low as $179,000 for 450 M2 (4,844 Sq Ft.) or $195,000 for a 525 M2 (5,651 Sq Ft.) The developer can assist you in in building your own custom designed estate and save you money. For example a huge three bedroom with 350 m2 (3,767 Sq Ft.) under roof with large private pool may be built for as little as $380,000.
This is a great opportunity for you to custom design your dream home to suit your distinct tastes. If you buy now we can assist you every step of the way with designing and building your private estate to your own custom specifications.
limited AVAILABILITY:
Over 70% of stage one are already sold. To insure that you do not miss out on this fantastic opportunity to own a piece of paradise we recommend you inspect and place a hold on one of these rare Bali estates as soon as possible.
We are finalizing our building permits for three luxurious beachfront estates in our Paradise Beach Estate complex.
Check out Available Estates Below.
|
Estate |
Land |
Bld |
Bedrm |
Bath |
Price |
Features |
|
M 2 |
M 2 |
|||||
|
A-1 |
1050 |
480 |
4.5 |
4 |
$995,000 |
Beachfront, Huge Pool, Bale ,Carport |
|
A-2 |
460 |
350 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
$555,000 |
Large Pool, 50 mtr. to beach , Carport |
|
A-3 |
450 |
350 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
$595,000 |
Large Pool, Rice paddy river view , Carport |
|
A-4 |
525 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
$195,000 |
Large Lot, Rice Paddy, River, Ocean View |
|
A-5 |
480 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
$175,000 |
Large Lot, Rice Paddy, River, Ocean View |
BEST VILLA DEALS IN BALI
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Below is our current inventory of © BALI LUXURY VILLA resales.
You will find that the prices are below average and that the quality of construction , management and marketing are above average.
STARTING AT $189,000: The following are our lowest priced high quality villas with excellent management and marketing. They start as low as $189,000. see below for details.
LIMITED AVAILABILITY: There are only a few villas available and they are selling fast.
|
Com |
# |
Bed |
BTH |
Land |
Approx. |
Asking |
Lease |
Special |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mtr. |
BLD |
|
Years |
|
|
A |
9 |
2 |
3 |
150 |
190 |
$189,000 |
39 |
All A/C |
|
|
A |
1 |
3 |
3.5 |
350 |
225 |
$330,000 |
42 |
End Unit |
|
|
A |
8 |
2 |
2.5 |
350 |
200 |
$299,000 |
42 |
All A/C |
|
|
B |
17 |
3 |
3.5 |
450 |
225 |
$375,000 |
42 |
Large |
|
|
C |
5 |
4 |
4.5 |
500 |
225 |
$441,000 |
42 |
Large |
|
|
E |
1 |
3 |
3.5 |
550 |
225 |
$395,000 |
43 |
Large |
|
|
D |
4 |
4 |
4.5 |
600 |
250 |
$525,000 |
43 |
Huge |
|
|
A |
9 |
3 |
3.5 |
350 |
200 |
Combined |
43 |
End Unit |
|
|
D |
5 |
3 |
4.5 |
550 |
225 |
$695,000 |
43 |
Large |
"Hi Lawrence, Why would I sell ? The yield I am getting
today on the property is better that any interest I would
earn having the money in a bank !"
7/7/2011 Mr. M E. London. Senior Exec at one of worlds largest companies
BALI ECONOMIC NEWS
Bali Seaweed-Berkeley scientists bring seaweed biofuels
one step closer to the marketplace:
Seaweed farms off the coast of Bali. According to one estimate, using just three percent of the Earth's coastal waters to grow seaweed could produce 60 billion gallons of ethanol.
The newest biofuel making a splash is seaweed.
Researchers at Berkeley-based Bio Architecture Lab (BAL) have discovered a way to genetically manufacture a microbe that can break down the sugars in seaweed, so that it can be used as a fuel source. Biofuels from sources other than corn have generated a lot of hype but so far not the large-scale production necessary for them to be considered an integral part of the U.S. energy future (see Lauren Sommer’s recent biofuels “reality check,” for KQED’s QUEST). MORE
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/23/the-latest-breakthrough-in-biofuels-seaweed/
Tax Office Shelters Richest Men in Bali:
Friday, 20 January, 2012 | 10:26 WIB
TEMPO Interactive, DENPASAR:The Bali Tax Directorate General refuses to announce the 10 biggest payers in Bali who are also the richest people on the island. “It will impede their tax checks,” tax office chief Zulfikar Thahar said in Denpasar yesterday.
He said that such a policy has been conducted previously, but the following year the tax payers asked why they needed to be checked again as they had paid their taxes.
Thahar said tax revenue in 2011 reached Rp4.089 trillion.
The amount exceeded the targeted Rp4.070 trillion. Therefore, 100.48 percent of the target was achieved with a 0.48 percent surplus.
ROFIQI HASAN http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2012/01/20/brk,20120120-378558,uk.html
BALI CRIME NEWS
Teen Pimp Arrested Over Bali Sex Ring:
Made Arya Kencana | January 25, 2012
Denpasar. Police in Denpasar arrested on Tuesday a teenage girl they suspect of luring younger girls into the sex trade, a detective said.
The 17-year-old girl, identified only as F. because of her age, was arrested on suspicion of pimping three younger girls, according to the South Denpasar Police’s chief of detectives, Adj. Comr. Made Dayendra.
“She had three victims, all junior high school students,” Dayendra said.
He said the case came to the attention of the police after the parents of one of the girls, 16-year-old I.S., reported that their daughter had been missing since last Thursday.
Police found her in a boarding house on Jalan Raya Sesetan in Denpasar on Monday.
The boarding house reportedly belonged to the family of F. and the suspect also lived there, officers said.
Police said I.S. told them that for the past three days F. had forced her to provide sex to men in a number of hotels.
She told officers that from the Rp 400,000 to Rp 500,000 ($44 to $55) each man paid, F. gave her Rp 200,000 to Rp 300,000 and kept the rest.
Police discovered that F. had also sold two other girls, L.H. and A.I., also both 16, to men for sex in a number of hotels in Denpasar and Kuta.
F. told the police she worked alone and that the other girls had been willing participants.
“I just met them on the street and got them to accept jobs because they wanted the money,” she said.
Dayendra said the police were trying to determine if F. was part of a syndicate. She could face up to 15 years in jail for violating the 2002 Child Protection Law, he said.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/teen-pimp-arrested-over-bali-sex-ring/493418
BALI MISCELLANEOUS NEWS
January 9th, 2012 by Lindsay
Is your real estate marketing amazing? Well, if it is, perhaps you’re going in the wrong direction.
Lake Superior State University released a list of words that were used so habitually last year that they’ve been banned from use in 2012. Here’s a handful of the banned words you, as a real estate agent, should probably do your best to avoid according to LSSU.
Amazing. Honestly, I’m amazed (zing!) that this word hasn’t been listed before. It seems that recently, amazing is our default term of affirmation. I think we can do better this year. How about, instead of describing a listing as having an amazing view, you say it’s incredible or breathtaking?
Occupy. The Occupy Wall Street movement has exhausted the word occupy. So, if you’ve come up with any clever marketing plans using (Occupy Main Street?) move on.
Man Cave. Do any of the homes you’re selling come equipped with a Man Cave? It’s probably in your best interest to leave that part out of your listing information. Woman Cave, in case you’re concerned, is totally still fair game.
The New Normal. Despite the sad reality that a downturn economy and a struggling housing market is, in fact, The New Normal, let’s just not phrase it this way.
Ginormous. I know that it might seem that this is the only word to describe the huge mansion you’re selling, but separating ginormous into its roots – giant and enormous – will work just fine.
To get a list of all of the banished words for 2012,
click here.http://www.advancedaccess.com/blog/index.php/2012/01/09/banished-words-of-2012/
Thank you very much for reviewing this weeks newsletter.
Should you need assistance or advice feel free to contact us.
Cheers,
Lawrence B. M. Bellefontaine,
DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT
PT. BALI AFFORDABLE LIFESTYLES INTERNATIONAL.
“Beyond Your Expectations”
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Sales Office: Jl. Karangsari, # 2. Sanur, Bali, Indonesia 80228
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Tel: 62-361-284069 Fax: 62-361-270213
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Disclaimer: All information presented above is considered true and reliable to the best of our knowledge at the time that it was produced. Information and prices may change without notice. We accept no responsibility for incorrect information listed herein . All recommendations may lose value in the future due to economical, political influences or any other reason. We do not guarantee the future performance.