{"id":568569,"date":"2023-06-13T12:16:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-13T10:16:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/?p=568569"},"modified":"2024-05-09T17:30:37","modified_gmt":"2024-05-09T15:30:37","slug":"real-estate-inspiration-shot-june-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estherjacobs.info\/en\/blog\/real-estate-inspiration-shot-june-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Real estate – Inspiration Shot June 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Real estate<\/h1>\n

Inspiration Shot June 2023<\/h3>\n<\/div>
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Years ago I ‘accidentally’ found myself investing in real estate. When I sold my house in Amstelveen, I invested in a few 30m2 apartments in Amsterdam. I had them specially designed, furnished and started renting the ‘tiny houses’ out to expats.
\nJust when things seemed to be going well and I had done a very pricey\u00a0refinancing of\u00a0my investments, the rental property regulations in the Netherlands changed.
\nNow, I can only charge half the rent I used to. On top of that, property taxes have increased tenfold! It has become an unsustainable situation.
\nMy entire business model is turned upside down. Which means I have to sell the apartments again. At the same time, other opportunities present themselves. That is why I like to share my real estate secrets, tips, and dilemmas I’ve encountered in this newsletter.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Real estate secrets<\/h2>\n<\/div>

In my blog\u00a0‘Real Estate secrets’<\/a>\u00a0I describe how my Dutch real estate adventure started and share tips, including my top team of financing guru, purchase and rental brokers and talented designer. In this international podcast\u00a0‘The 80-20 investor show’<\/a>\u00a0I explain everything in more detail.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Lessons from construction projects abroad<\/h2>\n<\/div>

In the spirit of ‘don’t put all of your eggs in one basket’, I started investing abroad. First a finca (little farmhouse) in Mallorca and later my Tiny Trullo<\/a>\u00a0projects in Puglia, Italy. All a wonderful adventure, but not always easy.
\nIn this blog, I share my lessons, do’s and don’ts of construction projects in Italy<\/a>. These are also interesting for other countries. Some life lessons can even be applied outside of real estate!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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The Amsterdam discussion<\/h2>\n<\/div>

“Because of investors like you, local people can no longer live in Amsterdam\u201d is a criticism I often hear. It is indeed very difficult for starters to find an apartment to rent or buy. It is true that real estate prices in Amsterdam are rising at an alarming rate. This also applies to prices in other capitals worldwide. There is more demand than availability. Wealthy Chinese and Russians buy apartments in bulk and often leave them empty, purely as an investment.
\nThis problem cannot be solved by imposing a price cap on the rents of private investors. That just means that entrepreneurs like me, who own a number of apartments as our ‘pension’, have to sell them. With the current government plans, institutional investors will no longer build any new housing, because it is simply no longer profitable. In short: even LESS instead of MORE homes will become available \ud83d\ude22
\nI think the problem and the solution lies in the fact that in Amsterdam 50% of the city is devoted to social housing, which is one of the highest percentages in the world. Many decades ago, nobody wanted to live in the inner city, and social housing was offered at ridiculously low rates to ‘lure’ people to the inner city. These people still live there, at such low rates that they will never leave. It is simply not realistic that in the popular city center, someone pays \u20ac300 per month in a social housing home, while exactly the same apartments next door in the ‘liberal sector’ cost \u20ac1500. It’s great that we offer social housing at affordable rates to people who need it: but does that have to be 50% off the homes? And does it really have to be in the city center? In my opinion, that is the discussion we should be having, not at what price a private investor is ‘allowed’ to rent out their expensively purchased apartment. I’d love to hear your experience and opinion on this!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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A new business model?<\/h2>\n<\/div>

So now what? There is no point in waiting, I prefer to take action myself. I have already sold one of my apartments. The second\u00a0mini-apartment is now for sale<\/a>.
\nEverything seems to indicate that I should switch to short-term rentals, while I was always focussing on long-term. A completely different business model, so I’m now figuring out Airbnb and Booking, same in Italy (see my\u00a0TinyTrullo<\/a>, the beautiful\u00a0TownHouse<\/a>\u00a0and the new cute\u00a0Studio<\/a>).<\/p>\n

As always, I try to do things a little differently. Being visible, boasting beautiful design and good photos. Just like visibility for entrepreneurs. For example, I made a QR code on a ceramic sign at the door of the Townhouse, so that a passer-by can take a virtual tour… (Did you know, by the way, that you can easily create free QR codes with\u00a0bit.ly<\/a>?)<\/p>\n

So if you, or someone you know, are temporarily looking for a luxury apartment in the heart of Amsterdam, or want to spend some time in Puglia, let me know!<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Don’t pay too much for your car rental!<\/h2>\n<\/div>

Are you going to view real estate and spot opportunities abroad this summer? Or just go on a vacation? This is how you rent the cheapest car:
\nRentalcars.com<\/a>,\u00a0doyouspain.com<\/a>,\u00a0doyoufrance.com<\/a>,\u00a0etc. have the best rates because car rentals list their unrented cars on these websites. Sometimes I only pay a few euros a day!
\nThen I rent the car\u00a0without insurance and with free cancellation.<\/strong>
\nFor \u20ac99 you have a\u00a0‘year round cover for car rental, anytime, anywhere in the world’<\/a>. This way you never have to pay that expensive extra insurance again. In 3 days you have already earned back this one-time investment!
\nOne last tip: Check the rental website again a few days before your trip. You often find an even cheaper car, which you then book and cancel the previous booking.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Workshop alert<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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Light your fire,
\nwithout the burnout!<\/h3>\n

Do you throw yourself wholeheartedly into your passion and want to avoid becoming emotionally or physically exhausted?<\/p>\n

This live online workshop gives you practical tips and insights into your energy management.<\/p>\n

Avoid the mistakes we all often make (charge your battery just a bit when it is empty and then quickly continue at a killer pace…)<\/p>\n

Discover a sustainable way to manage your energy so you can keep working on what matters to you the most.<\/p>\n<\/div>

I’m curious! \ud83d\udd25<\/span><\/a><\/div>
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Inspiration bites<\/h2>\n<\/div>
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VIDEO
\nThe tiniest apartment in NY<\/h3>\n

If you like Tiny Houses, you can get lost in the video tours on Youtube.
\nThis is one of my favorite ones, a tiny apartment in the heart of New York.<\/p>\n

Could you live like this?<\/p>\n<\/div>