Owning A Villa In Bali Is Your Key To Paradise

The quintessential Bali villas were originally created by the colonial Dutch to take advantage of Bali's tropical conditions, and were designed to exploit the wind, the sunshine and climate by creating high-ceilinged, open-plan living spaces using local materials to create comfort in what was essentially an alien environment to them. Since that time the Bali villa has evolved with the times incorporating western trends design philosophies, resulting in Bali having become a haven for world-class architecture, comfort and luxury.

There are many diverse locations in Bali so when thinking of where to build or buy a villa you must ask yourself the question: What do I want around me? If you want to live in the thick of all the best restaurants, beaches and endless nightlife then Seminyak is the place. For peace and serenity, Canggu offers a much quieter experience of stunning rice field views, while Ubud to the north is an equally peaceful haven for the arts. Jimbaran and Sanur are well developed and family-friendly locales while the Bukit to the south offers stunning and dramatic cliff top views of the Indian Ocean, and is hotting up to be the place of choice for the most discerning of Bali's villa owners.

There are many things to look out for however in the search for the perfect villa.
The government is cracking down and enforcing a great many rules and regulations designed to control the Bali villa industry so, as with investing in any new home, one must make sure that everything is "squeaky clean" with regards to title, covenants, surveying and above all due diligence. It is therefore vitally important to have expert advice to see you through the entire process. Exotiq have all the right people to guarantee that the process goes smoothly with an absolute minimum of fuss, from choosing your piece of land, right through the building process to finally putting the key in your front door and walking inside your new home.

The benefits of having a villa in Bali are endless: the weather, the culture, the beaches, premier golfing facilities, world-class resorts, an endless array of gourmet eateries, and above all, the opportunity for a watertight investment. The market for Bali villas is reaching fever pitch, prices are at an all time high and returns on investment are better than ever. Whether for investment or retirement there has never been a better time to buy into your own piece of paradise. This is one purchase that will change your life.

Michael Travers is a Bali-based writer specializing in Travel and Property Journalism. He has been living in Asia since the year 2000 and is currently living the dream in paradise. Since 2007 he contribute as a copywriter for Exotiq Real Estate [http://www.exotiqrealestate.com/bali/index.asp], an international real estate chain focusing itself in tropical holiday properties across Asia-Pacific.

The Real Reason Why Bali Real Estate is a Good Long-Term Investment

=Despite the title, my focus in this short article is property in the south end of the island, where most of the tourist and expat activity is centered.

If you look on a map at the location of Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, you will see that it sits on a narrow strip of land, essentially where the island's east coast angles into its southwest coast. As you might expect, most of the tourism and tourist infrastructure exists fairly close to the airport, especially since the very pleasant beach that starts in Kuta and runs up through Legian, Seminyak and points beyond, begins just a mile or so north of the runway.

However since the island is very narrow in this area, development cannot expand to the east or the west because of the ocean, and so has tended to move almost reluctantly northward, while staying as close as possible to the coastline. The simple tendency of people (westerners at least, apparently) to want to remain close to the beach while staying convenient to the airport as well, creates opportunities for you if you want to be a property owner in Bali. In a word, you are at an advantage if you can buy, say, within 10 km/6 miles of the airport and within half a km/500 yards from the beach. The point is that because of the shape of the island, the scarcity of land so close to the airport as well as a limited amount of livable coastline will work to your advantage, as an owner.

There is an additional constraint that is in your favor, and that is the building height limitation that exists in Bali. Originally the idea was that no building could be taller than a palm tree. That standard has certainly been 'de-emphasized', if recent property development is any indication, as five and six story buildings are not uncommon now on the island's south end, and more are being built in 2010. However, it seems unlikely that increasing the supply of hotel rooms and condos/apartments in the form of highrises à la Honolulu, Hong Kong or Singapore will be accomplished in Bali by building upwards from here, at least not anytime soon. Add this to the natural scarcity of beach land as well as the very limited amount of land within my arbitrary 10 km radius of the airport, and you have a recipe for some appreciation long-term.

All this is just one man's opinion, and (full disclosure) I have owned a small place since 2005, so I'm probably biased. Hey by the way, why not come and take a look for yourself?

Life style Bali Real Estate

Whether you are looking for a nice vacation home or a permanent home where you and your family can relocate, Bali is worth considering. Bali has a lot to offer to real estate buyers, from white sand beaches to scenic gardens and parks. All these will sure entice you to stay longer and possibly live in this paradise.

Bali is, beyond doubt, a delightful place. Here you can access beautiful beaches, distinctive cultural experiences, a warm climate, and a full support of resident American communities. That is why more and more people are finding it sensible to buy real estate in Bali not only as a vacation home, but as a permanent residence.

Bali gives you the opportunity to create your own sanctuary. There are a lot of options available to you. Villas, mansion houses, hill houses, and even affordable houses are all available. There are a lot of housing options available in Bali for all types of budgets, ranging from $1,000-a-year, Balinese-style houses for rent to million dollar estates.

If you are not looking for a grand villa and just want to retire in the simple, uncomplicated Balinese lifestyle, there are very practical Bali real estate options for you. There are two-bedroom apartments in the $80,000 to $135,000 range. Cost of living is relatively low, too - you can easily hire household help for as low as $80 a month. A family of six can live comfortably on only about $1,500 a month.

Proceed with caution when buying Bali real estate properties, though, because many foreigners have been reported to have been cheated out of their money and land when purchasing Bali property. It is important to educate yourself about the laws, which have been slightly modified recently to protect and provide more choices to the foreigners who wish to buy or lease Bali real estate. Be sure to do your research about regulations of property acquisition.

Bali Real Estate Businees

The recent global recession affects all sectors of business ranging from home industry to major international company. With the stock markets being chaotic, investors are trying to find another means as their tool to overcome this situation and still gain profits. One of those means is the real estate business, especially in certain under-priced region like Bali.

Bali is one of the most sought after area amongst tourists' destinations on the globe and Bali real estate business grows massively each year. Elected as the second most favorite islands this year after the Maldives with developments on villas, apartments, condominiums on the rise Bali will stay strong and steadily attracts a lot of global investors to come and to have a
piece of the cake. Compared to Thailand or Hawaii, real estate business in Bali is still under priced and underestimated. However, certain investors could see the opposite and make the smart move towards 2009 where the property value can go up to minimal 20%!!

Mr. A had just been offered a beachfront apartment for US$245,000 and purchased it at US$196,000. That's 20% off the market price. Next year the price will go up 20% and if he wants to sell it he'll get 40% (20% + 20%) capital appreciations in just a couple of month's time plus the rental incomes of the apartment. That is just one example of what Bali real estate can offer to the investors and why it is a perfect investment tools. A lot of medias such as magazines, newspapers, travel and leisure websites are promoting Bali real estate aggressively, covering all sides of it from the plusses and the minuses making sure that the investors are fully aware of
what's new and special offers on the island.

Prestigious names such as St.Regis and The W hotel have entered the scene and with their worldwide reputations and services, these power players made Bali even classier than before. This triggered more investors to follow their footsteps in up and coming years. In due course Bali real estate will stay strong with definite growth and a very promising future in the Paradise Property Bali.

Villas and Land in Bali

Villas and Land are a team of dedicated and dynamic professionals dealing in the Real Estate and property market in Bali. Collectively, we have over 20 years experience successfully brokering land, villas, houses, apartments, condominiums, flats, cottages, bungalows and commercial property for sale, lease and rental in Bali . We have a comprehensive range of listings and you can fully utilize our expertise to assist you with investment, building and development advice.

Bali Property and Bali Land. In Bali we specialize in the Bukit area, encompassing Jimbaran to Nusa Dua to Uluwatu and also have listings in other areas including Seminyak, Sanur, Kuta, Canggu, Berawa, Legian, Denpasar, Tanjung Benoa, Petitenget and Oberoi. Our locations include exciting cliff front, beach, rice paddy, rural, urban, and ocean view locations. Whether your preference is the privacy of a stand-alone villa or the security of luxury estate developments, our agency can accommodate you. If you prefer to construct your own dream home in paradise, our realtors will assist you to find the perfect land for your villa. We work with the leading developments in Bali to list quality projects, featuring vacation villas with guaranteed return on investment and exclusive residential homes. Whether you choose to purchase for lifestyle, investment or both, Villas and Land walk you through all the processes.


Secure your property with Villas and Land and discover why our expert, friendly, efficient service and savvy approach to our business has culminated in a loyal group of customers and investors. We always welcome more to reap the financial benefits and quality of lifestyle that investment and property purchase in this exciting growth area of the world has to offer.

Real estate in Bali

If you have visited Bali and discovered the combination of amazing natural beauty and a low cost of living, and then considered buying real estate on the island, you are far from alone. The Departure Lounge at the Denpasar Airport is always filled with people trying to sort out how they’ll one day exchange their current hectic life for one of bliss and simplicity in this magical place. Add in another group of people who can’t help but assume this paradise is drastically under-priced so it’s a no-brainer investment opportunity, and you’ve got a frenzy of interest in Bali real estate.

Unfortunately, moving to or investing in Bali can be a complicated endeavor. Indonesian laws strictly prohibit foreigners from owning land in the country, although this situation morphs a bit each year. However, this rule hasn’t stopped over 10,000 foreigners from investing in and/or relocating to Bali, so it can be done.

The most common technique involves partnering with a local co-signer, who will have their name on all the official documents even as you have near complete control over the actual property. And foreigners are legally able to lease property for a total of up to 45 years, so your dream of buying real estate in Bali isn’t impossible, just more complicated than we’d all like.

Nearly all locals live in the sort of housing that most foreigners would not be interested in owning or living in themselves, so you’ll likely be looking into the separate market for well-built villas or houses.

You have three basic options:

1. Acquire a piece of land and arrange with local contractors to build your dream home on it.
2. Acquire a piece of land and work with a developer who will hire contractors and oversee the project for a fee.
3. Buy a fully completed villa or house.

Even if you can commit to being on the site everyday, working with local contractors and labor can be an amazingly frustrating experience. It may be the cheapest way to go, but many who have tried it have lived to regret cutting that corner.

And working with developers or real estate agents is no guarantee of having a simple transaction either. Just as with much of the rest of the world, it’s not difficult to find someone who’ll make everything sound cheap and easy, even when they know it will be neither of those things.

Bali is loaded with foreigners who love living on the island and who would do it again if they had to start from scratch, but there are also many tales of people who fell victim to fraud, so this isn’t something anyone should consider doing on a whim.

For more specific information on certain aspects of Bali real estate, see our real estate category for previous entries.

And check out our free Bali real estate listings section as well.

Bali real estate market

The availability of finance from international banks is in the making and will add another boost to the real estate market here. Adding to the property market's attractiveness is the improved legal environment that now enables longer and more attractive tenures to foreigners. While we represent all of the best developers on the Island our philosophy is to stay clear of any direct, non-marketing, involvement in these developments, which leaves us unfettered when it comes to giving you independent and unbiased advice. The choice provided by Exotiq Real Estate is unrivalled thanks to the presence of four real estate offices spread over the island, which have listed more than 1,000 properties - and growing.

Sanur and the East Coast is also worth a new look as it is catching up fast with the opposite coast. What the real estate market is offering is equally colourful and fascinating: multi million dollar mansions offering impressive ocean vistas from Bali's southern cliff, 5 star gated communities in trendy Seminyak, internationally branded apartments and villas on the beach in Legian and Nusa Dua, individualistic architectural master pieces, splendid oceanfront villas in Canggu, affordable beachfront land in North Bali and much more. Bali is diverse enough to offer something for everyone's taste: beaches, active volcanoes, rainforests, excellent tourist infrastructure with world renowned resorts, acclaimed golf courses, an international airport and above all the fascinating culture of its people, which pervades every aspect of life and adds colour and spirit to each day. More and more expatriates are choosing Bali as their new home and work base in Asia and are looking forward to retire on the island or bank on steady raising land prices. Bali's real estate market is gaining renewed strength thanks to a broad mix of buyers from all parts of the world interested in acquiring a piece of paradise.