General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Many countries prohibit or limit the sale of real property, that is land and housing, [View all]NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)and sitting vacant.
"Chinese - and UAE property investors have no problems leaving large developments standing empty for a long time after being built. They didn't buy them to live in or for anyone else to live in, they bought them for "investment". "
This goes against the concept of most investments and isn't how they do it most of the time. The times it is done like this it is normally because of extenuating circumstances.
Investors are normally not going to be scared of the limited liability that comes along with handing such ventures over to a management company. That is why it's so rare. Very limited work for the investor and they receive serious cash-flow.
"They didn't buy them to live in or for anyone else to live in, they bought them for "investment". "
As a property investor I can tell you that isn't the norm. Not even close.
That is normally for purposes of a sale. Properties sitting vacant for long periods of time does an investment not make. Normally when this is seen its for reasons of regulation, massive changes in the market while being built, or something similar.