property is the only way to save.

[duncan macgregor]

Companies tell lies before going belly up with little warning making share investing a risky business at times. Govts get into wars, and take your bank deposits giving in return worthless bonds. The new one is to stop the country going bankrupt as in Cyprus at the moment, they only take 37.5% of the money above100,000 thousand Euros giving in return worthless bank bonds. It might sound extreme but stacking your money under the mattress might not be as stupid as it sounds. The hate thing the GOVT has about property is they havent found a legitimate way to steal it when it all hits the fan. I really think the system will hit the fan in the next couple of decades with massive financial upheaval during the process. The safest way out is property where the GOVT cant get their greedy hands on it to redistribute it to the masses rioting in the streets. Will it happen here or not?,time will tell but we are hurtling down that track right now so buy that property. Pay the house off, get away from the danger area which is money speculated or sitting in the bank like a big ripe juicy apple waiting to get pinched by the kid next door. Macdunk

[fungus pudding]

Companies tell lies before going belly up with little warning making share investing a risky business at times. Govts get into wars, and take your bank deposits giving in return worthless bonds. The new one is to stop the country going bankrupt as in Cyprus at the moment, they only take 37.5% of the money above100,000 thousand Euros giving in return worthless bank bonds. It might sound extreme but stacking your money under the mattress might not be as stupid as it sounds. The hate thing the GOVT has about property is they havent found a legitimate way to steal it when it all hits the fan. Macdunk

Oh yes they have. Your fee simple title can be changed making all freehold property leasehold with a mere stroke of the political pen, legitimately.

[JBmurc]

Don,t forget rates / property tax ....bullion is my fave form of savings

[Vaygor1]

Don,t forget rates / property tax ....bullion is my fave form of savings

I prefer diamonds.
Less fungible by miles, but far more transportable.
There is a catch though... with diamonds, you need to know your stuff.

[BIRMANBOY]

Good thinking Vaygor however Technology is advancing fast and synthesized diamonds are being produced in more locations and larger sizes so as a long term investment would need some care. There is every chance at some point the cost of manufacturing will substantially fall due to scientific advances. On the other side the costs of naturally mined diamonds are gradually rising. At the moment Synthetic Diamonds are available and marketed as such. Questions have to be asked as to how long the ethics of the sellers will remain. Extremely difficult to separate synthetic from natural unless you have a lab, specialized training and expensive equipment. But as an easily stored, readily transportable and stable storage of value they have always been appreciated.

I prefer diamonds.
Less fungible by miles, but far more transportable.
There is a catch though... with diamonds, you need to know your stuff.

[JBmurc]

I prefer diamonds.
Less fungible by miles, but far more transportable.
There is a catch though... with diamonds, you need to know your stuff.

As too why i like bullion esp. ....for a metal to be bullion it must be made by a registered refiner/mint & pure 999%

Not a fan of diamonds as a investment at all,,,, but whatever floats your boat

[duncan macgregor]

Property is always sold as the size with the words more or less added, simply because farm size properties cant be accurately measured. Ex being, a large size flat property with a hill in the middle is bigger than a similar property without a hill. The people buying property before GST have got a 15% bonus. We now have the most ridiculous building standards and rules in place that including GST, has raised the cost of building a house up at least 25% higher than the early seventies. Why did it all go wrong?. The simple answer is the people making the rules know nothing about the subject. It used to amuse me to see before leaky homes become the big thing, the house of the year awards going to what I considered very suspect homes. No leaky homes before the early seventies before building codes were changed for the worst. The govt in its wisdom dare not steal your property the way it steals money from your bank interest, or nationalise your company in the so called interest of the community. Property might not be as safe as before, but it still beats your other investments in the expected financial turmoil in the future. Macdunk

[Skol]

As too why i like bullion esp. ....for a metal to be bullion it must be made by a registered refiner/mint & pure 999%

Not a fan of diamonds as a investment at all,,,, but whatever floats your boat

Auckland property beats bullion, easily, and will continue to do so. And you get rent!


http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/mone...ng-heat-tipped

[In4a$]

Auckland property beats bullion, easily, and will continue to do so. And you get rent!


http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/mone...ng-heat-tipped

Problem with property and rent, is every one you buy, you prevent some young family and or first home buyer from buying. Then you try and make money from charging them rent. To much like taking advantage of those less fortunate than yourself. Best have a clear conscience and invest in shares, and then you are helping the country grow.

[Stranger_Danger]

The key take away from Cyprus is not bank account bad/property good.

The key take away is that desperate Governments will go after whatever the deepest pool of capital is, as we continue to pretend that the current system isn't morally and practically bankrupt.

In Cyprus, that was cash in banks held due to it's tax haven status.

In Australia, it is the superannuation funds - which is why debate has started about more taxes on the "wealthy" in this regard.

And in New Zealand? Why, it is residential property, which is why we're hearing things about land taxes, which is why Central Govt wants more control over Local Govt and its rating powers and why National started to tinker with property taxation.

The Cyprus situation is worth paying attention to, but don't learn the wrong lesson! Governments will go after the biggest and easiest to get pools of wealth to solve their problems.

In NZ that is illiquid, immobile residential property. Just watch.