WHERE ARE THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES TODAY???
May 13, 2009
EDWARD HARRIS AT LARGE
WHERE ARE THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES TODAY???
Cash is King! What to do with cash if you have it? What investment opportunities are available? The stock market is bouncing back. This is the time to buy good stocks – not to speculate and take risk hoping to cash in. Go for the real thing. Buy when it is low, sell when high! That is the way the business works. Yes, it is that simple. Don’t be fooled by those who make simple things complicated. Control your greed. Know when to let go, take your cash and move on while the going is good. So my recommendation is not to shy away from the stock markets; get professional advice.
I was concerned when a local bank set up an investment division as at that time stock prices were high and took substantial levels of investment to get into the game. However, the Executives passed through the fire with the crash and are now in a position to benefit from the experience and be able to advise St. Lucians on their next step in the Stock Markets. On the other hand CLICO and Stanford Investments were offering very attractive returns on deposits. Many investors and institutions are likely to lose money with those creative high yield investments while with the stock markets some will have no other choice than to sit it out. This is not a period for the faint-hearted; it is for the brave.
Who are the people laughing now? They are the ones who stuck with the old fashion, ever faithful investment option – REAL ESTATE. Those persons who invested in land are smiling all the way to the bank. Substantial gains are being made in the real estate sector. Land has appreciated much more than buildings. St. Lucia’s housing stock is substantial and is now expanding into the hinterland. Opportunities are still available in this sector. Keep looking out for the deals.
Investors in real estate will benefit from foreclosures and short sales as those who are being squeezed by the financial crisis will rush to stop their financial bleeding and sell off their properties. Cash is definitely King as the existing conditions are very attractive not only for investors but first time owners as well. There are several opportunities to buy properties below market value at this time. Some people are simply getting out of the mortgage situation to free up themselves.
This is a very difficult period to predict the future, even in the short term but there seem to be some significant developments that give hope. There has been a surprise prediction that the recession will be reversed by the end of 2009 and that is the best news we can get at this time. The 2009/2010 tourist season should be better than 2008/2009 and our lead sector could be back on track. The cruise sector is doing fine and it seems as though the Eastern Caribbean is getting some increased traffic as a result of the H1N1 Flu. So far St. Lucia has not recorded any case of the flu and it is hoped it stays that way.
Tourism is our major challenge and I feel that no opportunity should be spared to mobilize St. Lucians to get involved in the promotion of this sector. If every St. Lucian who has access to the internet was to receive a promotional mail from the Tourist Board and circulate it to their list, a few million people will be made aware of the existence of St. Lucia as a major tourist destination in the Caribbean in minutes. We must begin an awareness campaign; show and tell the world – St. Lucia Nice! Utilise technology in all its forms. It can be done cost effectively.
Here is my selected motivational piece of the week:
MAKING CHOICES IS YOUR GREATEST POWER
While your character is formed by your circumstances,
your desires can shape those circumstances.
The one thing over which you have absolute control is your own thoughts.
It is this that puts you in a position to control your own destiny.
Nature is constantly at work around you.
Character and destiny are her handiwork.
She gives you love and hate, jealousy and reverence.
You have the power to choose which impulse you follow.
At any time you can decide to alter the course of your life.
No one can ever take that away from you.
You can do what you want to do and be who you want to be.
Your greatest power is the power to choose.
© Copyright 2009 www.yourdailymotivation.com
Keep the Faith; remember always God is in Charge, Dream Big and Expect Daily
Miracles!!!
Edward A. Harris
Freelance Journalist, Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist (RECS)
Email: eaharrisdestiny@gmail.com
Websites: http://www.stluciasimplybeautiful.com http://www.brainstorminggroup.webs.com
http://www.islandpropertyguide.com (ECREDMC) http://www.cariblist.com
http://www.americasrealty.com