Bert's observation that propery does not depriciate in value is very accurate as far as my own observations and experiences go. Property costs in my own village have increased very dramatically in the past few years, and I'm talking Balinese to Balinese price.
The flip side though is that construction costs have also risen almost 200% in just the past three years. The cost of qualified labor is not the point...rather, it is the cost of basic materials.
Amazingly enough, and very true, the villas that Bert represents in Lovina could not be duplictated at 30% over their original cost, considering land acqusition, papers, materials and construction costs, as they are today. If I'm wrong on that statement, then I'm sure Bert will set the record straight. If Eri and I had some buried rupiah available, there is no doubt we would buy one of Bert's villas.
As many posts that I read here about building....I would suggest looking at what is already built, and consider the costs of changing some aspects that maybe are not appealing to you, or in your "grove."
The cost of new construction cannot compete in value to what has already been built here. Of that, I have absolutely no doubt.
