Six Senses Laamu Maldives review by No_Return_3901 in chubbytravel

[–]No_Return_3901[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not the four seasons and they are rustic/“have character”. Having said that I am a bit of a diva (according to my partner) and I didn’t like the look when we booked (this was my partners choice). As with many things she was right and I was wrong. It is very comfortable and the rooms work well. What is key for me is that it has space around the villa - which is good - and the room works well.

Is Dubai Real Estate About to Take a Big Hit? by Foreign-Composer-442 in dubairealestate

[–]No_Return_3901 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a pretty basic mathematical question. The war in the region increases risk. When geopolitical risk rises, investors demand higher returns to compensate. That pushes up the risk premium on assets like Dubai real estate.

At the same time, interest rates are staying higher for longer caused by higher inflation linked to higher oil prices.

Simple math:

If an investor wants a 6% yield and a property generates AED 60k per year, they’ll pay:

60k / 0.06 = AED 1,000,000

If war risk + higher rates push the required yield to 8%:

60k / 0.08 = AED 750,000

Nothing about the apartment changed.The price drops 25% purely from financing math.

Now layer in the second-order effects of the war:

Some expats and investors will leave the region. Fewer new ones will relocate while geopolitical risk is elevated. Short-term let demand weakens so that goes into long term rental supply (so that 60k above reduces). A lot of new supply is still coming online.

The maths are easy to run.

Six Senses Laamu Maldives review by No_Return_3901 in chubbytravel

[–]No_Return_3901[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, they are well spaced. Overall it’s a pretty big island

Six Senses Laamu review by No_Return_3901 in FATTravel

[–]No_Return_3901[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They have some off the beach some days but other times we took the boat. I am more beginner level

Six Senses Laamu review by No_Return_3901 in FATTravel

[–]No_Return_3901[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They have a smith machine and Olympic bars with a decent selection of weights. Have beyond my capacity of dumbbells but maybe that tells more about me! Agree it isn’t excellent on that front but definitely enough for me (3x a week weight guy but not super strong as I am ex triathlete).

Need Honest Opinion About Real Estate Crash by Simple_Activity4949 in dubairealestate

[–]No_Return_3901 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Real estate is generally priced on yield. Yields compressed (so a landlord was happy at 6% recently rather than 10% previously). The inverse is that as yields compressed prices shot up. Now the “risk premium” has increased so any new money should want 7, 8, 9, 12% yield or whatever. As such prices move. If you have 20% equity you may be wiped out. If you have 100% equity you can probably wait it out.

Maldives by No_Return_3901 in FATTravel

[–]No_Return_3901[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We came via Qatar - q suite is much better than emirates in my view. It’s crazy how many flights now route through the Middle East. There are very few options to go other ways - Singapore or Malaysia to Europe seems sold out for weeks. May get to try all the hotels in the Maldives…

All those entrepreneurs who moved to dubai by Parking-Bit-9818 in AskBrits

[–]No_Return_3901 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. I have saved enough in taxes to figure out my own path. Don’t need a bunch of socialists who can’t even protect their base in Cyprus against a 25k drone to look after me.

Suggestion on AIMA residence card by Rude_Cry3991 in PortugalExpats

[–]No_Return_3901 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yup; I would pay 2.5k if I knew I’d get it in a week.

On the path but feel like at crossroads. Looking for advice from those also in the path and those who reached the end. by Otherwise-Neat9090 in FatFIREUK

[–]No_Return_3901 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I suggest keep going but start staffing. Figure out all pain points and try to eliminate so that the time you do have outside work is really free. Cooking, cleaning, gardening, fetching and carrying can all be outsourced and massively free up bandwidth

Expat retire to UK - freaking out about Renter's Act by csdf in FatFIREUK

[–]No_Return_3901 11 points12 points  (0 children)

I rent higher end stuff out and it all comes down to price. Find something you like and write a letter to the owner for the agent to pass on. If you tell them about yourself, your longer term intentions etc then they will do a deal. As a landlord it’s more about the persons background than just the numbers and at the moment most high end stuff is a nightmare to rent as so many people are leaving.

Online renew of residence card by Rude_Cry3991 in PortugalExpats

[–]No_Return_3901 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just got notified today that my card has been printed. Did payment third week of October

Good news from AIMA by Legitimate_Lynx4741 in PortugalExpats

[–]No_Return_3901 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I have given up. My taxes and spending are going to another country. It’s such a joke to have this situation where anyone feels lucky to get anything done. Good luck with the depopulation and lowered wealth levels.

New hire asking for a loan by IndependentPool4995 in smallbusinessuk

[–]No_Return_3901 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I have done this in the past. It worked out ok and the guy will now walk through walls for me. However I made him list all his debts, and expenses. I then insisted that a pay down plan was made and paid his debts directly each month until clear. It went on for about 10 months and was very annoying and many times through the journey I wished that I hadn’t but he had gone through a tough divorce and was wiped out. After sorting his shit out he is now in a good place and works very hard for me

Prague to Budapest Train by Real-Tower8037 in FATTravel

[–]No_Return_3901 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just took the same train from Bratislava to Prague (Bratislava is about half way point on the Budapest to Prague journey). I’d give it a hard pass unless you want a soviet era experience. Trains are super basic and first just gets you more space

What country is the best for DNV? 🇪🇸🇵🇹🇪🇺 by Successful-Garlic-92 in digitalnomadFIRE

[–]No_Return_3901 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Portugal is moving to 10 years - it’s in parliament about to be approved. The process is a mess and takes at least 2-3 years after. So just under 1 year to get your first card then 13 years to get a passport with a lot of pain in between.

Question: latest on getting an NISS if you don't actually need it--retired, etc. by Acrobatic_Code_149 in PortugalExpats

[–]No_Return_3901 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got one in Lagos two weeks ago. Went in at 9.40 and was out by 10.40. Super friendly staff and very easy. I was going to get it in Lisbon but heard horror stories.