There are many ways to invest your hard-earned dollars; why did you decide on this type of investment?
Simon: As a friend once mentioned, an excellent way to go is always to do good and make money; this was my catalysis for Investing in this type of venture. There is a lot more surety when investing in the real estate market. I believe the real estate market is an excellent place to start. If you invest in property, you are less susceptible to the fluctuations of risky investments. I chose to invest in property because I wanted strong returns in terms of tenants and financial stability.
So after deciding that real estate was something you wanted to pursue, what followed?
Simon: I had a few options presented to me. I looked at one property but was not happy with the footprint, but by working closely with the Ethical Property Investment team, I decided on a property that met my requirements. And since then, it’s just been upwards-and-upwards.
Upon deciding on your ideal property, what was your experience moving forward?
Simon: At the start of the project, I was more involved than I needed to be. When selecting the property area, the block itself, the property team welcomed my input. But once I knew what the house was going to look like, I took a step back, letting the property team take care of the rest.
It was exciting to see the different stages of the project, the concrete slab going down, the frames going up, and the walls going in. As expected, we experienced setbacks with COVID restrictions, social distancing, and the impact in other areas in the last 12 months. 2021 has not been a fun year, but despite these challenges, we made progress. I just wished it could have been done a lot faster.
Now that the property is ready and tenants are due to shortly move in, what are your plans for the future? And is there anything else you would like to share about your experience?
Simon: You don’t just get to the first station and stop; it’s a whole train line journey! You don’t just stop at a station; you get on the train to the next station and move on to the next.
The journey itself is the journey rather than just the destination. As a property investor, this is just one step along the way.
I hope the tenants come here to put roots down, get to enjoy the property and make something of it. It is a facility that wasn’t here before, and that gives me a good feeling. When the tenants arrive, the house will be peaceful and tranquil.
Goro: Simon,, thank you for creating this safe space for these ladies. It is a house they can proudly call their home for years to come.