Land as an Alternative Investment for IRA Account

Are you tired of dealing with tenants? Are you stuck with the stocks that have sunk in value in your IRA account? Land is an alternative to diversify your asset, especially for your retirement account. If you are not familiar with this subject, please read my previous posting on self-directed IRA.

There are two distinct components of real estate, the land and the building/improvement. As the time pass by, the land component usually (no guarantee) will appreciate in value and the building component will depreciate because of wear and tear.

Be aware that you should not expect quick profit from investment in land. Land is not a way for you to get rich quickly, instead it is a way to get rich slowly, if it is done correctly. What do I mean by done correctly? If you buy a land in the middle of nowhere, populated by skunks and raccoons, your land may not appreciate at all after you hold it for 20-30 years. Instead, if you buy pre-developed land in the path of growth, there is a higher chance that the land will increase in value because of the demand. What else do you have to consider in buying a land?

The land should:
• Not have a slope in excess of 15%
• Not be located in flood zone or earthquake zone area
• Not be in wetland area
• Be in a close proximity to a major metropolitan area
• Be easily accessible by highway, train or air travel
• Be located in an area with enough jobs
• Have adequate infrastructures and utilities (roads, electricity, gas, water, sewer)
• Have existing residential and commercial development
• Have existing or planned school system

Imagine a house in San Francisco Bay Area cost $70K in 1970. That same house today costs around $500K. If you bought a land worth of $70K in 1970, the land costs well over a million today.

Are you prepared for retirement? Do you think you have a plan in place?

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Oklahoma City's Major Projects Despite Economic Gloom

Core to Shore
Despite economic gloom around the country, two major projects are going on in Oklahoma City. The City of Oklahoma City plans 20+ years Core to Shore project, estimated at over $3 billion of public and private investment. The project will transform the underutilized area between downtown (the “core”) and the Oklahoma River (the “shore”) into a world class design urban neighborhood.

Core to Shore plan includes the following:
• Realignment of Interstate 40 (I-40)
• Public parks and open spaces
• Hotel and convention center
• Over 3,000 housing units, ranging from single-family detached houses to residential towers
• Up to 550,000 square feet of retail space
• Offices
• Major civic buildings
• Multi-modal transportation center.

Devon Tower
Devon Energy Corp, the largest US based independent oil and gas producer, plans to construct the new corporate headquarters building in downtown Oklahoma City. Devon Tower, will be the tallest building in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. At an astounding 925 feet tall, the construction will start at fall 2009 and will be scheduled for completion at 2012. Hines will be the development manager of the 54-story, $1.9 million sq ft, $750 million tower.

Interested to check Oklahoma City metropolitan area demographic and economic? Click here.

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