Plans to enable foreigners to purchase property in Indonesia

Congratulations to Joko Widodo who was yesterday announced as the new president. During his campaign in the lead up to the Indonesia presidential election 2014, Joko Widodo, widely known as Jokowi, announced intentions to allow foreigners to purchase apartments. This is in an attempt to increase tax revenues; and investor demand may begin to rush towards low prices in the luxury market.

If plans are to go forward, foreign investors will be able to purchase apartments worth at least 2.5billion rupiah in the Jakarta capital, as well as other major cities and within Bali island. Foreigners are currently barred from direct purchases of Indonesian property, which has led to illegal transactions via proxies, therefore enabling them would allow a luxury tax to be imposed on sales.

Condominium numbers increasing

Worldwide real estate services firm, Jones Lang LaSalle expects Indonesian condominium sales to see a record-breaking figure this year, signalled by Jakarta’s current trend, where people remain to shift to living in apartments rather than detached or attached single-unit houses. Jones Lang LaSalle’s head of research, have announced both developers and buyers have shown growing interest towards developing and purchasing property.

The real estate firm’s report reveals that Indonesian developers established approximately 4,000 new condominium units between April and June this year (such as West Jakarta’s St. Moritz, developed by Lippo Group, plus Central Jakarta’s Raffles Residence, developed by the Ciputra Group). Furthermore, more than 7,400 units have been sold during the recent six months.