Real Estate: One Of The Best Investments In Lebanon In 2023

Real estate investments have long been an attractive option for people looking to put their money into Lebanon. Through its favorable investment environment, picturesque landscapes, and a unique position as a hub in the Arab world, Lebanon has historically offered many unique opportunities for local, regional, and international real estate investors. Today, it remains a vibrant hub for realty, even after years of crisis.

With Lebanon’s crises hitting the banking sector and economy hard, those with money-on-hand are looking for new opportunities and investments they can make in Lebanon. Leaders in the market, our friends at Ray White believe that real estate remains the strongest option for those looking to get a return in Lebanon. We talked to them about how the real estate in Lebanon.

But before we dive in to why you should invest in real estate today, let’s take a look at what the sector looks like now.

Demand for realty in Lebanon saw a drop after 2022, with sellers now only accepting “fresh” US dollars instead of a mix of Lollar cheques and dollars as had been the habit in the previous years.

According to Bank Audi, the value of property sales transactions peaked in 2020 (+110.4%) and expanded by 8.1% in 2021, but then contracted 18.4% during the first seven months of 2022. The number of sales operations fell by 15.3% year-on-year during the first seven months of 2022, following a 33.9% rise in 2021.

Consequently, this has seen prices drop across the market, with up to a 50% drop in specific areas of the country. In general, the market seems to be entering a new era, emerging out of the crisis with re-adjusted prices and a changing outlook.

However, the sector, like all others in the country, remains subject to general political and economic trends in the country. The continued vacuum at the top of Lebanon’s executive sector, combined with an inability to agree on the country’s economic future will influence realty. However, in this environment, with bank savings no longer an option, gold being a fluctuating investment, and just keeping your money stored under the bed probably being a bad idea, an investment in real estate remains one of the golden tickets for those looking to invest in Lebanon.

To learn more about why we should invest in real estate right now, we asked Mr. Paul Marc Zegonde of Ray White international about the dynamics of the market.

Why has real estate been such a valuable investment in Lebanon historically?

Lebanon offers the most liberal investment climate in the Middle East and is ranked as one of the freest economy regionally and internationally, with the Government maintaining a non‐interventionist stance toward private investments.

Lebanese people are trusting more the real estate sector after realizing major losses in the recent crisis. Lebanon prices are very favorable at the moment. Real estate is the only economic sector in Lebanon that has shown growth in the first few months of 2020.

Historically real estate has never failed the Lebanese people. It was and will always be the safest haven in a country with lots of ups and downs and multiple crises that affected the country for decades.

Do you think the real estate market can continue to defy instability and chaos in the country?

Real estate has become a safe haven in Lebanon amid the dire economic crisis after a significant number of investors have shifted their money to the sector over the past year. Buying properties in Lebanon has become a trend to unlock dollar bank accounts in light of tight capital controls imposed by Lebanese commercial banks to restrict withdrawals of dollar banknotes.

Investors have been buying up real estate at levels not seen for years in Lebanon’s previously stagnant property market.

“In fact, some of the big depositors at Lebanese banks sought to diversify their investment risk via investing in realties, land and/or properties while contractors took advantage of the situation and paid back their loans by selling their properties.”Investing money locked in banks into property has also helped a lot of building constructors and real estate promoters to get out of debt. The real estate rush has created a new demand for vacant apartments. Many developers have sold a stock of apartments that they have been unable to sell for years, according to real estate brokers.

Therefore in one way or another, the sector decreased the economic crisis damage impact on a country known by its successful private sector and the businessman mentality of its people. The real estate market is not only defying the chaos we are living in but will play a major role in the economic recovery in the future.

What are the benefits of conducting your real estate transactions with Ray White?

– Wider reach: we have access to a wider network of buyers and sellers, which can help your property sell more quickly.
-More resources: we have more resources at their disposal, such as marketing and advertising budgets, which can help you get your property seen by more people.
-More experienced property consultants: we typically have more experienced property consultants, who have a proven track record of success.
-Better training: we provide our consultants with better training, which can give you peace of mind knowing that your agent is well-versed in the real estate market.

We offer the highest level of expertise, service, and integrity.

Our sole purpose at Ray White is to create a new standard for how we buy, sell, and rent properties in the areas we represent and help out client understand the importance of investing in a successful sector to preserve their future.

In order to properly invest in Lebanese real estate, the buyer needs to be supported by a team of professionals that can give him the advice, suggestions, and analysis they need. This is where Ray White comes in. Ray White Real Estate is an international realty company that brings a high level of expertise and professionalism to the market in Lebanon.

Starting off as a small business in rural Australia over 100 years ago, Ray White has expanded to bring its excellent realty services all over the globe. With a database of over 21 million contacts, and the trust of buyers and sellers across continents, Ray White brings a guarantee of satisfaction to all your property transactions.

Entirely focused on their clients and working hard to ensuring that their best interests are served is at the heart of every single decision Ray White makes. They understand how important it is to feel supported and at ease when making such a big investment, and offer you the best realty services you can get to make sure you have the smoothest experience possible. With a dedicated staff and offices across the country, Ray White’s Lebanon team can help you identify, evaluate, buy, and sell properties across all of Lebanon.

To learn more about their services and opportunities in Lebanon’s real estate sector, make sure to visit their 5 branches across the country or call: Jbeil: 78 977878 – Keserwan: 78 979787 – Matn: 81 818284 – Beirut: 70 240980. You can also keep up with them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.