How Smart Investors Are Buying Property in Bali Without Building or Risking Off-Plan
Hi, I’m Jason, a Business Journalist at Bukit Vista, and I’m excited to bring you a fresh perspective from the latest episode of Bali Business Review, featuring our co-founder Jing Cho Yang. If you’ve been eyeing Bali as a potential investment frontier, you’re not alone—but before you jump into a high-risk development project, you need to hear what Jing has to say. In today’s market, the smartest investors aren’t building from scratch—they’re acquiring overlooked, undervalued assets hiding in plain sight.
Is Bali Still a Real Estate Goldmine?
Bali’s name still glitters in real estate circles, sparking visions of tropical villas and lifestyle profits. But here’s the reality check: The island already houses over 90,000 villas, and much of the coastline is saturated with high-density construction. New developments face fierce competition, skyrocketing costs, and decreasing returns.
According to Jing, “We’re at a tipping point. The skyline isn’t expanding—it’s congested. Building now is riskier than it’s ever been.” He shares hard-won insights about the current market dynamics that many first-time investors ignore at their peril.
The Fatal Error: Starting from Scratch
Most new investors go wrong by trying to build their dream property from the ground up. They enter the market focused solely on creating something new—without fully grasping Bali’s complex regulatory landscape, logistical hurdles, or rising construction costs. The numbers may look good on paper, but as Jing points out, “Unrealistic project timelines, underbudgeted developments, and regulatory snags can derail even the most ambitious vision.”
The Hidden Costs of Development
Jing explains that development in Bali often conceals a host of hidden costs:
- Government fees & licenses: Legal compliance eats into ROI faster than expected.
- Unforeseen delays: From local building permits to supply chain disruptions.
- Operational ramp-up: Getting a villa guest-ready is a financial sinkhole for novices.
Instead of diving headfirst into construction, seasoned investors are applying a more nimble, gains-focused strategy.
The Smarter Approach: Acquire What Others Abandoned
In saturated markets, value isn’t found in blueprints—it’s found in undervalued leaseholds. According to Jing, the opportunity for 2025 lies in strategic acquisition, not overreach. “This is the year to clean up—not build up,” he asserts. Many existing properties are under-managed, distressed, or mispriced relative to their potential. The savvy investor knows how to spot these deals and turn unattractive assets into high-performing income properties.
Why Leaseholds Now Make More Sense Than Ever
- Instant market entry: Skip the 12+ month development timeline.
- Revive instead of build: Renovations yield faster returns than ground-up construction.
- Proven demand patterns: Leaseholds come with location and rental data.
More importantly, most of these assets come with existing operational history—data you can use to forecast your ROI with much higher accuracy than speculative builds.
Think Strategy, Not Square Meters
In a hyper-competitive Bali market, size no longer guarantees success. Picking a “strategic location,” deploying intelligent pricing, and leveraging platforms like Airbnb or Booking.com efficiently matters more than having a 500 sqm villa. It’s not about how big you build—it’s how smart you operate.
This latest episode of Bali Business Review breaks down how expert investors are adapting to leaner, smarter acquisition strategies in 2025 and beyond.
Final Thought: Don’t Build the Dream—Buy the Opportunity
If Bali has been calling your name, resist the old playbook that says “build to win.” Instead, listen to the data, the trends, and the experts who’ve spent decades operating on the ground. Jing’s insights are not only pragmatic—they’re actionable, especially for investors ready to thrive in Bali’s changing real estate climate.
Watch the full episode to dive deeper into Jing’s strategy for smart investing in Bali real estate.
Jason, Business Journalist at Bukit Vista
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