Dolf de Roos to address at Rode events

Dr Dolf de Roos is a real estate investment expert known all over the world. The author of 15 best selling books in eight countries.

Two speakers from abroad will feature at property economists Rode & Associates’ annual events, to be held in August this year in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban.

The speakers are Judy Chai, CEO of Infiniti Pacific Properties Ltd, a member of the BMI Group, based in Hong Kong, and renowned real estate author Dr Dolf de Roos, best known for his best-seller Real Estate Riches.

The central theme of these events will be the many uncertainties facing the economy and the property market.

All four events are sponsored or co-sponsored by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) Properties.

Cape Town:

The one-day Rode Conference at Spier Estate, near Stellenbosch, will take place on Tuesday, 21 August.

The event will start with a presentation by the Investment Economist at Sanlam Investment Management (SIM), Arthur Kamp. In his role at SIM, Arthur is also a member of Sanlam’s Macro Research Unit, which analyses unfolding trends and themes in the South African economy. His topic of discussion will be “Are you feeling repressed?”

This will be followed by a presentation entitled “The high and low tides on the Atlantic Seaboard” to be delivered by Steven Delit, who is a sales associate with RE/MAX Living.

Next, Kim Faclier, MD of Property (Africa), GoIndustryDoveBid S.A. Solutions (IPS), will take to the stage to talk about the future of property auctions – live and online.

Judy Chai, CEO of Infiniti Pacific Properties Ltd, a member of the BMI Group based in Hong Kong, will bring an Asian perspective to this year’s conference. She will be discussing the outlook for the Asian real estate market against the backdrop of the economic crisis.

Ms Chai’s talk will be followed by Dries du Toit’s presentation, “This time it’s different”. Dries is an independent investment consultant.

A presentation by the Director of SFI Group (Pty) Ltd, Edward Hector, will address the issue: “Unlocking energy savings in central-plant air-conditioning systems.”

Thereafter, Tony Bales, dealmaker and Epping industrial-property specialist, will talk on how the industrial property market is changing.

The Cape Town conference will conclude with property economist Erwin Rode’s presentation entitled “Prospects for property in uncertain times”.

Johannesburg

The annual one-day Rode Conference in Johannesburg — also sponsored by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) Properties— will be held on Monday, 27 August, at the Sandton Sun Hotel, Sandton.

As with the Cape Town conference, Arthur Kamp, Investment Economist at Sanlam Investment Management (SIM), will again be the first to take to the stage.

The shopping-centre market is coming under increasing pressure, necessitating regular refurbishment, and Marius Muller, CEO of Pareto Limited, will follow with his presentation “The joys and agony of refurbishing shopping centres”. Pareto is a R12-billion unlisted shopping-centre fund owned by the Government Employees Pension Fund.

Next, Rob Wesselo who is a managing partner at International Housing Solutions (IHS), will share his thoughts on residential investment as an institutional asset class.

Should South African property investors consider Australia? Errol Diamond, CEO of Diamond Properties (Australia) and Diamond Property Group (South Africa), has a unique perspective on both countries, so he will consider this subject in depth.

This will be followed by Dries du Toit’s presentation, “This time it’s different”.

Thereafter, bestselling author Dolf de Roos will share his insights into “Economic busts and real estate”. De Roos has run public seminars throughout Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America, and Europe, has trained real estate agents, and has written and published eight best-selling property books, including Real Estate Riches. Consequently, his views on property are held in high esteem, and he is often asked to address investors' conferences, appear on radio shows, and take part in television debates.

A presentation by Theo Venter, special adviser to the vice-chancellor of the North West University will address the issue: “From Polokwane to Mangaung – the impact of power-plays in the ANC on policy stability and the building industry.”

The Johannesburg conference will conclude with property economist and professional valuer Erwin Rode’s presentation entitled “Prospects for property in uncertain times”.

Kura Chihota, CEO of Ascendant Property Fund, an unlisted Zimbabwean property fund, and Summit TV presenter, will be acting as master of ceremonies at both the Cape Town and Johannesburg conferences.

Breakfast events: Durban and Pretoria

The breakfast in Pretoria, sponsored by Sake24 together with ACSA Properties, will be held on Tuesday, 28 August, at the Centurion Lake Hotel in Centurion. Dawie Roodt, executive director of the Efficient Group, will present a talk entitled “Internasionale en plaaslike ekonomiese perspektief: ’n Plan vir SA.” Erwin Rode will then present his talk entitled “Die eiendomsmark in onseker tye”.

The breakfast event in Durban— sponsored by ACSA Properties— will be held on Friday, 31 August, at The Oyster Box in Umhlanga. Here, Dennis Dykes, group chief economist of Nedbank Limited and 2012 Sake24 Economist of the Year, will share his thoughts on the prospects for the macro-economy. Erwin Rode will follow with his presentation on the property market.

Dolf de Roos will close the breakfast event with a talk on “Economic busts and real estate”.