This morning a friend of mine in Riga asked me to help him sell some land in the centre of the city. This is adds to the growing amount of real estate I have been asked to help sell in the last couple of months. As usual the fact that I have worked in the British Embassy in Riga and therefore must know lots of rich people says more about a lack of understanding of UK diplomacy and the diplomatic world in general than anything to do with selling land. But diplomacy and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is another story for another day.
Back to land and property. At the moment I have been asked to sell or market: a prosperous potato farm, a mixed dairy and arable farm (both of which I visited recently and got my shoes dirty), 600- hectares of arable land in the rich agricultural area in the South of Latvia and an old manor house badly in need of repair also with 400 plus hectares of land further west. In the centre of Riga I have been offered 5 plus hectares near the centre and a a further 3 hectares upriver near the new South bridge, both apparently with planning permission. All in all, a feast of property and land but in todays market seemingly as much use to potential investors as trying to sell used candles.
One colleague suggested that I should go to the bank and get enough money to buy the land myself. I admit that this is a mouth watering suggestion as in my weaker moments I quite fancy the life of a gentleman farmer, lord of the manor type. Then reality sets in and I have to admit to myself that the only experience I have of farming and the agriculture business is running cross country over ploughed fields in winter and eating root vegetables at Christmas. Cows frighten me - they are so heavy and uncontrollable.
So there we have it, lots of wonderful land for sale but no more rich Russians flush with folding money wanting a quiet bolt hole out of the homeland but still inside the former Soviet Union and speaking the same lingo.
Things will inevitably change for my friends, the only answer is, will they sell before they owe so much the banks have to take it all. I would be interested to see how good the managers of Parex and SEB bank are at milking cows!
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Dear Mr.!
ReplyDeleteIt is obvious You are in fond of Latvia to certain extent. I would like to read more, if, yes, if You would like to consider writing something positive sometimes.
See, there are hundred foreigners in a dozen, who write what they have seen or experienced in Latvia, comparing everything with their home country or previously seen. With their comments, they sink, instead of giving something new.
Let me explain; You know peole, who are positive, smiling, having good relations and living like a good aura above their heads. I do not mean party jokers and story tellers, but real good people.
There, I think, is a question of good attitude, meekness, life experience and affection to life.
Like there are Kofi Annan, Jose Barroso and Martti Ahtisaari, for example.
Undoubtedly You are a person who likes to see more after seeing something. Well, there are more to see in Latvia one stranger can imagine. I wait to see your next blog on ... something new, recession we know already.
Let the Christmas tome be jouful and warm-hearted tome to You!