Investments - Diversify for greater profitability and security

Woods and forests

a little oxygen in your investments

The reasons for investing in woods and forests can be purely economic (diversifying your portfolio...) or more personal (having your own piece of nature...). Wood is also a popular building and decorative material, and an inexhaustible source of renewable energy. In short, it's a sound investment for the future, with attractive tax benefits. You can buy :
- Directly. You buy a private forest estate from an owner. But beware, this is a confidential market. You can also go through a specialized intermediary (notary);
- or purchase shares from a Groupement foncier forestier (GFF), the forest owner. This is the simplest and least risky solution. You don't have to worry about management, you receive regular income, and you can benefit from more attractive purchase prices.

Wine-growing landholding groups

for epicureans

Wine lovers can kill two birds with one stone: own a vineyard and pay less tax at the same time.
Buying direct and running your own vineyard is a risky business for a neophyte. Pruning and maintaining vines, the vagaries of the weather, producing and distributing wine... can be daunting . If all these constraints frighten you, it's best to opt for the second solution: buying shares in a GFV. These operate in the same way as non-trading property companies. GFVs are structures in which a minimum of two partners contribute funds entitling you to shares. The company acquires the property, finds a professional winegrower and takes charge of managing it. You can expect annual dividends of between 2% and 4%, depending on the reputation of the cru and the year. The investor will be remunerated in the form of dividends, with the added bonus of free bottles or bottles offered at preferential prices.
What they have in common: tax advantages
Woods, forests and vineyards all benefit, under certain conditions, from the same tax advantages, particularly in the case of inheritance or donation. Woodlands, forests and forestry group shares are subject totransfer duties on only 25% of their value. To qualify for this 75% allowance, the heirs or beneficiaries of the gift must commit to normal management for 30 years. For their part, GFV shares benefit from an exemption of 75% of their value up to a limit of 101,897 euros in 2018, then 50% above this ceiling.

And why not a parking space?

Even if cars are no longer welcome in city centers, one thing is clear: there is a shortage of parking spaces. There are several arguments in favor of investing in a rental parking space:
- it's cheap. It's the ideal investment for first-time investors, as the down payment doesn't need to be large. With variations, of course, depending on location, region and type of parking lot (covered or not, underground, with or without surveillance cameras, etc.).
- it's low-risk. As long as you choose the right location and type of parking lot, you'll have no trouble finding a tenant. Unpaid bills are rare and damage is almost non-existent.
- it's easy. You don't have to worry about maintenance, unlike real estate, which requires regular work. From a legal point of view, you benefit from flexible regulations. You are free to set the rent, the term of the lease and the conditions for terminating the lease.
- it's profitable. There are many would-be parking lot tenants, some of whom are prepared to pay a high price for the peace of mind that comes with parking. The return on this type of investment can be between 6 and 10%, or even more, depending on the location and characteristics of the space(s) rented.

SCPI: the benefits of real estate without the hassle

Instead of buying a property "directly", you buy shares through a société civile de placement immobilier (SCPI), which invests in rented residential buildings, offices, store premises and so on. The initial investment is much lower than for a conventional real estate purchase. There are several types of SCPI: yield, tax (Malraux, Pinel...) or capital gains. You'll enjoy regular income (around 4% a year) without the hassle of management. The SCPI's management company is responsible for upkeep, finding tenants and collecting rents... The company then pays you a share of the rents on a regular basis.The company then regularly pays you a share of the rents received (based on your share of the capital), after deduction of any work carried out and management fees. Rents are taxed as property income.

How do I check the health of the SCPI?

Whether you're already a subscriber or a future buyer, these companies provide you with a wide range of documents, including the SCPI's articles of association, annual report and quarterly information bulletin. These documents are sent to you on a regular basis, enabling you to follow the evolution of the company's assets in real time, whether in terms of management or financial performance.

Marie-Christine Ménoire