We Develop Villas in Bali
Built to an Australian Standard
From land acquisition through design, construction, sales, and long-term management, working in Canggu, Uluwatu and Ubud.
7 of 7
Elio villas sold
60+
Villas run by Desa Management
20+ yrs
Building experience at JDH Design & Build
4
Companies, one group
Our Newest Development
Celest Villas, Canggu
13 two and four-bedroom villas on Jl. Raya Canggu, each with a private pool. JDH Design & Build is building them, and Desa Management runs them from handover.
13
Villas Total
$320K
Starting Price
10–15%
Target ROI
30+25 YR
Leasehold
50%
Construction Complete
JUL '27
Handover
Why Invest in Amara Estate
One Team Handles Development, Design and Build, Sales, and Rental Management
One group, start to finish
Amara Estate develops, JDH design & builds, Desa Properties sells and Desa Management runs the villa. Nothing gets lost between stages, because no stage leaves the group.
Australian-standard construction
Built by JDH Design & Build, an Australian-led builder with 20+ years' experience, working to certified Australian standards.
Notary-led legal process
You receive the papers on the contracting party, land rights, permits and any security, for your own adviser to check. The transfer is handled by a notary.
Track record
Elio Villas: seven villas in Canggu, completed and sold out.
Celest Villas: 13 villas, 50% built
10-year structural warranty
On every villa, plus waterproofing, roof and appliance cover.
Boutique Scale
Limited, carefully planned developments rather than mass-scale projects.
One Group, Four Companies
Each part of a project is run by a company that already does it every day.
Develops • Amara Estate
Buys the land, structures the capital and runs each project from permit to handover.
Builds • JDH Design & Build
Australian-led builder with 20+ years in construction. Works to certified Australian standards.
Sells • Desa Properties
Boutique agency with 600+ active listings and an international buyer network. Runs pre-sales.
Manages • Desa Management
Runs 60+ villas across Bali. Takes over each Amara project at handover.
Joshua O’Rourke, co-founder of JDH Design & Build, is Amara’s Chief Construction Officer. JDH builds every Amara project.
Our Services
The 360 System: Invest, Build, Commit, Sustain
Property Development
Ground-up projects, from land acquisition through to handover.
Sales & Marketing
Listings, buyer outreach and closing, handled in-house.
Investment Advisory
Numbers-first guidance on where to put capital and what return to expect.
Design & Build
Architecture, engineering and construction under one roof.
Land & Legal Consultancy
Zoning checks, title verification and permit navigation before you buy.
Property Management
Day-to-day operations, maintenance and tenant relations after handover.
Brand & Development Partnership
Joint ventures where we bring the development expertise and you bring the site or capital.
Other Developments
What We're Building
Celest Villas is our current focus: 13 villas in Canggu, 50% built, handover July 2027. Elio Villas is completed and sold out. VESTA by Amara in Uluwatu is next.
Completed
Elio Villas, Villa Lexie, Sabali Villa, and private residences.
In Development
Celest Villas (under construction), PGD Apartments
Pipeline
VESTA by Amara (Uluwatu), Seseh Oracle (concept stage), boutique apartment concepts, future land.
Celest Villas
Construction Progress
Our Location
Why Bali, Why Indonesia
Why Bali
- The world’s #2 destination in Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice awards, 2024.
- 7.1m foreign visitors in 2025, up 9.7% on 2024 (BPS Bali).
- 12–20% gross rental yields in prime locations, 2025, before costs (AirDNA, Knight Frank).
- Nothing on Bali is built taller than 15 m, the height of a coconut palm. The rule dates from 1971. Prime land can’t be built upwards, so it stays scarce.
- Four infrastructure projects approved or planned: a North Bali airport (approved July 2025), a north-south toll road (tender started 2025), an LRT line from the airport, and bigger terminals at Ngurah Rai.
Why Indonesia
Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest economy and the world’s fourth most populous country, with a young, growing middle class and rising domestic tourism: 26.6 million domestic trips to Bali alone in 2025. Government-backed infrastructure spending is actively reshaping accessibility and long-term property values across the island.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I own as an investor?
That depends on the route. Buy a villa and you hold leasehold rights. Lend to a project and you hold a claim for repayment and interest. Take part in a project and you hold shares in the project company. Your agreement sets out exactly what you get.
Can I rent out my villa as a foreigner?
Yes, typically, but specific licences (like a Pondok Wisata for short-term rentals) and legal structures are required. Always seek professional legal advice.
What happens when my leasehold expires?
The property typically reverts to the freeholder. Options to extend or renew may be available, often requiring negotiation and payment.
Who runs the villa after handover?
Desa Management, part of the Amara group. It handles marketing, guests, pricing and maintenance, lists on Airbnb, Booking.com and direct channels, and reports to owners every quarter.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Our company provides comprehensive assistance throughout your travel and purchase process. Each customer receives personalized attention tailored to their needs. The steps involved are flexible:
- We'll discuss the best periods for your stay in Bali based on your availability.
- We can assist in arranging your accommodation at our partner hotels.
- During your stay, we'll manage property-related visits (architect, bank, notary) and organize cultural tours in Bali (at your expense).
- Our meetings in Bali will cover market insights, investment returns, and, most importantly, your preferences. We'll visit villas and land, set up a bank account, and afterward work together remotely.
Unfortunately, obtaining credit as a foreigner in Bali is generally not feasible (except in special cases). The availability of borrowing options depends on various factors and regulations in your home country, which we do not control.
While in Bali, your passport suffices. It's preferable to settle the land payment before your departure, as your presence is necessary for document signing at the notary. If you're not on-site but wish to reserve land, a down payment allows us to secure it until your arrival.
Typically, customers finalize the entire purchase process during their visit. However, if you are uncertain despite on-site visits, granting us power of attorney enables us to acquire the land on your behalf later.
If your villa doesn't generate income, no specific visa is required. Otherwise, establishing a company is necessary for legal income generation.
Indonesia doesn't have a withdrawal period for property purchases. Given the considerable effort in finding and preparing legal documents, there's no provision for retraction. Paid fees cannot be refunded upon contract abandonment.
Renting mandates depositing rent in an Indonesian bank account. However, it is not necessary for you to open an Indonesian bank account since all property-related expenses will go through Amara Estate, and be deposited to you, regardless of where you have your bank account.
Your presence is required, but the process is swift. We'll assist you as you'll need a sponsor to open the account.
Operational costs include annual property tax, salaries, property insurance, internet, laundry, cleaning supplies, guest supplies, swimming pool expenses, garden expenses, waste & removal, repairs & maintenance, electricity, and water supplies.
We guarantee homes against major construction defects for one year, excluding force majeure or natural events. For home insurance, our partners like Zurich Insurance cover theft, fire, natural disasters, etc (Home insurance is an additional option).
Notary fees for land transactions are typically 1-1.5%. We offer a fixed rate of 0.75%, providing cost transparency and efficiency in your property dealings.
The buyer assumes the responsibility for paying the notary fees associated with the property purchase.
Our company has a dedicated management department team handling villa management. For detailed information, please reach out to us directly or read our management booklet here.
Demand for quality accommodation in Bali is high. Whether for seasonal or long-term rentals, we typically find customers interested in our villas within 1 week to 1 month on average.
In Bali, owners have the liberty to set and adjust rental amounts at their discretion. While no specific law governs this aspect, we can offer guidance on determining suitable rental rates for your villa, based on the acceptable market conditions.
Absolutely, you have the flexibility to set the lease duration according to your preferences. Whether a long-term contract (1 year or more), medium-term (6 months), or seasonal contracts, simply specify your desired rental periods, and we'll match suitable clients to your villa accordingly.
While not mandatory, it will be stipulated in the rental agreement that tenants must hold insurance coverage.
For villa rentals through our services, our fee structure is 20% of gross revenue per month.
You have the option to rent your property with or without a deposit. An inventory will be conducted at both the entry and exit stages. We can discuss the deposit amount together. Additionally, tenants are required to provide a photocopy of their identity documents upon check-in.
Rent insurance is not available in Bali. In cases of non-payment, we reserve the right to take action, which may involve the police, as non-payment is not tolerated. Rent payments are collected before tenants' entry to ensure timely payments.
Tenants are provided with contact information in case of any issues. Upon notification, we will take immediate action to resolve the problem, within a maximum intervention cost of $300. For costs beyond this limit, your permission will be sought before commencing any necessary work.
Rental ratios typically range from 15% to 40%, contingent on the property type.
To declare your income annually, you'll need an NPWP number from the tax department. We can assist in obtaining this number and maintain your accounts (receipts/expenses) for tax returns. Alternatively, if you prefer managing your accounts, we can prepare the necessary documentation and aid in acquiring the NPWP number upon your request.
Get in Touch
Have Questions?
Send us a message and we’ll put you in touch with the right person on the team.
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