Latest News from PropertyGuru

Tips From Agent Leaders: How Can Property Agents Thrive In COVID-19?

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 07:39:53 +0800

Tips From Agent Leaders: How Can Property Agents Thrive In COVID-19?

The effects of this global pandemic on the property market is truly unprecedented. With many real estate agents worrying about how they can continue to survive in their careers – today we’re sharing tips from top agent leaders on  how you can thrive in COVID-19!

To stay competitive, agent partners must first embrace this new normal and think of innovative ways to leverage on digital tools to continue engaging with customers. Aaron highlights that it is important to provide as much information to your clients to help them with their decision-making.

For example, agents could share property buying tips, infographics on government updates, upload videos for virtual viewings and provide options for comparison to add value to property seekers. This would help instill greater confidence and enable customers to make better informed decisions.

In turn, creating a positive experience and strong relationship with customers opens an avenue for prospective referral market. Aaron believes that referral market has a huge potential, especially during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.

“After the announcement of MCO, many agents were calling in to ask if the real estate industry will collapse. I like this period because team leaders came together to brainstorm on how to be innovative to adapt quickly to shift offline to online.” – Aaron Siow, Founder of IQI Elite Group.

He encourages agents to build confidence and readiness to post videos on social media platforms including Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok to establish an online presence.

Not sure where to start? Here are 3 tips from Aaron on creating video content.

Have a clear message and address a specific target audience
Imagine you’re talking to a real person to create closeness with viewers
Practice, practice, practice!

While COVID-19 brings about business challenges, Marcus Teng feels that there are opportunities in every crisis and agents should not be discouraged. He shared that consistency is the key factor to close deals because consistency builds trust and property seekers buy from people they trust.

“I like crisis. Only during crisis, outstanding individuals can be made. This is a great time to be in the property industry as property is both pandemic-proof and recession-proof.” – Marcus Teng, Founder of PropNex Malaysia

To succeed, Marcus believes agents should focus on Geographical Target Area (GTA) with high market demand and build a strong branding in those spaces. The next step is to diligently follow up on leads and continue to be trusted advisor to customers.

As property seekers become increasingly reliant on searching for properties online, agents must quickly adapt to market changes by upgrading themselves with new tools and techniques through training and webinars.

A key factor to successfully close deals is to build trust with your customers. Here are Marcus’s tips on how to build trust.

Believe in yourself, build your professionalism and industry knowledge
Always do business with honesty and integrity
Take care of your customers’ interests and concerns

To be a successful real estate practitioner, you must first understand property industry market trends and government resources provided. Next, analyze what property seekers want and strategize how to reach out to them.

“It takes Focus, Understanding, Thinking, Analysis and a Strategy to be Effective.” – Soma Sundram, CEO of MIEA

Soma shares that agents must be prepared to change their mindset, to continuously learn and self-improve, and innovate to cater to property seekers changing needs to thrive in any market conditions.

We at PropertyGuru want to thank Aaron Siow, Marcus Teng and Soma Sundram for sharing their nuggets of wisdom with us and hope that you found them useful, especially during this time.

Stay tuned for our next article!

#GuruCares

– PropertyGuru Team 

Other articles on GuruCares initiative for agent partners:

Standing By You Through COVID-19 (GuruCares Initiative launched on: 1 April 2020)
Find out more about the suite of relief initiatives we rolled out for new and existing agent partners.
Supporting You Further With GuruCares Initiative: MCO Extension Edition (GuruCares Initiative launched on: 20 April 2020) Find out more about MCO Extension Edition we rolled out for our agent partners.
GuruCares Initiatives Extended For Your Strong Bounce Back (GuruCares Initiative updated on: 1 June 2020) Find out more about GuruCares Initiatives Extended For Your Strong Bounce Back.
GuruCares Initiative: Free Webinars By PropertyGuru Academy
Offering you accessible resources so that you can stay on top of the game and be ready to bounce back into action anytime.
Stockpile Your Prospects By Using These 3 PropertyGuru Features
3 features that can help you stockpile your prospects, by building trust and credible with property seekers.
How To Use Your Ad Credits Smartly
Get insights from our consumer data on how to optimise your Ad Credit spend
3 Online Courses We Recommend to Property Agents
Learn tips and skills from real estate professionals to help you prepare for post COVID-19 market rebound.
Property Seekers Still Keen Despite COVID-19. Here’s What They Are Looking At
Gain valuable insights on what property seekers are looking for, despite these uncertain and challenging times.
Helpful Tips To Close During Covid-19
Here’s a list of some tips on how you can up your game and still manage to successfully close deals, despite these challenging times.
When And Where To Focus Your Listings In May
Get valuable insights based off PropertyGuru’s proprietary data in April 2020, to strategise your next steps to success.
3 Online Marketing Tools for Property Agents
Check out these 3 easy-to-use online marketing tools that are sure to help your success as a property agent.
How Has COVID-19 Impacted Property Prices And Where Are The Opportunities?
Find out how has property prices been affected by COVID-19 and where are the opportunities for agents to close deals.
When And Where To Focus Your Listings In June
Get valuable insights based off PropertyGuru’s proprietary data in May 2020, to strategise your next steps to success.
Entering The “New” Normal With Safe Property Viewings
A simple set of guidelines to help agent partners, like yourself manage your face-to-face viewings with ease.

6 of the Most Stunning Show Units that You Can Visit Right from Home

Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:45:25 +0800

6 of the Most Stunning Show Units that You Can Visit Right from Home

Whether you’re looking to buy a new home or not, there’s one thing that most of us undoubtedly enjoy- visiting show units.

From the mock living rooms at IKEA or checking out the show unit of the newest development nearby, there’s always a sense of enjoyment in walking through these show units and visualising how daily life in those spaces could be like.

But with great technology comes greater convenience, you can now ‘walkthrough’ these stunning show homes without having to actually leave your home!

So if you’re a homebuyer who’s tired of braving the heat and traffic, or meeting clingy sales representatives, then here are 6 stunning homes that you can ‘visit’ anywhere you are. (Even if you’re not in the market for a home, it doesn’t hurt to check out these beautiful homes.)

1. Residensi Ledang @ East Ledang

Live in this home set within tranquil landscaped gardens and rooftop gardens right from your home. Walk through the Duplex C which costs RM1.33 million at a spacious 2,475 sq ft.

Walking through the entrance, you will discover an enticing glimpse of the open kitchen and dining area leading to the living area.

What makes East Ledang unique is its offering of several variants of duplex units, which enables homeowners the space of a landed home, all while having the convenience of a condominium residence.

As you’ll see when checking out the Duplex Type C for yourself here, the spacious dining and living room look like they belong in a semi-detached home! You can almost imagine yourself serving your guests from this bar.

It’s also easy to forget that you’re looking at a condominium home, especially with the bedrooms located on the lower floor for added peace and quiet. (Just click on ‘Virtual Tour’ to begin, and don’t forget to head downstairs to check out the surprisingly large master bedroom!)

Luxury does come at a price- specifically starting at RM1.1 million for these low-rise condominium homes that range between 2,475 sf to 2,734 sf. Luxury does come at a price- specifically starting at RM1.1 million for these low-rise condominium homes that range between 2,475 sf to 2,734 sf.

2. Sakura Residence
If smart luxury is what you’re looking for, then Sakura Residence is definitely a home you have to see. Just take a walk through the Type A semi-detached show unit (virtually that is) here and you’ll see ‘blue orbs’ around the house. These orbs provide snippets of information about the home’s innovative features.

The use of dry walls is especially interesting, given that most Malaysian homes are all built with brick and cement! The homes are built with precision, promising better quality, enforced strength, and even better heat and sound insulation.

On top of the cutting-edge technology used to build the homes, smart design and thoughtful elements can also be found throughout! Like the study right by the entrance of the show unit, which also doubles as a guest room thanks to the clever inclusion of a multi-functional desk that transforms into a bed!

Have you ever seen a laundry chute in a home? (And we don’t mean on American TV shows and movies like ‘Home Alone’.) If not, then take a walk to the back of the home on the ground floor and you’ll see that the maid’s room is not just the typical four walls with a single bed inside!

Designed for family-living, the Sakura Residence homes are spacious, with built-ups of 3,190 sf and 3,274 sf and layouts of 4+1 bedrooms. Given the space and smart features of the homes, it’s no surprise that they come at hefty price tags beginning from RM2.47 million!

3. Broadleaf Residence

If you Klang Valley folks thought that dreamy homes only existed in JB, don’t fret, because Broadleaf Residence is located just a quick drive from KL and PJ, in Shah Alam!

Though it probably takes most of us in the Klang Valley about 30 minutes to get to, you can see the beautiful show unit of the Broadleaf Residence right after you finish this read!

What should you do the moment you enter the Virtual Tour of the Broadleaf show unit? Look up! How often do you see a home with an entrance this big, and ceilings these high?

That’s not all, take a few steps further into the living room, and what should you do? Again, look up! This time, be in awe of the double volume ceiling that gives the space an unbelievable grandeur, all while remaining homely.

The Broadleaf Residence homes come in built-ups of 4,654 sf for the semi-d type, and 4,942 sf for the bungalow, with layouts that are well-thought and designed for families of all sizes, with ample family spaces on top of bedrooms.

The gated and guarded development also has a private clubhouse, where homeowners will have facilities like a swimming pool and gym and more.

What tops the list of must-haves for most of the ladies out there? The master of the Broadleaf Residence is sure to wow with its spaciousness and huge wardrobe! So don’t forget to check it out when you go for your tour!

Doesn’t Broadleaf Residence sound like everybody’s dream home? For those of you who can afford its starting price of a little over RM1.94 million, then dreams could be your everyday reality!

The 6+1 bedroom semi-d variant is sized at 4,654 sf, while the bungalow is just slightly under 5,000 sf, not an issue for families of any size.

4. Bayou Creek @ Leisure Farm

Situated conveniently close to the Lion City, it’s no wonder why Johor is home to a number of impressive developments. Bayou Creek @ Leisure Farm is yet another stunning residence located in Iskandar Malaysia.

The neighbourhood comprises 17 bungalow homes and 40 units of the semi-detached variant, which luckily for us, each have show units that we can look at wherever we are!

One would typically expect wide open spaces the moment you step into a bungalow, but those of the Bayou Creek bungalows render a much more cosier feel with its well-segmented spaces.

The first thing that grabs your attention upon entering is the inner courtyard, but don’t walk right pass it yet, look out for the snug seating right beside it!

Continuing on, you’ll arrive at the dining room and open dry kitchen, right beside the property’s very own lap pool!

But wait, where’s the living room? You’ll find it tucked away in the corner of the ground floor, much like the sitting rooms of English homes which allow for better privacy and quiet conversation.

On the upper floor, you’ll find that the master room is a good size, with its very own balcony!

The semi-detached units are no less luxurious. Be greeted by the sight of a beautifully lit living room, where large windows and tall ceilings give the home an even grander ambience.Explore the ground floor and you’ll also find a calm nook that makes for the perfect home office, completely tucked away from the outside world.

The Bayou Creek residences are some serious ‘dream home’ goals that will set you back RM2.52 million!

But to some, its prices may seem worth given that the homes are part of an international community known as Leisure Farm, where residents can certainly feel like they’re living in another country, with 2 canal waterways running through the development reminiscent of quaint Dutch villages, a golf course, and even equestrian facilities!

5. The Estate South Bangsar

Who says that only large landed homes can impress, The Estate South Bangsar is a multi-award winning high-rise development in KL city that offers no less appealing aesthetics, with accolades like Best Landscape Architectural Design, and Best High End Condo Development (Kuala Lumpur) under its name.

Urbanity and craftsmanship is skilfully brought together, with energy-efficiency and made to last materials like marble flooring at the core of its build.

The show unit of The Estate is a great way to experience what the boutique development is all about, where you can walk through the functionally laid out Type C and admire the tasteful colonial-inspired decor here!

The living, dining, and dry kitchen make up the out half of the home, where luxury is not spared, with marble counter tops and wood panelling extending from the walls to the ceilings, as well as impressive lighting choices. There is even a wet kitchen, maid’s room, and laundry area for functional living.

The unassuming entryway leads to the next half of the home, where the 3 bedrooms and even a home office are located for increased privacy, especially when entertaining guests.

Though the space here in the show unit is turned into a home office, it is actually flexible enough to be turned into anything else buyers may need, such as a home cinema or even into another bedroom.

Don’t forget to check out the bedrooms, especially the master which features a sneaky see through glass panel between the bedroom and the bathroom. See if you can spot it! If you’re looking for a family home, the child’s bedroom is also a great inspiration, with fun yet classy furniture and decor.

6. Zinnia Residences @ Cameron Highlands

Though the majority of us may not exactly have a need (or the extra cash) for a home in the cooling mountains of Cameron, it surely isn’t difficult to see that these homes would be the perfect getaway with family and friends!

So for those who’ve got plans to join the Airbnb community of hosts, then Zinnia Residences should top the list, given that one has enough laying around for the homes that start from RM1.96 million! Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that we can’t all admire the 2.5-storey show unit here.

Stepping into the Zinnia show unit, it becomes apparent that the homes are made for family living, with spacious living and dining rooms. The property is also equipped with large windows and a double volume ceiling at the side of the home to allow plenty of light into the homes.

The Zinnia homes also come in layouts of at least 4+1 bedrooms for the 2,800 sq ft double-storey units, while the 2.5-storey offers 6+1 bedrooms at 3,998 sq ft. There is also a larger 2.5-storey type, which offers 7+1 bedrooms with a built-up of 5,420 sq ft.

Though not all of the rooms are accessible in the show unit, there are ample to illustrate the flexibility of the rooms.

There are only 25 units of these semi-detached resort homes, all anchored around a Central Garden within a gated and guarded community.

Conclusion
When they’re not helping potential home owners visualise the size and whether a property suits them, they’re here to spin our imaginative gears, and provide inspiration. These 6 stunning show units are certainly impressive, each in their own way, and we wouldn’t mind having some eye-candy to feed those ‘dream home’ daydreams!

Don’t worry if you find these homes out of your budget, there’s always more on PropertyGuru!

For the latest property news, trends, resources and expert opinions, visit our Property News section. Home buyers, sellers or property renters looking for Malaysian Properties, may like to visit the New Launches or Project Reviews page.

The Jack of All Trades: Dominic Ong

Tue, 31 Oct 2017 03:58:26 +0800

The Jack of All Trades: Dominic Ong

Call him the Jack of all trades.

Agent extraordinaire, Dominic Ong could possibly do anything given his intelligence and persona. The Applied Statistics graduate from USM has many aspirations; from being a doctor to a musician.

“I initially wanted to be a doctor but as fate has had it, I ended up doing mathematics,” he said. Dominic also added that he had music in his veins as he attended 50 hours of piano training.

“But I couldn’t even play for three minutes,” he equipped, opting out from a music career.

He later expanded his credentials as a teacher at a few international institutions like St Christopher’s International School and The International School of Penang (Uplands).

He taught Mathematics, English and was a Sports Master. He even took up part time job teaching in Dalat at night.

Hence, the jump from education to the world of real estate can be said as a rather big and bold leap.

“I started out investing in properties by buying a few of them. I bought to a certain extend that I couldn’t get any more loans. Plus, by being an agent, you can get all of the good leads. There was no harm in trying it out,” he explained regarding his shift.

He also admitted that the industry is an ever-green market with great depth of sustainability. He believes that properties will forever be in demand, regardless in what economic situation it is in.

“I find it to be a recession proof industry. People would seek for new properties to buy during the good times as well as people would have to sell during the bad times to raise funds or cut loses. There will always be a need for such services,” said Dominic who is currently with KL City International Realty.

But his journey as a real estate agent has the unavoidable stumbles and falls. Dominic started out alone, without any guidance.

“I learned it the hard way. I kept on hitting walls every day, I often got bullied and cheated. But coming from a sports background, I learn to push my limits, endure the pain and hold on to it,” he explained.

PropertyGuru saved my business

Technology plays a dominant part in every business ventures and start-up companies. Dominic credits technology as a live saviour especially in the form of PropertyGuru Malaysia.

“PropertyGuru (PG) saved my business. There was one point in time that my business dropped tremendously, even though I knew a lot about my product. I can tell you about everything regarding to the areas and properties, which included the psf., growth and profitability. But I wasn’t selling any.

“Then I met up with a rep from PG, she recommended me to go for luxury spots. I paid expensively but I had no regret. It was a win-win partnership.” he said upon reaching the realisation of utilising the power of internet marketing.

“It’s a portal that can expose me to many people out there. PG had enabled me to reach more property sellers and seekers. I never thought that internet marketing was powerful. It has a profound impact on my business, despite only using it for a few years,” he remarked.

Eerie house hunting in Penang

There is no shortage of ‘sightings’ in the land that is filled with heritage sites and properties.

“Of course, there were couple of sightings. I once showed a double storey link house along Gurney Drive. I brought the potential buyers in to view the house. A few days later, they called me up. They caught a photo of the upper level of the house with a shadow of a boy in it,” reminisced Dominic, whom admitted of having goose bumps while viewing the house.

He also recalled showing a bungalow located along Batu Ferringhi that had strong spooky vibes.

“It was my worst experience. I had to show the bungalow to my client. It smelt very nice, but the smell was not like any ordinary perfume. The owner didn’t spray anything before the viewing. I would normally check the toilets for any leaks but this time around, I didn’t dare to enter any of the bathrooms.

“My client felt it too. He asked me ‘what do you feel about this place’ instead of ‘what do you think’. I couldn’t lie, and I told him that I would find something better for him. The owners eventually sold the bungalow to an amo (foreigner),” he added.

His advice to younger and new agents out there?

“I learned from experience. There’s no such thing as free lunch. Don’t expect people throwing free durians at you. Luck comes with hard work. My best advice would be get a mentor to guide you. There are a lot of nice people out there who are willing to guide you with an open heart.”

Property Nightmare Stories #10: Don’t DIY Your Tenancy Agreement!

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 05:04:12 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #10: Don’t DIY Your Tenancy Agreement!

Property investment is the hype but property nightmares are often shoved under the carpets. In this series of Property Nightmare Stories, PropertyGuru gets down on the ground to find out firsthand what can happen when a landlord does not provide tenancy agreement or plotting to do it through ‘DIY’.

Sandra is a landlord who rented her unit three months ago to a tenant without a tenancy agreement. She ponders if the tenancy is legitimate without a signed agreement between both sides.

She is planning to come up with an agreement and hoping her tenant would penned it down to paper. She plans to use an agreement template that can be found through the internet. She is trying to avoid any legal charges, which also include stamping charges.

Sandra is confident that the body of the agreement would be in accordance to its standard practice. Despite wanting to do things independently, she is still concern if the agreement would be invalid especially in unwanted and unforeseen circumstances.

Solution

We will deal with the issues in a few points below.

1. No written tenancy agreement in place

A tenancy does not have to be in writing. The National Land Code states that a tenancy can be done orally. The act of the Landlord receiving Rent and the Tenant paying Rent on a monthly basis for the benefit of the Tenant staying at the Landlord’s premises would constitute a tenancy.
Some landlords and tenants prefer to have this arrangement with no agreement in place. This is valid. The problem with this is when issues start to arise or the relationship turns sour. For instance, the Tenant has defaulted on payment or the Tenant has damaged the property through its acts or the Landlord refuses to return the Deposit upon expiration of the tenancy. With an agreement in writing, it is easier to identify the rights and responsibilities of both parties.
When these problems arise, it is true that the Landlord and/or Tenant would still have a recourse in law. However, the process would be more cumbersome and takes a longer period when resolving any disputes, as it will probably be “my words against yours” kind of situation. With a written tenancy in place, the whole process would be made simpler as their rights, obligations and liabilities will be governed by the written agreement entered into. Having a written agreement would also prevent parties from easily breaching the agreement at the first place.

2. Signing a tenancy agreement half way through the term of the tenancy

A tenancy can be on a week by week, month by month, year by year or on a periodic basis. In the absence of any agreed fixed tenancy period, the Court may likely rule that the tenancy to be a monthly tenancy.
Signing a tenancy agreement half way through the term of the tenancy is possible. If Sandra’s tenant does not wish to sign the tenancy, Sandra can terminate the tenancy by giving at least one month notice to the tenant. In such event, she can renegotiate with the Tenant in respect of the future tenancy (rather than forcing the tenant into signing a tenancy with her) and if the tenant refuses to further rent the Property, Sarah may proceed to find a new tenant.

3. Preparing a tenancy agreement as a layman and its validity

A tenancy agreement can be prepared by non-lawyers. It is valid.
Having said that, a well-drafted tenancy agreement by lawyers, catered to the specific needs of both parties would offer better protection for both. Further, a lawyer may provide useful advisory and assist in conducting certain necessary searches prior to the preparation of the tenancy agreement.
Tenancy agreements are not standard per se. For instance, some tenancies are of a fixed term (i.e. landlord and tenant cannot terminate the tenancy prior to its expiry and the defaulting party must compensate the other party in terms of the remaining unexpired term of the tenancy should the party wish to terminate the tenancy) or some tenancies have an early termination clause (i.e. landlord and tenant are allowed to terminate the tenancy prior to its expiry by giving a two months written notice to the other party).

4. Stamping of tenancy agreement

A tenancy agreement that is not stamped is not void or unenforceable. However, the formality of the said tenancy agreement may be in question if the tenancy agreement is not duly stamped. An unstamped tenancy agreement may be inadmissible in Court as evidence if parties were to bring the tenancy disputes to Court.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

This article was contributed by Alvin Teo (Advocate & Solicitor- Messrs Mak, Ng, Shao & Kee) and Nicole Ng (Advocate & Solicitor- Messrs Elizabeth Siew & Co). For more information or legal assistance, contact or email them at 07-3341922 (alvinteo@mnsklaw.com) or 03-8075 0901 (nicole.ng@esc.legal).

The Rags-to-Riches Story of Benjamin Lai

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 05:10:54 +0800

The Rags-to-Riches Story of Benjamin Lai

How one real estate agent proves that poverty and lack of education are no barriers to success.

2017’s MIEA-PropertyGuru Top Online REN, Benjamin Lai has been down the gutters with no work nor luck. The Seremban lad couldn’t seek for good job opportunities due to his limited education qualifications. He only managed to complete his education up to primary school level.

“I worked in Singapore for years as a worker, and I don’t have any other skills or certificate as my fallback plan. I was bad at communication, often a nervous wreck among people,” said Benjamin as he was crowned as MIEA-PropertyGuru Top Online REN recently at the MIEA National Real Estate Awards.

Benjamin credited his brother Jack, for introducing him to the world of real estate.

“It wasn’t my dream but I like to learn and hence to improve my life. My brother asked me to join him in Kuala Lumpur to embark on this new career path,” he added.

Benjamin was taken out of his comfort zone, embarking on a journey that was filled with challenges and uncertainties. He admitted that the initial stage was hard due to his incapability to communicate in English as his clients were diverse and came from all walks of life.

Things were not rosy.

“There have been times that I would be scrapping for money, unable to fill up the tank, which made it hard for me to mobilise to meet clients. There were even times when I couldn’t close a deal for months! I even ended up trying to get a part time job as a waiter. But nobody wanted to hire me because I wasn’t good looking,” he said with a tad of sense of humour.

Against all odds, Benjamin finally found his footing in the industry.

After 10 years of actively serving as an agent, Benjamin now owns a realty company alongside his brother. It is called Focus Estate Agency Sdn Bhd.

“The journey was tough but you will get tougher. The best advice that was given to me was by a MIEA lecturer. He said that the entire journey of an agent resembles the act of riding a bicycle. You can’t stop cycling or else you will fall. Hence, you need to constantly keep on going to generate sales,” said the 40-year old.

He might get exhausted from all the work but the rewards would constantly motivate him to go further.

“Nothing beats the feeling of being able to provide for the family. Besides that, the idea of having other agents under my wings keeps me motivated to guide them in this market,” he said.

Benjamin also credited the shift in technology when it comes to broadening his reach among customers.

“Online marketing has done me an immeasurable amount of good. It is crucial for the industry. PropertyGuru has proven, time and time again on how effective online marketing is. I have received numerous calls from customers who found me through PropertyGuru’s website,” he said.

When it comes to receiving the MIEA-PropertyGuru Top Online REN, Benjamin was indeed enthralled and in a state of disbelief.

“Winning is not easy because I am competing with agents from all over Malaysia. I am extremely happy and proud in receiving this honour,” he said.

For those who are just starting out in the real estate market, Benjamin has this to say; “Don’t ever give up. Get to know your weak points and strengthen them. Work hard and you will be reaping the benefits sooner or later.”

The Other Finalists

MIEA-PropertyGuru has also shortlisted two other outstanding agents prior announcing the winner. Among the other finalists that made the cut was Dominic Ong.

The 39-year old Penangite initially thought that the award’s shortlist was a scam.

“Upon receiving the credentials, I immediately felt honoured and surprised that I was listed among the Top 3,” said the former teacher.

“Internet marketing is extremely powerful. I only gave my attention to the platform a few years back. It has exposed me to a wide range of people out there. I have also seen more visible results with PropertyGuru in comparison to other websites,” he added.

As for Aw Peng Meng or better known as Allan, the honour was his when he received the news.

“It’s an achievement for me as there are so many agents to compete with. I feel very proud. I have achieved something to get this reward at such a short time,” said the 50-year old realtor.

Despite considering himself as a rookie in the industry, Allan credited PropertyGuru for its deep and fast impact on his career.

“PropertyGuru’s personnel would constantly update me to resolve issues and helps out to get more leads. They also encourage me to go the extra mile by improving my photos, briefs and constantly help out with the terms to advertise and yes, always giving great promotions for advertisements,” he added.

And what would be his advice to other newbies in the industry?

“Be prepared to work hard for the first 6 months. Learn from others and have good communication skills. Do your ground work before meeting clients,” he concluded.

Property Nightmare Stories #9: My Booking Fees Were Forfeited Because the Landlord Kept Delaying

Fri, 29 Sep 2017 00:00:35 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #9: My Booking Fees Were Forfeited Because the Landlord Kept Delaying

Sarah, in the healthcare business has offered to rent a commercial unit at below market rental rate for a tenancy of 3+3 years with a 3 months rental free period.

Initially, the Landlord, Mohammad was reluctant to accept the offer due to the low rental but at the same time, he would like to rent out his unit as soon as possible due to market condition. It is a four-storey commercial unit.

Mohammad then proceeded to accept the letter of offer as Sarah has given the booking cheque.

When the terms of the tenancy were being finalised, some terms were not agreed by the parties and there were delays on Sarah’s side which delayed the signing of the tenancy agreement. At the same time Mohammad has obtained another offer from another tenant, Bernard with a higher rental rate.

After the delay of signing of tenancy agreement, Mohammad decided not to proceed with the first offer from Sarah. Sarah is aggrieved as the booking fee is forfeited and she is unable to rent the unit.

Solution

In this scenario, a tenancy agreement is not in place yet. This situation will be dependent on the booking form/letter of offer which differs from agency to agency.

As booking forms differ from each agency, generally speaking, the procedure is as follows.

A prospective tenant (after viewing the property) would offer to the landlord to rent the property with details of the tenancy; i.e. rent, tenure, advance rental, security deposit, utility deposit, stamp duty etc.
The landlord would have to accept the offer within a certain number of days. This is dependent on the agency’s booking form/letter of offer.
Upon accepting the offer, both parties shall execute the tenancy agreement within a certain number of days or before a certain date. Again, this is dependent on the agency’s booking form/letter of offer.
As time is of the essence in this type of transaction, failure to execute the tenancy agreement on the part of the tenant within the stipulated time period would result in the deposit paid being forfeited whereas failure to execute the tenancy agreement on the part of the landlord would result in the deposit being refunded to the tenant. The deal would be called off.

It is incumbent upon Sarah to keep track on the time provided for the execution of the tenancy agreement. Therefore, in the event that Sarah is unable to execute the tenancy agreement in time (due to her own fault), her deposit will be forfeited unless she can show that the landlord wilfully delayed and she was in a position of willing, ready and able to execute the tenancy agreement.

I Don’t Like Airbnb Coming into My Apartment

Thu, 07 Sep 2017 06:35:37 +0800

I Don’t Like Airbnb Coming into My Apartment

I don’t really fancy Airbnb, plain and simple. What influenced my stance on Airbnb is through my personal observation on the incoming and outgoing of foreign guests around my apartment recently, thanks to the home sharing website.

I do question the legitimacy of the online marketplace and hospitality service, where home owners or hosts can rent their properties to guests be it on long or short-term purposes, like a hotel or serviced apartment.

It turns out that Airbnb is legal in Malaysia but property managements can ban such activities when it is deemed as necessary. But really, do we need businesses as such operating within private residential properties and areas?

An owner’s nightmare

Yes, you may earn more through renting especially on short-term basis that guarantees faster cash flow! And making it into a business commodity is always a pleasurable thing to do. But your property will always be at risk in the hands of strangers.

A home in Ontario, US was burnt down to the ground while on lease to an Airbnb guest. There were also several cases where homes across Europe were badly damaged by the renters, which include leaking or bursting baths/showers, shattered windows and even Van Gogh artistry proudly shown on the walls. Hosts need to undertake the risks associated with the rentals especially when tragedy strikes. For many, it’s a hard pill to swallow.

Strangers in your own home

Some Airbnb hosts have the tendency to rent vacant rooms in their own homes, which means they will be co-living with the renters underneath the same roof at the same time!

First and foremost, you don’t know who your renters are and you don’t get to meet them before agreeing to rent the place to them. You would only get bits and pieces of information on them through their Airbnb profiles, and you would still question the authenticity of the information.

“Strangers in my own home?”. Wouldn’t that be an eerie thought to live with while having them around the house?

There have been incidents occurred in the US where renters would rob Airbnb homes in broad daylight while the owners were at work or running errands away from their homes. Some have even pulled heists on these rented homes by stealing belongings worth millions of dollars.

Airbnb hosts have also become victims of identity theft as renters would steal confidential information such as social security number, passports and even getting their hands on the owners’ credit cards’ information.

Neighbours aren’t fans of Airbnb

Honestly, the two units away from me have people from India, Uzbekistan, US and even Nigeria renting the place. I had these guests knocking on my door on several occasions in the wee hours of the morning, looking for the Airbnb unit. Imagine how annoyed I was waking up at 3 in the morning just to entertain these lost guests.

Matters like this would leave us, neighbours feeling ‘open and vulnerable’ to these strangers. And please, do not blame us, the neighbours for being paranoid and uptight. Our safety is at stake especially when we have strangers strolling along the corridors unguarded and holding no accountability towards the property and its people.

The paranoia is well shared worldwide. In Japan, Airbnb renters are asked to avoid direct contact with the unit’s immediate neighbours- No looking, no communicating with the neighbours. A stern warning will be given to guests to avoid making noises even while dragging their luggage up to the rented unit. Hosts would emphasise that their neighbours will not hesitate to call the police without consulting the renters or even them.

In Barcelona, the local community is even encouraged to inform the authority on any incoming Airbnb guests in their residential areas. The city council has even fined the home-sharing company on several occasions for violating the city’s law.

You wouldn’t want to know what the guests are up to!

The lesser you know, the better but that’s not the case with Airbnb. Guests are known to throw illegal parties especially when the hosts aren’t co-living with them. Tips like ‘avoid renting during the New Year holidays’ are often given to Airbnb rookie hosts to avoid catastrophe that may ruin their homes forever.

Guests in the US and across Europe are known to throw wild parties in Airbnb rentals. Parties include meth or rave parties and in some dire occasions, the rentals are turned into ‘pop-up brothels’. These post-party scenes aren’t pretty to see and it can be gut-wrenching in terms of gauging its damages!

Well, let’s leave hospitality services to the professionals. The idea of turning your home into a hotel might be appealing and fun, plus, making money along the way couldn’t hurt either.

But think of the repercussions, responsibilities and unforeseen damages that will come hurling your way. Would it be worth risking your property in the long run for fast cash?

em>Featured picture from Confidencial. Images sourced from Wired and Giphy

This entry was written by a disgruntled resident, living within the concrete jungle of Kuala Lumpur. If you have similar experiences like the writer or perhaps contradictory experiences, email your story to editorialteam@propertyguru.com.my

Property Nightmare Stories #8: Why Is Your Contract Different from Mine? Why Do I Have to Pay You RM24,000 to Move Out?

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 00:56:52 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #8: Why Is Your Contract Different from Mine? Why Do I Have to Pay You RM24,000 to Move Out?

The Property is a shop office in Kota Damansara. The Landlord has let it to the Tenant for a two-year period for rent of RM2,000 and the agent has prepared the Tenancy Agreement. After signing and stamping, the Landlord and Tenant held one copy each. The agent did not keep a copy.

A year later, the Tenant wants to terminate the agreement by serving a 60 days’ notice to the Landlord and claimed that the Agreement allowed him to do so.

The Landlord’s copy however, states that the Tenant must rent the Property for a full two-year period and compensate the Landlord for the remaining unexpired term of the tenancy in the event of early termination.

Both Tenancy Agreements have different clauses and the parties proceed to bring the case to Court.

Solutions

In view that the above parties have intended to resolve the issue in Court, witnesses will be called by both parties to collaborate and verify each party’s version of facts. The agent who attested the Tenancy Agreement is likely to be a material witness.

Alternatively, parties may seek independent party’s verification (in this case, the stamp office) of a copy of the stamped Tenancy Agreement as parties may have sent the Agreement for stamping prior to the commencement of the tenancy, provided a full set of the Tenancy Agreement was sent to the stamp office for stamping.

To prevent this situation from happening, parties can:

a) Initial every page of the agreement to ensure that the pages/clauses cannot be changed.

b) Engage a solicitor firm to prepare the tenancy agreement as the solicitor attending the matter will usually be a witness to the execution of the tenancy agreement and it is a practice that the solicitor firm will keep an extra copy of the tenancy agreement after the tenancy agreement has been executed and stamped.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

Property Nightmare Stories #7: Conned by a Fake Landlord

Fri, 28 Jul 2017 06:30:17 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #7: Conned by a Fake Landlord

In June of 2016, Johnny, the tenant has entered into a fixed tenancy for 12 months with Hassan, the landlord. What this means is that if Johnny wishes to terminate the tenancy earlier, Johnny has to compensate Hassan in terms of rental payment for the remaining unexpired term of the tenancy.

Unfortunately, due to personal issues, Johnny was unable to pay the rental payment few months down the tenancy. Knowing the fact that his tenancy is a fixed one, Johnny managed to look for a tenant (Sandra) to step in as a new tenant in December that year. Sandra was told by Johnny that he is the property owner and thus, Sandra has paid the Rental for the six months tenancy (December 2016 to May 2017) to Johnny.

In January of 2017 shortly after Johnny defaulted on rental payment, Hassan carried out an inspection on the Property only to find out that Sandra was the new tenant. Hassan explained that he is the true owner of the Property and demanded for rental payment from Sandra if she wishes to continue staying on the Property. Having paid for all the rental payment to Johnny, Sandra of course, was reluctant to pay Hassan. Johnny was nowhere to be found.

Solutions

Starting with some precautionary measures, before entering into a tenancy, Sandra should ensure that Johnny is the rightful owner of the Property. Screening of a potential tenant is important but in most cases, tenants fail to carry out screening on their potential landlords which is equally crucial.

Sandra should have done some proper due diligence in respect of the ownership of the Property, before entering into any agreement or paying any deposit or rental, for example:

I. Request for the ownership documents from the landlord to ensure that he is the rightful owner; or

II. Carry out a land search at the land office with the Property details to determine the property owner; or

III. Check with neighbours about the landlord and the Property if the neighbours have lived in the area for a long time; or

IV. Do a quick google search on the landlord in the Internet to see if she could obtain any information (you would be surprised on what you can find on the Internet!).
If the landlord is not cooperative or unwilling to share any information, it should raise doubts and suspicions to the tenant.

In a situation like this, Hassan and Sandra should lodge a police report against Johnny. Technically, Sandra does not have a tenancy agreement in place with Hassan and as a landlord, Hassan has the right to evict Sandra from the Property.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

Property Nightmare Stories #6: My Landlord Wanted Me to Continue Paying Full Rental Even Though the Roof Was Leaking onto the Living Room

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 03:27:50 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #6: My Landlord Wanted Me to Continue Paying Full Rental Even Though the Roof Was Leaking onto the Living Room

The ceiling and flooring in the living hall of the Property have been damaged due to leakage from the rooftop. Due to the leaks, the living hall cannot be used by Sally, the tenant.

Sally notified the landlord, Matt of this scenario and was told that his contractor needs a month to produce a quotation for the repair and another month for construction/renovation work to be done. During this whole period, Sally will not be able to use the living hall area.

Sally then proposed to Matt to not pay rental for two months as she claims that she cannot ‘enjoy the Property fully’.

Is this allowed?

Solution:

Let us look at Matt’s situation first. Ceilings and flooring are main structures in the Property. Landlords are responsible for maintenance of the main structures of the Property in a good condition so that tenants can enjoy the Property.

Also as a landlord, Matt has an obligation to ensure that his tenant Sally can peacefully enjoy the Property. Thus, Matt has the responsibility to repair the damage on the ceiling and flooring of the Property at his own costs and expenses (provided that the damage is not done by the fault of the tenant).

For Sally, as a tenant, she has the obligation to pay the rental. By not paying the rental, she will be in breach of the tenancy agreement between her and Matt. Matt has a right to bring an action against Sally for that cause, though Matt is obliged to repair the damage on the ceiling and flooring of the Property.

Instead, Sally should:

1. Continue paying the rental; and 2. Propose (in writing) to Matt to have the damage repaired within a certain fixed period of time, failing which Sally will get her own contractor to repair the damage done to the Property at Matt’s costs and expenses via deduction of the monthly rental payable by Sally to Matt. In that case, Sally would probably be able to get the repair done quicker and would be able to enjoy the Property earlier.

If Matt does not agree to this and brings an action against Sally for wrongful deduction of rental and/or failure by Sally to pay the rental fully, Sally can show that she has done all reasonable acts to have the repair done and in turn may have a counterclaim against Matt for damages due to the failure by Matt to allow peaceful enjoyment of the Property by Sally.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

Property Nightmare Stories #5: Private arrangement between tenants – Less hassle at the moment but more issues in the future?

Fri, 26 May 2017 06:40:08 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #5: Private arrangement between tenants – Less hassle at the moment but more issues in the future?

Location: Valencia Walk Up Apartment @ Sri Muda, Shah Alam

Jasmine took over the tenancy from her friend, Kenny (who has signed the tenancy agreement with the landlord) and paid the deposit to offset Kenny’s deposit so that Kenny as the actual Tenant can walk away freely.

Later, the Landlord, Siti, found out and agreed to this arrangement as she thought it was relatively simple and hassle-free. Jasmine was allowed to move into the Property immediately.
Is this really of less hassle?

Issues and options

On the face of it, this does sound like a simple and hassle-free arrangement as all parties are on friendly terms. Issues will only arise when things start to get bitter amongst the parties and that is when the parties wished that everything was done in the ‘less-simple’ manner at the first place.

Let’s look at Kenny, Jasmine and Siti’s positions separately.

1. Firstly, Kenny has assigned his rights as a tenant to Jasmine. That is to say, Kenny has stepped out as a tenant and Jasmine has stepped in as a new tenant to the property.
Kenny should note that:

i. This arrangement may not be allowed and must be made with the consent of Siti. In most tenancy agreements, consent of landlord is needed before any assignment or sub-letting.

ii. If the tenancy agreement between Kenny and Siti clearly states that assignment shall only be allowed with consent, Kenny has breached the tenancy by making a private arrangement with Jasmine and Siti would have a right to terminate the tenancy with Kenny, forfeit the Deposit that Kenny has paid and sign a fresh tenancy with the prospective tenant, who may or may not be Jasmine.

Kenny may take into account these options:

i. Assuming that assignment is allowed or consent of Siti has been obtained, Kenny can execute an Assignment cum Novation Agreement which is a three-party agreement between Kenny, Siti and Jasmine. Thus, Kenny would novate its rights to Jasmine and Jasmine technically steps into Kenny’s shoes; or

ii. If the tenancy agreement between Kenny and Siti allows for early termination with notice, Kenny can terminate the tenancy with Siti and Jasmine will then sign a fresh tenancy with Siti. Siti however, has no obligation to sign this new tenancy with Jasmine but it would save her hassle of looking for a new tenant.

iii. With these two options, Kenny will not be in breach of the agreement and his Deposit will not be forfeited.

2. As for Siti, allowing Kenny to move out and Jasmine to move in may seem like the quickest and easiest option now. However, as no tenancy agreement has been signed with Jasmine, issues may arise in the future when there is a dispute. For example, Jasmine may have damaged the fixtures and fittings in the property but when required to repair/make good the damage by Siti, Jasmine may claim that she is not responsible as she is not the tenant under the tenancy agreement (which was between Siti and Kenny).

Siti should:

i. Sign an Assignment cum Novation Agreement with Kenny and Jasmine; or

ii. Allow Kenny to terminate the tenancy agreement with early notice, return his Deposit (subject to deductions due to any other breach by Kenny), sign a new tenancy agreement with Jasmine (or any other prospective tenant).

iii. With this, the rights of Siti will be better protected as a landlord.

3. For Jasmine, signing a fresh agreement with Siti would be of benefits to her. Let us look at two separate scenarios.

i. Assuming that assignment is not allowed and Kenny has ‘secretly’ allowed Jasmine to move into the property, Jasmine will be considered an illegal tenant. Siti would have the right to evict Jasmine when she finds out. Jasmine may also lose the deposit that she has paid Kenny for if he cannot be found.

ii. Another scenario would be that if assignment is allowed and Siti is aware of Jasmine moving in but no tenancy agreement is signed. Although a tenancy can be without writing, when Siti wants to enforce her rights as a tenant in the future (right to peaceful enjoyment of the property, right to reclaim her security deposit at the end of the tenancy etc), it would be more tedious to do so.

4. Having a well-drafted and signed tenancy would no doubt provide comfort and safeguard to both landlord and tenant.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

公寓人士的五大特征

Thu, 04 May 2017 06:37:09 +0800

公寓人士的五大特征

还在犹豫你是否该居住在一间公寓单位中吗？看看一位公寓人士必有的特征！你也有可能满足这些特征呢！

1. 你就是讨厌旁人的目光

喜欢你的邻居吗？或许，并不是任何时候都是吧！你就是不擅长和你的邻居交际！你想要做的就是避免任何眼神接触，或任何与他们的沟通。哎呀！你根本不知道如何开始一段对话，又何必去尝试呢！那么，对你来说，公寓就是一个安全的天堂。少了和邻居们的直接接触，而更好的是（若你有足够的现金），一个私人的升降机大堂！没有了尴尬的时刻！

2. 心中的胆大妄为
难道你心中不是胆大妄为的吗？你喜欢高度。越高越能够刺激你的肾上腺素。如果你不能够每天都进行笨猪跳，那么居住在一个公寓高楼或许能够给予你相同的刺激感！我们并不是建议你说，你应该在你的公寓单位里进行笨猪跳。当然，不行，也不要想去尝试。然而，至少你已经在60层楼高，且在云边之际！同时，这也是一条漫漫长路呢！

3. 你是一位时尚达人！

‘有地房产已经是过时的新闻了！’如果这正是你脑海中所想的，那么你可正在潮流之中呢！公寓高楼的确是房地产市场的最新趋势。它们的设计是时髦的，并且也为你的“时尚跑道”随时准备好。是的，你可以将房地产和时尚划上等号。对你来说，该公寓单位的设计必须犹如卡尔·拉格斐为香奈儿所设计的风格般，亦或如马克·雅各布斯的居家设计般。而谢天谢地，大多数新建的公寓都有着和你一样的情调！

4. 你很容易感到多疑！
你是一位急性偏执狂！后门的小小裂缝也能够让你背脊发凉！入侵警报！朱迪·福斯特和克莉丝汀·史都华于《颤憟空间》里打跑劫匪的情节是否让你产生了噩梦呢？那么，公寓绝对是最适合你的房地产！有着多层的保安检查和进入通道，你将会享有舒适和安全。保安人员巡逻、发展项目中各个角落的闭路电视以及手持出入卡才能够通往指定的楼层。没有一位陌生人能够在你的楼层徘徊不前！不仅如此，居住在第55层将能够确保没有人会失去理智地爬至你的单位打枪你！

5. 你是一位单身人士，并且准备好和其他人士交集！

是的，单身人士都倾向于居住在高楼发展项目中。较小的单位比较吸引人，因为单位越小，麻烦同时也越少。对于一位单身人士的生活方式，一间小型公寓或单间公寓将会非常足够。更何况，你可以在健身房内健身或在那豪华的无边际泳池内游泳，以远离繁忙的工作，同时或许能够和其他的单身人士交际一番呢！

在这里，选出最适合你性格的公寓单位：

我喜欢我的隐私。越少人看见我越好！
随便。只好一切安好即可。
豪华就是我的风格。打我吧！
炫富是我的中间名。

想要知道更多有关新发展项目的资料，立即到PropertyGuru的新房地产推出页面和房地产评论页面。

Property Nightmare Stories #4: You Have 24 Hours to Get out of My House. April Fool… ?

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 06:15:38 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #4: You Have 24 Hours to Get out of My House. April Fool… ?

On the morning of April 1st, Jasmine received a letter from her landlord stating that her tenancy was to be terminated effective April 2nd as utility bills were not paid promptly. Taken aback by this, Jasmine without hesitation rang her Landlord, Balan, immediately.

Balan’s phone was not in service and Jasmine was in a panicked and confused state. She does not know the next steps to this.

In the afternoon of April 1st, the water supply to Jasmine’s condominium was cut. Balan was still uncontactable. Jasmine was clueless and thought this might possibly be an April fool’s joke from her Landlord as rent and utility bills are always paid promptly.

Later that evening, water supply was restored and Balan was contactable. It turns out that a rogue has impersonated Balan to terminate the tenancy.

What can be done in a situation as such? Can water or electricity supply be cut or locked?

1) Jasmine should:-

a) first check whether the water cut is caused by the landlord or rather a water supply disruption or water rationing by the relevant authorities; and
b) whether the utility bills are paid up to date and the duly paid receipts are kept properly; and then
c) check on the termination clauses of the tenancy agreement (if one is entered into between the landlord and her) as to whether:-
i) the landlord can terminate the tenancy agreement in such purported “non-payment of bills” situation;
ii) if yes, what is the period of termination notice that shall be given?

2) In most tenancy agreements, there are usually provisions for:-

a) termination upon reasonable notice in the event of the tenant’s breach (e.g. non-payment of rental and utility bills); or
b) notice to remedy the breach within a reasonable period and if failure to remedy, termination of the tenancy.

3) Jasmine should not be panicked and confused:-

a) if she has always been paying the rent and utility bills of the Demised Premises,
b) the receipts of the duly paid utility bills are kept up to date;
c) (assuming Jasmine’s tenancy provides for reasonable notice to be given for termination) the period of the purported termination notice given is rather short, unlike the usual reasonable notice period.

4) As a result of that, Jasmine should treat the said letter purported to terminate the tenancy with great suspicion. She may also seek written verification of the said letter from the landlord to ascertain the same is being sent out by her landlord.

5) Though there are terms and conditions in some tenancy agreements that allow landlord to cut the water and electricity supply of the tenanted premises in the event of default of payment by
the tenant, it is not advisable for the landlord to do that as the tenant is supposed to have a
peaceful enjoyment of the tenanted premises under the tenancy law and further it may attract
potential legal liability to the landlord in the event the disconnection of the utilities supply causes loss to the tenant’s business.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

Property Nightmare Stories #3: My Electricity Wasn't Working So I Stole My Neighbour's

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 06:45:48 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #3: My Electricity Wasn't Working So I Stole My Neighbour's

A bigger issue than you think: Tampering Power Supply

This is a situation in Valencia Walk Up Apartment @ Sri Muda, Shah Alam. An agent has been helping his client to do Tenant Management where he monitors the payment of Rental, Water & Electricity Bills.

It is a unit rented out to a company as a hostel but the agent was caught by surprise when the electricity bill was zero for the past 2 months with foreign workers staying in the unit. Inspection was carried out to identify if the TNB meter has been damaged.

It was found out that there was no power supply to the unit as the power cable from TNB Meter (on the ground floor) to the unit (on the fourth floor) was stolen.

For the past 2 months, the Tenants were “borrowing” power supply via a wire extension cable from its neighbour. It was dangerous and unsafe to live in this condition.

Solution

This month’s issue involves a nightmare to the tenant! It is important for tenants to know their rights and properly exercise their rights in scenario like this.

It is the responsibility of the landlord to allow the tenant to have peaceful enjoyment of the property during the tenure of the tenancy. Therefore, the tenants have the right to notify the landlord when the unit has no access to electricity and request the landlord to do all necessary to repair the electric cable to ensure that there will be power supply to the unit. And this should be done at the landlord’s own costs and expenses, unless stated otherwise in the Tenancy Agreement.

The Tenants should without delay notify their landlord and not try to resolve the issue via their own means or at its own convenience, as their action to “borrow” power supply from their neighbours:-

a) is illegal under the Electricity Supply Act 1990 and its Regulations which may attract fine or action or prosecution by the relevant authorities against the electricity account holder of the Demised Premises. The Landlord not only will be subjected to fine or action or prosecution by the relevant authorities if he/she is the account holder, but also potential legal claim from the neighbour;

b) is dangerous, unsafe and fire prone as the connectivity via the said wire extension cable was unauthorised and done not according to the proper and right safety standard; and

c) is in breach of the usual tenancy agreement wherein the said action by the Tenant would render the usual insurance policy on the Demised Premises against any loss or damage by fire void.

The above scenario may somewhat be prevented or mitigated by the Landlord via:-

a) Inspection from time to time on the condition of the property;

b) Insist the Tenant to register the electricity account under the name of the Tenant;

c) Obtain an indemnity from the Tenant against any loss, actions, fine, prosecutions or etc. caused by any tampering of the electricity meter or cables or other unauthorised action, or etc. of the Tenant

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

Property Nightmare Stories #2: A Swindler’s Set-Up

Fri, 24 Feb 2017 05:43:02 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #2: A Swindler’s Set-Up

This is a scenario in Ken Rimba Shoplot @ Shah Alam Seksyen 16. John* is in a ‘kedai runcit’ retail business where people can buy products like rice, Milo and cooking oil at discounted prices under its membership program. Business was good and due to limited space, John was keen to expand to the next unit for his business operations.

John agreed to rent a two-storey shop-office (next to his kedai runcit) for RM4,000 and immediately paid RM4,000 in cash as booking fees and provided all the required documents promptly.

John also requested for the key immediately to begin renovations (even before the tenancy agreement was signed) to make full use of the rental free period; and Marcia*, the Landlord gladly agreed as everything seemed to be in place.

Shortly later, the shop was under renovation and in progress for its Grand Opening. Agent Patrick* tried to follow up with John to sign the tenancy agreement but was turned down due to John’s busy schedule.

During the Grand Opening, the event was glorified by the attendance of VIPs. After the Grand Opening, Agent Patrick visited John at the shop-office again to get the tenancy agreement signed and to collect the remaining payment.

Caught by surprise, the shop was closed and a passer-by claimed that a lorry came days ago to remove all the belongings in the market display. John had technically fled with the goods!

Life Has to Go On

There was “rubbish” in the unit and Marcia did not dare to enter as she was afraid of a ‘loss of valuable item’ claim from John. After waiting tolerantly for 2-3 months, Marcia proceeded to open the roller shutter and clean up the mess. The unit was badly vandalised by frustrated victims of the scam who enrolled into the membership program.

The estimated damage cost to Marcia was approximately RM3,000. The unit was left vacant for two years and was only rented out recently.

*Names changed to protect privacy

Solution

One very important aspect that readers may already have picked up on in this scenario is that an agreement was not in place. Legally speaking for a tenancy, a written agreement is not a must in law. It can be oral or by word of mouth, and that is perfectly in order. Practically speaking however, it is always advisable to have a written agreement.

Without a tenancy agreement, the agency’s booking form is crucial as it sets out the preliminary part of the tenancy. Most will stipulate that upon acceptance of the booking form, both parties are required to sign the tenancy agreement within 7 days (for example).

If the tenant defaults like in this case, the landlord will have the right to forfeit the deposit paid. If the landlord defaults, the tenant will have his deposit refunded and a compensation sum received. This is generally speaking from a well-worded booking form.

On the surface, accepting RM4,000 from John and only incurring RM3,000 as damage cost seemed fine. On a closer inspection however, Marcia suffered more loss as she had to incur the initial agent fees for procuring the tenant and subsequently the unit was left vacant without rental for two years. Not to mention on the legal costs for any possible recovery action against John.

Marcia may bring an action to Court for the loss and damage suffered. However, Marcia would need to weigh the time, effort and money spent to claim against John as John has already absconded.

The unfortunate event may be prevented, or rather the loss and damage of the said unfortunate event may be kept to the minimum, if Marcia had done the following:

a) Insist that John:

i) Signs a tenancy agreement spelling out the agreed terms and conditions;

ii) Pay the requisite security and utilities deposits; and/or

iii) Pay a refundable renovation deposit (if the renovation is extensive);

Before passing the key(s) of the Demised Premises to John.

b) Request a renovation plan from John (particularly if the renovation is extensive) before commencement of the renovation.

The above actions will not only give some form of money security to Marcia as a Landlord but also to determine whether John is a genuine or “complying” tenant as most genuine and “complying” tenants would comply fully or to a large extent, the terms and conditions as requested by the Landlord or of the tenancy agreement.

Most of the time, Landlords would rush to “give in” to the requests of Tenants to secure a Tenant. To avoid the unfortunate event as above, Landlords need to be reminded that if a Tenant has difficulty in complying to the standard requirements as above, it may be advisable to the Landlord to reconsider letting out the Demised Premises to the said Tenant.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

Till Property Do Us Apart!

Fri, 17 Feb 2017 06:30:59 +0800

Till Property Do Us Apart!

By Radin Ghazali

Marriage is often than not seen as ‘the adventure’ of one’s lifetime. Living and breathing literally in the same space or air as the other could be an unchartered territory for some. Many have adjusted well to the idea of a married life while some have stumble and fall. And imagine sharing not only a life but a property together? Bearing the finances or cost as well as maintenance and furnishing together!

A property is like having a child. It can be prosperous when you have one or plenty. And it could also be tedious when you are battling for it after a nasty break-up. Sharing the joy as well as the pain, PropertyGuru spoke to those who are currently at both end of the spectrums to prove that the vows don’t lie. For better or for worse, till property do us apart!

If Only I Could Break the House into Two!

Emancipation seems to be what every divorced individual would want from a tedious and perhaps volatile marriage. And Ms. Lulu* seems to believe so.

“I just wanted the marriage to end after years of arguments and miscommunications. I was resilient throughout the years but how far and how long can I take it?” said Ms Lulu who was granted a divorce from her husband of a decade last year. The marriage gave them three kids as well as a bitter taste of life after divorce.

Ms Lulu was liberated from a verbally abusive marriage yet life continues to be topsy-turvy due to poor handling of the divorce settlement, which includes their shared home.

“It’s hard. We are now still arguing over the house that we co-owned. And how are we splitting it? I mean you can’t break the house into two nor can we have the other still cohabiting underneath the same roof. Then it would defeat the whole purpose of getting a divorce in the first place,” she quipped.

Ms Lulu and her ex-husband bought the house two years ago and hence the financial responsibility is still considered fairly new.

“The initial deal was he would fork out the downpayment and I would be responsible for the monthly mortgages. We managed to get the necessaries and hence, bought our first home. But it has now turned into another bitter custody battle,” she explained.

They were given solutions. Among them were selling the house in order to divide the money to both individuals or having one buying out the share from the other. But such solutions seem to be a distance remedy for both individuals.

“We are cash strapped at the moment. Furthermore, where are we going to put the kids if we ever sell the house off? We will be starting from scratch when it comes to buying properties as individuals. Imagine going through the agonising process all over again, alone? Plus, I don’t think I could afford another lawyer to be involved in this matter. Enough with the pending legal fees that I am facing from the divorce,” said Ms Lulu.

The whole ‘custody battle’ worsened as one day Ms Lulu came back from work to a partially empty house.

“He came and moved half of the things to his new rented home! The house was almost empty with furniture like the sofa, dining table, television set and even bed frames were taken. Again, even with a house at hand, I still had to start fresh in getting new things for the place or else my kids would end up sleeping on the floor,” she exclaimed.

Is life now tougher than expected and are there any regrets?

“I won’t deny it. It’s harder than I thought. I got my freedom but I definitely underestimated the repercussions of the divorce has on crucial matters like property, in this case, our home. But no regrets. Life goes on and I just have to deal with it,” she said.

Couple Buys Together, Stays Together

Don’t be wary or start fussing over the nightmare of a relationship ending badly while having a property together. There is always calm in every turbulent sky! Take married couple, Feizal and Aniza for instance. Sharing the same passion and appreciation for properties has made them stronger than ever. They have four properties between them that include both landed houses and high-rise units around Kuala Lumpur!

“We had our own properties prior to our marriage. I have to say that we were already into the idea of owning properties, be it for investment, rental or own stay. Somehow we knew that the property market can be unpredictable and it would be great to own properties at an early stage of our careers.

“Young people would often misconstrue the idea of buying properties early. They assumed that you need to have high income in order to afford one. But that’s not necessarily the case. Bear in mind that the monthly repayments will remain as it is while your salary by all means will increase be it through annual increments or changing jobs. Hence, owning a property at a young age is very much feasible,” explained Feizal.

For this lovely couple, their maturity and intelligence in dealing with finances and prospects for the future can be inspiring to many young couples. Their property journey has always been thinking ahead of their time while being inspired by their parents’ words of wisdom.

“Well, our fathers would tell us that we wouldn’t want to dwell with the could haves or should haves. They encouraged us to act upon it quickly and not regretting when it comes to helming such big responsibility like buying properties,” said both husband and wife, echoing each other’s opinions.

The couple that has been together since their university days also admitted that there will be sacrifices when it comes to owning a handful of properties.

“You can’t live in the moment. You wouldn’t have the cash to spare for leisure or even for overseas trips because you need the money for monthly mortgages, maintenance as well as renovations,” explained Feizal in regards to the gives and takes.

The proud parents of two girls and another bun in the oven are currently in the midst of renovating their fourth property that will be used for their own stay. The double-storey property is located in Zoo View, Gombak.

“We needed a home that could support our expanding family as well as our parents. And we found the right landed property somewhere in Zoo View that needed some fixer upper. It was crucial for us to get a landed home. The perks of buying landed properties are immense. It is easier to carry out expansion and renovations especially when you have a good size of land to work with. You definitely can’t do that with high-rise units,” concluded Aniza.

* Names have been changed to protect privacy

Image sourced from Pulse and Telegraph UK. Pictures of residential properties provided by Aniza

Inspired by Feizal and Aniza’s property journey or perhaps bound to start a new leaf of life after a breakup like Ms Lulu? Check out PropertyGuru’s New Property Launches and Project Reviews.

Mohd. Adib Aziz: I Almost Sold a Murder House!

Fri, 10 Feb 2017 06:00:01 +0800

By Radin Ghazali

Selling a Crime Scene

Nothing can beat the feeling of selling your first property. Ask any agents and they will tell you that the feeling is priceless. As for Mohd. Adib Abd. Aziz, that wasn’t the case. He was relieved that his first transaction as an agent failed.

“I almost sold a crime scene!” he exclaimed while reminiscing his experience of getting his first listing as an agent.

“After shifting careers, many have given me support by suggesting me a couple of listings to kick start my new career as a realty agent. Then along came this landed property located in Ampang, which was suggested to me by a friend. I managed to get the listing, and lo and behold I even got an interested buyer soon after,” recalled the Kuala Lumpur lad.

According to Adib, the buyer was extremely keen in the property. She had no qualms in providing the booking fees along with the down payment for the house.

“The only problem was the property was partially under the care of Amanah Raya (a trustee company) along with its custodian, which was the seller. The owner, who was the wife to the custodian, died without leaving a will. Hence, I needed clearance from Amanah Raya in order to get the transaction done,” said Adib.

While waiting for the long and winding release process to be over, the buyer managed to rent the place for her son upon the custodian’s consensus.

“She called me up one day and said that she was cancelling the purchase. I was stunned and baffled. This was coming from a keen buyer, who was highly anticipating for the property to be hers. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the matter because she would lose her deposit as we have stamped the S&P agreement to the house.”

“I needed to know why and that led me into asking her. Her reply shocked me. She told me that her son was often disturbed or ‘kena kacau’ while living in the house! And given how IT savvy kids are these days, her son Googled the house address and found out that it was once a crime scene! A woman was tragically murdered there. Her body was wrapped and hid in the master bedroom’s closet, which was his bedroom!” said the father of one.

Adib immediately did his own investigation and to his surprise, the murder had generated massive publicity years back. Ironically, the prime suspect was the custodian himself! He definitely did not see that coming.

“There wasn’t any evidence to convict him to the murder and hence he was freed. But whatever that had happened, I was glad that the transaction did not go through. I wouldn’t want to live with the fact that I sold a murder house!” he added.

From a Banker to a Property Agent

This colourful character was once a banker before turning into an agent in 2013.

“I was in the banking industry for years and we all know how the industry is like. Stressful! My physician eventually told me that I was extremely stressed and I needed to ease it a little. That triggered me to quit my banking profession,” said the 35-year-old, who used to work with Standard Chartered and Al Rajhi Bank.

“Thankfully, the career transition was fairly easy for me. I have seen how agents worked while dealing with them back then and plus, I knew the financing part oh so well. All I had to do was to learn the selling/marketing aspect of the job.”

With years of experience as a banker, Adib has dealt with countless of mortgaging related matters among agents and their clients. Such scenario has given him a better grip on the art of property transaction. But he soon realised that there has been a common error practised by most agents then when it comes to financing properties.

“Agents need to know their clients better. Vet through their financial backgrounds even before making appointments or showing them properties. I have seen situations where clients or buyers would have their loans rejected by the banks without their agents being aware of their financial background,” he explained.

‘Breaking the Ice’ with Your Clients

Breaking the ice matters to any property transactions. Adib firmly believes that getting to know your clients better would work wonders in getting their dream homes as one’s clientele can be eclectic and diverse when it comes to needs and wants.

“I would constantly advise them even if they are yet to make any purchasing commitment with me. Showing your concern and do what you are able to do for them would garner their trust. They will come back to you when the time is right,” he explained.

Besides that, being a ‘property negotiator’ would also include giving buyers alternative means and ways to own a property especially when they are cash strapped.

“If they are buying something slightly beyond their means, I would try to advise them to apply a joint loan with their spouse or to obtain proofs of additional incomes such as rental or even savings like ASB. This could help them in increasing their chances of getting their loans approved,” says the agent who is now with Mitra Valuers and Property Consultant.

Passion Above Monetary Rewards

In the end of the day, Adib, who is the co-founder of Muslim Group Negotiator believes in serving the people with passion.

“If you’re in it for the money, then you won’t last that long. You got to be driven, and the main driving force has to be passion. You could be mocked or yelled at. You might even get chased by dogs! Believe me, even agents with lesser years in the field would have tasted such incidents even at the early stages of their careers.”

“Despite the turbulence and challenges, you will not stop or get dishearten by such obstacles because of the burning passion that is inside of you. That passion will ensure your longevity in this business,” he concluded.

For horror-free homes, check out the new homes on PropertyGuru at our New Project Launch or Project Reviews page.

Delayed 10 Years and under Liquidation Now

Wed, 08 Feb 2017 06:45:04 +0800

Delayed 10 Years and under Liquidation Now

The increasing number of abandoned properties are aggravating, especially to the buyers who have large stakes in it.

Two weeks ago, PropertyGuru received an email from a victim who discovered that his property was already completed, but is under Liquidation. Reaching out to PropertyGuru for what his next step should be, PropertyGuru reached out to their legal partners.

Below is the issue that Adam* is facing, and the lawyer’s reply to his plight.

Credits for the legal answer goes to Vivian Teoh Wan Loon (Advocate & Solicitor- Messrs Mak, Ng, Shao & Kee). For more information or legal assistance, call her at 016-966 3208 or email vivian.teoh@esc.legal.

Dear PropertyGuru,

I’d like to consult you on a housing matter after I read an article written by PropertyGuru, ‘ Victims of Abandoned Housing Project Seek Help’.

My sister bought a house named LESTARI PUCHONG approximately more than 10 years ago, of which the cost of the house was about RM45K at that time. We have called up the developer several times as the project was delayed, and were informed that the project is still in progress but will be completed late. We also noticed that the developer was changed many times as well.

I recently called the developer again to inquire the development’s status and was informed that the house is completed but is now under liquidation. What does that mean? How can we solve this liquidation problem? Please advise us.

Thanks.

Dear Adam*,

Issues:

1) The completion in the Project for your sister’s property has been delayed more than 10 years.
2) After 10 years, the Property is completed however the Developer has been wound up and the Property is currently being managed by Liquidator. How can your sister can get back her property if the Developer is in Liquidation?

Our Legal Advice:

For the First Issue:

Your sister shall refer to the Principal Sale and Purchase Agreement (Schedule H/G) that your sister entered last time with the Developer to check the Completion Date of the Construction which will be mentioned in the Clause Title “Time for Delivery of Vacant Possession”.

Your sister may calculate out the total days delay by Developer (in Liquidation) from the expiry of the Completion Date till to date. Based on the Schedule H/G, the Developer shall pay to the Purchaser (your sister) the liquidated damages calculated from day to day at the rate of 10% per centum per annum of the Purchase Price from the expiry period of completion until the date your sister takes vacant possession of the Property.

If your sister would like to try to claim any damages not withstanding that the Developer has been wound up, your sister may try to lodge a complaint and claim in the prescribed form together with the prescribed claiming from Liquidator for any loss and liquidated damages that she suffered or any matter concerning her interests as a homebuyer based on Clauses 16L, 16M, 16N, 16O & 16P “Abandonment to bring claim within Jurisdiction”.

Your sister may log in to this website to check the details in lodging the complaint and claim to the housing ministry tribunal: http://www.kpkt.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/423.

Your sister may also directly visit TPPS for more details if she wishes to:

Tribunal Perumahan Dan Pengurusan Strata (TPPS)
Aras 3, No. 51, Presint 4, Persiaran Perdana, 62100 Putrajaya. Tel : +(6)03-8891 3284 (Hotline)  Fax : +(6)03-8891 4755 Email : tribunal@kpkt.gov.my

In view the Developer has been wound up, your sister might be able to make a claim from Liquidator only, not from Developer. If there is a case to be heard, the Awards will be granted (if any) in favour of your sister but it is always subject to the discretion and jurisdiction of Tribunal whether Liquidator is bound to pay any damages or not. Your sister may try but the chances to get the Awards may be low in view that the Developer has been wound up.

For the Second Issue:

A liquidator is an officer appointed by the High Court or the Creditors of the Company (Developer) to realise all available assets of the Company (Developer), and distribute the proceeds received from assets realisation after deducting cost of liquidation and any remaining surplus to remaining contributories and to Creditors whose Proof of Debts have been admitted. The liquidator is empowered to act on all matters on behalf of the Company (Developer). In the case of abandoned project(s), Liquidator will undertake to revive the project subject to availability of funding.

In view the Property has been completed. Your sister shall get the contact of the Liquidator in arranging the collection of vacant possession (keys) and Access Cards (if any) of the Property from the Liquidator.

Please also remember to get from the Liquidator a copy each of the Certificate of Completion and Compliance, Master Title in respect of the Property, the latest duly paid Master quit rent receipt and Master assessment receipt of the Property for your sister’s record. Please also confirm with them if there is any allocated Accessory Parcel (i.e: car park) for that unit parcel that your sister bought.

The Liquidator might request some documents from your sister for verification as your sister is the home buyer for that particular parcel unit before delivering the Property to your sister.

Aside from that, your sister may also contact her previous Sale and Purchase Agreement [“SPA”] Lawyer who acted for the Developer (in Liquidation) to get more info of the latest status of the Project and to clarify the Liquidator details. The SPA lawyer details will be stated in the Sale and Purchase Agreement entered between the Developer and your sister.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

This case was brought to you by PropertyGuru. Visit our New Property Launch page for the latest launches in the market.

Property Nightmare Stories #1: Amanda and her MIA Tenant

Fri, 27 Jan 2017 02:30:36 +0800

Property Nightmare Stories #1: Amanda and her MIA Tenant

Passive income from rental properties are every person’s dream. But here are some stories of things gone horribly wrong when the tenancy agreement is not properly negotiated and enforced.

Amanda and her MIA Tenant

Amanda* is a kindly old lady who owns a unit in Cyberia Smart Home @ Cyberjaya. A time ago, she rented out her fully furnished house to a Mongolian student. During the student’s last few months staying in the house, he did not pay his rent – but being a kindly lady, Amanda allowed him to continue living in the house.

Knowing that the student was going to leave the country soon, Amanda reminded the student to settle all his outstanding utility bills and handover the keys to the house before he left. On the keys handover date, Amanda attempted to call the student; but no one picked up the call. Realising that something wasn’t quite right, Amanda went to check her unit out.

The student had already left – and imagine her shock when she discovered her unit was damaged, in a major mess and terrible condition. The utility bills which totalled to a couple of thousand ringgit were left unpaid. Amanda was shocked, extremely disappointed and sad that her kindness was taken for granted. She had to pay for cleaners to clean up the space, and due to her limited budget she had to repaint the entire house herself in tears of weariness.

In the end, due to the damage inflicted on a majority of the household items, Amanda could only rent her house out for RM1,000 in basic condition.

*Name changed to protect privacy

Solution

Scenarios like Amanda’s are unfortunately altogether very common. Speaking to professional lawyers who specialise in creating tenancy agreements, PropertyGuru has pinpointed the crucial aspects of renting out a property to anyone:

i. If your tenant is making late rental payments, ensure that they pay interest and make prompt payment in the future or evict them. This is a practice that most landlords do not enforce.

ii. Request proof of utility bills payment every month to ensure that the Tenant pays them. It can be as simple as the Tenant taking a photo of the receipt and sending it to the Landlord via WhatsApp monthly.

iii. Carry out surprise inspections on the property. It can be during festive seasons where you drop in to wish them well – and if you find damaged items, you can request your Tenant to repair or replace the damaged fixtures or fittings as based on the Tenant Agreement.

iv. Always check out your potential Tenants. If your property is Commercial titled and is meant for running businesses, obtain your Tenant’s company details or the details of their business partners. If the Tenant is an employee, obtain the details of their employer’s details. If possible, get a local guarantor, and consider a fixed term tenancy where the Tenant will be charged a penalty if they terminate the agreement prematurely. The Landlord can also request a higher security deposit or even a quarter or half yearly advance rental.

By enforcing all of the above steps, in the event that the Tenant breaches their contract, the landlord will have the right to:

i. Forfeit all security and utility deposits due to the breach. To a certain extent, the Landlord will also be able to demand that the Tenant pays for some of the costs incurred for cleaning and clearing the property.

ii. Alternatively, if the contract is still ongoing, the Landlord may issue a written notice to the Tenant reminding them of the contract agreements and demanding that they make payment on their rental and utility bills. In the event that the Tenant fails to do so, the Landlord may evict the Tenant. In the event that the Tenant refuses to leave, the Landlord may obtain a Court Order to get the Tenant to leave the property. A Court Order is however costly and time consuming.

iii. The Landlord can also further sue the Tenant in court for failing to pay rental and the utility bills, for the cleaning and clearing expenses and for other loss or damaged goods. However if the Tenant has left the country as in Amanda’s case, the case will take longer and be more costly. If the Landlord chooses to take this step, then they should consider if the amount of money they get back will justify the expense, trouble and time utilised in suing the Tenant.

Amanda’s case is altogether an unfortunately all too common scenario. In order to avoid getting into the same pitfall as Amanda, Landlords should consider hiring a lawyer to draft their Tenancy Agreements and then enforce them strictly.

To visit some of the other nightmares, look for the one you resonate with most:

The Joys and Maladies of Property Buying

Thu, 26 Jan 2017 04:22:51 +0800

The Joys and Maladies of Property Buying

Buying a property is usually the biggest decision anyone’s life, not only because of the implications that come with it; being grown up, mature and responsible; but also because of the amount of money that is spent on it. In fact, buying a property will probably be anyone’s biggest monetary investment in anyone’s life.

But the journey to property buying is often not easy, and comes with many moments of confusion, amusement, exasperation, joy and laughter.

As first time home buyers are usually the most affected by all the maladies of property buying, PropertyGuru decided to run a competition and collect all of the most unusual stories last year in 2016 – and select the most unusual story to be the winner.

Here are excerpts of some of the most amusing stories shared:

My first house was a single-storey in Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. When I collected the house keys, I had an argument with the site staff that the particular unit was mine. But he allowed me to move in.

One afternoon, after staying in that house for one year, a family knocked on my door and enquired why I was occupying their house. I went to the site office together with the family to check the house plans and to my horror, I had moved into the wrong house!

Fortunately the site personnel was so kind as to offer to help me with the moving and the Site Manager commented that I should buy a lottery ticket as this kind of incident seldom happens and it brings luck to the owner. – Mah Beng Chu

When we were about to purchase our very first house, we used an app to reach the destination; it was house No 9. Trusting the app, the both of us didn’t note the house number when we arrived.

There was an aunty sweeping the porch. She saw us, greeted, smiled and immediately invited us inside. We were surprised that there were actually people in the house! The aunty brought out a catalogue that contained some nutritional products and started explaining each of them. We were served some nutritious chilled drinks too after that.

We then asked the aunty what the house number was. She said it’s No 99. We smiled and pretended all was fine and to not disappoint her, we purchased two bottles of nutritional drinks and quickly left.

We had a good laugh inside the car and promised never to 100% trust apps again. – Shobana Davyan

Some heartbreaking stories that inspired individuals to buy a property:

“GET OUT FROM THIS HOUSE!!“
“You DO NOT belong here!! Get LOST!!!”

Windy, cold, sleepless, and crying… Yes, that was the driving factor for a 17 year-old-boy who had
nothing but harsh younger days. He stayed in a few rented houses for 14 years with his parents and
siblings. They rented houses from rural areas to isolated spots nearby the cemetery; there was a time they rented a house infested with pigeons.

This is the story of a strong young boy who grew up into an even stronger young man – who now owns 3 properties. – Chyuan

I was born in 1990. My father owned a road construction company until I was five and then he lost his business and home. We moved to a rural area in Kapar, Selangor and for two years, we stayed in a rental unit next to the forest. In 2001, my beloved father passed away in an accident but the insurance company claimed it was suicide and closed the case. Only his EPF and Socso helped us survive.

During my college days around 2001, my funds for lunch and dinner was RM4.00. My part time income and my mom provided RM50.00 per week to cover all the expenses including my tuition fee without PTPTN loan. I slept at the bus stop in front of the KL Sentral Monorail Station before when I missed my bus back to Puchong. I suffered, but that got me thinking about raising my dignity and being successful in life.

In 2011 I began working and by 2012, I bought a medium cost apartment. In 2014, my fiancée, mother and grandmother together closed a deal for a 1.5-storey townhouse and in 2015 we bought a first floor office and shop unit. – Lingesvran A/L Battumalaiz

And some stories of property buying that did not go as well as expected:

My first purchased home was a second hand unit (subsale). Upon visiting I found it had such a colourful interior I thought I was looking at a childcare centre. Every room and every wall had a different colour scheme. The owner was always away during the daytime so I had to view the home at night. This was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made.

This is a story of a man who had to spend unnecessary money fixing up his property as he did not check it out thoroughly enough. – Daniel Hii Jun Chung

I didn’t know where to start. I simply walked into the office of the condominium I had my eyes on and asked the staff, “Any unit for sale here?” When the lady recommended me a unit, I thought I was in luck. She became the “agent” and I entrusted her to help liaise with the owner. When I got too busy with work, she took care of the necessary.

That was more than a decade ago. Today I’m still staying in the unit perpetuated with problems such as leaking ceiling. The condominium is also poorly maintained. The lifts break down at least once a week. The pool is green. The corridor is dimly lit.

I recently learnt from that lady’s colleague that she earned RM6,000 from the owner to get rid of the house as some problems were already surfacing then. – Chan Hen Yock

To read the full version of all the stories and perhaps learn a thing or two from other real life experiences, download the My Home My Stories eBook here.

Good Samaritan Helps Couple Get Their Home Back

Fri, 13 Jan 2017 07:05:18 +0800

Good Samaritan Helps Couple Get Their Home Back

A couple facing eviction from their home in Subang 2 at Shah Alam are now breathing sigh of relief after a good Samaritan, who had purchased the house at an earlier auction, cancelled the deal and gave away the RM44,500 deposit he paid to settle a portion of the family’s outstanding mortgage.

Nadzim Johan, a member of the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM), said the lender Affin Bank has agreed that it would no longer proceed with the sale it planned to recover the remaining loan quantum, after PPIM started a donation drive to gather money to help the couple repay the rest of their balance.

Ideally, Bank Negara Malaysia and the Finance Ministry should make sure that such incidents don’t happen anymore to other people, Nadzim urged.

“They must come out with a ruling that banks cannot declare those with assets as bankrupt,” he added.

Moreover, the group is persuading Affin Bank to rescind the couple’s bankruptcy status. “We are now waiting for Affin Bank to finalise the annulment of their (the couple’s) bankruptcy status.”

Meanwhile, the owner, 42-year-old Nor, and her husband are immensely grateful to their benefactor, Lee Hui Sen, who had visited the home after winning the auction, but could not bear in his heart to make the family homeless.

Subsequently, a Facebook post regarding Lee’s kind deed, along with picture of a letter he had written containing a Feng Shui advice to the family, has become a trending topic in social media.

Image sourced from Getty & The Star

Diane Foo Eu Lynn, Senior Content Specialist at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email diane@propertyguru.com.my

My Home, My Story: Allen, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Mon, 31 Oct 2016 06:56:50 +0800

My Home, My Story: Allen, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Wong Fook Loon @ Allen is the Southern Region recipient of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) – PropertyGuru Top Online REN 2016.

From East-Coast to Singapore

I was born and bred in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia – at Kuantan, Pahang. I was from quite a traditional Chinese family, and I was the youngest amongst four siblings.

My life continued in Kuantan with my parents until the age of 17. Right after completing my SPM, I knew I had to move out to find a direction on my own.

Hence, I moved to Singapore in the year 1998 in the hopes of finding a good job. My life in Singapore was good. I did many jobs which include working as an IT guy in Harvey Norman, which was formerly known as Electric City.

After that, I ventured into sales-based jobs, while studying a UK Online Course part-time. Later on, I graduated and became a Graphic Designer – a job that I loved, but which I grew bored of as time went by. It was an office based job and I was doing the same thing over and over again.

I started my own family along the way.

Life changing decision

I was in Singapore when I had to make a life-changing decision. I had my own family and a highly paid job in Singapore. However, I was considering a career change.

Right at that time, Iskandar Malaysia came to the spotlight and Singaporeans were going crazy over it. I knew Iskandar Malaysia holds vast potential, especially in terms of real estate and other opportunities. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, hence, I moved to Johor Bahru with my family to become a Real Estate Negotiator.

It was the year 2014 and I started my career at CBD Properties. It was a totally different environment for me, as my previous job was an office based job and I seldom went out to meet people regarding work.

But as a REN, I was required to meet people constantly which allowed me to increase my network and acquaintances. I loved the job. I had more exposure to the outside world and I befriended many people along the way, who are valuers, lawyers and bankers, to name a few.

A decision I’ll never regret

Learning a new business was not that easy, however, my previous job experience as a sales professional come in handy. I was very focused and clear in my career path. And I know I made the right decision to move and become a negotiator.

Thus, I bought a landed property in Skudai, Johor in the same year. It was a double-storey terrace project, which I purchased for my own stay. So far I have only acquired one property, but I am still looking forward to acquire a few more houses to add on to the list.

As for my career, I was quite shocked when I was selected as the recipient of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agent (MIEA) – PropertyGuru TOP REN (Southern) 2016. I couldn’t believe it! It’s like my years of hard work has finally paid off.

I’m thankful to the people who stood by me, especially my family, friends, clients and colleagues – who made this possible.

Mangalesri Chandrasekaran, Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email mangales@propertyguru.com.my

My Home, My Story: The Lessons Learnt

Wed, 26 Oct 2016 06:55:38 +0800

My Home, My Story: The Lessons Learnt

By Nilam Ghazali

Through PropertyGuru’s ‘My Home, My Story’, our readers share their ultimate deciding factor that determines the ‘Yay’ or ‘Nay’ of a property, as well as obstacles faced during purchasing those properties. Among the popular factors shared are location, finances and even types of properties. Here are some of the highlights from their entries.

LOCATION, LOCATION and LOCATION. That sums it all. A location could make or break a deal for many property seekers. Remember the time when people would flock from all over to live in the capital city to due job opportunities? This had eventually spiked the value of homes especially within Klang Valley for decades long. Nonetheless, the tide has changed. Many are now flocking away from the city to newer townships at the city’s outskirt.

For KL based resident Fong Pak Hong, luck plays a crucial role in deciding a place to call home. He stumbled upon a property that was up for grabs and ironically, it was a whole lot cheaper than the market value. But there was a catch- the property was located all the way in Seremban 2.

“What! Single storey house 20’x60′ cost only RM168,000 in Seremban 2? Let’s call the agent!” he recapped in astonishment via his entry. Upon contacting the agent, once again lady luck was on Pak Hong’s side as the owner reduced the asking price, again. He later found out that the owner had hastened the sale due to a debt that needed to be paid.

“After few months, we finally settled down here although we work in KL. Such a comfortable place here in Seremban 2,” he wrote. The distance to KL isn’t an issue these days. Connecting roads or highways and trains have made commuting easier. Seremban 2 offers great affordable housing properties especially for those with a family and expanding.

Guess the tagline “Work in KL, stay in Seremban” was right on the money all along!

Having faith in newer townships doesn’t hurt. Mirzam bin Taiman shares his experience in purchasing an apartment unit in a relatively unknown area called Bandar Baru Bangi back in 2011. It was located in a gated and guarded low-rise apartment and valued at RM150,000. Mirzam was also curious to know why his agent had received numerous enquiries about the unit.

“I was shocked because this apartment complex is a hot area and people kept asking for a house to rent. Maybe because it is still cheap,” he mentions in his entry. The longevity of the township continues as a popular destination for many in calling Bangi home.

“Until now, I am still enjoying living here with my family. We live in a friendly and conducive neighbourhood community within the apartment compound,” he concluded.

Lee Jirn Chin jumped on the bandwagon when it came to moving away from Klang Valley. It had always been his mission to find a house that could accommodate his family and was at the same time affordable due to his low income. Hoping to snap up a subsale property around town, Jirn Chin was left exasperated at the price tag and the required amount of money to be placed upfront.

“One day, my wife showed me the advertisement of a townhouse from a new property development, which is cheap but far away from Klang Valley and we were decided to go to the sales office to have a look,” he recalled.

He immediately placed a booking on a cluster semi-D due to the affordable price tag. Two years has passed; Jirn Chin is now a proud owner of a brand new home.

“Although the property is located far from Klang Valley, but we felt that we did the right decision to own the property for our own stay,” he noted in his entry.

Another factor that has a profound effect while purchasing a property or a home is one’s finances. Owning a home is not cheap. There are rigorous and tedious processes that buyers need to go through before getting a home. The road can be bumpy but the end result tends to be rewarding!

Josephine A/P Sebastian shares her journey in sorting out her finances while getting a home for herself. In her case, mother knows best. She received a gift of RM1,000 from her mom as an incentive to buy a house on her birthday. Despite constant debates of her inability to buy a home due to her status as a student then, Josephine finally abided to her mother’s wish.

“I remember going to banks after banks, most of them rejected me without even looking at my documents or what I had to say. I don’t blame them as I was not employed, as I was still studying for my Masters. Perseverance and Faith in God kept me to push the limits and boundaries that are around me,” she mentions in her entry.

After finally getting her loan approved, Josephine vowed to save up to pay the MRTA and the 20% downpayment. She has proven that it is feasible to own a home by planning your finances thoroughly, and she definitely owes it to mum!

Getting a new best friend in a form of a bank officer wouldn’t hurt either. Take it from Mazlina binti Ahmad who found a dear friend in Azlina, her loan officer.

“I remembered spending a lot of time with her, asking, probing, arguing and crying on some issues about the loan, when my confidence level was at its lowest. Azlina thoroughly and patiently explained and did the calculation on how much I should loan from the bank, and how my EPF Account 2 would be able to reduce the burden of the monthly installments,” she explained as she embarked on a journey to purchase a Country Villa located in Kajang, at the age of 51.

Mazlina is definitely reaping the pleasures of living in her Spanish-inspired villa with her entire family now. Not bad for a late property bloomer!

Get sound and unbiased advice from the professionals. It doesn’t hurt to get acquainted with the officer who is handling your loan. Their financial advices will aid tremendously especially in how to prep your documents right up to the approval stage of your loan. Never head on down this road alone, and a friend who understands the industry could truly help.

There are a lot of relatable stories that can be found through ‘My Home, My Story’ competition. But which entry deserves the winning prize money of RM10,000? Vote for your favourite story by logging onto PropertyGuru

My Home, My Story: Halim Osop, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 06:00:04 +0800

My Home, My Story: Halim Osop, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Halim Bin Osop is the Central Region recipient of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) – PropertyGuru Top Online REN 2016.

The Tough Beginning

Life was not easy for me in the beginning. I was born in Ipoh, Perak and my parents had a total of seven children. I was the youngest of them all.

We struggled mostly. I sat for SPM in the year 1988 and was working part-time to support myself and my family. Right after that, I enrolled in a Polytechnic to pursue Business Studies.

In my teenage life, I tried many jobs. Amongst them were as a factory worker, cashier at restaurant and marketing job at a supermarket. I tried to do whatever job I could to support my family.

I got married in the year 1997 when my situation was slightly stable. In the same year, my wife and I bought a house together in Ipoh for our own stay. But things turned otherwise later when I was unable to serve my monthly loan installment during the economy downturn in the year 1998.

That was the worst time of my life! My house was about to be auctioned and I know I had to do something about it. Hence, before the bank could auction my house, I tried to find a buyer myself and sold the house successfully.

It was a big relief once I sold the house. I was able to settle my debt with the bank and managed to make some profit at the same time. At that point, I realised the opportunities real estate industry offers.

Moving for Better

It was the year 2000 and my life started to get better for good. Right at that time, one of my lawyer friends in Kuala Lumpur encouraged me to move to KL to explore the opportunities available.

Hence, I moved and started exploring the jobs available. Along the way, I ventured into the real estate business. I started slow, learned the business and became a certified negotiator in the year 2006.

Becoming a real estate negotiator was a not an easy job, especially in KL. The competition was high, which was so much different from the property market in Perak. I struggled to cope and the market was mainly dominated by a certain people.

During my struggles, one of my colleagues introduced me to PropertyGuru. I’d heard about the portal before but had yet to give it a try. Hence, I met the sales personnel and started advertising on the website.

I subscribed to the beginner level and was quite surprised to receive a high number of leads. Later on, I upgraded myself to the Professional package. I also purchase Ad Credits constantly to re-post my listings and spent around RM10,000 per year.

Even though it seems like a big amount, yet it was totally worth it as I received a high return on investment. I was also assisted well by the PropertyGuru staffs who offered help whenever needed, despite urgent requests.

At the same time, I observed my clients and found out that almost all of them are the loyal followers and users of PropertyGuru. Some even told me that, PropertyGuru is the first thing that comes to their mind when they have property related doubts or while searching for a preferred home. Knowing this, I started using the property portal continuously and my career grew immensely over the years.

Despite my struggles in the beginning, I persevered; and PropertyGuru worked as my biggest pillar to help me succeed.

I learned the basic trait a negotiator should have to survive, which is to be humble all the time and befriend everyone despite race and gender. Meantime, being honest and reliable will help to retain the clients. These were the vital key notes that I learned during my early days in KL, which helped me to improve.

In the same year, I bought a house again in Puchong by forking out a down payment of RM50,000. It was a relief to finally buy a house as it was necessary, especially for my child.

My Happy Ending

My life transformed from worst to better due to the opportunities I’ve explored. If I had maintained living in Perak and had not moved to KL, I doubt that I would have come up this much in my life.

Now at the age of 40, besides my career as a real estate negotiator, I have also developed a passion for property investment. Right after buying my first home in Puchong, I bought another nine properties. My properties consist of a terrace home, while the rest are apartments. I believe that this is just some of the many properties I will buy for investment purpose.

In terms of my career, I have received many recognitions from my brokerage Diamond Realty. However, this is the first time I’m receiving external awards and I’m more than glad to be the recipient of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) – PropertyGuru TOP REN (Central) 2016 award.

I couldn’t have done it without the support of my family, friends, clients, colleagues and most importantly PropertyGuru.

Mangalesri Chandrasekaran, Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email mangales@propertyguru.com.my

My Home, My Story - The Bad and The Ugly

Mon, 24 Oct 2016 04:08:33 +0800

My Home, My Story - The Bad and The Ugly

By Nilam Ghazali

There are times when our journey in search of a dream home would end up as a nightmare and a torturous limbo for some. It can be an excruciatingly painful pill for homebuyers to swallow and assumingly turning a new leaf in life would instantly be sufficient to cure the hurt. But the effects can be long and haunting.

Through PropertyGuru’s ‘My Home, My Journey’, readers who have endured such journeys share their moments of bitterness when it comes to purchasing properties and in most circumstances, their first homes.

We share some of these riveting stories with you and hopefully, we can learn from their experiences and take their words of wisdom in deterring any bad decisions among other homebuyers.

Patrick Lee was extremely determined to get his life in order. He was thrilled to have the opportunity to purchase an up and coming development in Puchong upon the conviction of a salesperson whom he met a few years ago.

One day, Patrick and his girlfriend made an appointment to visit the show unit of the development. Upon their arrival, they were unlucky enough to meet a pushy salesperson who forced them into putting down an immediate downpayment.

Succumbing to such persuasion and promises of freebies and ‘ang pau’, he paid. Things did not turn out that rosy soon after. Patrick was denied the promised freebies of two air conditioner units as he overlooked his S&P agreement prior to that.

To keep things afloat, he rented out the unit to a foreign family that often skipped monthly rental payments and eventually took half of the unit’s appliances upon evacuating. Moments like this, disparity starts kicking in and in most circumstances, owners would eventually have to ‘let go’ of the property.

As first time buyers, due diligence is crucial. Researching and asking questions to the rightful authorities are the important steps that need to be taken. In Patrick’s case, no one was there to guide him. He embraced the lesson with an open heart and is hopefully, not deterred from buying properties in the future.

Pung Chen Chun shares a rather nostalgic take from his experience of buying a home in the 70’s. A journalist of a Brunei publication based in Sabah, Chen Chun was adamant in moving his family of three out from their rental home.

An idyllic area called Fairview Pak grabbed his attention as the property that he wanted was priced at RM130,000. Despite not earning enough, Chen Chun managed to come up with the downpayment of RM30,000 in three years. The first two years looked promising as the house was taking shape but the third year proved to be devastating.

“One day, before I was due to pay my third installment of RM10,000, I visited the site to discover that the roof trusses had disappeared. The developers’ office said the contractor did not follow the building specifications and there was a slight delay. Not suspecting anything, and worried that the money I had may ‘disappear’ if I held on to it, I decided to pay,” he shares in his entry.

Weeks turned to months, he soon found out that his dream home was literally sinking into the ground. Apparently, the engineers and contractors failed to detect ‘a subterranean stream that, when disturbed by piling, began to suck in anything built upon it’.

The developers were scot-free and left the project high and dry. Sadly, the housing laws back in the 70’s weren’t strong and efficient enough to protect buyers, which included buyers of abandoned projects.

“My only regret is that while many of the housing projects abandoned during my trying times were subsequently revived, the land on which once sat Fairview Park was somehow taken over by another developer, and new houses have since been built. How could the land not be encumbered when the project on which it sat failed?” he questions in his entry.

Chan Hen Yock’s experience is another to share. Property purchasing isn’t a walk in the park or even can it be equated to impulsive buying. In Hen Yock’s situation, being a first time buyer can be extremely dangerous especially if it’s done without consulting the professionals.

It started off one day as Hen Yock approached the management office of his desired condominium. Without doing any surveys or researches, he approached a lady from the office and enquired about available units. Clearly, a grave mistake to do!

The lady immediately recommended him a unit that was up for sale. Well, let’s put it this way, the rest was history. The lady acted as his ‘agent’ or ‘middle person’ in getting negotiations and transactions done between him and the owner. And lo and behold, the unit did have a few surprises up its sleeves. A decade later, Hen Yock is still living in that unit while dealing with numerous problems.

“Today I’m still staying in the unit perpetuated with problems such as a leaking ceiling. The condominium is also poorly maintained. The lifts break down at least once a week. The pool is green. The corridor is dimly lit,” he mentions in his entry.

He recently got to know that his ‘middle person’ had actually received RM6,000 from the previous owner for her help in getting rid of the unit and left her role at the management office right after the deal was done.

Which story got your attention? Did you relate to any of the entries as highlighted and empathize the writer due to similar experiences? And which story gave the biggest life lesson that homebuyers need to know before making the biggest decision of their life?

My Home, My Story: Chan

Thu, 20 Oct 2016 04:00:42 +0800

My Home, My Story: Chan

This story was submitted by Chan Hen Yock

My first time home buying experience is a dreadful one! I was clueless and I didn’t know how to get an agent. I didn’t know where to start.

Thus, I simply walked into the condominium’s management office, which I had my eyes on and asked the staff if there’s any unit for sale. The lady earnestly recommended me a unit and I thought I was in luck. She became the ‘agent’ and I entrusted her to help liaise with the owner. When I got too busy with work, she took care of the necessary.

She became the agent and I entrusted her to help liaise with the owner. When I got too busy with work, she took care of the necessaries.

That was more than a decade ago. Today I’m still staying in the unit which is full of problems such as a leaking ceiling. The condominium is also poorly maintained; the lifts break down at least once a week; the pool is green; the corridor is dimly lit.

Apparently, the management fails to collect the maintenance fee from all residents, which affects residents like me. I was unaware that I needed to check on the management and the condition prior to purchasing the property. After all, I didn’t purchase it from the developer, but from its first owner.

To add to the misery, I recently learned from the agent’s colleague that she earned RM6,000 from the owner to get rid of the house, as problems already started surfacing then. No wonder she pretended to help and quitted shortly after.

I learnt my lesson the hard way, which put me through so much of struggle. To all first time home buyers, please find a good agent!

This story was submitted for the MY HOME, MY STORY campaign. The grand prize winner will stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Inspiring Moments

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 07:00:51 +0800

My Home, My Story: Inspiring Moments

By Nilam Ghazali

We tend to take personal stories from others to be made into invaluable life lessons. These poignant stories help to mould and create the person we are today by extracting the moral of every experience.

Through PropertyGuru’s latest competition ‘My Home, My Story’, our readers share their personal stories of purchasing their properties, be it the good, the bad and even the ugly.

It could be a nerve wrecking experience for many when it comes to buying properties and in most cases, their first homes. But let’s share the lighter and inspiring moments when it comes to finding their dream homes. Here are some of the highlights from their stories.

Asma Abd Muhaimin

Bubbly yet determined, Asma Abd Muhaimin shares her experience after feeling the pain of living in a rented room shared with a few other roomies. Sharing an apartment or even a room is such a common scenario among fresh grads and young singletons who are living in the city as rentals could skyrocket beyond their means and wages.

Such disparity of renting drove Asma to seek a property that would best fit her. Despite whining throughout the most part of her search for the perfect home, Asma finally fell in love with a studio unit that fitted her criteria and of course, her budget.

Often confiding in her male colleague while mulling over her decision, he finally gave her a wake-up call in making the ultimate verdict. “Well for someone who says she hates the place, you seem to be planning on moving in already!” he said to Asma one day.

There’s no sense of regret as she puts it, “What I can say, is that I have a happy non-sticky home to come back to each day.” And as an added bonus, she also quoted “… I also found my soulmate in the process! He was hiding behind the luggage bag all along”.

We’re assuming that she found her Prince Charming too while searching for her perfect home?

Jaya Prem A/L Gopal Krishnan

The property market can be extremely gracious especially when it is done in the right place and at the right time along with lots of guts and dedication. Jaya Prem A/L Gopal Krishnan finds his property journey rather fruitful.

The law graduate found himself determined to own his own home, rather than renting after returning from London. Despite scepticism from friends and family, Jaya set his eyes on a condominium unit in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.

But the journey wasn’t that smooth sailing. Jaya faced a couple of hiccups with the banks as his loan applications often ended up rejected due to less than exemplary CTOS records. Luckily for him, a RHB bank officer aided him till the very end. Finally, the beautiful sea view condo unit was his for RM400,000.

“My first home gave me a very holiday kind of feeling for the past 5 years as it was facing the sea on one side and the hills on the other side. On top of that, my first home gave me a clean profit of RM330,000,” said Jaya, reflecting the profits gained after the initial struggle of getting his first home. Being adamant could truly be a blessing in his case. And of course, the monetary profit was definitely the icing on the cake.

Wong Shak Kong

Then there’s the rags to riches story that could motivate anyone who are feeling that they are down at the bottom of the pit. Wong Shak Kong’s personal struggles can literally be adapted to film due to its Cinderella-like tale.

With an unemployed father and three siblings to support, Shak Kong was determined to change the destiny of his family for the better. His family had never owned a property and often had to evacuate out from their rental homes due to merciless hikes in the rentals.

“When most of my friends chose to buy a car, owning a house has been my first priority after graduating, even when I was still riding my 6 years old Yamaha to SS2 for work,” he quoted in his entry.

With little to spare, he decided to use the remaining sum from his father’s EPF account to purchase a house and was adamant to get a property that was priced around his limited budget. Finally, he bought a single storey terrace house with three rooms.

Moderation is simply the best especially for those who have tasted hardships and struggles. “For us, old or new did not matter, as long as we had a shelter and no one would chase us out again. Of course, the only regret is that my mother is no longer around to share the joy,” he wrote, summing up his journey.

Which journey strikes a chord within you? Could it be the bubbly and determined singleton Asma who just had enough of living in a heated and sticky rented room, and finally found her true love in a studio apartment? Or practising lawyer Jaya who sought independence upon returning from London and made a huge profit out of his first property despite naysayers?

Or could it be the rags to riches story of Shak Kong who went through lots of downs since childhood and finally found his happy ending in a home, bought specially for his family?

There are a lot of relatable stories that can be found through the PropertyGuru ‘My Home, My Story’ competition. But which entry deserves the winning prize money of RM10,000?

Vote for your favourite story by logging onto PropertyGuru

My Home, My Story: Tong Hiew

Wed, 19 Oct 2016 02:00:25 +0800

My Home, My Story: Tong Hiew

This story was submitted by Tong Hiew Wei

My first home buying experience was disastrous! It was in the year 2001, when I was 24 years old. I scrimped and saved RM20,000 downpayment for my first home purchase.

Like every young graduate, I dreamt of owning a car and a home with my hard-earned money. Having bought my first car the previous year, I was excited about the prospect of being a proud home owner next!

Back then the homes in Malaysia were still affordable and within the reach of most average wage earners. I did my calculations and figured I could afford an RM200,000 home with an RM20,000 downpayment, with a mortgage loan of around RM180,000.

Unfortunately, being young and naive, I failed to do “research” or even bother asking around. All I was thinking back then was to buy a landed property near to Bukit Jalil Park, where I go jogging on weekends. Then I came across a newspaper advertisement featuring exactly what I wanted.

It was a 20’X 70′ double-storey house which was within my budget. I was super excited, visited them on the spot and signed up!

Within a week, I paid my deposit and applied for a housing loan. All because the showroom gallery folks kept pestering me to hurry up before the units get sold out.

Only now I know that was their sales tactic. But back then, I was too ignorant. The nightmare lasted eight years!

For starters, the project that was supposed to be handed over within a year got dragged on for three years. I regretted immediately upon handover of keys.

Where do I start? The workmanship was horrifying; there were deep cracks everywhere on the ceilings, walls, and floors; it was misaligned, uneven, with rotten tiles; there were huge gaps between the skirting and the walls; there were water leakages from the gutter right down to floor tiles causing fungus to thrive; the doors and windows were not installed properly with the aluminium frames falling off.

The roads weren’t paved properly and were full of sinkholes; the street lighting were sparse leading to regular house break-ins until today and my neighbouring houses looked like they were about to sink anytime!

The subsequent complaints to the errant developer went unattended and after almost half a year, they responded with some useless minor repairs. Frustrated, I had to fork out my own money to fix the defects to quickly rent it out, as I was not interested in moving in. Appeal letters to the Malaysian Home Buyers Tribunal as well as legal action were met with zero response.

Luckily, I found a tenant three years later and sold the house off in 2009 at a loss, after years of servicing loans, interest, insurances plus the cost of repairing defects. I heaved a huge sigh of relief upon signing the Sales and Purchase Agreement and handing over keys to the new owner.

Needless to say, the detailed background checks and research I conducted via prominent property portals such as PropertyGuru.com.my and onsite location visits helped me to make profitable property investments later on in my subsequent purchases.

A very steep lesson learned indeed from my first home purchase, but I’m grateful that it made me a wise and informed home buyer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7fa2EscAoc

This story was submitted for the MY HOME, MY STORY campaign. The grand prize winner will stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Mah Beng Chu

Tue, 18 Oct 2016 04:00:50 +0800

My Home, My Story: Mah Beng Chu

This story was submitted by Mah Beng Chu

My first house is a single-storey terrace at Sri Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. I moved here in the year 1994 and there was a total of 15 houses on my row. Back in those days, the house number will only be allocated upon the issuance of Occupation Certificate.

I was extremely excited and visited the construction site every weekend. I even planted a tree in the front compound during that time.

My wait was over and the day to collect my key arrived. I was furious as the staff refused to hand over the key to my unit. After a long argument saying the particular unit is mine, she finally handed over the keys and allowed me to move in.

A year passed and one day a family knocked on my door. They look stunned and enquired why am I occupying their house.

Shocked and speechless at the same time, we headed to the site office with my Sales and Purchase Agreement (S&P). I was so determined to prove them wrong!

But little did I know that I had moved into the wrong house!!!

Only then I learned that the sixth house from the right is No.10 and the sixth house from the left is No.6. The site personnel offered me help to shift house and suggested that I should buy lottery as such things seldom happened. “It must be a lucky house,” he said.

I sold the house six years later and made five times profit. This triggered my interest in property investment and with the profit I made, I invested in three other properties from 2010 to 2013. Like the site personnel said, the house was indeed lucky!

So, I have learned my lesson, even though it’s a hilarious one! From then onwards, when I purchase properties, I ensure that I get the correct house number and unit!

This story was submitted for the MY HOME, MY STORY campaign. The grand prize winner will stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Masrizal

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 04:41:48 +0800

My Home, My Story: Masrizal

This story was submitted by Masrizal Bin Maskin

It all started in 2011, although my exposure to property investment started much earlier in 2007, upon entering into life as a working adult at the age of 22.

I was a kind of hesitant person at that time that it took me 4 years to make my first move. There is no point for me to look back bemoaning the opportunities that I might have missed during what is known as the “boom” period for property investment.

When I decided to get married in early 2012, I told myself that I couldn’t wait any longer as I will need a place for my family. Hence, hunting my first property became wider and easier as I could disregard all investment prospects as my top priorities.

In fact, I considered it as my third priority after my affordability factors and location. It was not as easy as I first thought, but it did come coincidentally when I was at Giant at Kota Damansara after doing some shopping.

I came across a property developer booth promoting their new township in Rawang. The sales person briefed me on the project and convinced me to visit their sales office and show unit there.

After conducting some quick researche and studies on the location of the township, I went there the next weekend. I must admit that I was about 90% sure of buying a unit there even before the visit as it suited all my criteria as in terms of entry price, location and future potential of the area. It was a package deal for me.

To cut a long story short, I booked a two-storey terrace house at RM230,000 after paying a super low booking fee. To add icing on to the cake, the unit came with a free gift of an LCD TV. As part of the deal, we agreed on a “zero-down” deal (this was legit at that time).

Now comes the part where I want to share the key factors that I considered before I decided to buy the house, which is my first property. Frankly speaking, most of my friends and even some relatives were against me when I told them that I am going to buy a house in Rawang.

Ignoring their opinion (none of them were property investors), I found out that the area has good potential. With direct access to NSE which is less than 7km away, there are also other booming factors such as an under-construction shopping mall, proposed largest theme park and so on.

This includes nearby townships by reputable developers. To make my decision much easier, the area is located near to my in-law’s house, and it will also will save me half an hour when I’m heading to my hometown in Sungai Petani.

I can say that the experience that I gained in buying my first property served as a platform for me to move further in my property investment journey. I managed to buy my second property, a walk-up apartment in PJ in less than a year later and I am now hunting my third investment property.

This story was submitted for the MY HOME, MY STORY campaign. The grand prize winner will stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Nadzirah

Mon, 17 Oct 2016 04:00:06 +0800

My Home, My Story: Nadzirah

This story was submitted by Nadzirah Ahmad Arif

My story begin 5 years ago when I saw an advertisement in the newspaper for a low-cost house named Flat Sri Rebana. The apartment was priced at RM42,000.

Due to the attractive banner, we headed to Sime Darby Bukit Raja to join the house balloting, where we managed to acquire an end-corner unit on the 4th floor.

The biggest mistake we made was not visiting the actual unit which was just located merely 500 meters away from the sales gallery. We were too excited at that time, where we missed the important part of the home purchase.

Moving forward, we received the key for the house and our nightmare began. The house only looked decent on the outside, but was totally different inside.

There were broken doors, missing windows, blocked pipes and missing electric boxes, just to name a few. To add on to this nightmare, our neighbour was making our life miserable as well.

My monthly repayment was not that much, it was only about RM264. However, it was still a commitment. I wanted to sell off the house, but it has a certain lock-in period which prevented me from selling it.

I regret to-date of not viewing the actual unit before acquiring the house. Please do not blindly buy a house just by looking at the developer. They’re business minded and it’s up to us to make a wise decision. Always check the development site and the neighbourhood.

This story was submitted for the MY HOME, MY STORY campaign. The grand prize winner will stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Chyuan

Fri, 14 Oct 2016 04:18:40 +0800

My Home, My Story: Chyuan

This story was submitted by Chyuan

“Get out from this house!!

You do not belong here!! Get lost!!!”

Windy, cold, restless and crying! Yes, that’s the encouragement I had when I was a 17-year-old boy who had nothing but the memories of my harsh younger days.

I stayed in a few rented house for 14 years together with my parents and siblings. We rented a house in an isolated rural area nearby a cemetery. There was a time when the rented house was infested with pigeons and some of the dead pigeons even left a smelly stench for months.

During my younger days, I had to collect recycle-able trash, newspapers, books and bottles to make a living, and I also had to work part time.

Then I reached the age to pursue my tertiary education…

“Who is going to pay for your studies?!

You better study in a cheap local university!!”

With a limited budget of RM7 per day during my university days, I had to endure hunger, as I had nothing but empty pockets and skinny pale face.

Coming from a poverty-stricken background, I was determined to be optimistic and learned to be independent.

It was in the year 2014, the first year after my graduation, I decided to travel to another state to look for a job. I rented a bed, where I had to share the room with six people; some are Bangladeshis.

Then, I started looking for a property to buy…

“Are you out of your mind?

You just started working and you want to buy house now??

We don’t have the money to help you, understand?!”

That’s what my parents said. However, a few months later I managed to buy a semi-D. It was definitely a big burden. Being a fresh graduate with low income, I had to pay for my rental, PTPTN, car loan and for everything that’s necessary without any help.

Imagine eating three pieces of Roti Canai and instant noodle for the first three months, which deteriorated my health. It was a nightmare!

However, buying my first property was definitely a huge relief for me who had no proper place to stay throughout my life.

As a first time homebuyer, I followed these rules to successfully purchase my first home:

1. Self check: Determine the type of property you could afford by calculating your net disposable income and DSR ratio.

2. Setting objective: Decide whether you want to stay, rent, or resell the property.

3. Search for property: Target where you would like to invest/purchase to meet your objectives.\

4. Survey and research: Visit the location to view the actual neighbourhood and use online media to research properties; Propertyguru.com could provide reliable information.

5. Set appointment: View a few properties and remember to check thoroughly as every defect will be hidden from your sight.

6. Strategic negotiation: Negotiate with agents or owners for better deals.

7. Solicitor appointment: Lawyers will handle the documentation but remember to check with the lawyer to confirm specific terms and conditions.

8. Seal the deal: Make a deposit of earnest money to the appointed agent or lawyer as the middleman to book the unit.

9. Seek mortgage officer: Not all bankers could process loan effectively, look for more experienced bankers to process your loan.

10. Signing SPA: Proceed with Sales & Purchase Agreement signing once loan approved and never ever sign SPA before loan approval.

11. Secure the property: House insurance is a must to secure the property, look for a reliable insurance agency.

12. Make up your mind: The ultimate weapon, it is either ‘yes’ for easy property investment or ‘no’ to many months of roti and Milo for youngsters. Please appreciate your hard earned money if you decide it’s a “yes”.

13. Surprise your parents: There’s no fun if you can’t celebrate your success with your family members.

Today, I’ve already bought my second property and am looking forward to purchasing my third property by next year. Every person I’ve met taught me different things. I’ve survived, I’ve learned and like most graduates, I had to make prompt repayment to PTPTN to get a mortgage loan.

Do you have a story to share with us on how you chose your first home? Share it with us and stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Desmond Cheang, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Thu, 13 Oct 2016 07:00:35 +0800

My Home, My Story: Desmond Cheang, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Desmond Cheang is the Northern Region recipient of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) – PropertyGuru Top Online REN 2016.

My Bumpy Ride

My life journey commenced in Georgetown, on the serene Penang Island, where I was the second-eldest child for my parents amongst eight siblings.

Life was quite difficult for us those days, where struggle remained as a part of our lives. As the eldest son in the house, it was also my duty to do the housework and share the family burden with my dad.

After completing my secondary school, I started looking for a job right away! However, getting a job was not as easy as it sounds. I had to flip through the newspaper every single day in hopes of finding vacancy adverts, since there was no internet in those days.

I was willing to accept any job that came my way. Among the job opportunities I’ve seized include working as a construction worker, hotel waiter, as well as a shift-based factory worker. I still remember, I used to leave home in the early morning when it was still dark and return home late night. It was exhausting! But life had to go on.

One fine day as I was flipping through the newspaper, I saw a job vacancy advert for the position of Trainee Technician in a factory located in Singapore. I did not want to miss the opportunity of acquiring new skills which might come in handy later, hence, I moved to Singapore and started my new job.

Later on, I was promoted as a Skilled Technician. When I was about to complete my second year in Singapore, my dad asked me to return home.

I didn’t regret leaving everything behind. It was quite understandable on why my family wanted me back home, and deep down in my heart, I knew that’s the right thing to do as well.

Thus, I returned and started things over from scratch again. I did a few other jobs over the years which includes being a door to door salesman, insurance agent, and van salesman.

Even though the sales job was quite tough at the beginning, but it started to get better over the years. As my selling skills improved, I eventually joined an established publishing company as a Sales Executive covering the Northern Region for a few years. My performance at work was excellent and I realized that I had a bright future in jobs that required me to meet clients.

What Followed After?

Within a short period, I became a Regional Sales Manager earning over RM7,000 per month. At the same time, I also met my better half and got married.

I knew that I had to own a house before starting a family, as it is my responsibility to provide my future wife a place to call home. Thus, I acquired my first property in the year 1992, prior to my marriage.

I acquired my first property – a 900 square feet dream apartment called Rifle Garden for RM70,000. Five years later, I sold this apartment for RM150,000 and gained over 100% profit! Delighted with the returns, I invested the profit into another property dubbed Sunny Ville Resort Condominium for RM250,000.

Time passed and I was blessed with two loving sons. Hence, I had to find a job with a higher pay, preferably a commission-based job. My target was to earn a five-digit payroll a month.

People say that opportunity comes in the most unexpected way! I couldn’t agree more!

It was in the year 1998, while I was waiting for my turn in the car service centre. There was this elderly gentleman who was talking quite loudly on the phone about some real estate deal. Right when he hung up, he looked at me and said:

“Just give me a call, if you’re interested in becoming a real estate negotiator.”

That’s when the idea of becoming a REN emerged. After much thought, I resigned from my high paying executive job six months later, at the age of 38 and took a plunge into real estate. “One should begin with an idea and then follow-up with action,” I thought to myself.

But real estate business was not easy those days! When you are a newbie, it can be daunting and very challenging at times. There’s no internet to advertise online and the only option available was newspaper advertisements – which was unaffordable!

For the hefty amount I spent on a weekly advertisement in the newspaper, I can advertise in PropertyGuru for a year now. Imagine in those days, that amount is quite difficult to earn. Nine months into real estate line, my bank balance was running low and I had to serve my housing loan as well.

Most of the time, I had to literally go out to search for people; knock on doors to find listings; meet customers face to face. However, as the time went by, technology improved and things got much better with the internet, social media and dedicated property portals such as PropertyGuru.

And now…

Today with the power of the internet, things are much easier and faster. You can respond to clients promptly within seconds by just using the smartphone! Those days, we used fax machines! But nowadays it’s like “WhatsApp me-lah”.

Along the journey, I’ve bought another eight properties; six condominiums and a shop lot for investment purpose, as well as a landed abode for own stay. My rental returns cover my monthly installments and even generates positive cash flow.

The credit goes to my wife who motivated me to become a property investor. I still remember her saying;

“If you acquire two properties, you will be a millionaire 10 years later. But, if you buy two luxury cars now, you’ll only have two very old cars 10 years later.” And I’m glad I listened to my wife!

In terms of my career, I have received recognition during my olden days as the Top Salesperson from several companies that I worked for. I have also received many letters of appreciation from my clients whom I consider my most treasured gifts.

But for me, the best and most meaningful recognition was being selected as the ‘Top Online REN 2016’ for Northern Region by the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA)-PropertyGuru. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my loving wife and the motivation from my sons.

I’m approaching the age of 60 now with over 20 years of experience in real estate industry and leading a team of awesome negotiators in Pen Properties. Things turned out to be great for me, considering that I came from a struggling background.

The real estate industry has changed my life path for good and I’m looking forward to continue my journey in this industry for many years to come. Of course, I am happy all my other siblings are doing very well too, in their own way.

As Andrew Carnegie once said, “Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.”

Mangalesri Chandrasekaran, Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email mangales@propertyguru.com.my

My Home, My Story: Khalil Adis

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:00:35 +0800

My Home, My Story: Khalil Adis

I bought my first property in Singapore! And my story goes like this…

Prior to starting my own consultancy business, I was a freelance property writer and real estate agent. The income was irregular and I didn’t save much. After a business venture turned sour in 2013, I had to dig into my own savings to start over.

I applied for a flat under the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) Built-To- Order (BTO) scheme in July 2014. It was during the second balloting in August that I managed to get my flat. While I was elated, the HDB subsequently told me my HDB loan was not approved because my business was less than a year old.

I subsequently sought help from my MP who wrote an appeal letter on my behalf. We did not have much choice as my mom and I desperately needed a home. In the end, the appeal was successful – God bless my MP!

I subsequently booked a unit in Punggol for S$138,790. I chose Punggol because the township was fairly new. Although it was far away from the city, I knew this was my best bet as I needed an affordable home with great room for capital appreciation.

I had studied and even written about the Punggol 21 masterplan showing where the LRT stations will be built within the vicinity. On top of that, the Waterway @ Punggol, a water and landscaping feature of the township, had won an international environment prize. Therefore, I knew this area, which many people deemed as “ulu”, had a lot of potential for growth.

For the financing part, I had to pay an option fee of S$500 and a 10 percent down payment. Luckily, my Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings was quite a lot and I could use my CPF for my 10 percent down payment, plus legal fees and such.

I was also qualified for grants of S$25,000. With my CPF savings of S$56,090 (after setting aside stamp and legal fees) and a loan amount of S$57,700, the monthly mortgage worked out to S$270 a month.

Ensuring the affordability of my monthly mortgage is crucial, especially when I had just started my business and needed to keep myself afloat. Things then began to look up. I was beginning to get noticed on the other side of the causeway and was getting regular speaking engagements from Malaysian developers.

While I am glad that the dark clouds had passed, the moral of the story is housing affordability is not just a Malaysian issue, it is a Singaporean problem as well.

Khalil Adis is the author of the best-selling ‘Property Buying for Gen Y’. He is a property journalist, a sought-after speaker, and a real estate consultant, well-known for his independent reviews and commentaries. He has his own consultancy business which presents a myriad of services which include property and market research, due diligence, editorial, content management and speaking engagements in the regional property market.

Do you have a story to share with us on how you chose your first home? Share it with us and stand a chance to win RM10,000!

So You Want to Be a Landlord? 3 Stories that Prove Investing in the Rental Market Ain’t for the Faint-Hearted

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 02:00:19 +0800

So You Want to Be a Landlord? 3 Stories that Prove Investing in the Rental Market Ain’t for the Faint-Hearted

Let’s Hear Your Take On Your Home-Buying Experience.

Send in your Funniest, Saddest, Scariest, Most Memorable Stories & Stand a Chance to Win RM10,000!

*see competition details below

Jeffrey was completely sold on the idea of investing in rental property when his friend Allan told him that his mother, a housewife, was earning RM8K a month just renting out rooms from their Subang Jaya house to students.

“Ya, she chopped the house into eight parts and rented them out. Each part earned her RM1K a month,” Allan had told him. “Easy money”.

Jeffrey had heard that investing in income or rental property was one way to grow one’s net worth and wealth. In other words, you could build a real estate empire just by buying properties and getting them all paid off by other people’s money – i.e. the tenants’ rent. And after a few years, when the property has appreciated enough, you sell them off and you’re in the running to become Malaysia’s Next Top Multi-Millionaire.

It sounded like a piece of cake.

So, Jeffrey promptly rushed out and got himself a serviced apartment unit – “the first building block of my empire,” he said to himself. First, he did his homework: The unit was within 500 metres of the LRT, it was within an integrated live-work-play development, there was a slew of universities nearby, in short “Those very features that spark life into an investment to ensure it grows.”

What could go wrong?

Jeffrey couldn’t wait and rubbed his hands in glee, chanting: “Money, money, money” when he got the keys to his apartment. The salesperson had told him that he could get RM2,500 a month renting out the unit as a whole but Jeffrey had other ideas that could get him double bang for his buck.

He chopped the three-bedroom unit into four with gypsum boards. Actually he wanted to chop it into five and turn the hall with the balcony into another room for extra rental but realised that it might be cutting off the oxygen supply to the unit.

“Hmmm,” he thought, “Maybe I shouldn’t be so greedy” and left the balcony and hall as a balcony and hall.

With a little bit of advertising for his target market, in this case ─ students, soon, the tenants came.

And that was when Mr. Reality Hard Knocks put a dent on his expectations and his wallet. Here are his horror stories:

Tales from the Toilet

Tenants A and B were girls who shared the Master Bedroom and the master bath. They were prompt payers, were generally quiet except for the occasional loud music during semester breaks, and comparatively, except for that one-time boo-boo with the loo, didn’t give much trouble. The plumbing issue, which thankfully didn’t cost too much, was over the clogged up toilet and sink and drainage hole.

It was caused by hair fall and other items which should not have been thrown down the toilet bowl. But I believe they’ve learnt their lesson because they had to queue to share the other not-so-private bathrooms during a week of repair inconvenience. But recently, they said their plumbing was acting up again and they also said their air-cond has started dripping.

Take All of My Gold

Tenant C was a decorator and late payer. When she came in, she redecorated her room, banged nails in the wall, hung up mirrors, a personal washing line plus a whole lot of posters and pictures and extra wall shelves. She also painted a mural on the wall. I only found out after the fact. She had only paid her deposit.

The delay began when the following month’s rent was due. Whenever I reminded her about the rent, she would say,”Ya, ya, tomorrow, tomorrow.” Sometimes she would say, ‘Can I pay you half first?’ After months of this, I got fed up and threatened to terminate her Tenancy Agreement.

Cornered, she yanked off her gold chain, earrings and rings and held them out to me in tears. “I don’t have the rent but never mind, take all the jewellery that my grandmother gave to me on her deathbed. I hope it’ll make you happy.” Thankfully, she left soon after but her “artwork” in the room cost me a tidy sum to repaint.”

Hot Under the Collar? Fire Away!

Tenant D, an undergraduate, was actually my first tenant. He was the only male tenant and the best one who paid rent like clockwork. One day, eight months into his tenancy, he started complaining that someone was eating his food stored in the fridge, moving his washing around, removing his personal items.

The whole ‘suspicion’ thing went on for a few months until it escalated into a full blown fight with the others over his missing shoes and tennis racket. The items were never found again of course.

He moved out and the next day, I got his WhatsApp message: “Your kitchen’s on fire.” Frantic, I rushed to the apartment but the fire department was already there. Someone saw black smoke billowing and called the Bomba. Of course, they had to break down the front door because nobody was in. A cardboard box with empty aerosol spray cans had been left on the stove with the burner turned on. Who did this? Don’t know. No proof it was him but the total damage cost me RM50K.

So You Want to Be a Landlord?: Sure, everybody has a dream of retiring a millionaire by the age of 25 and investing in rental properties is one of the quickest ways of getting there. But, take heed, it is not the easiest. Not by a long shot. The very people you depend on to pay off your real estate empire could turn out to be the ones who will put paid to that dream.

Of course, Jeffrey in the above tale, is a fictional character and his three renter-bender disasters are a collection taken from several landlords’ accounts of real-life incidents. In other words, it is based on a true story. Not to put you off investing or anything – some landlords have made a fortune out of their rental properties – but there are not many who have come out completely unscathed.

So before you ask to put a sticker on your investment unit – Stop.

Ask yourself these all important questions:

Do you have what it takes to be a landlord? Like possess the steely wherewithal to deal with damage (as in major damage as bad as cement mountains sealing up the hall from floor to ceiling left by contractor ex-tenant – true story that!), arson, murder, suicide and generally unbelievable crazy situations?
Do you have the negotiating skills to elicit rent from reluctant payers? Or evict non-paying renters? And will you have the back-up of muscle in the form of the law, the authorities, maybe even a lawyer, should you need them?
Can you shoulder responsibilities of handling people, disputes, maintenance issues and possible periods of vacancy?
Do you have the discipline, resolve for hard work and the proper know-how to manage your properties well enough to maintain cash flow?
Do you know the right people (connections, access), the right location and target market?

PropertyGuru – New Launches offer hundreds of new projects for both own stay and investment.

PropertyGuru New Launch has some of the most engaging reviews on the latest homes in the market. Search for them here.

Before you begin your search, here are some tips if you are looking for a buy-to-let investment.

For rental yield, look at investing in a high rise unit rather than a landed property whose returns lie in long term capital gain. Unless of course, you’re thinking of chopping up your landed property into 8, 10 or more rooms to rent out to students. Do bear in mind that this will only work if your property is in a high student traffic area.
Know your target market, then bring your property to your target market by buying in the location of your target market. If your target market is students, then you should look at properties near colleges with good road and rail connectivity and public transportation.
If you are targeting young executives, then look for properties in locations with lots of work opportunities like shopping malls, businesses and shop offices. PropertyGuru reviews cover townships and mixed integrated developments. Look for your potential rental properties there.

Visit PropertyGuru to keep yourself updated on the latest launches, as well as to read unbiased property reviews of new projects.

My Home, My Story: Daniel

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 02:00:59 +0800

My Home, My Story: Daniel

This story was submitted by Daniel Hii Jun Chung

My first home was a second hand unit. It was very colourful so I thought I was about to consider buying a childcare centre. Every room and practically every wall had a different colour scheme. I asked the owner why it was so and she told me she loves colourful environments. It took the painters a great deal to neutralize the walls back to its original colour.

The owner was always away during the daytime so I had to view the home at nights. This was one of the biggest mistakes I ever made. At night, any stains, be it water marks or uneven paint colouring and wall tiles expansion are very hard to notice. Furthermore, with artificial lighting, there are shadows everywhere so many imperfections were hidden.

Therefore, I truly believe that you should only inspect the homes during the daytime when sufficient natural lighting is available. The best timing is around 3pm to 4pm on a clear day when the sun angle can penetrate deepest into the home where it will not be too dark.

Apart from knowing your tolerance during the hottest period of the day (around 2pm to 3pm when the temperature is highest), you can see the things indoor clearly. Check also from outdoors how much your surroundings can shade you, either from trees or neighbouring blocks.

I also feel that you have to be as thick skinned as possible to flip the entire unit upside down if furnishing is included in the deal. My biggest regret was not to check the furniture and electrical appliances in detail when the owner was around. They may tell you that you are free to check the entire house but you will feel reluctant to open up people’s wardrobe, drawers and view under the bed.

I ended up having a wardrobe with uneven doors while sliding, a king sized bed with a broken leg, a washing machine that was very stained in the interior and many defects for the given items. I ended up giving away for recycling about 90% of the items.

Check every light, switch, socket, wiring, furniture and appliances included in the home. Check the tap condition, water supply, outlets, basins, toilet bowls and piping for any trace of leaking or water retention. Open the windows and doors to check whether the connections are fine. A few of my windows had very stained glass, were so tough to open and had broken handles that I needed to replace them afterwards.

Finally, check the outdoor facilities if applicable whether they are in good condition. For example, the gym had almost 50% of its equipment not working. If I knew there were so many negative aspects earlier, I could have bargained for a better price to justify the true value because of the defects.

I believe we need to be more observant when we view homes to purchase, including new developments. Write down every single detail you can pick up before keys are given to you. This is to protect yourself as you are going to live there everyday.

Do you have a story to share with us on how you chose your first home? Share it with us and stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Too Wei

Fri, 07 Oct 2016 04:00:24 +0800

My Home, My Story: Too Wei

This story was submitted by Too Wei Kwok

I started working in the year 1994, at the age of 24. In the year 2002, I decided to get a double-storey house after my marriage as the need arose. I saw a house in Sri Putra, Sungai Buloh which was priced at RM259,000.

I was confident in purchasing the property and was hoping to get a 90% mortgage loan. However, only 85% was approved for me with the reason of having an outstanding balance in my American Express credit card.

I was frustrated as I couldn’t afford to fork out money for the 5%, which was amounting to RM12,950. Moreover, the outstanding in my credit card was also caused by my former employer who promised to settle the payment which was incurred during office trips. It was a very stressful time for me!

I was very close to abandoning the idea of buying a home. But then, I asked my parents to help me at that time. I felt quite embarrassed as I never depended on my parents after my graduation and this was the first time I actually asked for their favour.

In the end, I successfully purchased the property with the help of my parents. I resided there for three years with my family and my eldest daughter who was only two years old at that time. I was forced to sell the house due to its unsafe environment, where daylight robbery happened frequently. I was not willing to take any risks when they pose threats to my family!

I sold the house for RM269,000. I learnt my lesson then because I failed to survey the location of the property prior to my purchase. Due to its location, my house value didn’t appreciate much and I also failed to inspect the safety features available there. If only I had noticed the poor security of the area previously, I wouldn’t have purchased the house in the first place.

Do you have a story to share with us on how you chose your first home? Share it with us and stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Caiyi Choo, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Thu, 06 Oct 2016 07:00:29 +0800

My Home, My Story: Caiyi Choo, Top Online REN 2016 Winner

Caiyi Choo is the overall winner of Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA)-PropertyGuru Top Online REN 2016.

The Northern Start!

My life started in the year 1966 at Batu Gajah, a small suburban area located in Perak. I was the youngest child in the family, and I had a lovable elder sister.

We were neither rich nor poor, but we had a decent living!

Even though I was born in Batu Gajah, yet I grew up in Ulu Kinta for many years until my parents moved to Bercham.

Life was good, until one day my mum passed away. Things were difficult but we managed to survive. After a year, my dad remarried again, and then our family got bigger with the addition of my stepmom and a stepbrother.

I had always been a smart kid. I loved studying and had a huge passion for dancing! I managed to get a scholarship during my schooling days when studying SRP (now known as PMR), SPM and STPM. However, I didn’t get the opportunity to further my studies due to financial constraints, even though I passed with flying colours.

Years passed and along the journey, both my dad and stepmom left us as well.

Opportunity Knocked on My Door

All the while, my family and I were staying in a double storey house in Bercham. We rented the house for many years, as we could not afford to buy our own home at that time.

Right after completing my STPM, I started working as a general clerk. The pay was not high, but I knew I needed the job to get going. At the same time, I enrolled for a LCCI course and attended night classes.

It was another regular day for me when my neighbour approached me. It was in the year 2000 and I was 34 years old at that time.

“Caiyi, I’m planning to move. Are you interested in buying my house? Do let me know if you or any of your friends are interested and do pass the news around,” said my neighbour.

This got me thinking! The house is just next door, so it saved me the time of inspecting the neighbourhood. Besides, I felt comfortable staying in that place, a place where I basically grew up in. And most importantly, I knew the neighbour as well.

I had no intention of buying a house until my neighbour approached me and I knew it was finally time for me to buy my own house.

But my major concern was the funds! I knew I could apply for a mortgage loan, however, I still needed to prepare the 30% deposit – and unfortunately I did not have sufficient funding for that.

Luckily, I managed to convince my neighbour and out of goodwill, he agreed to receive RM3,000 as the deposit, given I withdraw money from my EPF and settle the remaining balance at the soonest.

I was thrilled to finally own my first home, after living in a rented house my whole life!

I bought the property located in Bercham for RM67,000 and made minor repairs which cost about RM5,000. After several years, I renovated the entire house and its current value is approximately about RM160,000.

Taking My First Step

I was working in the manufacturing sector during the year 2003, which required me to travel to East Malaysia on and off. Even though I loved the job, yet constant travelling took its toll on me. I was 37 years old that time and I fell terribly sick.

Due to my decreasing health and doctor’s advice, I resigned my job. I was unemployed from the year 2006 onwards and it was quite difficult to survive with zero income. Hence, I took on several freelance jobs just to keep the ball rolling.

That’s when I became a freelance Mortgage Advisor. My job was basically to advise people regarding their mortgage applications and refinancing.

It was quite difficult because most of the people I met were doing commission-based jobs, which was not considered as income by the banks. Thus, their applications were mostly rejected. And for me, I would only receive commission if the loans were approved – otherwise there would be no pay.

I also worked as a freelance insurance agent at the same time. But again, nothing changed as I was struggling to make a living out of it.

In the year 2010, my friend opened a bookstore and I worked as a sales agent for her. It was a freelance job as well and I was required to sell books. I would go visit schools every day to try to sell the books.

In my journey, I made a lot of contacts and acquaintances which suited the real estate industry well. I had a friend who was working in the industry and I conveyed my interest to become a REN to her. Since I already had banking, sales and insurance based experiences, I decided to try my luck in the business as well. This happened in the year 2011 and I was 45 years old at that time.

She introduced me to D Henry Valuer Realtors. I was interviewed and appointed on the spot by my Principal Henry, since I already had slight experience in the field. But things did not go as I expected.

Along that way, I was also employed to do a home-based job in a veterinary firm, where I was trained to sell drugs to farmers. However, my interest remained in the real estate firm.

I Kickstarted My Career

The first eight months was the hardest time for me! I managed to get ample listings, but no income. In some instances, I even thought of giving up.

I struggled and I had a few people saying to me that “If you don’t know how to do it, then don’t do it!” But instead of getting demotivated by such remarks, I worked towards proving them wrong.

Right at that time, PropertyGuru conducted a short briefing at my office. So I decided to give it a try. For a person like me who doesn’t use the internet as I was born during the internet-non-existent-era, I found PropertyGuru to be very user-friendly. It became the place I relied on to get listings, as well to find information and clear my doubts.

I was also assisted well by a PropertyGuru staff who provided efficient after-sales service. They taught me how to use the website and make the most out of it, and was willing to assist me anytime.

Moreover, PropertyGuru keeps on enhancing the services they offer, which eventually made me their loyal user. So I subscribed to their Specialist package which cost me a mere RM650 a year, with the added on featured listing which cost only RM100. The number of leads and listings I received started shooting up.

It was unbelievable as I only spent less than RM1,000 annually for the package I subscribed. This motivated me to keep using PropertyGuru to a great extent, as I was getting a high return on investment.

Due to this, I also started introducing PropertyGuru to other agents, as I believed it would help them like how it helped me succeed.

In the year 2012, I became a Senior REN. I also took my own initiative to join the REN certification course with Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA), as well as attended an interview with them. At this time, getting certified and a REN tag was not compulsory! But I found it beneficial and enrolled to increase my knowledge in the real estate industry.

In addition to that, I also went extra miles for my clients. My client list increased day by day and I also started assisting loaded clients such as Tan Sri and Datos.

Moving forward, I received Top Producer Awards from D Henry Valuers Realtor, for the year 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Besides that, I was also chosen as the overall winner of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA)-PropertyGuru Top Online REN 2016 Award.

I also owe huge gratitude to my Principal Sr. D.Henrey Arther who put his faith in me and constantly encouraged me to succeed, as well as my colleagues, clients, friends and family, who stood by me.

For now, real estate has become a part of my life. And I’m glad I proved to my haters that, “If I don’t know how to do, I will learn to do it!”

Going the Extra Mile

During my journey as a negotiator, I have received many compliments from my clients. I always put extra effort in my real estate dealings, turning my clients into loyal customers.

Once I assisted a client named Pollo, who wanted to sell her house. However, her unhappy tenant refused to move out despite the number of times my client approached to negotiate. I felt it was necessary for me to step in and rectify things. Thus, I met the tenant several times and persuaded him to move out. After that, I also helped my client to maintain the house until it was sold later on.

In regards to this, my client wrote an appreciation letter to my Principal Henrey:

Dear Sr D.Henrey Arther Mrism,

“I would like to let you know that I’m very pleased with the service I received from Ms. Caiyi. She is straightforward with me on the situation (good or bad), as well as keep me updated on the status of looking for a buyer for my property, which is located at Taman Eden, Ipoh.

In addition, she helped to ‘move’ the reluctant tenant (who procrastinated many times) out. Several months after my house was vacant, my neighbours complained of tall grasses/shrubs and branches into their gardens. Caiyi arranged people to clean up the compound. I am very lucky to have had met Caiyi. I know she went beyond of what a typical estate agent does.

She was highly recommended by Jimmy Lau Heng Nam. I think Caiyi sold two houses for him and/or his sister.

Caiyi is professional, efficient, responsible, reliable and takes pride in her work. Like Jimmy, I will not hesitate to recommend Caiyi, if someone is looking for a real estate agent in Ipoh. Thank you.”

Sincerely;

Ms. Pollo Chooi-Poh Chuah

My Incredible Journey

I am 50 years old now (most don’t agree with this and say I look young!) and I still reside in my first home. Two years back, I bought my second property in Ipoh, dubbed Permai Lake View Apartment for investment purposes. I acquired the property at the price of RM120,000 in the year 2014.

Frankly, I do not believe in speculating and investing unnecessarily. I just get myself what I need – a roof over my head and one investment property for my later days. But if I come across deals that are too good to resist, then I may consider getting another one or two properties.

As for my career in the property industry, I’m glad that I chose this path! With my profession, I manage to lead a good and quality life. When people my age are busy planning for their retirement, I’m happy that I took the risk, plunged into real estate and shaped my career!

Mangalesri Chandrasekaran, Editor at PropertyGuru, edited this story. To contact her about this or other stories email mangales@propertyguru.com.my

My Home, My Story: Alan Poon

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 04:00:02 +0800

My Home, My Story: Alan Poon

More often, we hear stories of people reaping profits in property investment despite the market condition.

They can be the regular people who dwell amongst us or experienced property experts. However, many do not share their experiences with others especially when they make losses due to the recession or other unavoidable circumstances.

But one thing is for sure! Each and every one of us has to go through the bitter-sweet experiences before succeeding in the end.

My property journey is somewhat a case of hope, fear and joy, but most importantly a never ending journey – which is worthy and profitable once you know how to play the game well.

My First Seven Years: 2001 – 2008:

Aimed for a Good Start

I bought my first property in the year 2001, a double-storey link terrace house, when I was only 22 years old. I was working as an engineer then. It was not an easy decision to make as a young chap, as I was well aware of the financial burden it would bring upon me.

It affected me psychologically as well since I had to get a mortgage loan which would be over RM100,000. But I was motivated by my dad, who encouraged me to buy a developer unit at Kinrara, Puchong.

It was a normal Sunday morning when I went for a short drive with my family. And we chanced upon a signboard for a property sales gallery. We visited the place that was overcrowded by potential buyers, trying to get information about the upcoming project.

The show unit was not ready at that time, however, there were scale models. We placed the booking on the same day, despite the layout and unit type due to its cheap price tag. With zero experience and low knowledge on property investment, I signed the dotted line in the hopes of finally being able to afford my first home. My first property was truly a beautiful 22 x70 double-storey terrace link house!

I still remember my father’s advice, “Buy early, pay off the bank loan early, and you’re set for life!” Sounds familiar anyone?

Well, that was the perception in those days during our parents time. And fortunately, Gen Ys now have access to a variety of opportunities such as property workshops, mentors to learn from prior to investing, not to mention the vast amount of knowledge from the internet.

My Worst Nightmare

The construction of my home took almost two years to complete. I was excited and worried at the same time, as the house was nearing completion and I had to start paying for my bank’s progressive payments.

However, I had already started preparing earlier and saved up my yearly bonuses. I also frequented the construction site quite often to check on the progress. The house was scheduled for completion in the year 2003, where my anxiety turned into fear as the Certificate of Fitness (CF) was not ready. Due to this, the developer was unable to handover the keys to the units.

I still remember those days! I had to visit the developer’s office every day to chase for my keys. In the end, I had to lodge a complaint to the Housing Tribunal to seek legal aid on the matter, as the developer failed to give me proper feedback.

This issue dragged for two years before it could be finally resolved. It was 2005 and I was already set back with wasted opportunity to rent or sell my property!

Thrilling Roller Coaster Ride

My first experience in property investment affected me greatly. The incident kept on repeating again and again in my mind. I was staying in Old Klang Road at that time, and the upcoming Puchong was a great topic around my neighbourhood.

“Was it the lure of cheap pricing, or pure hype and euphoria that got me into this mess,” I wondered to myself. But I was still thankful as the project was not abandoned, but only delayed.

However, I did notice that the mistake lies in my part as I failed to investigate the developer’s reputation, location, mortgage and other factors which include Feng Shui. Honestly, I took an Islamic financing without even knowing its benefits in the first place!

In the year 2006, I put up a ‘To Let’ notice in my home, while working together with Real Estate Negotiators to ensure my unit was successfully tenanted. But sadly, I was unable to find any renters or even buyers for the next two years.

And the worst thing happened when the empty space right in front of my house, which was supposed to house a playground, was later changed into a dump site instead. The bad odour, lingering flies and intolerable sight shattered the opportunity of selling or renting my house. All hope seemed to be lost then.

Seeking desperate measures, I ended up learning what other touted as superstitious belief into my gains, as I leaped into the world of Chinese Metaphysics of Feng Shui. I also spent some monies to learn the art of getting what we want by harnessing the surrounding energy or “Qi”.

To cut the long story short, I managed to optimize the house for immediate rental for below market rate. I was making a negative cash flow with the rental, as I still had to fork out money on my own to pay for the monthly installment!

Second Seven Years: 2008 – 2015:

Light at the End of the Tunnel

It was in the year 2008 when the economy crisis struck. Many properties were auctioned off, offering irresistible deals for potential buyers. But my past experience was haunting me! After much thought, I realised that I had to leave the past behind and move on! And it was necessary for me to get it right this time as a redemption for my first mistake!

I came across a three-bedroom apartment which was about to be auctioned. The reserve price set for this house was already 30% below market value, which gave me the confidence to bid. It felt like a good deal as I could later sell it off and make an immediate profit, or rent it to students from a nearby institute.

But I wanted to get things right this time. After my due diligence, I found out that the owner was still occupying the house with her kids. However, the positive side to this is that the house would be maintained well as it was occupied by the owner itself.

After considering the outstandings in terms of quit rent, assessment and maintenance fees, I decided to proceed by placing a small deposit of 10% from the reserve price. Meanwhile, as an avid Feng Shui practitioner, I also considered the Feng Shui elements of the house before bidding for it.

As I was really confident in my choice this time, I raised my bid one shot and won without any competition. Hooray, that called for a celebration! And I was right, the unit was in an almost perfect condition when I received the keys.

Low Entry, But High Yield

After buying the property for below market value, I did some basic renovation and furnishings. Then, I rented all three rooms separately to students, which gave 13% return per annum.

For the first time ever, I received positive cash flow from my investment. This boosted my confidence and I kept moving forward. I refinanced my Puchong house and use the money to buy auction properties from the year 2009 to 2012. Even though I have sold some of the properties for immediate profit, yet I received returns between 16% to 20% per annum, as well as, over 100% capital gains for the properties I kept unsold.

I used the similar method to purchase properties thereafter.

What Followed After…

Moving forward, I showed great importance in performing due diligence before acquiring auctioned properties. There were many unforgettable moments during my hunt, which are worth mentioning. As much as some units are good in terms of location, the actual condition can be quite daunting. So it is necessary to check things on-site before committing.

Moreover, vandalism and poor maintenance were among the common problems to be faced and don’t expect a pleasant welcome if the units are not in vacant possession.

As I was about to take a look at a unit which was about to be auctioned, the owner got furious and stopped me from getting close to the unit thinking that I was an agent trying to get a glimpse at the property. But I pretended to be a despatch boy who got lost and tried to ask for direction, as I was well aware that these owners who were about to be forcefully vacated would not be amiable.

There was also this particular incident which in fact encouraged me to keep moving in this particular industry as an investor, despite the challenges which deterred me so far.

I received a call from a Malay lady who introduced herself as a teacher in Kedah, who thanked me for purchasing her property which got defaulted, as she had to take care of her cancer-stricken mother. She thanked me for buying her house, which helped her with her mother’s medical bills. If I had not purchased the property then, the next auction date could have been postponed after six months.

That’s when I realized that buying an auction property can also help to rescue a family from deeper financial mess!

The on-going years: 2015 & beyond:

Compassionate Investing

Over the years, this thing always pops up in my mind!

“Was it a coincidence that I had such ‘downfall’ in my property investment journey; to only count my blessings each day now that I managed to redeem myself, after paying a’ hefty price’ in my early years?”

I believe in the greater good of life, which unfolds its new chapters daily, as long as we continue to walk the journey. While I am still investing in properties to accumulate wealth, I realised that the little knowledge I know and share can be a useful guide for those who are willing to learn and walk a similar path.

I started out by forming small groups to share the knowledge, and now I am conducting two-day workshops to guide potential investors to make the right move in buying auctioned properties.

By adding value to the course, I’ve been blessed to give and to receive at the same time. While it is overwhelming to receive recognition from those who trusted me in their property investment journey, I am also surrounded by helpful people who continue to spur me to be a better version of myself everyday.

They can be unnamed low profile friends who have a huge investment portfolio; fellow speakers and the who’s who in the industry who have given me assurance and most importantly accepted my hard work and contribution thus far.

For this, I thank all these stakeholders from the bottom of my heart. My vocation of touching lives and inspiring people to believe in their own betterment in life through properties is now becoming a reality.

Looking back, I wouldn’t want to change any of those experiences that I’ve gone through. It was meant to be the lessons from where I learned.

But what’s important is the fact that without proper education and knowledge, investing in property may set you back for five to ten years! If you truly treasure your time, do not wait.

No, I don’t mean you need to invest straight away, but quickly gather the information required to be a smart property investor especially if time is on your side, being young with lots of leverage capability. Banks love young customers anyway! And with anticipation of dark clouds hovering our nation’s economy, what would be wiser if not for opportunities that you can grab with lower entry, but higher yield.

For your information, property auctions are being held almost daily with over hundreds of properties from banks and auctioneers. Wishing all of you a smooth, safe and speedy journey in property investment, just like how I finally found my own flight to freedom incidentally.

Alan Poon is the founder of Superior Wealth Mastery, a boutique wealth education provider. As an avid observer of the property industry and investor himself, Alan is sought after as a speaker in major real estate events nationwide. He has appeared on multiple TV, radio and online talk shows, is featured in major dailies and regularly contributes column and commentaries to property magazines. For feedback and opinions, please feel free to write to me via my personal email at alanpoon.official@gmail.com or get connected on social media at facebook.com/AlanPoon.Official.

Do you have a story to share with us on how you chose your first home? Share it with us and stand a chance to win RM10,000!

My Home, My Story: Rosharizal

Thu, 29 Sep 2016 05:00:02 +0800

My Home, My Story: Rosharizal

This story was submitted by Rosharizal Bin Rosli

My first attempt to buy a house was in the year June 2015. I saw a landed property in the heart of Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh. It was quite convenient for me as the booking fee was only RM1,000, with zero deposit.

The property was located right next to my primary school, a place which I was very familiar with. There were also ample of amenities scattered around the area. However, my loan was rejected due to my high commitments.

Then I lost hope in buying my first home. One year passed and I have settled my PTPTN debt and paid off my credit cards.

At the same time, I noticed many of my friends have already purchased their first home. This urged me to try my luck again, as I was already fed-up of paying rental for over seven years. Besides that, the property prices kept on increasing day by day and I was worried that I can’t afford it later, if I keep on waiting.

Thus, I started hunting for the properties. I browsed through prominent property portal like PropertyGuru and social media like Facebook. That’s when I came across an advertisement for Desa Country Homes, Rawang.

There were only a few units left, which was released after the buyers fail to get mortgage loans. But the booking fee was RM3,000 and I didn’t have the sufficient fund even to pay for the booking. It was the first week of Hari Raya and I had so many expenses. Yet, I still decided to visit the sales gallery with my wife.

Once I visited the sales gallery, the sales person showed me the layout and design. I immediately fell in love with the unit. I was also glad that the unit number 39 was available, which is my favourite number.

Moreover, the booking fee was only RM3,000, plus with a discount of RM33,000 for the deposit. But, then I told the sales person that I will confirm back soon and left. As I was leaving the place, I took a moment to sit in my car and think things through. I checked the available fund in my bank and it was sufficient for the booking.

Without further delay, I went back and placed my booking. Then came the nerve-wracking part. I applied for the mortgage loan again. Luckily, my loan was approved. I felt like the happiest man on earth! Now I’m waiting for EPF transfer from Account 2 to pay for the legal and other fees. I’m glad that I’ve decided to try again without giving up after my first attempt!

Do you have a story to share with us on how you chose your first home? Share it with us and stand a chance to win RM10,000!