Having spent 15 years in the United Kingdom, Devina was eager to come back home to Kuala Lumpur.
"I always knew that when I decided to settled down, I would always prefer Malaysia. Life is better here. After a certain age, we realise that being closer to family is important.”
Some people think about buying a property simply as an investment for capital appreciation. On the contrary, for Devina, she wanted to invest in a comfortable home, instead of just making money off it.
This is evident as soon as you walk into her roomy 3-bedroom condominium at Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI).
The 35-year-old single entrepreneur found her sanctuary at Villa Flora, soon after she returned home from London.
“Look at my view… the greenery is so soothing to the eyes! And when the need arises, restaurants, cafes and other conveniences are just a walk away,” she said.
She managed to complete her home purchase with the help of Brandon Ann, who initially listed the property for sale on PropertyGuru.
He had also shown her other available units around the area, but she ended up sticking with what she initially found (and fell in love with!).
As someone who enjoys cooking and hosting dinner parties for her friends, Devina spent a lot of time and effort to create the kitchen, the best part of her home.
“My kitchen has been always complimented for its European aesthetics,” Devina shared happily.
“I cook frequently, constantly experimenting on different local and non-local dishes I’ve been inspired by, from living abroad.”
Lime Green, And Other Outstanding Features
Devina has an outstanding wardrobe, in what can only be described as a ‘bright lime green’.
When she was away, and left part of the renovation for her contractor to handle, she was shocked when pictures of her wardrobe were sent to her. “It was a funny green!” she initially thought.
However, the green doors eventually grew on her, and became a statement piece after moving all of her things in.
The interior of her home is also filled with interesting artifacts she had been collecting over time. “I had most of them shipped from the UK and so, I designed the place around them.
As I combined these antiques into my home design, I also wanted to include more colours as I didn’t want to live in a standard monotone home,” she proudly explained.
Her 1,500 sq ft home is ‘self-designed’, reflecting her colourful personality. She worked with a contractor to create the ideal home she had always dreamt of.
Her home comes with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. These were important criteria for her as she searched for houses on PropertyGuru, and subsequently found this unit for sale at a good price.
She believes the space and rooms come in handy when her family and friends pay her a visit – and that happens quite often.
Finding The Right Neighbourhood
When it came to looking for the right location, Devina wanted a place that wasn’t too far from work, as she hates being stuck in traffic.
Besides that, she wanted a neighbourhood that was mature, with a rich sense of community.
Not one to follow ‘hotspot’ trends and get swayed by shiny new things, she didn’t go for the newer neighbourhoods.
Using PropertyGuru’s AreaInsider, she was able to browse through the different locations, and see what each neighborhood had to offer.
As she really wanted to live within a vibrant community, she finally settled for TTDI as it appealed to her lifestyle and personal requirements, thus managing to find the right home for herself.
Devina is very happy with her purchase at Villa Flora, as the buildings within are properly maintained and well taken care of.
Her fellow residents also have a strong sense of belonging, creating a very homely feel for the entire community.
“I communicate with my neighbours very frequently, unlike many communities from other developments,” she joked happily.
Speaking From Good Experience
Having gone through her first home buying journey, her advice to aspiring homeowners is to purchase based on affordability.
During the process, she noticed that some people get pressured into buying properties that are more expensive than what they can afford, and this ultimately leads to difficulties in repaying their home loan.
Read more stories of people and their home journeys, or start your own process to purchasing your dream home on PropertyGuru.
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