Issue 78 - May 2016 by Property Hunter Magazine

EAST MALAYSIA’S LEADING PROPERTY PORTAL, MAGAZINE & EXPO

FEATURED PROPERTY

KINGFISHER INANAM The Address @ Inanam’s Showroom Is Now Open For Public Viewing

Pacificity: Everything A Modern Office Needs Under One Roof | Gamuda Land : Sales Gallery Of Bukit Bantayan Residences Now Available | PH Expo Sandakan : Marking The Second Expo Of The Year | First PPA1M Project In Sabah IKEA, Always In Fashion | High Tech, Fifth-Gen Must Haves

DRIVE

HOT TOPIC

Around the world with a Mercedes-Benz G-Class : An expedition for the 21st century

Making Commercial Property Investment Your Next Financial Future

HOT TOPIC

It’s Never Too Early To Start: How To Teach Your Kids About Property Investment

Wishing You All A

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY &

HAPPY HARVEST FESTIVAL 2016

MOTHER’S DAY FEATURED INTERVIEW Mum’s The Word

HOT TOPIC

5 Reasons To Invest In Australian Property

HOT TOPIC My View On MyDeposit Scheme

ISSUE 78 RM9.50 (Inc GST)

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CORPORATE

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Disclaimer, Permission & Reprints: This publication is not an investment advice. It is intended only to inform and illustrate. No reader should act on the basis of any matter contained in this publication without first seeking appropriate professional advice that takes into account their own particular circumstances.The publisher and editors give no representations and make no warranties, express, or implied, with responsibility of any of the material (including statistics, maps, articles, loan product tables, advertisements and advertising features) contained in this publication. The publisher and editors expressedly disclaim all responsibility for any errors in or omissions from the information contained in this publication, including all liability for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person as a result of or arising out of that person placing any reliance, weather whole or partial, upon the whole or any part of the contains of this publication. No correspondents will be entered into a relation to this publication by the publishers, editors or authors. The publishers do not endorse any company, organisation, person, investment strategy or technique mentioned in this publication unless expressly stated otherwise. The publishers do not endorse any advertisements or any special advertising features in this publication, nor does the publisher endorse any advertiser(s) or their products / services unless expressly stated to the contrary. Articles are published in the reliance upon the representations and warranties of the authors of the articles and without our knowledge of any infringement of any third party’s copyright. The publishers and editors do not authorise, sanction, approve or countenance any copyright infringement. This publication is protected under the Law of Malaysia Act 332 Copyrights Act 1987 and may not, in whole or part, be lent, copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable format without the express written permission of the publisher. Copyrights 2013 Maxx Media (S) Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS property SHOWCASE | 12

KINGFISHER INANAM The Address @ Inanam’s Showroom is now open for public viewing

property SHOWCASE | 18

PACIFICITY Everything a modern office needs under one roof

fEATURED event | 24

FIRST PPA1M PROJECT IN SABAH

fEATURED event | 28

GAMUDA LAND

MOTHER’S DAY FEATURED INTERVIEW | 30 SPECIAL event | 36

MUM’S THE WORD: Special interview with mothers in property PH EXPO SANDAKAN Marking The Second Expo Of The Year

HOT TOPIC | 42

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START How To Teach Your Kids About Property Investment

hot topic | 50

5 REASONS TO INVEST IN AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY

LIFESTYLE | 56

DRIVE Around the world with a Mercedes-Benz G-Class FURNISH IKEA, Always In Fashion WATCH & GADGETS Fifth-Gen and must haves

hot topic | 70

MAKING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY INVESTMENT YOUR NEXT FINANCIAL FUTURE

hot topic | 74

THE NEW MYDEPOSIT SCHEME: What to know

COFFEE TALK | 78

• •

Malaysian’s Overseas Preference: Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the UK The property market is definitely not HOT in transactions, ok?

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

Kingfisher Inanam

The Address @ Inanamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Showroom is now open for public viewing Development By Hap Seng Development Sdn Bhd

Good news for real estate buyers and keen investors, the Kingfisher Inanam showroom by Hap Seng Properties Development Sdn Bhd is now open for public viewing!

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At the Grand Launching of Kingfisher Inanam on 6th March, Chief Operating Officer, Mr. John Tan said that Hap Seng promises buyers value for money properties, thanks to its group synergy. According to Mr. Tan, “Hap Seng owns their own quarry and trading company that supplies building materials. On top of that, Hap Seng also owns a credit company that grants mortgage loans.”

“Hap Seng has promised the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to build more than 1,000 units of affordable homes that caters to the lower to middle-income groups in Sabah,” said Mr. Tan, adding that Hap Seng has become a trusted household name in property development that has also penetrated the Klang Valley market. Since Kingfisher Inanam’s preview at SHAREDA Propex 2015, the first of three blocks are almost sold out despite the softening market. Such success shows the confidence of buyers in the development with the correct formula.

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Hap Seng Sales Team Launching gambit of Kingfisher Inanam Kingfisher Inanam Sales Gallery Master bedroom (Type B) Living area (Typa A)

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Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Hajiji Hj Noor delivering speech Datuk Asrie Kadir, Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Hajiji and Mr John Tan sharing a light moment Nicole Lai, among the entertainers that evening

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

Sabah’s Own Homegrown Developer Hap Seng is one of the most successful conglomerates in Sabah, with diversified businesses ranging from property, plantations, quarry and building materials, trading, automotive and credit. For over 50 years, Hap Seng has built more than 10,000 units of homes throughout Sabah and currently has a strong presence in Klang Valley. Kingfisher Inanam is the third installation of the Kingfisher brand after Kingfisher II and Kingfisher Sulaman. In addition to providing high-quality and secure homes for individuals and families, the Kingfisher units have also proven themselves as great investments, as buyers’ investments have experienced a high rate of appreciation even prior to the price hike in recent years. Solid Ground, Seismic Design Hap Seng places great emphasis on the building location for its projects. The location of Kingfisher Inanam is perfect for a residential area as it is situated away from the main road, therefore, minimizing noise and air pollution. However, it is only a stone’s

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throw away from the Inanam Commercial Centre and wet market, providing its future residents a tranquil environment as well as conveniences. The three blocks of condominium are built on a solid, flat ground. In wake of the earthquake, Hap Seng has taken a precautionary step ahead to ensure its future residents’ safety is of utmost importance. The seismic design of the Kingfisher Inanam takes into account the potential seismic forces, in order for it to respond appropriately to the risks and threats posed by natural hazards to the building and its occupants. Infrastructure Support Jalan Kiansom and Jalan Tuaran are known for their busy traffic at peak hours. This issue however will be alleviated once the construction of the flyover between Jalan Lintas and Jalan Tuaran-by-Pass is completed as it will ease the traffic flow. This effort from the government certainly would benefit the population of Inanam and its surrounding areas. Furthermore, the recently launched Pan Borneo Highway is proposed very close to

the development (refer map), adding multiple accessibility to the site. Hap Seng has also made efforts to widen the junction which turns in to Kingfisher Inanam to ease the traffic flow and added streetlights to brighten the area. State-Of-The-Art Facilities As icing on the cake, Kingfisher Inanam is also equipped with state-of-the-art facilities with nearly two acres (85,000 sqft) of dedicated Skypark (Level 5) which houses the clubhouse, swimming pool, barbecue area, as well as a basketball and badminton court for recreational activities. At the same time, residents will also be rewarded with fresh air and a view of green rolling hills in the backdrop. Hap Seng is also putting great emphasis on the landscaping with resort-like retreats as a concept. There will be a 450m jogging path with gazebos, water features and sitting areas for its residents to relax and socialize.

Affordable Pricing With a great location and extensive facilities, Kingfisher Inanam comes at an affordable price from RM380,000* onwards. It is a great investment opportunity and perfect for growing families. The popular condominium appeals to many first time home buyers between the ages of 25-44. Currently, Hap Seng is offering a low down payment sales package with complimentary kitchen cabinets under its Early Bird Scheme. Reserve your units today! This offer is limited to the first 100 customers only.* Waze â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kingfisher Inanamâ&#x20AC;? to visit the showroom located at Jalan Kitobu (off Jalan Kiansom), Inanam. It is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Show units are available in 865 sqft and 1,160 sqft.

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Artist impression of Kingfisher Inanam Kitchen Bedroom Location map

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Artist impression of Skypark Living room (Type B) Awards

For more info:

+6088-355 833 www.hapsengland.com

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

PacifiCity Everything a modern office needs under one roof How a visionary property developer is on course to revolutionise and redefine the landscape of sustainable property development in Kota Kinabalu.

Development By Pacific Sanctuary Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

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Pacific Enterprise - Workstation

Rooftop Executive Lounge

Signature Open Plan Offices19 www.PropertyHunter.com.my

PROPERTY SHOWCASE

Hotel Jen’s facilities & Business center

abah is a powerful economic engine. Over the last decade, the ‘Land Beneath the Wind’ has experienced tremendous growth fueled by three core sectors: tourism, agriculture and oil & gas. With ongoing government investments in infrastructure projects such as the Pan Borneo Highway and Sabah Port, more industries are now set to bloom. Shipping and distribution will soon thrive here, particularly given Sabah’s convenient and strategic location between China and South East Asia. Improved logistics both regionally and internally will be a catalyst spurring growth in ancillary industries such as manufacturing and production. Kota Kinabalu, the state capital and largest developed city in Borneo, is set to transform, becoming the commercial epicenter for the region’s economic development. This nucleus city is welcoming international business

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communities, with major investments namely in infrastructure, business hotels, conference facilities, public transport and human capital development. These businesses are attracted by the convenience, well-connected and central location Kota Kinabalu has to offer, perfect to serve the BIMPEAGA and wider ASEAN markets. Combined with the high quality of life found in Sabah, many companies are now establishing regional offices in Kota Kinabalu. With the emergence of Sabahan businesses on the international stage and the growing presence of multinational companies in Kota Kinabalu, there is increasing demand for a higher standard of offices, on par with those found in Singapore and Hong Kong. Businesses today demand integrated office complexes that provide convenience and offer on-site amenities and services.

In Kota Kinabalu, integrated office complexes that can meet the demands and standards of modern business are few and far between and none other in such a prime and convenient location than PacifiCity, located in Likas Bay. PacifiCity is an upcoming mixeduse development comprising of residential, Lifestyle Shopping Mall, hotels and offices cleverly combined into a 25-acre site, opposite the Sabah Trade Center. Located just 15 minutes from the airport and away from the congested city center, the integrated development will fulfill the needs for any business to thrive in one convenient location. Offices are available for sale or rent in handy sizes from 660sqft up to 20,000 sqft. Careful considerations have been made to meet the demands of modern businesses; there is ample parking with 2,300 secure covered bays, in phase 1, and a further 2,700 bays in Phase 2, multi-tier security and high-speed fiber-optic data connections.

Every business need is just an elevator ride away; banks and courier services, restaurants and cafes to entertain clients and a variety of business hotels to suit all corporate budgets. Businesses located at PacifiCity will also have privileged access to their own roof-top Conference Centre and Executive Lounge, saving precious space. All offices at PacifiCity are delivered in a move-in or rent-out condition, complete with split unit air-conditioning, far more economical than centralized systems, allowing owners flexibility to work long into the night. Any business owner know that selecting the right office is crucial to ensuring their commercial success. Offices at PacifiCity, present all the amenities and services required by modern businesses in one of the best locations in KK.

PACIFICITY AT A GLANCE Property Type •

Integrated Mixed-Use Development

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204 Furnished Residences

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650,000 sq.ft. of Retail

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150,000 sq.ft. of Offices

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1000+ Hotel Rooms (International 5, 4 & 3-star brands)

Address Land Area Land Tenure

: Jalan Istiadat, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia. : 18.5 acres : 99-year Leasehold

Business Hotel by Shangri-La at PacifiCity

OFFICES AT PACIFICITY Property Name Property Type Total Area Office Size Range Price Range Total Units Maintenance Fee Expected Completion

: Pacific Enterprise : Office Suites : 150,000 sq.ft. : 660 – 7,717 sq.ft. : From RM480,000 onwards : 56 units across 4 integrated towers : RM0.50 per sq.ft per month (including Sinking Fund) : 2017

Specifications •

Minimum 2-tier security access

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24-hour manned security

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Fiber-Optic voice and data lines

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De-centralized split-unit air conditioning

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Units above 2,000 sq.ft. include private toilets

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Delivered move-in ready

Facilities & Amenities •

Signature Office Lobbies, staffed with security concierge during office hours

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Privileged access to Executive Lounge & Conference Suites

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2,300 Secure Covered Car Parks in phase 1 (a further 2,700 in phase 2)

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Free Parking for first 5-years (limited to 1 car per 1,000 sq.ft. of Office)

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Season Parking Rates Available

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Hotel Jen (Business hotel by Shangri-La)

Main Attractions, Public Transport & Amenities Nearby •

Integrated into PacifiCity – the offices are just an elevator ride away from Shopping, Dining, Banks, Postal Services, Entertainment & International Hotels

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Prime and Convenient Location; opposite Sabah Trade Centre, around the corner from Sabah International Convention Centre

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15 minutes from Kota Kinabalu International Airport

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Opposite future public transport interchange

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Shuttle bus service to city-center

Sales Gallery / Office Address Jalan Istiadat, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

088 - 237 555 www.pacificity.com

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PROPERTY NEWS

PROPERTY, INVESTMENT & BANKING NEWS KEEP TRACK OF THE TRENDS IN PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE

Sabah

SB IN

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International

Sarawak BK

West Malaysia

Banking & Investment

DISCLAIMER It has been brought to our attention that a publication by the title of “The Property.com” has been circulating in the market, containing articles and design layout which have been replicated directly from our Property Hunter Magazine issue 74. We at Property Hunter do not support and highly condemn such act of plagiarism. As such, we are very concerned and have taken stringent measures by lodging a police report on 15th April 2016, and submitted the same to Bahagian Kawalan Penerbitan dan Teks AlQuran of Kementerian Dalam Negeri Sabah. The said publication is not legitimate and Property Hunter / Maxx Media (S) Sdn Bhd has no association whatsoever to the publication.

Developers Urged to Take Appropriate Methods to Face Market Difficulties President of Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (SHAREDA) Datuk Francis Goh has urged the developers to take appropriate strategies, innovative and corrective methods to overcome the stiff challenges and difficulties faced to rise the occasion for a continual and sustainable development in Sabah. “Challenges are often crated by new policies inadvertently or perhaps wrongly set by authorities without fully understanding the implications and risks suffered by the stakeholders, if not consulted during the planning stage,” said Goh. He said this in his foreword message in SHAREDA’s Property Development Annual Report and Market Outlook for year 2015 which was revealed during SHAREDA Annual General Meeting held last Saturday (March 27).

“I humbly opined that it is vital and pertinent to obtain consensus from the professional bodies and stakeholders like SHAREDA, Sabah Builders Association and related groups before implementation,” he continued.

conversion of title and issuance of developer’s license also contributed to the cost hike in property development.

“For example, the recommendation made by Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) on implementing 0:12g or 12% PGA (Peak Ground Acceleration) to the new development projects around Kota Kinabalu was issued based on the analyzed data obtained from the recent Ranau earthquake last year, but SHAREDA opined that this recommendation is mandatory to comply in high risk area such as Ranau and Lahad Datu, while in low risk area such as in KK, a standard rate 0:05G PGA should be permissible,” he explained.

“It is always a wish of the developers to have a fast and efficient approval system to reduce the unnecessary holding costs in the development projects. If the duration to obtain the development order is shortened to 6 months, it will put down the property prices of about 5%,” he said. “SHAREDA council will continue to play our role to highlight pertinent issue and complement the government’s initiatives in providing housing accommodation and caring for the wellbeing of the people.” “Hence, we hope that the government will review its focus on vibrant industries that could support and uplift the overall economy vibrancy such as housing and real estate development industry amongst other key sectors,” he concluded.

“For adopting this safety measure, it would eventually push the building costs to go up and ultimately will affect the developers for causing the housing price hike,” he said. Goh also stated that the long delay in obtaining the approval of building plan,

Shareda Council Members pose with the newly published Property Development Annual Report www.PropertyHunter.com.my

FEATURED EVENT

First PPA1M Project in Sabah Puncak Gloxinia Launched Its Show Units By Property Hunter

The first 1Malaysia Civil Servant Housing (PPA1M) in Sabah â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Puncak Gloxinia launched its show units on March 31. Located in Kinarut South, the 6-tower condominium consists of 1,296 units with sizes ranging from 1,000 to 1,325 sq. ft.

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According to President of Housing and Development Board (LPPB) of Sabah Datuk Ahmad Bin Bujang, PPA1M is part of the government plan to assist civil servants in order to own their first home in Malaysia, focusing on the low to middle income group. Introduced in 2013, the program is fully controlled under the Prime Minister’s Department and the housing price is below the typical market price, exclusively to the civil servants. “Together with Landmark Property Sdn Bhd (the developer), we (LPPB) are proud to introduce this wonderful opportunity to civil servants in Sabah,” he said during his speech. “Previously, we have also worked together in another affordable housing project – Taman Wawasan in Beaufort. I have been informed that although the housing was classified under low cost area, it has

now become an investment opportunity amongst the buyers, with the current price doubled than the selling price,” he added.

“Under the PPA1M program, the government has allocated a big budget to enable the housing projects being sold 30% below the market price,” he explained. Puncak Gloxinia, according to Ahmad, is constructed under the method of Industrial Building System (IBS) which provides a faster completion date and has been utilized by Landmark Property in their previous projects. “Not only will it be faster, IBS method also helps to reduce construction wastage,” he explained. According to Director of Project Department Landmark Property Mr.

Wilson Loke, Puncak Gloxinia implemented the tremor resistant technology and it was planned way ahead before the recent earthquake which occurred in Ranau last year. Launched by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa in 27 June 2015, Puncak Gloxinia is expected to complete in 2018. Also present during the event was Assistant of Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Haji Zakaria Bin Haji Mohd Idris.

Datuk Ahmad Bujang (4th from left) together with Dr. Gordon Loke (3rd left) and Wilson Loke (1st right) and other dignitaries Chief Secretary Tan Sri Hamsa together with members of the goverment and developer officiating the launching ceremony Part of the crowd who attended the event

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NEWS

K.T.I Group Is Now Operating at Taman Nelly 9 Shoplot On March 18, K.T. I Group organized an office warming celebration at its new office in Taman Nelly 9 Shoplot. The relocation took place on January 28, from its previous address at Wisma LTF, Taman Nelly. In view of its expansion and the motivation to move forward, spokesperson of K.T.I Group described that the relocation is needed to provide a more spacious and comfortable working environment as it is much required to cater its growing employees. K.T.I. Group had its humble beginning as a property developer in 1984. During 1996, the company has undertaken a number of Government Turnkey Projects, project that involves completing, designing, building, financing and upon satisfactory completion,

handing over to the respective government bodies with total value of RM 368 Million. The new address of K.T.I Group is now described as Lot 221 & 222, Phase 4, Taman Nelly 9 Shoplot. Lot 221 is an intermediate 2-storey shoplot, measuring at 2,328 sq.ft whilst Lot 222 is a 5-storey corner shoplot, measuring 13, 569 sq.ft.

During the event, K.T.I Group showcased its 2 future projects which are expected to be launched next year – a mixed development in Tuaran and an urban re-development on a prime area in Luyang. The group is also the developer for the first housing project for civil workers in Sabah, (PPA1M) Puncak Gloxinia is expected to complete in 2018.

Guests who were present during the event include Maybank Kuala Lumpur Managing Director of Business Banking Y.Bhg Datuk Henry Goh, Director and CEO of Sedafiat Sdn Bhd Y.Bhg Datuk Awang Buhtamam Bin Hj. Mahmun, Consultant Clinical Oncologist of KPJ Sabah Specialist Hospital Y.Bhg Datuk Dr. Jaswant Singh, fellow bankers, solicitors, consultants and contractors.

Slowing Property Market May Expose Risk of Malaysia’s High Consumer Debt

Malaysia’s easing property sector could turn the country’s household debt — the highest in the region — into a risk to economic growth, a Fitch Group subsidiary said on April 4 as reported by The MalayMail Online.

Putrajaya also recently noted that real estate investments had dropped by 70 per cent. Slowing growth in the value of property used for securitisation could limit consumers’ ability to obtain additional credit, and has already shown its effect on consumer sentiment, which has worsened in recent years. 2

In a report on the dangers of growing corporate and consumer debt in the region, Business Monitor International Ltd (BMI) noted that Malaysia’s household debt rose sharply since 2008 and now amounted to 89 per cent as a ratio of the country’s GDP, an increase of 25 percentage points. According to BMI’s data, mortgages remained the prime contributor to Malaysians’ debt over the past five years, even as consumers cut back of borrowing for other expenditure. “Although the value of assets of households in Malaysia is two to three times the size of

debt, which implies a low level of risk, with 49 per cent of debt used to purchase residential assets, we highlight that the risk of a softer housing market could weigh on consumers’ balance sheets, particularly given the weaker currency and the implementation of the goods & service tax of 6.0 per cent in 2015,” BMI said in its report. Property prices in Malaysia have stagnated due to the recent economic slowdown as well as increasing supply of both residential and commercial space.

Kuala Lumpur Hotel Sold for RM414mil London-listed property developer Aseana Properties Ltd announced Wednesday (30 March) that it sold the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral Hotel to Prosper Group Holdings Ltd for US$104.6 million (RM414.11 million), reported Property Guru. Situated in Kuala Lumpur Sentral, the property managed by Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts comes with 482 beds.

Consumer spending was previously the main driver of the country’s economy and helped Malaysia weather global economic slowdowns such as the 2008 financial crisis. Since then, exports have taken over as the main contributor to the GDP, although the manufacturing sector’s performance remains volatile. Bank Negara Malaysia reiterated this month that Malaysia is set to meet its targeted annual growth of between 4.0 and 4.5 per cent, down from 5.0 per cent last year, although analysts predict that expansion will be at the lower end of the estimate.

Properties, a property developer focused on Malaysia and Vietnam. “This transaction also highlights the strength of our company in developing highly sought after real estate investment assets. The company remains fully committed to returning capital to shareholders and will work closely with its lenders to enable distributions to be made at the earliest possible opportunity,” he added.

3 1.

“The disposal of the Aloft Hotel is a significant milestone in our divestment strategy,” said Dato Mohammed Azlan Hashim, Chairman of Aseana

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The sale is expected to be completed in Q3 2016.

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CEO of K.T.I Group Dr. Gordon Loke introducing the new upcoming project to the guests. Housing area in Kuala Lumpur Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral Hotel

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FEATURED EVENT

GAMUDA LAND Sales Gallery of Bukit Bantayan Residences Now Available Gamuda Land has opened their new sales gallery for viewing of their latest residential project â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bukit Bantayan Residences on April 8th. By Property Hunter

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ocated 12km away from the city centre, the development is inspired by a unique highland retreat concept.

The development spans over 18 acres on a hilltop, overlooking a breath-taking and invigorating view of its surroundings. Bukit Bantayan Residences consists of 1,500 apartment units and 30 shops spread across 5 apartment towers, 3 residential parcels and 1 commercial parcel. The unit sizes range from 904 to 1,100 sq. ft and price per unit starts from RM 397,800 onwards.

During the event, Gamuda Land has introduced the “Paling Menang Easy Payment Scheme” for the early birds. The scheme has been included in the sales of units to help ease the burden of potential home buyers, predominantly the early birds. Amongst the activities present at the show unit opening were the appearance from Hitz.FM Cruisers who were giving away free gifts through a series of mini games to the visitors, children creative face painting by Carol Makeup, and a 3-piece jazz band serving delightful jazz entertainment throughout the day.

According to the group’s Business Development General Manager Simon Phang, the project is designed to cater to the different needs of each home owner. The new residential development offers a handful of conveniences within easy reach from child care services to open amphitheatre.

The project has also adopted the seismic design to add resistance from the earthquake, and is believed to be able to withstand up to 7 Ritcher scale magnitude.

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Internal view of the show units Internal view of the show units Internal view of the show units Bukit Bantayan Residence’s development site Scale model of the Bukit Bantayan Residences

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MOTHER’S DAY FEATURED INTERVIEW

Mum’s the Word They say that women with successful careers that are also mothers seem to ‘have it all’. While this notion may seem true on the surface, it’s actually not that easy trying to balance work and raising kids, as we found out. We took three women out of their busy schedules to unwind and chat with us over lunch prepared specially by Favola at the Le Meridien. Article by Property Hunter Photos by Louis Pang Photography Venue & Lunch by Favola @ Le Meridien KK

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FEATURED INTERVIEW

Oh, did we mention that these women are also prominent ladies in the property industry here in Sabah? Kelly Lioo of Azmi & Co., Caroline Yong of Hap Seng and Jen Kah of Sina Land spend one girly afternoon being wined and dined while sharing with us how they manage their hectic daily lives as working mothers while still managing to look classy at the same time.

MORNING ROUTINE Carol: When I get up, I plan what to cook for the day. I prefer to cook the meals and the maid will do the rest of the housework. Kelly: I usually wake up at 5am, attend to my two daughters before they are sent to their (secondary) school by their father. After breakfast, I will get myself settled down and begin preparations for my daily work routines before leaving home at about 9 a.m. Jen: Mornings are chaos! I wake up and make breakfast and prepare the childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lunch boxes, dress up, dress the kids, feed them, clean them and then I drop them off at school and daycare, before making my way to the office.

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BETWEEN WORK AND FAMILY Carol: They’re both equally important. Of course, my weekdays are spent at the office, but once at home, I give my undivided attention to my kids as they’re extra sensitive with the time that I spend with them. We have a Whatsapp family group chat, so despite my hectic schedule, I still make sure that their needs are met. Kelly: When children are much younger, a mother’s life is undoubtedly more restless because you constantly need to attend to all aspects of their growing lives. Now that they’re older, daily routines are much more manageable and easier to plan. But as work goes, the scopes and responsibilities keep increasing and business decisions need to be made immediately, so now I think my job is much more harder than being a mother. Jen: Both are equally hard and sometimes I’m being pulled in both directions. For instance, on one hand I need to prioritise work, especially when I have to prepare for important board meetings, and on the other, I need to prioritise and make time for my children especially when they are sick and require more attention. I try my best to balance both.

SPENDING TIME WITH THE KIDS Carol: On weekdays, my husband and I are very busy people and things can happen impromptu with work while the kids are busy with their schoolwork. But when it comes to weekends, I always prioritise my time for the kids, so we always set it aside for family time. Kelly: Despite being hard-pressed for time, I always ensure that I am involved with their studies and wellbeing and with all the things that come along with them growing up. No matter what, we must always accord some priority and quality time in sharing and mentoring our children, especially when they are in their teenage years.

“

No matter what, we must always accord some priority and quality time in sharing and mentoring our children.. - Kelly Jen: I made a clear list of things that I must do as a mother such as preparing their breakfast every morning since I’m not around for lunch and dinner and so my mother handles those for me. Evenings at 7 to 9, granted I don’t have important work to do, is solely time for my children where my phone will be on silent. We would read storybooks, do some drawing or watch cartoons, and I would be with them until they fall asleep. I also try my best to plan family outings every Sunday and even going grocery shopping together counts. I draw a clear line between work time and family time. I work when I am at work and be fully there as a mum when I’m at home.

Jen Kah Director of Sina Land

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WATCH FEATURED PROPERTY INTERVIEW

THEIR KIDS ON PROPERTY INVESTMENT Carol: Honestly, they’re not really in the know about it. They’re still sheltered from that trade. But one thing for sure is that they know that mom is in the business of selling properties. They don’t know much about buying and selling (property), but sometimes they do ask me general questions. They know mom is an expert in the business! Kelly: Honestly, they have been growing up listening to my business dealings with clients and they have followed me to property sites and various functions and exhibitions to be exposed first hand. So I presume they already know the basics. But of course, I will continue to impart more investing knowledge on them whenever I can. Jen: I would tell them that risk management is very important. Do not be driven by their emotions, lucrative offers in their inbox or chasing the latest “hot spot”. Also to ensure that they have sufficient financial buffers to see them through the ups and downs of property investing. And to have an exit strategy in place for poor performing investments.

“

...sometimes they do ask me general questions (on property investment). They know mom is an expert in the business! - Caroline

MANAGING STRESS Carol: When I’m stressed, I won’t tell my family. The reason being is that I don’t want to burden or release my problems on them. But usually, the kids would know because when I’m stressed, I would turn to TV. I have my little corner to watch television quietly. That’s how they know not to disturb me. Kelly: Undeniably, work stress is a norm and part and partial of the life of a real estate negotiator. It is not easy to manage, especially for this customer-demanding and emotionally challenging profession and I am still trying to learn to manage this work-related stress more effectively. But my favourite stress reliever is going to the spa for massages.

Caroline Yong Deputy General Manager Sales and Marketing (Sabah)

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Jen: Taking a brief “stress break” is often enough for me to decompress or just to get a new perspective. Sometimes stress is unavoidable, but I would get away for just a few minutes to feel less overwhelmed so that I can think clearly. I also count my blessings each night before going to sleep. I would think about little things like my baby’s magical smile while he’s sleeping, having had a good laugh with colleagues or completing a task successfully at work. It fixes me up and I would feel positive again the next day.

ADVICE FOR WORKING WOMEN LOOKING TO START A FAMILY Carol: As long as you know what your priorities are and how to manage your time, having a career and being a mother is always something that I endorse because it gives us women our own financial independence and builds our self-respect and confidence. Kids today take pride in their working mothers so you also become someone that they look up to and that in turn builds their self-respect and confidence.

“

These are the two things that matter: I know why I am working and my children know I love them - Jen

Kelly: First and foremost, your baby always comes first as you are responsible for his or her coming into this world. Have enough rest and learn to have peace of mind, make adjustments in your work schedules or routines for the sake of your baby. Jen: Don’t try to be superwoman. They say ‘women can have it all’, but in reality, I think it will be very exhausting and stressful to manage everything by yourself. Whenever I can, I get help from my husband, my parents, the in-laws. Don’t be too hard on yourself! And most important of all, avoid reading pointless news stories based on the ‘latest research’ and blaming working mothers for damaging their child’s health and intelligence. These are the two things that matter: I know why I am working and my children know I love them.

Food menu is offered exclusively for the month of May at Favola @ Le Meridien KK

Starter

Antipasto Misto Tomato mozzarella, beef bresaola, grilled prawn and Caesar salad

Main Course

Mixed Grilled Platter Lamb noisettes, grouper fillet, beef tenderloin, green peas puree, asparagus, pumpkin and sweet potato

Dessert

Capsicum and Raspberry Sorbet

Kelly Lioo Property Negotiator for Azmi & Co.

*This food menu is offered exclusively for the month of May at Favola, Le Meridien, KK.

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SPECIAL EVENT

PH EXPO SANDAKAN

MARKING THE SECOND EXPO OF THE YEAR Next stop, Tawau.

With the successful kick-start to the PH Expo in Kota Kinabalu in March, the Property Hunter team continues to spread its wings and returns to Sandakan for the 4th consecutive year. This pit stop marks the second expo of our yearly tour. By Property Hunter

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Expo Sandakan received a remarkable response with over 1,000 people visiting the expo. The 3-day event, which took place on April 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17, saw over 30 developers participating to feature over 40 projects.

The event proved to be successful, with a 47 percent increase in sales unit this year. Despite the cautious housing market today, the buying power for property investment is still strong amongst the people. The enthusiasm of the investors indicates that the property market will gradually recover itself. The team plans to continue spreading the word of property investment throughout East Malaysia; introducing new project developments along the way. 2016 alone will see a rise in commercial and residential properties and a huge major player in the hotel industry. PH Expo will see its third event at the Fajar Club, Tawau this month on 13th- 15th May. For more information about the expo and forthcoming expo destinations, please visit the PH Facebook Page and website at www.propertyhunter.com.my

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SPECIAL EVENT

Previous Page 1. Potential investors show their interest at the expo 2. Wah Mie Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s custom built booth 3. Passionate investors show their interest

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Current Page 4. The crowd just keeps on coming! 5. A potential investor at Kueen Lai 6. Blu waterfront Development showcasing The Shore at the Expo 7. Sales representatives enlighten people with their project

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NEWS

Malaysia’s Long-Term Economic Outlook Remains Bright: Moody’s This was said by Moody’s Investors Service even though it downgraded the country’s prospects from ‘positive’ to ‘stable’.

The long-term economic outlook of Malaysia remains bright thanks to its vast natural resources, well-developed infrastructure, a globally competitive services sector and a manufacturing base that would benefit from its widening trade linkages, reported Property Guru Malaysia.

“The change in outlook reflects the deterioration in Malaysia’s growth and external credit metrics due to external pressures over the past year, such as lower commodity prices,” it explained. This lower commodity prices negatively affected the government’s revenue, which in turn led to falling reserves, larger capital outflows, lower account surplus and a decline in the ringgit’s value.

Property Sector to Reach Inflection Point Soon

Affin Hwang Investment Bank Bhd’s research arm analysts (Affin Hwang Research) believe the property sector may reach an inflection point soon, premised on sustained economic data and coupled with strong balance sheet position, reported The Borneo Post.

Malaysia’s young population is also supportive of the sector in the medium to long term. “After three quarters of contraction in the number of properties transacted, we believe

With an anticipated recovery of GDP in 2H16, rebound in private consumption in 4Q15, and coupled with positive economic data points including – all time high employment, expansion in average wage, the research house analysts believe this will continue to sustain consumption.

China’s direct investments in Malaysia’s manufacturing sector amounted to RM13.6 billion between 2009 and 2015, says Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Haji Ahmad Maslan, as reported in Bernama. He said the investments came from some 20 companies comprising of Comtec Solar International (M) Sdn Bhd, Jinko Solar Technology Sdn Bhd, Kaifa Technology Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Megatrax Plastic Industries Sdn Bhd and Mansion Machinery Sdn Bhd amongst others. “A major portion of the investments are already being implemented, involving 143 projects and is expected to create 24,786 jobs,” he said at the Dewan Rakyat in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 4th April 2016, in reply to

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“Like Oman and Peru, Malaysia benefited from the global commodities boom over the last decade, with palm oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum and associated products of particular importance.” But when commodity prices slumped, the Southeast Asian nation was much more resilient compared to the aforementioned countries due to its diversification. As such, Malaysia’s real gross development product (GDP) is expected to grow at an average rate of 4.7 percent in 2015 and 2016, which is slightly lower than the average growth rate of 4.8 percent from 2001 to 2013.

Although consumer sentiment index has been on the downtrend, the analysts believe this may has reach near bottom.

Property Sector to Reach Inflection Point Soon

this could almost be the bottom, as historically, over the past 10 years, the industry has only suffered at most, four quarters of negative growth,” opined Affin Hwang Research. In 4Q15, the residential housing starts fell substantially to circa 34,000 units which may suggests that property developers are delaying launches and this may cap new incoming supply, and hence minimising the risk of a prolonged oversupply. “We are positive on the property sector, as we believe the bottom is approaching and that further downside risk to share prices is limited. Property sales will be supported by healthy exisiting unbilled sales, as well as new launches.”

Khalid Abdul Samad (Amanah-Shah Alam). Ahmad claims that out of the total, the basic metals industry received the highest investments of RM8 billion followed by electrical and electronics sector at RM3.5 billion and non-metallic minerals industry at RM738 million.

Ahmad said in 2015, although the number dropped to a drastic RM1.87 billion, it was still however, moderately high to reflect Chinese investors’ confidence in the Malaysian economy despite the current global economic situation.

Standing at RM556 million was the textiles and textile products industry and fabricated metals sector stood at RM157 million, according to Ahmad Maslan.

“China’s investment in the country increased steadily from a mere RM164 million in 2009 to RM4.75 billion in 2014,” he said.

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London Spring Place (Artist’s Impression) Housing area in Kuala Lumpur Datuk Haji Ahmad Maslan

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HOT TOPIC

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START HOW TO TEACH YOUR KIDS ABOUT PROPERTY INVESTMENT The escalating cost of living over the past few decades has made it harder and harder for individuals to own their own home. According to a Genworth Australia research in 2011, the average age of first-time homeowners has risen dramatically from 25 years old in the 1970s, to 31. In 2015, the figure has reportedly shot up to 33 to 34 years of age – given that the average age of people on their first jobs are 21 to 22 years old. By Property Hunter

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lthough most Asian parents are happy to accommodate their adult children (and their families) in their homes, educating children early on about the importance of saving up for their first home is a necessity. If it isn’t merely for the sole purpose of encouraging your children to ‘launch’, raising kids who are money savvy will go a long way to serve them as adults. Here are some simple ways to start:

1. Train your kids to save Saving is an invaluable skill that needs to be integrated early in everyone’s life. With every penny they save from doing chores or getting good grades, teach them to make wise spending choices. For example, explain to your children how long it will take for them to save up for a pair of Nikes they want using the money they save up. This will put the value of money into perspective.

2. Educate your kids about compounding interest

Compound interest is the core concept in understanding the importance of making an investment. A good way to illustrate this to your child may be to use physical tokens, such as coins, toys or candy. For example, you can give them four tokens, calling it the ‘principal’. Then say that after one year, you would give them an extra token for every two they still have. Describe this gain as ‘interest’. From here, you can give out ‘interest’ tokens and demonstrate how leaving the interest to accrue every year will have a snowball effect that results in greater gains over time, than if they decided to take it out and spend it. Learning this will help your kids understand the importance of delayed gratification as well.

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HOT TOPIC

3. Educate your kids about

appreciating and depreciating assets As your children grow into young adults who are earning their own money, they will soon be tempted to spend their money on flashy material things, such as sports cars and designer clothes instead of saving up to buy their first house or setting up an investment account. This is when you have to educate your children about the difference between appreciating and depreciating assets, as well as why they should start setting aside their income for their next stage in life. Most of all, you will have to be a living and breathing example for them to look up to.

4. Teach your kids about risk and rewards

There are different types of investments with varying levels of risk. Explaining the two primary types of financial investment to children is a good way to demonstrate the concept of risk versus reward. For example, bonds are bought when you lend money to the government or a company. This is generally considered low-risk but will yield you relatively low potential returns. Stocks or shares are portions of a company you can purchase. Unlike bonds, there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really any guarantee youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll even get your money back, but these types of investments are appealing due to the potential for high returns. The great thing about the relationship between risk and reward is that it applies not just to real estate investment, but in other areas of life as well.

5. Educate your kids on the

importance of property investment With property investment, you will not only earn income from the rent, but you can also make huge capital gains with the property that appreciates over time. This type of investment can also be easy for young kids to understand, as real estate is something you can touch, see and builds on the basic fundamentals of investing.

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NEWS

UK Student Property Gains Popularity in Malaysia The successful selling of London Spring Place Phase 1 was a runaway success in Malaysia – a sign that more Malaysians are seeing the viability and benefit of investigating in UK student property, especially in light of the ringgit volatility and local and global economic uncertainty, reported The Borneo Post. The statements were released during the launching of the second phase of LSP project in Malaysia by Cornerstone International Properties (CIP), following the sell-out launch of Phase 1 in Malaysia last year. LSP is a purpose built student accommodation in the UK. “Traditionally reserved for institutional investors, UK student property is now open to individual and private investors and has grown in popularity in Malaysia,” said CIP Director Virata Thaivasigamony.

“We are firm believers in this investment type as it has proven to be recession-proof and the strongest performing asset class in the UK with annual nett yields

as high as 8 per cent, superseding the meagre 4 per cent and 2.5 per cent gross yields from residential rental projects in Kuala Lumpur and London, respectively,” said Virata, citing Felda’s investment in a student property in the UK in 2015 in a move to diversify assets. “We saw a sharp increase in our UK student property sales numbers compared to residential property in Malaysia. In 2015 alone, 73 per cent of our inventory sold to Malaysians was UK student property. Our top-selling student property project, London Spring Place (Phase 1) which was extremely popular among Malaysian investors, sold out last year. “In fact, CIP sold an impressive 80 student units for the developer of London Spring Place alone! We just launched Phase 2 last March and the take up rate has been extremely positive.”

Malaysia. LSP units come furnished with a fully equipped gym, cinema room, communal study and games rooms, onsite laundry, and highspeed WiFi in every room.

The popularity of UK student property is largely attributed to its strong performance, the strongest performing asset class in the UK since 2011, surpassing all other property asset types, according to Knight Frank. The risks are low as there is an acute undersupply of purpose built student accommodation in the UK. Default in rent is rare as a result of parental guarantee, thus investors are assured of regular and timely rental returns. Malaysians investing in UK student property are excused from capital gains tax in addition to relief from rental income tax.

CIP is the exclusive marketing agent for LSP in

International Economic Landscape Will Influence Local Economy - BNM

The international economic and financial landscape is likely to remain challenging in 2016 and will be a key factor that will influence the prospects of the Malaysian economy, said Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Assistant Governor En. Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour. Abdul Rasheed made the statement during the briefings on the economic developments and outlook held in Kota Kinabalu on last Monday (March 28), in conjunction with the release of the BNM Annual Report 2015. Based on his presentation, the Malaysian economy is expected to grow by 4.0 – 4.5% in 2016, with domestic demand being the principal driver of growth. Nonetheless, the private consumption and private investment growths are expected to trend below their long-term averages, reflecting the continued household adjustments to an environment of higher prices and cautious business sentiments respectively.

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The event is part of BNM’s larger effort to give back and provide value to its stakeholders at its regional offices in Sabah, Sarawak, Penang and Johor.

Among some of the areas discussed were the challenges in obtaining end-financing in the property market and the impact of slowdown in China. Abdul Rasheed stressed on the affordability issue in the property market that is due to the undersupply of affordable houses, particularly in urbanised areas. According to him, the slowdown in China will have global spillovers in the near term, as it transitions towards a more consumption-base growth. Meanwhile the ongoing reforms will pave the way for a more sustainable growth for China in the long term and Malaysian firms will need to ensure that their products and services remain relevant to China’s new growth model.

According to BNM, this initiative has entered its second year of implementation after the first round of briefings in 2015 was well-received. The briefings have also provided an opportunity for the stakeholders to better understand the roles of BNM in Sabah which include undertaking surveillance on economic and financial issues and implementation of BNM’s strategic agenda. In addition, BNM conducts outreach programmes at underserved areas in Sabah to raise awareness on basic financial products, scams and consumer redress among Sabahans. The public is encouraged to contact BNM at 088-522-310 / 1300-88-5465 / bnmtelelink@ bnm.gov.my or visit its Kota Kinabalu regional office if they wish to seek clarification or advice on financial matters.

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London Spring Place (Artist’s Impression) QA Session during the brefing, conducted by Assistant Governor Mr Abdul Rasheed

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NEWS

Sabahans Unable to Own Houses Due to the Incompetent of the Government – Junz Wong Most Sabahans are unable to own houses due to the incompetence of the government, specifically Lembaga Pembangunan Perumahan dan Bandar (LPPB) because they have failed to deliver the low cost or affordable houses on time, said DAP Sabah Secretary Junz Wong. Junz who is also Likas’ Assemblyman said this during his site visit to LPPB mixed housing project – Taman Limauan Kinarut and Limauan Square on 22 March with his political secretary Nicholas Chak, together with some of the buyers.

Subsequently, a supplementary agreement was signed on 1 April 2015 between LPPB and the buyers with increased portion to be bound by buyers due to increased prices of building materials. LAD claim was renegotiated / waived.

“Not only that they have to wait for the issuance of the OC, but also for the electric and water system installation to be completed,” he stressed out, and saying that this is not fair to the buyers.

LPPB promised to complete the project by the end of 2015. Junz said that LPPB did complete the housing project with Occupational Certificate (OC) by 2015 but they have not completed the shop lot in Limauan Square.

According to Junz, the project started its construction in 2005 and was supposed to be completed by 2007 but it was delayed for several years until he brought it up in Dewan back in 2013. “Back then the housing and shop structure were already 85% completed,” he said, adding that Minister of Local Government and Housing (MLGH) Datuk Haji Hajiji Mohd Noor kept his promise to rescue the project with a newly appointed contractor. He added that the first meeting organized by MLGH to discuss the issue took place on 26 February 2014, between the buyers and LPPB.

He said the state cabinet had agreed on this during the last cabinet meeting on March 31. “The reduction will be on sliding scale,” he told reporters after launching PBB Samarahan election machinery at Dewan Suarah on Sunday.

“Is not that I do not appreciate what MLGH has done to rescue the project, but the level of competency, efficiency and professionalism are not acceptable,” he said, adding that the buyers signed the agreement in 2005 and only receive the OC ten years after. “Had the government agencies such as LPPB, SPNB, JPN, PRIMA deliver the housing projects on time, lots of Sabahans would have gotten their homes,” he continued.

“The commercial building structure was completed but still pending installation of proper water piping system as well as the electric connection,” he said. “I have spoken to the foreman on the site but they also have no idea when Sabah Electric Berhad (SESB) will begin the installation.

Assessment Rates Will Be Reduced - Adenan Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem has confirmed that assessment rates will be reduced soon, as reported by The Borneo Post.

Junz would like to urge LPPB’s new chairman Datuk Hj Ahmad Hj Bujang as well as Minister in charge Datuk Hajiji to sort out all technicality issues and make SESB complete their parts with sense of urgency. “How much longer do the buyers need to wait for their shops?,” he said.

It is learnt that Adenan will explain further the mechanism soon, which still needed to be discussed further with the local authorities. Earlier, in his speech, he said assessment rates of RM50 and below in Sarawak would be abolished while rates above RM51 would be reduced.

He said this was one of steps taken to reduce the cost of living among the people in Sarawak.

HSL-Led Consortium Wins RM1.7b Pan Borneo Highway Contract reported Bernama. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Friday, Hock Seng Lee (HSL) said the contract was to develop and upgrade the first phase of the Pan Borneo Highway in Sarawak. 3

The consortium of Hock Seng Lee Bhd-Dhaya Maju Infrastucture (Asia) Sdn Bhd Joint Venture has secured a RM1.7 billion contract from Lebuhraya Borneo Utara Sdn Bhd,

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HSL, which has 70% equity in the consortium, said the contract comprised earth works, piling, drainage works, road works, interchanges, bridges and related mechanical and electrical works.

“The contract period for the completion of the project is 51 months and it is expected to contribute positively to our earnings,” it said. At the midday break, HSL was up five sen to RM2.08 with 3.28 million shares traded.

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Junz Wong during his site visit to Limauan Square Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem Pan Borneo Highway - Sarawak

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HOT TOPIC

5 REASONS TO INVEST IN AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY SEARCHING FOR AN INVESTMENT WITH GOOD RETURNS IN A POLITICALLY-STABLE COUNTRY?

While many countries are open to investment, only a few are worth considering. Australia is one of the countries in the world that is a fertile ground for investment opportunities. With a population of 24 million people, Australia is currently one of APECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prime investment destinations and one of the largest economies in the region. In this article, we will reveal 5 reasons you should consider buying properties in Australia. By Yaron Gal

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Reason #1

Concentrated growth

80% 0. 0 2% 75% ECONOMIC ATIVIT Y

AREA OF AUSTRALIA

RESIDENT POPULATION

Souce: Grattan Institute: Souce: Grattan Institute: Mapping Australia’s Mapping Australia’sEconomy Econom y

Forecasts show that in the next four decades, most people will be living on the east coast (Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne). This region’s population will swell to 31 million. The other 9 million will live in the rest of the country.

Coast). This creates massive economic growth in these cities.

It is a known fact that population and productivity go together. Australia has huge potential with 80% of economic activity projected to occur within a small area of 0.2% of the country, with 75% of the residential population (in the East

Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

So if you are asking where to invest in Australia for best growth, I would look no further than the major capital cities in the East Coast. Once again, they are

This is not to say that areas like Perth and Adelaide won’t experience any growth, you just have to be extra careful which areas you select in those cities.

Reason #2

Reason #3

Reason #4

Population Growth

Urban Sprawl

Australia is a country with steady population growth. In fact, one extra person is added to the population every 77 seconds. In 2014, the population was 23.6 million. According to 2016 statistics, the population of Australia is now about 24 million.

Government research projects a massive growth in households over the next 25 years. As at 2006, there was a total of 7.8 million households in Australia. By 2031, the number of households is expected to grow to between 11.4 and 11.8 million.

With the increase of income in households annually, Australia presents a viable ground for investment. Profitability on investment is virtually guaranteed, and investors can begin to enjoy dividends sooner than expected.

It is projected that in the next 40 years, 40 million people will reside in Australia, making its population growth one of the fastest in the world.

This projected increase in households will lead to properties built further and further away from the CBD areas. Well-positioned properties in those cities therefore stand to gain the most in value, since it would become increasingly desirable to live near the CBD.

The continued urbanization of the major cities is creating further movement of people from within Australia and from foreign countries into these major cities. The demand for housing properties and other amenities is bound to skyrocket in few years as a result of such urbanization in these major cities.

Economic Growth

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Reason #5

Infrastructure investments Billions of dollars are currently being spent in all major capital cities to improve their infrastructure. As infrastructure is improved, the economy will receive a boost. Investing in such areas would give your investments a good chance of success.

Brisbane Trade Coast

Sydney North West Node

$23 billion is getting invested in this area. Part of the investment will make Brisbaneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Airport have the same capacity as Singapore and Hong Kongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Airports.

Billions are being ploughed in here to create a new Metro system, a new town centre and business park. This also includes a major upgrade to Schofield Road to further improve road transport in the area.

hese investments into industries and infrastructures present incredible growth prospects for the astute property investor.

For many Malaysian investors, Australia offers a stable and large economy. At the same time, it provides foreign investors with full legal protection on their freehold properties.

The investment risk for this country is very low while the dividends are bound to be on the high side if you invest in the right locations, and select the right properties. For those considering diversifying your investments globally, I hope that this article has shown you that exciting opportunities that abound for property investors in this Australia.

Yaron Gal began purchasing investment properties while working full time and bought 4 investment properties within less than a year. He now works as a property strategist and helps individuals identify high growth properties for wealth creation. For more free information about investing in Australia, visit www.investinproperties.com.au

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NEWS

Johor’s REHDA to Help Buyers Secure Housing Loans Members of the Johor Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (REHDA) has and will continue to engage with commercial banks to secure housing loans for eligible house buyers, as reported in The Star Online.

industrial properties worth about RM11.2 billion, with prices ranging from RM500,000 to RM3.5 million each.

Johor’s REDHA branch chairman, Hoe Mee Ling, hoped the engagement between both parties would disentangle the issue of eligible house buyers who failed to get bank loans to finance their purchase. She said at the same time, developers would also educate and brief the prospective house buyers on the disbursement of the loans by banks and why their applications were rejected. “We, the developers, will do our best to assist prospective house buyers especially first-timers in securing housing loans from banks,’’ said Hoe at a press conference last Friday (1st April 2016). She said this following the launch of the Johor Malaysian Property Expo 2015 at the Johor Baru City Square shopping complex by the state assistant secretary (housing division), Mohd Rafi Abdullah. The three-day event saw a participation of 33 developers offering residential, commercial and

Hoe said it was the prerogative of the banks when it comes to disbursing housing loans to buyers hoping banks would look at on a case-bycase basis instead of a blanket approval system.

“The property market in Iskandar Malaysia is unique as we have thousands of locals working in Singapore earning in Singapore dollars, hence a strong purchasing power,’’ she said. On another note, Hoe said developers remained upbeat on the property outlook of Iskandar Malaysia with many reported encouraging sales in the first three months of 2016 especially the landed residential properties.

The finding was revealed by PropertyGuru Malaysia’s Property Market Sentiment Survey Report. Among the key findings from the report, 75 percent of Malaysians expressed their interest to purchase private apartments or condominiums in the second half of 2015 (2H15) despite the weakening and depreciation in the Ringgit and other dampening external factors. The top choice for overseas property is Australia at 52 percent followed by Singapore, Indonesia

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Under the Johor’s affordable housing project, each low-cost unit would be sold at about RM40,000 while affordable houses were prices at a maximum of RM150,000 each. To allow more first-time house buyers to own houses, the state government had increased the qualifying monthly threshold for household income from RM6,000 to RM8,000.

“Johor will assist them to get their loans as

and the UK. In 1H 2015, Australia was the top choice with 40 percent of respondents, Singapore with 23 percent and the UK at 19 percent.

Despite the reduced buying power of the depreciating Ringgit, overseas property investments retain their attraction to Malaysians with Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the UK emerging as the preferred destinations for buying property abroad, reported The Borneo Post.

Mohd Rafi said the state government had met central bank officials recently adding “something positive and good” was in store for qualified buyers of the affordable houses in Johor.

Meanwhile, Mohd Rafi said state authorities have received complaints from rejected firsttime buyers who were qualified financially to buy affordable houses in Johor.

Overseas Properties Still Remain Attractive to Malaysians

they are genuine buyers and not speculators,’’ he said. Mohd Rafi also stated that the state government had approached Bank Negara to look into the matter.

“Australia’s appeal has grown stronger probably due to the favourable currency exchange rate, which had not seen much appreciation to the Malaysia Ringgit unlike the US Dollar or British pound. It is also a well-established, stable market that Malaysians are familiar with and is comparatively not too far away,” shared PropertyGuru Malaysia country manager, Sheldon Fernandez.

“Singapore retains its attractiveness due to its close proximity and longstanding cultural ties and similarities with Malaysia. This is despite the strong appreciation of the Singapore Dollar throughout 2015,” he added While land and commercial properties trail other property classes, these are beginning to see more interest from investors. Interest for landed properties overseas remained stable at 12 per cent, a tad lower than 14 per cent in 1H15.

Residential properties still remain the favourite, with 23 per cent of respondents showing their interest with the their ‘definitely would’ purchase in high-rise, strata units be it flats, apartments, condominiums. A further 52 per cent said they ‘probably would’. Of the respondents surveyed who own a property overseas, most stated that their property was located in Australia, and followed by Singapore. It is said that Malaysians have also invested extensively into commercial properties and land. Of those who owned properties, affordability and capital appreciation were the top reasons for investment, followed by planning for children’s education, so on and so forth. First Home Scheme’.

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Johor’s REDHA branch chairman, Hoe Mee Ling Singapore is one of the choice for Malaysians to invest in international property market.

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DRIVE

Around the world with a Mercedes-Benz G-Class An expedition for the 21st century

Following his successful K2 expedition in Pakistan last year, this time, Mike Horn aims to travel around the world once again in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class. Horn has been closely connected with the iconic wagon since the Pangaea expedition took place between 2008-2012.

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DRIVE

Mike Horn and his two trusted rides

orn in South Africa and a Swiss resident, Mark Horn has circled the world entirely without engine power, climbed four 8,000-metre mountains, followed the Arctic Circle around the globe in the Arctic winter and swum the length of the Amazon River. The objective of his expeditions is to explore culture and nature in remote regions and to share his experiences with people around him. With the new “Pole2Pole” expedition, Horn will complete a unique circumnavigation of the globe via the two poles. Extensive testing of the two G-Class SUVs Horn will be using during the expedition took place in April in Alberta, Canada. Horn chose to travel from Calgary to Jasper and back to encounter and experience comparable climatic and

“

Horn drove 10,640 kilometers (6,611 miles) in the G-Wagon from Switzerland through ten countries in Central and Eastern Europe to the Savage Mountain of K2 in Pakistan.

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territorial conditions he will encounter around the world. “When you fly over a country, it remains unknown to you. When you cross it by car and on foot you can see new things, discover the beauty of nature and understand the life and the needs of the people who live there. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class enables me to do this – even in the most remote areas of the world. It provided impressive proof of this last year on my ‘Driven to Explore’ K2 expedition,” says Mike Horn. Horn will begin the “Pole2Pole” expedition in Monaco on May 6, 2016, then sail his expedition boat, the PANGAEA, south to Namibia. The expedition will continue in the G-Class through the Namib, the world’s oldest desert on the Namibian coast. The route will then take him through Botswana’s Okavango delta, the world’s largest inland delta, prior to reaching Cape Town in South Africa. From there, the expedition will take him to the Antarctic which he will cross on skis by way of the South Pole. Horn will then sail the Pacific through Oceania where he will also explore parts of New Zealand and Australia. In Papua New Guinea, the G-Class will await for an expedition through unspoiled equatorial forests. Once in Asia, a further overland expedition with the G-Wagon will lead him through the tundra in Kamchatka (Russia), before he makes his way to the North Pole. From there, he will travel by ski and kayak to Greenland where he will return to his boat and finally complete the full loop of his trip by sailing back to Europe.

Pole2Pole Expedition

The two G-Class SUVs accompanying Hornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expedition www.PropertyHunter.com.my

DRIVE

Leap of faith

The Third Joint Expedition For Mercedes-Benz and Mike Horn Mercedes-Benz and Mike Horn have been partners for many years. With his upcoming ‘Pole2Pole’ expedition, Horn is reaching out to young people worldwide, to raise awareness and establish a better understanding of foreign cultures and their living environment. Last year, Mercedes-Benz supported the expedition “Driven to Explore”, during which both partners drew attention to environmental change in even the most remote regions of the world. Horn drove 10,640 kilometers (6,611 miles) in the G-Wagon from Switzerland through

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ten countries in Central and Eastern Europe to the Savage Mountain of K2 in Pakistan. Mercedes-Benz sponsored the PANGAEA expedition between 2008 and 2012. Horn sailed around the world with the 35-metre long expedition sailing vessel. With the guiding theme “Explore. Learn. Act.”, he introduced ecological and social projects with young people from different places around the globe. More than 100 follow-up projects have since followed on.

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AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

Property Hunter covers the latest car news, announcements, releases and trends from the automotive industry.

BORGWARD Wins Red Dot Design Award

ORGWARD Group AG’s first model in 55 years has already received an award, specifically an Honourable Mention in the Product Design category of the Red Dot Award for its debut SUV, the BORGWARD BX7. The Red Dot Award is presented annually in the categories Product Design and Communication Design and among the award’s panel of top-level judges, were U.S. product designer Chris Bangle and Malaysia’s very own International shoe designer, Datuk Jimmy Choo. Source: BORGWARD Group AG

Veuve Clicquot & Ferrari Lifestyle Partnership

euve Clicquot Ponsardin is announced as the first “lifestyle partner” of Ferrari at the Geneva International Motor Show. The world renowned champagne House and prestige automobile company have renewed their partnership under this new status; a first in Maranello history. After a successful three years of celebrating both brands’ legendary heritage in innovation and lifestyle, the new engagement will strengthen their communication and event activation platforms around the world. Veuve Clicquot will continue to support Ferrari in its international lifestyle events and will accompany Ferrari in its celebrations during their lifestyle events, Formula 1 races and new car launches. The new agreement will continue for the next three years, until the end of 2018. SOURCE: Veuve Clicquot

MW Group Malaysia has introduced its newest motorcycles to the BMW Motorrad Malaysia family – the BMW C 650 Sport and the BMW C 650 GT. Perfect for the city and urban environment, the new motorcycles combine practicality with maximum riding fun and touring comfort.

The New BMW C 650 Sport & BMW C 650 GT Zooms into Malaysia

The new BMW C 650 Sport features a more modern and dynamic design, whereas the new BMW 650 GT in contrast, has been fine-tuned with new rear side trim panels and a new rear light unit. Both the new BMW C 650 Sport and BMW C 650 GT draw their power from the distinctive, liquid-cooled four-valved two-cylinder engine with 647cc and electronic fuel injection. This optimised drivetrain set-up ensures a dynamic propulsion in the new maxi scooters, both with a rated output of 60 hp at 7,750 rpm and a maximum torque of 63 Nm at 6,000 rpm. The new BMW C 650 Sport and BMW C 650 GT are made available in the colours of Blackstorm Metallic and Lightwhite Solid Paint, while

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Valencia Metallic Matt and Frozen Bronze Metallic are exclusive colours to the new BMW C 650 Sport and BMW C 650 GT and retails (on the road without insurance) at RM64,900 and RM68,900 respectively. www.bmw.com.my

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FURNISH

IKEA, always in fashion IKEA has collaborated with fashion designers from across Europe to create three new limited edition collections. The unique and innovative new ranges mark the retailer’s first ever partnerships with fashion designers, forming part of its ongoing dedication to creating collections that respond directly to current trends and fuse various influences to give customers cutting-edge design at affordable prices. This new collection includes menswear designer Katie Eary’s GILTIG, which features eclectic soft furnishings and dinnerware with fish, cat and eyeball prints at the forefront of the design aesthetic. GLÖDANDE, the collaboration with Walter Van Beirendonck, uses the designer’s playfulness in assorted fabrics and ceramics. The final collection, SVÄRTAN, created in partnership with Martin Bergstrom, focuses on merging modern Indian and Swedish design, resulting in a collection of products made only from white, black and shades of grey. These collections focus on reinvigorating interior design and push the boundaries of what can be achieved through large-scale production in the home furnishing sphere.

GILTIG Designed with London-based menswear designer Katie Eary, GILTIG includes tableware and home textiles created to turn up the volume at any party. Integrating Katie’s ‘in your face’ patterns with home furnishings has created a range of standalone items that can change a whole room through their touches of vibrancy and over the top design.

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A strong narrative runs through the collection; it’s the story of a gang of characters called the Wondermooi, each of whom has a unique look and personality. The story is set in a place above the clouds, where the Wondermooi peacefully live, and work together to solve the world’s problems, and brings peace, love and happiness to Earth.

GLÖDANDE Created in partnership with leading designer and previous member of the Antwerp Six, Water Van Beirendonck, GLÖDANDE is a collection of readyto-cut fabrics, paper stationary, rugs, porcelain and pillows that showcase Van Beirendonck’s playfulness, curiosity and avant-garde flair.

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FURNISH

SVÄRTAN A collaboration between IKEA and Swedish textile designer Martin Bergstrom, SVÄRTAN is a collection of bed linens, textiles, paper products, rugs, bowls, glassware and metal objects created using just black, white and shades of grey with the aim of producing a modern interpretation of India and its heritage. Martin and IKEA worked closely with students from the National Institute of Fashion Technology in New Delhi to craft a contemporary image of India, striking a balance between the organic and the abstract. The whole collection was then produced in India using traditional techniques and natural materials, and fusing age-old processes with new solutions to create a collection that truly bridged the gap between old and new.

For more informations, visit www.ikea.com/ca/en

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GADGET

HIGH TECH FIFTH-GEN MUST HAVES Succumming ourselves into the world of technology today, with the hottest gadgets and trends out there.

EDITOR’S PICK

Watches Inspired by Legendary Cars Every man’s dream watch. The Mille Miglia GTS Chrono brings the world of racing to your wrist. As official timekeeper and sponsor of the Mille Miglia – the world’s most renowned race for classic cars, Chopard has fashioned a collection of luxury sports watches which has become the brand’s unique sporting emblem. Aesthetically, the prominent timepiece is just as remarkable. With its illustrative red minutiae, the watch finely brings Mille Miglia racing cars to mind: pushers inspired by engine pistons, anti-grip surfaces eliciting a brake pedal and a rubber strap suggesting tyre-treads. www.chopard.com

Bringing Brilliance to Life HTC, a pioneer in innovative, smart technologies, in partnership with Valve®, unveiled the consumer edition of its ViveTM virtual reality system. It enables you to stay connected to the real world, without exiting the virtual world, Vive Phone Services demonstrates the ability to combine both realities without losing touch of either. But it’s not just about gaming. HTC is working with developers to foster the creation of content that spans multiple sectors including entertainment, retail, education, design, healthcare and automotive. www.htc.com

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Apple CarPlay, your ultimate co-pilot CarPlay is an efficient way to connect an iPhone to your car’s infotainment system, letting you access smartphone functions like music, messaging, calls, navigation all in a way that allows you to stay focused on the road. Just plug in your iPhone and go. Only iPhone 5 and newer devices can run CarPlay, including the latest iPhone SE,,iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. If you’re hoping to keep an iPad always plugged in for CarPlay functions, it will not work, unfortunately. www.apple.com

The Next Generation Smartphone under Your Nose Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge lead the industry with a refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services, and experiences. users can also get the best mobile payment service with Samsung Pay; it’s secure, easy-to-use and accepted almost anywhere. Protected by Samsung KNOX, fingerprint scanning and advanced tokenization, Samsung Pay works with NFC (Near Field Communication), MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) and Barcode technology, making mobile payments available to more merchants and consumers than ever before. www.samsung.com

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HOT TOPIC

MAKING COMMERCIAL PROPERTY INVESTMENT YOUR NEXT FINANCIAL FUTURE So, you’ve bought your first house and another condo as investments. Now, you’re thinking about investing in commercial properties for a change. Congratulations, you’ve come to the right page. Commercial properties are classified as property assets primarily used for business purposes. It consists of three sectors: retail, office and industrial. Each with a range of asset classes, these sectors have their own cycle often representing very different risks and rewards. Investing in commercial real estate, just like residential real estate, is a great way to grow your money fast. Here are what you need to know about investing in commercial real estate: By Property Hunter

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Investing In Commercial Real Estate Is A Way To Balance Your Investment Portfolio Depending on your age and life stage, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to have some balance in your investment portfolio -- say, 90 per cent in stocks and 10 per cent in real estate by the time youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in your mid 30s to early 40s.

Owning Commercial Property Diversifies Your Investment Risk

Commercial Real Estate Has Generally Longer Leases

For instance, if you own a commercial lot and lose one of your 10 tenants, you only lose one-tenth of the income for that property, instead of the entire rent as you would if you lost a tenant in a single-family house.

This will help make your cash flow more stable in the long term.

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Commercial Real Estate Is Valued Differently Compared To Residential Ones Unlike with residential properties, the income produced by a piece of commercial property is directly proportionate to its usable square footage.

Commercial Real Estate Offers Greater Cash Flow For example, if you lease or rent out a multi-unit commercial property, you will have more tenants to generate income than the case with individual-family dwelling. This is because the yield is often higher per square foot in commercial real estate compared to residential real estate.

Commercial Properties Are Valued Differently By Banks Unlike residential properties, which normally require a 10 per cent down payment upon purchase; commercial properties usually demands a higher down payment -- about 30 percent more on average.

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HOT TOPIC

How To Boost The Value Of Your Commercial Property Should you decide to take the plunge into commercial real estate investment, here are some tips on how to add value to your commercial lot investment:

Adding Square Footage To Your Property As a commercial property increases in value depending on its additional square footage, property expansion is the most common way to boost the value of your property. Depending on your propertyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s purpose, you can also add value by adding offices, warehouse, storefront, parking space or conference rooms. Best of all, if your commercial property has a demand for more tenants, adding more space can prove to be economical. Be sure to consult your local building management authorities before commencing with any construction work.

Perform Cosmetic Changes On Your Property The external appearance of your commercial property can greatly boost its selling power. Luckily, aesthetic changes need not cost a bomb, as there are many cost-effective ways to beautify your property. For instance, making sure that your commercial space is clean is the cheapest and easiest surefire way to add value to your property. You can ensure that garbage are consistently disposed of, gardens and lawns are cut and wellmanicured and make sure that there are no funny smells lingering around the area. Adding a fresh coat of paint is also an easy way to give your property an instant facelift without having to make structural changes to the building.

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Add Modern Amenities Having modern facilities makes a world of difference to your property. You can start by installing current, energy-efficient heating and air-conditioning, water heaters and lighting that will also help to save on energy cost. Also, make sure to keep eco-friendliness on top of your list, as green buildings are extremely popular and in trend today. Consider green options, such as solar panels, energy-efficient appliances and energy-conserving windows that will not only save you on overhead costs and tax incentives, but also keep your property relevant in the current consumer market.

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Increase Security Features Security features, such as alarm systems, grilles and shutters can boost your property value by making the property more attractive to tenants and lowering your insurance premium. Make sure that your property is also well-lit at night.

Identify Local Demands Do your research on what is most desirable right now in the area of your property. What does the neighborhood need? What other future developments are happening (a new school, condominium, or shopping center) that will affect the supply and demand of your investment?

Find Ways To Scrimp On Expenses For commercial properties, the value depends largely on how profitable it is. Profits can be increased either by raising rents or by reducing expenses. Fortunately, it is possible to reduce expenses without impacting the operations of the property significantly. Simple ways to do this include investing in energy-efficient lightbulbs and other appliances as well as choosing a location adjacent to other attractive facilities, such as neighbouring street markets, malls and free car park area.

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HOT TOPIC

MY VIEW ON MYDEPOSIT SCHEME When we talk about owning our first home, many people still can’t afford to buy. We have to acknowledge that properties today have increased in price as compared to ten years ago. This isn’t just exclusive to Malaysia but it happens in other countries too. Many people worry that if they don’t buy today, property prices will keep going up. In affordable housing, the quantum set by the government for properties is less than RM500,000. At that price, many people still can’t afford to buy. Today, potential buyers also have other commitments such as daily expenses, children’s education, transportation costs and so on. We acknowledge that things are getting more and more expensive. Right now, when you want to buy a house, it’s not that easy. Bank rejections have become a hot topic. Statistics have shown that in every 10 cases submitted, more than 5 are rejected. In some banks, it can be as high as 8 cases. By Miichael Yeoh

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ith many facing this issue, our Prime Minister launched the ‘MyDeposit Scheme’ recently. Effective from 7th of April, potential first home buyers can apply for the special scheme to help them purchase properties that are less than RM500,000. There are RM200,000 million up for grabs for this scheme. How it works is that the government will subsidise between RM3,000 to a maximum RM30,000 for the buyer. The

buyer needs to fill-in and submit a form for approval. It is not an automatic approval. But it aims to help the middle-income group. Based on the amount allocated, only 6,667 cases will be allocated in this scheme if everyone applies for RM30,000. Better hurry, as many people have applied since its inception. I have extracted the conditions for approval.

This scheme is not only applicable for new projects but secondary properties as well. This is certainly good news for property buyers. Applicants will have to prepare the following for submission to be eligible for the scheme: •

Identity card of the applicant and spouse

•

Marriage certificate (if applicable)

•

Handicapped / Disabled card or letter (if applicable)

•

Letter of oath for self-employed applicant

•

Confirmation letter from the employer

•

Latest pay slip

•

EPF statement or income tax return

•

Pension letter (if applicable)

•

Identity card / MyKid / birth certificate

•

Letter of offer / confirmation of the developer / seller

•

Central Credit Reference Information System (CCRIS) (applicant and spouse).

Applicants must be at least 21 years old when the application is made (no maximum age limit).

This application is for the purchase of first home per household.

Gross income of RM10,000 and below per month. Gross monthly income includes all forms of remuneration arising from employment or business (wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, allowances and others).

Applicants must have the ability to apply for a loan from any financial institution.

Eligible applicants will be given conditional approval and will be required to sign the Purchase Agreement within 30 days

Q&A Source: http://sprn.kpkt.gov.my/sprn/

any people still have queries on the scheme as it is still new. There will be improvements along the way. Here are some common questions being asked: Question: If my wife already owns a property can I still apply? Answer: The scheme is for first time home purchasers only. If either husband or wife already owns a home, you cannot apply under the scheme. Question: Can I rent out the property after I purchase it?

Answer: The scheme is to help first time home buyers. It is for you to live in only.

Question: After I get approval from the scheme, is it automatic approval from the banks too? Answer: No. You will have to follow individual bank approval criteria. You will have a slight advantage as the margin of finance is lower.

Please be aware, that although the government has approved you as a successful applicant, you will have to go through the bank’s approval. The normal approval applies. So, there are two hurdles

to go through. The government and the bank. On the good side, this scheme will help loan borrowers in the margin of finance as it will be lower if the borrower borrows less. The bank’s lending risk will also be lower and thus increase the chance of approval.

I feel that this is a boost to the industry. It will give the middle-income a chance to own a home and also the developers to sell their projects. I hope that the government will increase the allocation so more can enjoy the benefits. You can read more of my articles on mortgage financing at www.miichaelyeoh.com

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By Charles Tan

www.kopiandproperty.com

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Malaysian’s Overseas Preference: Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the UK

f I was forced to choose a country to migrate to, my choice would be the UK and not Australia. There are multiple reasons why, but let’s just put it as personal preference. According to a survey by PropertyGuru reported by Bernama, in terms of Malaysians thinking about investing in overseas properties, their preference would be Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the United Kingdom. Perhaps I have yet to attain that stage, that’s why I did not choose Australia yet. Sorry, Singapore is definitely out. I need space, not just ever tall buildings built close to one another.

I disagree with some of the results from the survey because rental yields for Malaysian properties are definitely not lower than many of the countries stated. The reason is because property prices in many of these countries have increased more than Malaysia. Of course due to the cooling measures, the prices have come down. This is perhaps one of the reasons why investors believe that strong capital appreciation would continue. Retirement is, however, a very good reason; I find it tough to walk outside the office these days because of the heat. Of course, Australia or the UK would serve me as better alternatives.

What are the reasons for Malaysians to invest overseas? The factors include: better rental yields (56%), strong capital appreciation (55%) and “better environment”, as well as retirement (both at 46%). These factors are then followed by children’s education (36%). The survey was done in collaboration with Added Value-Saffron Hill, a Singapore-based independent professional research agency. The survey aims to help consumers and property agents understand the local property market to make better business and buying decisions.

Also, if I were to send my children to further their studies, the choice is obvious. It sounds biased, but I prefer British universities. Thus, if I could afford a unit overseas, it would be in the UK. Perhaps not necessarily in London. Why not Bristol instead? It’s interesting to peruse these surveys, but bear in mind, our property investment should be determined by ourselves. Following exactly what a survey says may not be the best action.

The property market is definitely not HOT in transactions, ok?

find it misleading that there are still news articles these days saying that the property market is getting hot, much like the weather that we’ve been suffering from lately. Sorry, I disagree until the numbers show firmly that the transactions are growing for a few quarters. The property market has become more sensible and it is definitely nowhere near HOT. From my conversations with many established property investors, 2016 is going to be another bland year. The only probability is for it to slow further because of the global market. Currently, not many countries are doing well it seems. I do agree, though, that today there is more interest in property investment, where awareness is concerned. The property market is slowing down. Agreed. However, more people are getting interested. Even if there is more interest, even if the property sites continue to be visited by more people and even if the organisers of property fairs tell you that they have higher attendance this year - stay real. If the property market is getting hot, then why are there now more rebates? Why are there more discounts and why are there more creative ways that the developers are trying to sell their properties? I hope everyone understands that even though the property market is not hot, it’s not frozen either. Just look at the number

of transactions. There are still people buying because they really need a home, they need to upgrade or even just because the father-in-law said, “you must buy a home before getting married.” -- this was true for me many years ago. We should also be very savvy because if there’s a queue forming outside developers’ offices one week before a launch, should we believe that they may be offering special renovation packages or rebates, and so on? Just as some rebates are a farce – as it may have been built into the price – it is also not true that everything is so expensive that we should just rent for life. I’m sure that even after evaluating for many years, my wife may not believe I am the best man for her but since she got married to me, she just makes sure that I perform to the best of my abilities. The property market is the same. There are plenty of fish in the sea and we need to evaluate carefully. Even among different types of hardwoods, there are lots of choices. Some may be more expensive simply because it looks better but both would last a very long time. The question is, what kind of quality do we need for the kind of price we are willing to pay. Decide, take action. Else, buy that second-hand European sports car and enjoy overtaking everyone on the highway.

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NEWS

Sunway Now Offers Housing Loan People buying a home from Sunway Bhd can now take housing loans from the developer if they are unable to get bank mortgages, reported The Rakyat Post. These loans will cover up to 88 percent of the price of a house, and will be funded by Sunway’s internally generated sources. The loans come with deferred payment and a voluntary exit plan. The former allows buyers to pay the monthly loan instalment after 12 to 24 months, while the voluntary exit plan allows them to rescind the Sales & Purchase Agreement (SPA) due to unforeseen circumstances, such as unemployment. “We are still seeing demand for good and well-

located properties in the market. However, with the uncertain times now, the timing of the people’s commitment to properties is something of great concern,” said Sarena Cheah, Managing Director of Sunway’s property development division in Malaysia and Singapore. However, the interest rate may be higher than those offered by banks, and mortgage applicants will be screened by Sunway. Bankrupt individuals and those younger than 18 are non-eligible.

Meanwhile, the developer has launched the final phase of Sunway GEO at Sunway South Quay in Kuala Lumpur. It also unveiled serviced apartments in Bangi, Selangor, while a condominium in Mont Kiara was rolled out.

“The gross development value for the three projects is estimated at RM800 million,” said Cheah.

These housing loans are available until September 2016 and will be offered on a firstcome, first-served basis.

Red Sea Buys Malaysian Modular Housing Builder for US$7 Million A Dubai subsidiary company, Red Sea Housing Services Company, has recently bought a Malaysian company that specializes in building modular housing for a hefty US$7 million (RM27 million), as reported by The National. The Jeddah company said that the deal, under which it will pay an initial US$3 million (RM12 million) in cash and the rest in annual instalments, will boost its plans to expand into the South East Asian market and allow the company to get its hands on an “unconventional construction technology” that would allow it to build concrete structures of up to 12 floors quickly and using less manpower. In a statement to the Saudi stock exchange, the group said the deal would add about 100 million Saudi riyals (RM103 million) to its revenues for this year. The deal will be financed through

existing bank facilities and cash flow.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid should retract his statement on subjecting employers or agents who hire illegal foreign workers to whipping, said President of Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers (SHAREDA) Datuk Francis Goh, as reported by The Borneo Post. Goh said developers have been carrying out their social responsibility to register undocumented foreign workers and thus should not be subjected to such punishment. Goh also said that the influx of illegal immigrants to Sabah for the past 30 years was caused by the government’s failure to control external security. “Developers and contractors are not the

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and recently had a deal with the Australian government to provide housing for asylum seekers at a processing centre in Papua New Guinea.

Designer and manufacturer, AM Modular, is

a prefabricated modular building with three factory sites in Malaysia. The company was established in 2007 and opened an Australian arm in Adelaide in 2009. Red Sea Housing Services provides temporary and permanent modular housing used by companies to house staff working in remote locations. It has provided accommodation to companies in the mining, oil and gas sectors

It’s CIDB Fault, Not Developers - SHAREDA

Last month, the company announced it had won a contract with the Qatari real estate company Daruna, worth 144 million Qatari riyals (RM153 mllion), to build accommodation for 4,000 people. Red Sea declared a 56 per cent decline net profit last year to 76.1 million (RM79 million) Saudi riyals. Revenue fell by 7 per cent to 1 billion (RM1 billion) riyals. The Chairman, Amr Al Dabbagh, said the company had been affected by lower oil prices, which resulted in some projects being called off and others suspended.

ones who bring the illegal immigrants in,” said Goh, when commenting on Ahmad Zahid’s announcement on the government’s decision to stop the recruitment of new foreign workers with immediate effect on Saturday, March 12. He also said that the shortage of labour in construction industry would not exist if the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia had fulfilled its responsibility of training skilled workers. “Contractors who undertook government and private projects were required to pay 0.125 per cent of the contract sum to CIDB or Pusat Khidmat Kontraktor (PKK) to train workers under Act 520. For the past 10 years, how many skilled workers or training centres have CIDB established,” said Goh, who is also Sabah MCA

Deputy President. Goh further said that developers and contractors had to resort to hiring illegal workers because CIDB was unable to produce skilled construction workers, thus it was unreasonable to punish employers for using illegal workers. “If the government imposes whipping, many developers will not want to go in this industry,” Goh warned. Goh urged the government to fully understand the whole situation before making any statements in the future.

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Logo of Sunway Bhd Red Sea Housing Services Company logo

Rubbish Problems in KK May Scare Away Tourists - Masidi

Tourists might decide to skip Sabah in favour of Indonesia or the Philippines if the rubbish issue here remains unresolved, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, as reported by The Borneo Post.

“Unfortunately, we have a big price to pay – the waste.”

“I don’t think those in Pulau Gaya drive a Proton or Mercedez,” he said.

Masidi said the people should take ownership of the rubbish problem and clean up their own waste products.

Therefore, Masidi said the government needed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals to keep the environment clean.

He pointed out that rubbish could be seen along the beach at Likas Bay and worse, all over the places around the houses on stilts at Sembulan.

“When individuals and NGOs come into the picture, that means we take ownership of the problem,” he said, adding that the involvement of NGOs would enhance the effectiveness of maintaining the cleanliness of the State.

“We try to portray or sell Sabah as a tourism destination. We have beautiful mountain, forest, beaches, islands and crystal clear water.

He said neighbouring countries, the Philippines and Indonesia, were also developing their tourism facilities at a rapid pace. The southern Philippines, for example, also has diving sites as good as the Sipidan Island in Sabah, he said. “The only problem is security in the Southern Philippines; and Indonesia has yet to come up with better management of its island resources,” he continued. He also said tourists would soon have a choice whether to come to Sabah, or to Indonesia or the Philippines. “Sooner or later, tourists may decide to skip Sabah, not because we do not have beautiful mountain and sea, but because they cannot stand the rubbish that is all over the place,” he warned when officiating at the first installation ceremony of the Sabah Construction and Domestic Waste Management Association (SCDWA) last Thursday (March 17). He said Kota Kinabalu was developing rapidly with buildings mushrooming all over the city, and having the highest rate of property value appreciation in Malaysia.

“Some of the best Malaysians are in Sabah. Although we are good Malaysians, we are also good in throwing rubbish,” he said. While a substantial amount of rubbish comes from Gaya Island, Masidi said the biggest polluters were actually people living on the mainland. “Whenever people talk about rubbish, our fingers straightaway point to Pulau Gaya.” He said rubbish seen at coastal areas actually came from people living along rivers and waterways, who deemed rivers as their ‘movable dustbin’. As a result, the waste dumped into the river was carried back by waves to the land and beaches, he said. “So do not get angry with DBKK (City Hall) when our sea or beaches are full of rubbish. We are responsible for it. “Some throw rubbish (and reasoned that) otherwise DBKK has no work (to do).” Furthermore, Masidi said a study by City Hall showed that 70 per cent of the rubbish in the city were thrown out from moving vehicles, or as he pointed out, from Mercedez Benz and Proton.

“I am happy that the association (SCDWA) is taking up the courage to sort out the problem (waste management).” Masidi also encouraged the Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI), Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) and other associations related to construction to create a unit to tackle waste management. He said the people should clean up their own waste and make cleanliness a part of their culture, while educating people not to litter as well. The enforcement agency would also need to step up its effort, he said.

“It will be difficult to tell the world we are beautiful. Yes, physically the people of Sabah are beautiful, but our behaviour is less so. “We need to change our behaviour. It starts from us,” he stressed. Also present at the event were Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, KKCCCI president Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang, Sabah West Coast, Kudat and Interior Residencies Tyre Dealers’ Association president Candy Wong and SCDWA chairman Steve Yeo Lip Koh.

Tanjung Lipat, Likas full of garbage. www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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