Property360Digest E-MAGAZINE Issue#3 | Page 36

Issue # 3 34 PROPERTY360DIGEST PROPERTY360DIGEST Issue # 3 35 think for ourselves. It doesn’t mean that just because Aunty Lim said to buy here, you should. Or because everyone is buying at a particular development, you should too. Remember, it could be inflated with bad initial research.  Talk to current property investment tycoons. They may not share all their secrets, but many of them like to help.  Always look for the Big Ms (McDonalds) or the Green Coffee Man (Coffee Bean) or even the 99 sundry guys (99 Mart)…please don’t think that they set up shop to flip burgers or to serve you coffee. They are investing in an area; hence they always do proper research before embarking. Ride on their research.  Look only at upcoming areas (sure growth areas) — The Southern Growth Corridor. Question: What next? Once you have identified the area through all the research and tips you gave earlier, what do you do next? Keep an eye out — but your ears wide open. Don’t just see what is available, listen to what’s being offered.  Study the units that are being sold, look for the lowest in price first.  Visit the lowest in price first, so that you are acceptable to certain lacking.  Buying at RM100K below market and spending RM50K to renovate would put you automatically in a RM50K profitable position — a great way to assure profits when you sell.  Always understand the property before purchase — if it is way below market, find out exactly what is wrong. Some things can be fixed easily, but some could be a horror story…to your pocket.  Remember, strategic purchasing could work in your favour…if done right.  Here’s a scenario: Leave the empty nest and get something that is easier to manage at this stage. any longer. Keeping it clean is troublesome and tiresome. So, you move back to a smaller apartment/condominium just for the 2 of you.  Question: Now, getting back to the initial topic, how does buying for investment differ from buying for own stay? When it comes to investment, unlike buying for own stay, there are many areas to look into.  •Research — location / potential area growth / potential property growth / potential rental  •Game plan — strategize when to buy / who to buy from / how many units can you obtain / which units would be best  •Finances — Understand your affordability / don’t bite too much that you can’t chew / legalities and fees  •Exit strategy — When to exit / How to exit / What do you do upon exiting Question: Why would someone invest in property as opposed to the various other forms of investing? Do bear in mind that Real estate investments are one of the most secure types of investing nowadays. We all know that stocks and bonds can be badly affected by recessions, as we had experienced during 2008. Real estate on the other hand, can increase in value as time passes even as an effect of economic fluctuation.  Good real estate investments give you better leverage hence makes it a desirable collateral for loans. The earning capacity for these types of properties makes it an attractive mortgage subject for banks and other financial institutions. Good real estate investment appreciates over time or increases its net worth through the years.  Real estate is an investment where you can have a “say” on what happens to it. You can decide what to do with the investment and not just let others think for you as what happens with investments on stocks where a board of directors generally does the overall decisions for your investments. Question: What is to invest smartly? Don’t be a cow — human beings do not need to have the herd mentality — we can Prices around the City Centre are extremely high. You may be able to purchase a decent 1,000sq ft unit for RM2million, this is a repayment of approximately RM10K monthly on a maximum 30-year loan, after placing a 20 percent down payment of RM400,000. UNACHIEVABLE FOR MANY OF US. However, you need to live closer to work – and you work in the City Centre. So what do you do? Buy a house in areas such as Nilai / Pajam / Bangi / Semenyih / Seremban for RM400,000 (its between 40 mins to 1 half hours from KLCC). DON’T LIVE THERE. Your repayment back to the bank should be around RM1,600 per month. Rent the unit out for RM1,200. Rent a home for yourself to stay, slightly away from KLCC for around RM1,500. In totality, after receiving your rental from your tenant, you will need to fork out RM1,900 per month for the best of both worlds. You live close to work, and you have a house under your name. When the property price starts to boom in the area you purchased, sell and buy closer to KLCC.  Now that is smart investment.  Follow the big boys, they have done extensive research on the growth of areas. Why not piggy back on their findings? hoose strategic locations that have room for capital growth. This way, you can be rest assured an increase in price over the years.)(picture sourced from klia2.info