Website:  https://ecoworld.my/ecohorizon/ 

This is a super rare session as we get Dato' Chan to share his experience of developing the northern region masterplan for Ecoworld. It's definitely a huge challenge and we discussed how did his engineering background and experience helped me got over it.   

Also, selfishly I'm super curious about their approach to placemaking and innovation. Throughout the years, they have came out with innovation again and again in a product that we thought was perfect.   

I also appreciate the lesson of being too careful during our youth. He went through several ups and downs in the property cycle and he just did not catch any property bull-runs. Also, we have to be really careful when we decide to start investing in commercial properties as the game rules differ from residential products.   

Anyway, it's great to be back and cool fact, Dato' Chan and I were in the same team 10 years ago when he was still a consultant engineer and I was a mini property executive.

In this episode, we will address a rather complicated situation posted by an audience. This is seriously one of those rare complex case as it involves family dynamics and lack of understanding for financial terms.  

In short, there were several red flags for me. Family affairs in property are always sticky and complicated. The only way forward is to formally document their answers so the parties involved will not get to turn back.  

The next one would be regarding the usage of personal loan to settle housing debts. Why take 11-12% interest when housing loan is only 3%? Also we noticed the difference in value. As some of the jewelries were pawn, the audience wish to get back. But sometimes is it worth it if we strictly look at only monetary value?  

The last thing would be the valuation based on personal perspectives. Just because it's next to a tourist hot spot, it does not necessarily fetch a high value at this current moment of time.  

Well, I'm very worried and concern. Hopefully he has friends with financial knowledge to help this guy out=)

In this episode, we will answer question from an international audience all the way from Hong Kong. We spoke about MM2H and it's impact on the real estate market. Also what would need to be considered as an expat before buying a property in Malaysia.

In this episode, we will answer a question from a student and it's something wild. What would you do if you have RM 5 mil?  

This question indirectly demonstrated your thinking pattern and financial knowledge in managing money. To me, it meant freedom for me to pursue whatever passion I may have. The goal would be to create a media channel out of that passion and then use that to build a business. Later use those track records in applying housing loans.  

Then divide the RM 4 mil into 3 bags, one super low risk such as fixed deposits. Next would be moderate risk such as blue chips stocks. Another bag would be high and ultra high risk which is cryptocurrencies.  

As much as RM 5mil may be, it would take a short period of time for a person without financial knowledge to finish it. A sports car and an apartment would finish it.

For this episode, we will rewind back to our earlier days of stepping into our workplace. Given the opportunity again, would you choose to travel around an hour one day? Or to stay closer so you'll have more time?  

Anyway, this question also brought up several trends around the real estate market. She verified the theory that we often discuss in the channel regarding job opportunities directly reflecting the demand for space. Also, we explained the rising of co-living among the units as well as units getting smaller in built-ups. 

Last of all, we also touched the concept of 'last mile' that would be the ultimate innovation potential in the real estate world.

For this episode, we will address investment on land deals. In my opinion, it's just too much money on a property that's too risky, the complications can be tricky and it's extremely risky if you don't know what you're doing.  

As much as the parents advice him to invest in land, it's just difficult to get financing for it. But I still would prefer if he could learn from them as they've done well.  

My suggestion to youngster would be to start small, focus on residential first, then subsales, auction, commercial properties, industrial properties then only move to land.  

Then instead of bungalow lots, I personally prefer industrial lots and agriculture plots instead.

This is a conversation about the differences between mixed development and a pure residential project. In terms of privacy, convenience, investment strategy and etc, it's very different for both.  

But one important element to take note would be the ownership of the commercial lots. It's gonna be very different between full ownership by one party, or individual owners investing in them as it's important to have the program figured out.

In this episode, we have this audience who's asking whether should he use up all his savings plus EPF plus other insurance policies for one subsale property as his home.  

In my opinion, it really depends on your intent on the property, risk appetite, and your career. I would buy an investment unit, immediately use the rental income to qualify myself for the next new property and fully use up my quota of 90% margins.  

That would only make sense if I'm aggressive. But if you're laid back and you're comfortable with employment. Then this arrangement should be sensible as you have certainty for your income.  

However, an important note would be to ensure the rental can cover at least 80% of the instalment.

Several emails from the audience raised this concern and inspired this episode. As developers are getting desperate due to the lockdown, no one could visit sales galleries and that has greatly affected sales. So for the next few months, do lookout for these signs in a 'great' deal.  

The same strategy will either make or break you. For eg, cashbacks are great in equipping yourself with liquidity, but it would be risky if your lack of discipline decided to spend them all.  Just another friendly reminder while you guys are shopping out there. Stay safe, stay informed guys=)

In this episode, we have came across one question that is not directly related to real estate but I'll try my best.  

This question has more correlation to family dynamic. So my suggestion would be to first get a job outside to test his own 'worth' in terms of salary. Then to have an open conversation with his parents about his growth. Based on experience, sometimes distance forms stronger bond with the family.