For our 100th issue, we chose to look inward for property investment advice from our very own top of the props: two of our top men in Singapore who have contributed to PropertyGuru’s success and who have some useful tips to impart.
by Cheryl Marie Tay
Lewis Ng
Managing Director
PropertyGuru MD Lewis Ng’s property investments are in countries where he has resided and therefore, whose markets he knows well: Australia and Singapore.
I have invested in residential properties in two countries: Singapore and Australia. The main reason I invested in those markets is that I understand them very well, as I have resided in both.
The property I invested in here in Singapore was purchased after three years of residing in the country. It made much more sense to purchase than to be a tenant and pay rent, but even though it was so obvious, it took me three years to decide to buy a property here.
The reason? I wanted to ensure I knew the market well and was prepared for what I would be getting into before investing.
PropertyGuru was a large part of the daily routine for me whilst I was on my journey to purchase. I spent substantial time on the PropertyGuru website in order to understand what was available on the market, the different price points and the trends, as well as to see the many photos of
properties there.
After this, I was well-informed enough to make a confident decision on my purchase. In fact, I was so confident, I purchased my Singapore property after only one viewing.
My advice to property buyers and investors is this: be very clear on the intention of your property purchase. Different buyers will have different motivations and because of this, will need to take into account several different considerations.
For example, if you are seeking to purchase for investment, it is important to be emotionless. You don’t have to like what you are buying — you are not staying there!
Winston Lee
Head of New Projects Marketing
New Projects Marketing head Winston Lee’s investment portfolio in the region is diverse, covering residential, commercial and industrial properties.
I have invested in residential, commercial and industrial properties. I started with residential property investment during the Financial Crisis, when prices were at an all-time low.
I moved on to industrial properties after the first round of residential property cooling measures. When the government introduced the SSD (Seller’s Stamp Duty) for industrial property, I shifted my attention to commercial properties.
I found most of my property acquisition targets from PropertyGuru and CommercialGuru. The websites are intuitive and it was easy to find properties that met my requirements. I also used PropertyGuru Malaysia and DDProperty daily to keep myself updated on the latest market trends, pricing and new launches.
Recently, in-depth analyses of new projects in PropertyGuru’s Project Review section were introduced. I also used the site to identify agents to help me market my properties for sale and rent. I bought my Manila property at one of the PropertyGuru property shows, even before I joined the company.
Some people say buying property is all about “location, location, location”. I have a different perspective. Firstly, buy on value; the cheapest is not necessarily the best.
Secondly, enter the market when fear lurks; exit when greed and insanity take over. Know your place in the property cycle, be contrarian, and control your emotions well.
Last but not least, be clear in your objective, investment horizon, and your target segment of tenants and buyers when you make your decision.
 |
|||
 |
This article was first published in the print version The PropertyGuru News & Views. Download PDF of full print issues or read more stories now! | ||