Mid of year 2012

The year 2012 has been a crazy year! And it is not even year end yet!

Earlier this year, Ryan got our bazi reading done and did a self evaluation fengshui of our current house. Don't quite remember what did Joey Yeap's disciple said but basically I would have some luck in networking, business and gambling/investing. Apparently business will come after us to expand our portfolio but real wealth would have to wait.

Career wise, I would have a smooth progression with potential of further promotion or increment. So far, it has been pretty good. But gotta monitor my health. Which is very true, I have been failing sick pretty often after my trip to Hong Kong last year. I have just recovered 2 months ago after a strict diet and medication.

In April, again I went to Kek Lok Si Temple for fun during my annual "cheng beng" prayer to my anchestors. Despite being born Catholic, I don't mind giving my respect at Chinese Temple, and again being superbly superstitious, I draw a divination lot and got it decipher by the monk. Apparently abundance of wealth and marriage luck in the air 0.o

Alpha also took one of the bigger step ever by organising her first and virgin property tour. It was a full 20 pax plus investors from Singapore! Definitely an honour to host them!

Marcus Chu of REIGN & Jacob Tay Co-founder of IProperty also part of the entourage. Guess what, even the Head of Wealth Management of BNP Paribas joined us and now he is our close contact! We are forever grateful to have met people like them!

There are a lot more whom we have met, Mr Ho Chin Soon, Milan Doshi, Juanita Chin, Thomas Ong, Trutz Winter and many more property investors who are very successful in their own respective way. This journey is trully a life changer!

To date, I have organised countless events thanks to great response from fellow investors. Be it property investment or gold/silver investment. My fee is very reasonable and I also work on a commission basis. SOmetimes I work for free just to get names into my portfolio.

What started as a passion has definitely grown into a business! On average I receive at least one email from client seeking my service to join them in organising or a cooperation. However, I need to be careful in who and which organisation that Alpha/MISS is associated with to avoid being seen as bias and losing our stand as an agnostic club. We don't charge any membership fee and MISS is open to everyone be it new or seasoned investor. 

One of the reason MISS is formed was to bring Malaysian investors residing in Singapore together to mingle with rest of the investors and educate those who are less familiar with Malaysia real estate. I heard too many unfortunate stories of Singaporean getting burnt in Malaysia real estate hence, being a Malaysian, I felt it was a calling to debunk the myth! You CAN make money in Malaysia! Get yourself educated, mingle with SUCCESSFUL investors who are familiar with Malaysia and take action. If you do not have enough capital, then co-invest with someone you can trust.

Sometimes you just have to put your skeptism away for a successful joint venture, if you cannot trust your partner, then do not put your money in. And do not over analyse until paralyse. Every investment has its inherent risk, if you cannot sleep then better don't invest. Investment is not for the faint hearted. 

As Ryan and myself have basically exhausted our borrowing capacity, we co-invest with other investors in commercial deal. Believe it or not, none of these investors are my friends whom I know before my real estate journey, rather, these are people whom I met at real estate event. They trust our findings and believe in us. Some merely know us for a week, and willing to join us in our investment! Isn't it amazing! One investor told me, "I don't know who is the developer, I don't know who is Thomas Ong, but if Melissa says it is a good buy, I'll buy". Like wow! Perhaps I should become a real estate agent! Trully an honour!

Another surprise came into my mail box.

An invitation to be part of SMART Expo and we get a table and publicity for free!

Usually event like this would cost S$2-3k for a booth or a table. And we are honored to get such privilege at Marina Bay Sands expo! Usually Alpha tags along with Mr Ho at his event. This time we got a direct access to go under Alpha's name!

And the last sweetener of the day!

I finally got a condo in Singapore!

Okaylah, I didnt buy myself, it is a co-investment with Ryan. Somewhere near city. Will be getting the keys in November the latest!

Thank you God for answering all my prayers and thank you fellow investors for propelling my business to another level!

Okay, gotta plan for my exhibition and redesign my website! Oh boy oh boy! It is good to be busy for your own business!

Year 2011

Haven’t been blogging for a long long time. I guessed, there aren’t many people who actually reads my blog, rather this blog captures all the past moments and my future aspiration.


Let's see, what happened in year 2011

- Broke up with my bf of 4 years. It was heart breaking and I always wonder if I would regret in future but what's done is done, it was a wonderful 4 years. No regrets as he brought out the best in me and I am who I am cause of him. However, knowing my competitive nature and go-getter, I need to get out the comfy and chilling zone. I need a guy who would push and spur me further. He was my best friend and it was the hardest decision ever.

Then: The funny guy

- Met an investor friend, turned business partner and lover. We are so similar in so many ways. Both are equally bad at housework, bad at roads/directions, hate durians, love business and investment. We can talk hours on property investment and our usual date revolves around meeting business partners, attending seminar or property launches. Our weekends are usually packed. In a way, I am glad I met him. He redefines the focus of my life, the only guy who always tries to challenge me, but still lose nevertheless. :D

Now: The serious guy



- Started Alpha Marketing Singapore

-  Ventured into event management (Mini scale private function)

-  Cousin Sam and best buddies Chan & Kamz got married

- Volunteered in a few charitable organisation, Rotaract and Junior Achivement

Merce Fund Raising Campaign @ Orchard Road

- Appeared on Singapore Business Times, Malaysia News Straits Times, Singapore Channel News AsiaOne and Ho Chin Soon book 5.

- Went to see Mickey Mouse and Stanley Ho

- Bought a car in Singapore on my own.



- Added 2 more props into my portfolio.

Well, I guessed, thats pretty much about it for year 2011.

As for 2012, I am looking forward to a greater year ahead! Hopefully could add one Singapore property to my portfolio and I am done for the year.

Happy CNY ppl.

Featured in Malaysia New Straits Times Property

Patrick of Patchay.Com and myself were interviewed by Nicholas Leong from NST Property few weeks back. It was a casual chit chat rather than a serious interview.

The content are more or less repetitive of my Business Times feature, but any publicity is good for business.

There is another developer launch coming up, price is relatively affordable. Please go to AlphaMarketingSg.com for updates on the deals. You can also sign up as member to get access to the articles.

Thank you for your defense

Good to know you are always there to support me in good and bad times. And good luck in being a landlord and getting a girl friend :D

Channelnewasia forum

Have been rather upset after my feature was being scrutinised and critised in a few Singapore forum recently, I do not blame the forumers for they do not know me well enough. But he defended me on the forum. I guessed noone could ever understand me as well as he did. He witnessed first hand how I cried every night missing my family and stressing at work, my anxiety in buying my first property, my sleepness night when my unit untenanted for 2 months and all my ups and downs at work.

Instead of smearing the name of your ex, isn't it great that your ex comes to your defend when you are defenseless? I believe in karma, what comes around goes around. Once again, a big thank you!

Moving on

Alec and I broke up the week after CNY, it was my call. It was not easy, he was part of my life for the past 4 years, day in and day out, he was always there for me. But somehow or rather, the feeling has faded, he loved me too much that I took him for granted, dictate how we should move forward. I was the captain of the relationship, I didnt want us to be an ordinary couple, I was trying to change him. He did change for my sake, but still I am not satisfied. I am selfish, self-centered. My parents gave me a long lecture when they found out.

Alec has great bond with my family and my extended family that is. Marriage was just a formality, we were married in their eyes. I am always in Alec's priority list, he places me above all things, his work, his time, himself.

Alec,
I am sorry for breaking up your heart, I know you were planning to propose next year, but I can't be giving you fake promises when I know I am not ready to marry you.

It might be the stupidiest decision I have ever made but what's done is done.

Summary of Q4-2010

As the year is coming to its glorious end, I shall recapped what I have managed to achieved this year. First and foremost as I have proudly declared over and over again on my blog is my very first major purchase. VK!

The very first time I wrote multiple cheques with 5 digits on it (downpayment, legal fee, renovation & furnishings), the very first time I screw my lawyer upside down and came to realised that lawyer afterall isnt that smart, not even if they speak the best Queen's English nor they sat for the toughest exams around. And, a lot investors too concurred with my findings, sigh, pathetic. Most importantly, the very first time being a landlord =D.

Aside from investment, I have left audit and joined my client, Ikea (yes, yes, meatball) for a finance role. I still remember 2 years ago, I was sent to audit ikea temporarily, it wasnt even in my portfolio. My then client (turned colleagues) were very nice and friendly, documents were given promptly and the environment was really good. Nice workstation, nice culture and I jokingly asked if they are looking for people for any role. Promptly after the engagement ended, I requested to be on the ikea audit permanently, and I have to keep reminding my manager to book me on her job. Well, and two years later, they have a vacancy and asked if I would love to join them, I was hesistant at first due to conflict of interest but got the green light from my audit partner to go after a grace period.

Networking wise, I have made lotsa investors friend from PMC and on facebook. It is great to have so many generous investors who dont mind to give you a few pointers on investment. But there are also the stingy ones that keep asking but refused to share their focus area and a few noobies that ask ridiculous question which is easily found online. I usually ignore those ppl, not that I am snobbish but clearly, you have no idea what you are getting into without enough research, how could you be a property investor when you don't know the different between freehold and leasehold?

Relationship wise, what relationship? I am free as an eagle! :P (I am so going to be murdered ;D). The other day, mum just told me so and so is getting married and so and so gave birth while I was busy surfing the net, and the obvious reply would be 'Oh, okay' right. The next thing you've guessed it, she asked me when is my turn. I turned around and looked at her, nonchantly I said, after I have 5 properties. Of course, she called me crazy for being so materialistic and demanding! But I further explained that, I am going to buy 5 properties myself on my own! (Indirectly saying that I don't need a man, aside from cleaning and companionship ;D).

I guessed that pretty sums up my whole year apart from the day to day 9-5pm usual stuff.

And for my new year's resolution! Hmm... I would need to shed a few kilos to fit in that dress of mine, try to jog at least twice a week to prepare for my expedition to climb mount kinabalu again. ( I climbed up 5 years ago without much preparation, think I didnt do well hence the second round). To learn as much as possible from my bosses so I could do better in my work, read up on commercial properties and perhaps JV with other investors to buy into commercial. Be more dilligent in keeping my face wrinkles free! (I can see fine lines around my eyes!) and improve my salsa dancing!

P/S: I am still attached to the guy I met online 4 years ago in case you got the wrong idea, but I always welcome new proposals as I need to QC my current companion to match against the market benchmark :D

Merry Christmas everyone!

Property Bug

Cousin: We are going New York for honeymoon!
Alec: Oh cool!
Me: *Pointing to the advert in the newspaper* "US$35,000 US house for sale" Oh US properties is sooo cheap!
Alec: -_-, YOU WANT THEM TO BUY A HOUSE IN US FOR YOU????
Me: *Grinning*

Happy Late Late Halloween! This year, I'm a talkative mime :D

Oh, since I can't get hold of properties in US, well another in the bag...

Gonna furnish this babe nicely, small little studio. (Oh that's me in the picture, negotiating with the agent, while Alec snapping the pictures away)

AND AND

My VK is FINALLY OUT FOR LEASE!



I need to buy more furnishings! Sigh, too little time in KL to shop!

For lease, Vista Kiara, Mont Kiara

3 rooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 carparks RM2,600.

Please call my agent Roy 012-2169026

Now & Then

Then

Constant I love you, oh how muchie I miss you and things like that...













Now.

Seated few seats away with the all times 'friendly' sign.

That, my friend is called being in 'love'.

Resignation

Receiving farewell emails and attending farewell dinners are like celebration of some sort in audit. Instead of feeling sad of departure of yet another fellow colleague/friend, we (the remaining ones) seem to be congratulating them for taking the plunge. While the word 'Resign' is discreetly used in every organisation, but guess in audit, almost everyone uses it at least once in their career. It acts as a encouragement, to spur us to finish it once and for all (then resign) or a word of defeat, to just give up and quit.

And out of 10 who calls it quit, 8 would make good their words.

Here are the pictures when I first joined.

(Taken in Krabi, Thailand 2007)

And what's left in my department.

(Taken at Zouk, KPMG Halloween Party, Oct 2009)

(One person in this picture has already resigned)

(Taken at Spanish Restaurant, Oct 2009)

 

(Three people in this picture has resigned as well)

And the peak is here again....

Proud

Wanted to publish this for a long long time but just too lazy to upload the articles, finally found an online version so just copy and paste.

Yes, am a very proud person, but hey, do you get such title everyday? So, I think flaunting once in a while is not entirely wrong :P

Full version here .

P/S: Just wanna put more pressure on my two sisters :P. Madeline, belajar la...SPM coming nih...