Author: Charles Tan

This question requires a very long answer, beyond my usual 300 words article. 🙂 However, let us focus on three aspects for now. Space, people and connectivity. There are a few key property markets in Malaysia. This includes Klang Valley, Iskandar, KK, Kuching and without any doubt, Penang. If we look in terms of space…

My Ipoh needs an airport

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in Airport related, Property Perak

Penang has industrial areas and for past few years, booming tourism due to the Unesco Heritage Award. Klang Valley is where everything is happening, latest, newest, tallest, biggest and more. There’s a city in between these two hubs, Ipoh. Penang airport is the 3rd most busiest, after KL and KK. Ipoh has an airport which…

Then and now, when we buy property

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When our parents were younger, they read newspapers to search for properties. Developers would also advertise in newspaper. Leaflet was another very good way. Every house in the neighbourhood gets one. A developer which is building 50-100 units of terrace house need just to spend a few thousand and print 20,000 leaflets and chances are…

Affordability, Availability vs Salary

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What kind of property can a couple with a household net income of RM8,000 buy today in Penang? My assumption is simple, both are working adults with 5 years experience. Wife is a manager and husband is a senior engineer. 🙂 Who says man must earn more than his wife? We also assume both…

Landed versus Condo

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I admit first, I am slightly biased since all my properties thus far are condos. However, everyone loves landed property. I think this is very true, especially in Penang island. Due to the limited land size, anyone who owns a landed property is looked upon differently from those who can only afford a condo. Two…

Perfect Property with lowest price

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My friend: ‘Hey, I just went to your project today and viewed the 1st floor of Block C.’ Chia Lih: Great, are you buying? My friend: I am still thinking. It’s on top of the TNB room and it’s RM290K. Chia Lih: If it is unsafe, I don’t think the developer would build a unit…

Condo – Extra car park necessary?

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Today, majority if not all new condo projects provide two car parks. However, a lot of secondary condo projects may have just one car park. If you can, buy a condo with two car parks instead of one. Statistically, majority of all households have two cars. Your wife and you each would own a car.…

Latte at Kay’s (Tropicana Mall)

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in Uncle Charles kopi and recipes

Presentation is above average. I like the glass accompanying the latte. In terms of taste however, I think it’s too bland. The coffee somehow does not show itself and the milk is somehow not milky enough for my taste. Overall, it’s just a very normal glass of latte. Rating: 5/10, propped up slightly by its…

Property bubble in Malaysia

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On 17th October 2013, National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) reported that the average housing completion yearly was 100,000 units relative to the average annual household formation, which was 140,000. On 25th October 2013, in The Star, according to Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan1.7 million households yet to own houses’. He also…

Iskandar, RM1 million onwards

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in Iskandar / JB Property

Some say this will stop Singaporeans from buying. Some say this will have no effect whatsoever. My friend who’s a HR Director said this when he tried to hire an American expatriate to join a US MNC in Penang. ‘I will triple your retirement funds immediately’. What he meant was, if the American comes to…

Start as young as you can

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