BY SHERRY KOH
TODAY, the primary force that drives so many people to bankruptcy is their desire to live beyond their means. Many default on their car, housing and personal loans simply because they want to live a lavish lifestyle.
Even without being fully established in their careers, they choose to buy an expensive car when a simple entry-level car will suffice. It is the same kind of thinking that makes them go for high-end property instead of affordable ones.
Those who are just starting out should switch on their “trading up” mentality. They should think about purchasing lower-priced properties first. After all, property is a good hedge against inflation.
When the lower-priced property increases in value, capital appreciation can be used to slowly trade up to better properties.
Home ownership transformation programme
That is one of the key reasons StarProperty.my, together with Propwall.my, initiated Own It. It is a home ownership transformation programme that is designed to assist first-time homebuyers towards owning a property.
Star Media Group general manager of the property business unit Timothy Hor said, “The core purpose of Own It is to help young Malaysians, Gen Ys and the millennials, better understand the home buying process and start planning their journey towards owning their first home.
“For many of our younger generation, the lament about not being able to afford their own homes has become louder in recent years because of the escalating prices of property. And many have accepted the fact that they will be a "generation of renters".
Hor encourages first-time home buyers to better understand the property investment journey.
“We want to help change that mindset and provide them with a platform to better understand and learn about property ownership, and hopefully inspire them to start planning to buy their first home.”
The ongoing Own It programme consists of a series of educational forums and sharing of pertinent information on property investment. The programme kick-started in May this year, when StarProperty.my managed to help several first-time homebuyers purchase their first property.
Own It is StarProperty.my’s CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative, and the company is consistently working with developers to explore attractive starter home offerings, while providing financial and investment guidance for eligible first-time homebuyers.
Register for Own It Forum - It's FREE!
To keep the momentum going, StarProperty.my will be starting a series of educational talks and the first one is a two-parter. It will be held on Aug 1 and Aug 8 at Tropicana Metropark’s Property Gallery, 2pm to 4.30pm.
There will be three speakers – Khalil Adis (founder of Khalil Adis Consultancy Pte Ltd), Nick and Alex (directors of an architect and interior design firm Nu Infinity) and Alexander Woo (VP Financial Education at IQI Holdings).
There will be a FlexibleLove chair worth RM1,385 to be given away each day. There will also be a special offer for developments in Tropicana Metropark. Ask the sales personnel about it.
Admission to the forum is free and light refreshments will be provided. Register at starproperty.my/ownitforum now as seats are limited.
| Aug 1, Saturday | |
|---|---|
| 2:00pm - 3:00pm | Important must-know basics of property investment |
| by Alexander Woo | |
| Real estate investment is among the best ways to preserve and grow your wealth. It is not just about financial forecasts but also about having the right mindset in making savvy investment decisions. Learn how to grow your portfolio like a savvy investor. | |
| 3:30pm - 4:30pm | Design: Small is the new big |
| by Nick & Alex | |
| Designing a home within limited space is a huge challenge, as we all know that homes aree becoming smaller due to affordability and easier maintenance for today's young families. The new challenge in designing these homes is particularly focused on making space look bigger than they really are. Nu Infinity will share valuable design insights such as using smart mechanism to make spaces flexible and maximise space usage in several ways. Most importantly, these enhancements could increase the value of rental yield and price of the property itself. | |
| Aug 8, Saturday | |
| 2:00pm - 3:00pm | What types of properties are hot right now and what's right for you? |
| by Khalil Adis | |
| From dual key units to SOVOs, these new property types have become the norm across Malaysia. However, not all types of properties are suited for each investor. Khalil will share more about the types of investors that certain properties are suited for and then narrow down to types that suit their profile. | |
| 3:30pm - 4:30pm | How to spot a good property deal and are you ready to purchase? |
| by Alexander Woo | |
| Everyone needs a place to live and one could either buy or rent. Either way, there's a need to choose an appropriate location. Other factors to consider include your financial strength, intended length of stay, future plans, and maturity stage of your intended location. There is no hard and fast rule, but it is important to learn more about these factors and make the choice that best suits you! | |
A FlexibleLove chair worth RM1,385 to be given away for each day. Register for the free forum at starproperty.my/ownitforum
A first-time home buyer? Sign up for StarProperty.my's Home Ownership Transformation Programme, Own It. We'd like to help you towards owning your first property. #OwnIt
