Saturday, June 16, 2012

Harga Rumah Lembah Klang Mahal?

HOUSING INVESTMENTS
By THEAN LEE CHENG
leecheng@thestar.com.my

NOW that we are in the middle of 2012, it is probably a known and accepted fact that the property market is taking a long-awaited breather, after a steep and breathless uphill climb in 2010 and last year.

Prices and rental in a most parts of the Klang Valley have come down. In some hotspots that have seen the steepest price increase the last couple of years, rental and prices have come down marginally since the last quarter of 2011 and this trend has continued until today. It is likely this trend will continue well into the second half of this year.

It is not that there is no longer demand for these properties. There is demand, but the prices have been bidded up to such a degree that potential buyers are beginning to ask themselves if they are over-paying. Some may even ask if there are fundamentals to support such high prices. In short, they have decided to walk away.

Whether they are prepared to over-pay or whether there are fundamentals to support these high prices are two different things. This is because buying a house is or can be an emotional affair.

Some are willing to over-pay because they really like the property, or its location and the amenities that come with it. Or they may be concerned that if they do not buy now, prices may go up further.

So, despite the suspicion that they may be over-paying, they decide to go ahead with the purchase. This is particularly so if they are renting.

As for whether there are fundamentals to support prices that go up, up and up, well often, there isn't. The same infrastructure is there, and the environment has remained status quo. But prices have moved up and buyers wonder what's the rationale? Buyers are beginning to question and that is good.

The secondary market where buyers buy directly from property owners may be a more realistic gauge of the sentiment prevailing in the property market.

There is less speculation in the secondary market. Those who shop for a house in the classifieds would already know the purpose of his purchase. He would more or less know how he is going to finance it because he has to pay for the property in full, upon signing the sales and purchase agreement. He would also have to go about seeking the services of a lawyer, if he does not have one already, and the mortgage loan would also have to be sorted out.

In other words, the outlay would be greater emotionally, financially and physically as there is much running around after a decision is made for a particular property.

It is only in the primary market, where buyers buy directly from the developers, that the speculative element is more evident. Amid the razzmatazz and the party spirit of the moment, a buyer just pays the 10% he is required to and sits back with the availability of today's interest bearing schemes. He need not think too much about what he is going to do with it, or how he is going to finance the purchase until two to three years later. If he does not want to begin his loan repayment, he can sell it.

It is here, therefore, in the primary market, that the speculative element is more evident. Last year, developers had multiple launches. Their intention was to lock in sales while the going was good.

This year, the situation has changed somewhat. There is a lot more caution, both in the secondary and the primary market, as evidenced by less launches by developers, and slower sales in the secondary market. Unlike last year, a developer has to do a lot more marketing and promotion in order to lock in sales now.

Nevertheless, despite the slower sales, there seems to be no let up in the prices as they remain high, with developers justifying their prices with increasing cost of construction.

As we enter the second half of 2012, the worsening crisis in the eurozone will cast some uncertainty over the market, although indirectly. Already, exports for April have contracted, although marginally. This may filter down to the property market.

Those who buy with a clear focus and objective will continue to execute their decision. Those who are more uncertain why they are buying may take a wait-and-see approach, or if they really like a property and are certain of its potential, may just take out the cheque book.

Deputy news editor Thean Lee Cheng wonders how the Greek election tomorrow will turn out as it may open up a new chapter for the eurozone. We in Malaysia will not be immune to what's happening in Europe.





(Saya suka kat part yang hujung di mana penulis menyatakan pembeli yang mempunyai fokus dan objektif yang jelas akan terus membeli hartanah. Everytime is a good time to buy dengan syarat kita tahu apa yang kita buat. )



Thursday, June 14, 2012

Pentingnya "Matlamat" dalam Pelaburan Hartanah

Pada ketika ini, ramai di antara kita yang sudah mula menyedari keuntungan dalam bidang pelaburan hartanah. Banyak kelas2 pelaburan yang boleh kita sertai untuk mendapatkan ilmu dan teknik yang betul tentang pelaburan hartanah. 

Namun, hanya berbekalkan ilmu dan teknik, tidak semestinya kita akan berjaya dalam bidang pelaburan hartanah. Tanpa matlamat yang lengkap dan jelas, pasti kita akan "sesat" dan akhirnya kerugian. 

Bagaimana hendak tahu matlamat pelaburan kita itu lengkap dan ada kesan yang mendalam dalam minda kita? 

Matlamat yang berkesan ada 5 perkara berikut : 



Bandingkan dua jenis matlamat berikut

Individu 1 : " Saya ingin melabur dalam hartanah dan mendapat pulangan yang lumayan"

Individu 2 : " Pada akhir tahun ini, saya akan mendapatkan satu hartanah apartment dalam lingkungan harga rm200k di sekitar kawasan kota damansara yang akan menjana aliran tunai positif sebanyak rm200 sebulan "

Pada pendapat anda, siapa yang akan ada harapan yang lebih tinggi untuk mencapai matlamat beliau ? 

Selepas kita membuat matlamat mengikut konsep "SMART" di atas, kita perlu untuk bercerita kepada orang lain tentang matlamat kita. Jangan sorok dan malu untuk berkongsi. Ceritakan kepada kenalan kita, agent hartanah, lawyer, kontraktor, banker etc. Dengan matlamat yang jelas, lebih mudah untuk kenalan2 kita tersebut untuk membantu kita. Jika ada yang memperlekehkan matlamat kita, tidak mengapa. Mungkin mereka tidak faham atau tidak selesa jika anda "lebih" dari mereka. 

Jangan risau. Apa yang anda perlu lakukan adalah luangkan lebih banyak masa bersama orang2 yang sudi membantu anda dan kurangkan masa bersama orang2 yang sentiasa berusaha "menjatuhkan" moral anda. Kan lebih bagus begitu? 





Friday, June 8, 2012

Kredit Kad yang terbaik



Mari cerita pasal kredit kad lagi.


Kalau anda merupakan pengguna kredit kad yang tegar, anda patut tahu kad bank mana yang sesuai dengan penggunaan anda. Dengan menggunakan yang betul, kita dapat memaksimakan keuntungan dari penggunaan tersebut. Jangan main swipe sahaja. Rugi. Caj kredit kad amat mahal. Kalau tak guna dengan cara yang betul, kita rugi bayar faedah buta2 sahaja.


Ok maklumat ini diperolehi dari majalah Personal Money edisi ke 130.


Saya kasi rumusan kad terbaik berdasarkan penggunaan utama.


1. Kaki makan - OCBC Titanium Mastercard (5% rebate kat banyak restoran utama seluruh dunia)


2. Kaki jalan - Citibank PremierMiles ( banyak benefit kat airport dan kumpul points)


3. Groceries aka Barang dapur - Cari kad yang ada kerjasama dengan hypermarket seperti Giant Citibank kad, Tesco RHB cad etc ( dapat rebate dari pembelian)


4. Petrol - bergantung kepada minyak apa yang kita pakai tapi secara kasar nya CIMB Petronas Mastercard bagi rebate yang agak menarik flat 2%.


5. Graduan muda - UOB ONE Card ( bagi banyak rebate )


6. Kaki tak reti nak bayar habis baki cc setiap bulan - Maybankard 2 Platinum Card ( rate interest paling murah 8.88% per year)


Kalau anda nak tahu lebih detail, sila beli majalah Personal Money tu ye. Saya malas nak tulis panjang2 hahaha....