Happy New Year 2009! New Year Resolution Time!

You know it usually never happens, but I’ll make it simple for myself and everyone to know what I’d be planning to stick my guns to with my brand new mind mapping techniques which I think should work before I hit 27 this new year in August.

Health

I’m a firm believer in a good balance of everything. Again, this hasn’t been happening in 2008 and as a result, I’ve gained like 6kg in a short 6 month span. Err. It’s not healthy of course.

The Singapore government has always been quite supportive of sporting events holding here. We have the few cute events that’re coming up, namely the Singapore Biathlon organised by Navy, Sundown Marathon by Adidas which I have already registered for. That will drive me to keep my procrastination down and go for constant trainings in the gym and pool for the 1st half of the year ;)

Also, Men’s Health kicks butt!

Finances

Keeping track of my spendings in 2009 systematically. With this I have Pocket Finance Diary for my HTC Touch Pro which will allow me to export to CSV for any other personal finance softwares. I’m thinking of MS Money/ Quicken to my arsenal.

It simply works, but I have to keep up the momentum, else the habit will eventually fade away 2 months time (Don’t you find it’s tough to keep up with resolutions? lol)

Social Web 2.0

I have a couple of web publications which I have to keep up for 2009. One of it would have to be this personal blog which I’d be focusing on touching the sensitive Singapore and the rest of the world’s real estate news; tips and tricks and my rantless rumblings. I would try to be driving this blog for a Alexa ranking of under a 100,000 and try to increase Google PR of this blog to a minimum 4 by April 2009. Apart from driving traffic, I’d be regularly using my twitter account and visiting forums for more news and update myself. It’ll be for the best for my customers to keep in touch with me with a mailing list to let them know what’s happening too.

Timeline set is decent and realistic. Just stick to the gun of updating this blog regularly for minimum a post for 2 days, get to know new netfriends doing the same thing and exchanging links, I should be able to do it.

Friends

Not forgetting keeping up with my friends of mine since the secondary school days, IRC and colleagues till now. Balance life should consist of hardwork, good health, good financial and mental state as well as a balanced social circle of friends whom you haven’t and will not forget. I’ll be sticking to our guns for this 5 keys for 2009.

What’s yours for this year?

The Edge Goes Online

That’s my best Christmas gift ever.

The Edge Singapore Online
The Edge Singapore Online

The Edge finally has its own online version of their content packed weekly publications finally. I’m not sure whether we could do RSS feeds of the articles, but according to their email, this online version will be packed with daily updates; something I’m looking forward to.

The Edge Singapore
The Edge Singapore

TheEdgeSingapore.com gives you every working day:

  • Free and breaking business and investment news
  • ‘Blog Head’ views and commentaries from our journalists
  • Page-turner Special Focus sections which you can save and keep
  • The week’s corporate AGMs, financial events, and corporate payouts and actions
  • EXCLUSIVELY to weekly paid subscribers, free access to back copies of your weekly in pdf format

and there’s lots more to come…

Everyone is coming online, I suppose it’s a good time to get me a tablet to keep up with RSSes and new property news fast. No? *Ahem, it’s an excuse to show off my new toy X61T*

Login to The Edge Singapore and register today for free.

Fooling Around with Lenovo T61X

One of my 2009 resolution is to harness the best of what I could with my pocket and information technology infrastructure to boost our possible way of closing sales and getting organised effortlessly during the down times.

Nicholas actually sent me a link of how our American counter-parts actually used a tablet to deal with most of her daily routines and how it boosted and managed her ways of effective time management.

In a quick spur of moment after a few sleepless nights consideration, I’ve decided to do my studies on which tablet laptop should I buy to replace the current Asus centrino that I have. There’s only a few models available on the market which are really worth considering. They’re Fujitsu Lifebook T5010, HP Pavillion TX2500z, Toshiba Portege R400 and the winner Lenovo Thinkpad T61X/200X.

There was a battle between getting the R400 and Lenovo whilst I phased the T5010 and TX2500Z out; both feels great, but I didn’t like the Fujitsu salesman in Funan (bwahaha) and TX2500Z is running on Turion, which means excessive heat and less battery hours of usage. I’d need something that could last me for a good amount of time in terms of processing and battery power if I were to really use it like a regular book.

Verdict – The T61X Won My Heart

Lenovo’s 8 cell battery with core 2 duo could probably do the trick. (R400 is running on U, which means better battery life as well, but ah well, it has a glossy surface which doesn’t seem viable if I’m out with alot of sun, T61/200 does the trick with anti-glare screen.)

Lenovo Thinkpad X61T - My New Arsenal
Lenovo Thinkpad X61T - My New Arsenal

T61 won over my heart, though T200 would have been a better choice with the new specifications, but it’s a tad too expensive at the moment considering the new model just got into the market. Also I would have to pre-order from local Lenovo dealers and would have to wait for the shipment to arrive. Time and tide waits for no one; at least I want my tools to be that way.

I’ve always been fascinated by how Thinkpad users have actually rated so much highly than any brands of laptops that they have used before. It’s time for me to get a piece of action.

Getting package ready on 23rd December

We’ll see how it changes the way I do business in 2009, and whether am I more organised with my paper cluttered desk which will be almost completely paperless after all the housekeeping is done (after scanning them into pdfs to be stored on my new power-toy). *Fingers crossed and starts scanning documents to be ready for the package*

2009 – Sundown Marathon

It’s here again. The official 2009 Adidas Sundown Marathon‘s registration is on!

Sundown is Here Again! For the 2nd Time
Sundown is Here Again! For the 2nd Time

I’ve registered, and this time round I’m making sure I drag my fat feets down to shuffle from the finishing to the end. Are you game enough for it? (At least it isn’t boring same old route that Singapore Marathon is always using)

Join me. Fellow Realtors who’re training, buzz me! We can meet at Pierce for coffee after training on Saturday mornings! *Prior to no viewings in the morning of course, we need a wink after training.

** Oh and if you’ve joined last year, regardless of whether you went for it *TSK, you’re entitled to a 15% discount.

URA Gazettes Master Plan 2008

Alas, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) of Singapore has finally gazetted the Master Plan 2008. The draft version of the plan has been online since months back and has already interestingly piped the way that our country will be shaped the next 10 years.

Sunrise from The Sail on 34th floor, construction of Sands Integrated Resort
Sunrise from The Sail on 34th floor, construction of Sands Integrated Resort (photo credit:Tom Bodley)

If you have trouble understanding what is Master Plan from URA, here’s the official textbook definition

“Statutory land use plan that guides physical development of the country for the next 10 to 15 years”

It’s law for developers and anyone that has got to do with land, buildings in the next 10 – 15 years according to the plan.

The online version of Master Plan 2008 was much better than the former 2003 in terms of use. Much clearer when you can actually search for the specific place rather than zooming in to look at the map. I like this change particularly ;)

Plot Ratio Change? Nay

Well, not much plot ratio change has been introduced as compared to former MP 2003. The focus for this plan is to introduce 3 regional hubs into our heartland,  Jurong Lake District, Kallang Riverside and Paya Lebar Central.

I’m no good forecaster, but should this three hubs be established decently and effectively, we can probably see plot ratio increase for buildings that are around the new circle line entrances of new stations that is springing up around the hubs in the next MP 2013.

What’s Gonna Happen In 5 Years Time?

I’ve actually seen work already happening and working around my residential area in Geylang. Part of the leisure plan for water body has already started since months back. We’ll expect to see the landscape of our country changed yet again for the better.

I can’t see any reason why this plan could fail with the successes of the previous MPs, that said with the additional help not only from planners but even the public floor, where 300 feedbacks were taken into serious consideration after the draft Master Plan 2008 exhibition was up since 6 months ago.

Live. Work. Play.

Singapore will evolve for the better. I’m excited with the new changes coming up, are you?

Another Realtor’s Tool For Those Who Drive – Motorpay

Yes it costs about $1 – $2 extra a month, but I would think it’s better for you to keep track of your ERP spendings rather than aimlessly topping up your cashcard on a regular basis and missing out paying your gantries to suffer fines! Introducing Motorpay, your Electronic Road Pricing tracking & paying ticket.

The Requirements

You’ll need a Singapore registered car, a valid working credit card (DBS Mastercard preferred for free subscription for 6 months), and a working IU (I’m pretty sure the IU is working, else you can’t pay your tariffs can’t you?)

Registration is easy. You’ll enter your mobile number, and some funky automated system would give you a call to provide you with an access number for verification.

Get your IU ID from the side of your IU (white sticker with 10 digits) ready. Register with the necessary information and wait for approval (takes about 3 days).

Ahaa! Here you go, pass through gantries like you’ve never cared about your cash card balance before and track ’em down.

track your erp charges
track your erp charges

Now no longer pay $10 administrative fines and keep track of your road tariffs to LTA ;)

Don’t Call SPH on Friday If You’re Placing Your Ad For Weekends!

SPH CATS, our good friend that makes the most out of Realtors placing ads everyday has revamped the section numberings and ad placings to keep in line with readers.

ALSO, at the same time, they’ve made it a point that if you call on a Friday to place ads on Saturday and Sunday, you’d be incurring an additional of $1 per line. WOOT! I suppose that’s a good way to tackle the endless and countless calls that’s coming on a Friday for Saturday and Sunday ads, but its darn expensive.

I’ve got 3 ads on Saturday for 4 liners, which means an additional of $12.00 added to SPH’s account. Cha ching!

Remember, don’t call on Friday to place ads my fellow Realtor friends.

Is it A Good Time to Get Your Properties Again?

Uber Construction Costs

First off we’re facing with high construction costs which is being forecasted to grow imminently because of high inflation rates and the shortage in raw materials, we should expect our property prices in Singapore to tag along with the cost since developers will definitely pass this to the consumers.

Hi-End Residences Performing at an Uber Cool Pace

Then we have CBRE (in fact many of CBRE’s reports) reporting that the high-end residential sectors are doing extremely well. With 50 luxury apartments (upscale luxury developments such as Nassim Park Residence, Cliveden at Grange, The Tomlinson, The Grange, and the Orange Grove condos ) going above the 10 million dollar mark, the forecast for these projects are suppose to hike.

Healthy Weekend Home Sales

ST701 reported on the recent weekend home sale is moving really well.

Suites 123 at Rangoon Road was sold out – a rarity these days – while Oxley Ventures offloaded 50 units of Parc Sophia in Adis Road. Sales were also healthy at Dakota Residences in Dakota Crescent.

Market watchers said the sales at these mid-market projects show that homebuyers can be drawn off the sidelines if prices are attractive.

There’re in fact plenty of buyers just waiting for the right time to get the right property at the right price and chances are they’re just waiting on the fence to see the general market direction on whether it’s the right time to buy.

Sub-Prime Isn’t An Issue?

We kept hearing about complains on US sub-prime issues and on the depths of how serious it has impacted the US. I know, I know, we don’t really know the extent of the damage. But how much has it really impacted Asian countries?

Through Asian crisis (Asians are well known to be more conservative, and most are still, in the business sector), most Asian countries, especially Singapore and Hong Kong, who were once known as the Asian Tigers suffered massive blow has probably learnt from mistakes that they shouldn’t just solely depend on the US for import/ export/ trades.

Things have certainly changed way back since 1997 times. With rising tigers like China and India doing extremely well themselves, most Asian countries has more dealings with their own network internally. Usually impacts like a crisis, we could feel the difference, such as the lifestyle of a normal man on the street.. it hasn’t changed much even after the sub-prime issue has surfaced.

Well, is it the right time to buy Singapore properties now for investment or even your own stay? You be the judge.