House For Sale In Malaysia

July 5, 2012 By

This is indeed a good time to invest in properties in Malaysia. If you are in real estate investment and you are on the lookout for good payouts, then look no further than this strategically located country in Southeast Asia.

We have just set up an office in Kuala Lumpur to house a group of 25 realtors and real estate agents to service our ever growing clientele consisting of property investors in Malaysia. If you are interested come get in touch with us and we will be happy to discuss your goals when it comes to investing in real estate and other related financial instruments.

Property For Sale In Malaysia – What To Look Out For

There are many opportunities when it comes to selecting a particular piece of property in Malaysia (particularly in the Klang Valley) – whether you want to buy a place for you to live in, or to rent out. You can also build up a portfolio of properties and wait for the capital appreciation many years down the road.

Some are leery of the current property prices – in particular these areas -

  • Mont Kiara
  • Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC condo)
  • Bangsar
  • Seputeh
  • Puchong

There is definitely a property bubble currently, and you are well advised to keep track of the prices of house for sale in Malaysia so that you always get a good deal. Real estate is always in good demand, and represents a good deal especially when compared to other alternatives (mutual funds, stocks, etc). Looking for property for sale in Malaysia is not hard, but to the foreign investor it can be really tricky because he typically is not well versed with the Malaysian culture. This is where property consultants (like us) can play an important role. We can link you up with local realtors and property agents who will drive a hard bargain for you.

Update: The recent plateau-ing of prices of high end properties in Kuala Lumpur means that real estate around the KLCC area as well as Mont Kiara and Bangsar is becoming more affordable. Units in areas such as Marc Residence as well as OneKL are becoming cheaper, and it’s really a good time now to start investing in premium real estate in Malaysia. If you need advisory services then email our in-house property broker, Adam Chan here – adam@willoaded.com and he will be able to advise you. Note that Adam’s specialty is in business space and asset management.

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide

Making Your Home Energy Efficient

May 14, 2013 By

Making your homes energy efficient is like hitting two birds with one stone: you do your part for Mother Nature while saving on your dollars. And contrary to what you think, it is not at all that inconvenient. And for whatever expense you may incur on improving your home’s energy efficiency, you can most definitely earn back in the form of electric bill savings.

When it comes to home energy efficiency, the first thing you need to know is that the smallest things matter. From the light bulbs to your large heating and ventilating systems, the simplest effort on saving energy matters a lot.

So here are some easy and largely doable tips in making your homes energy efficient:

Hire an energy auditor.

The foremost thing that causes energy inefficiency in homes is leaks and cracks as well as damages in your HVAC. No one can do a check for leaks and energy wastage better than an energy auditor. There are, apparently, energy auditors in Malaysia who can help you out– if fact, they help me set up my dream place in becoming the next big thing in green living. :D They can help you assess which areas of your home electric systems need to be addressed.

Make the switch from incandescent to fluorescent.

Incandescent bulbs are sooo yesterday. Fluorescent bulbs are cheaper, more energy efficient, and the white light from these bulbs are much brighter and easier on the eyes. Most eco-friendly properties and buildings use fluorescent to save up on bills and utilities. Read more about this on our previous article about going green.

Replace old appliances.

Old electronic devices, because of the less advanced technology, carry a less efficient mechanism. Today’s appliance makers are aware of the growing trend of consumers of becoming more environmentally conscious so they start to make appliances that adhere to the Energy Star standards on energy efficiency. Refrigerators, televisions, air conditioners and heaters are the most costly of appliances, energy-wise. You may want to ditch these for Energy Star-rated appliances. You’ll see the cost of your investment come back to you in the form of your much smaller electric bill.

Work for better insulation.

Leaks on your air ducts are the most common and most notorious causes of huge electric bills. These leaks cause the warm (or cool) air from your heater and air conditioners to escape. When the air escapes, your machines are forced to increase its work and thereby increase its energy consumption, and thus your bill. And all because of your leaks in the air ducts. Repair these leaks and then provide additional insulation so you can maximize the use of your appliances and reduce the tab on your bill. You can also provide additional insulation on your walls and attics

Invest in solar panels.

Solar panels are expensive. But if you can afford it, you had better make that investment. A good real estate agent can refer you to contractors who can install solar panels to make things easier for you. Not only are you independent from extremely high electric bills; you can suffice for your energy consumption needs even when the rest of your area are having blackouts.

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide

How To Find The Right Real Estate Agent (A Wiiloaded Consultants Guide)

April 18, 2013 By

We have a guide for first-time home buyers which we develop together with the good folks at PropertyReviews.my – and we are featuring one section of the guide in this blog post following requests that we received after we published our previous article.

Property broker picture

Beware of the sleek real estate broker!

Whether you are looking to sell your house or buy a property, the real estate agent is always a crucial part of getting that good and wonderful experience. After all, for most of us, buying and selling houses is not an everyday thing. We need their experience and expertise in sales talk and negotiating and haggling and all-around business dealing. This is especially true in the Malaysian property market.

Since they are an essential part of the whole business deal, it is only but imperative that we get the ones that will give us the best deals and best experience.

From the pros of the business, and people who have it lucky had a great experience with their real estate agents, and even from the ones who have had an unfortunate time, here’s a list of helpful tips on finding the right real estate agent.

How To Find The Right Real Estate Agent In Malaysia

  • Do not commit spot on. Finding a real estate agent is like finding a boyfriend/girlfriend :) . You take time to go on dates, get to know each other, and mingle with other agents as well. Do not delve right away into an exclusive contract after the first meeting, unless your heaven-and-earth convinced that she’s the one. Love at first sight does not always work well. Give yourself time to meet other agents and really, really find the one that you feel ‘good’ with. This is especially true when you are shopping for a high end condominium (such as the Troika in KLCC) or a run-down low cost apartment in Segambut Dalam next to Mont Kiara.
  • Keep out of your personal and intimate circle. Money is a bad cause of problems—they are hard to fix and they last a long time. Keep things professional and don’t let feelings get in the way. After all, you can break up with your agent but not your sister, or your cousin, or your best friend, or your best friend’s sister.
  • Ask, ask, ask. Get as much information, professionally, from your prospect real estate agent. If you are selling a house, ask them what their marketing strategy is going to be. If you’re buying a house, ask them which areas they will cover or something along that line. The more you ask, the more you know. Guide the conversation so you are not buying their talk – they are trained to be good at that and you have to be careful.
  • Research. Help yourself and know what you need to know about the real estate market. Do not let your ignorance be used against you and be informed. Research on the current trends in the real estate market prices or ask around how much the common commission, etc. The more you know, the less you are deceived. You cannot always expect full transparency from your brokers – even the most trusted ones, for this is business and information is vital and oftentimes comes with a price. Know what you are getting into and don’t rely everything on your agent. Go to real estate events – there are lots of those; in fact, last weekend alone MAPEX, REHDA and Sunway Properties held events showcasing houses in the Klang Valley. Also, the good folks behind Battersea (SP Setia) also hold regular property expos.

The thing is, you will have as much of a good experience in buying/selling real estate as much as you allow yourself to be. Be an involved buyer/seller; that way, you know more about what is going on with your search. Don’t leave everything with the real estate agent – the agent is doing a separate business for himself.

If you need more help locating the right real estate agent here in Malaysia, contact us, or the folks at PropertyReviews.my for help. Their details are as of below.

The PropertyReviews.MY Company (http://propertyreviews.my/)
ADDRESS: H-08, Setiawalk, Pusat Bandar Puchong, 47100 Selangor, Malaysia.
TEL: 013-354 0586
EMAIL: contact@propertyreviews.my

Filed Under: Malaysia Property Reviews, Real Estate Guide

Going Green: Eco-Friendly Real Estate Options

April 3, 2013 By

It’s no secret how the words “sustainable” and “green” are becoming more and more evident in the checklists of people aiming to acquire property. A lot of people have been seeing the advantages of going green—and this is always good news, as people become more aware of the real problems that are affecting our environment today.

You’ve seen them everywhere—solar panels, sun-powered insulation systems, retro-fit roof covers, greenhouses—all these have become important solutions in an effort for real estate to go green. There have been a lot of developments in the Malaysian real estate industry, as more and more establishments are going green. For property-seekers who vie for green real estate, the MK10 is currently conceptualising more ideas in order to adhere to the standards of green living.

There have been a lot of green housing options available, and it’s about time for you to consider going green and do your part in making our environment a safe place to live in for everyone.

Green Construction: Going to the Core

Businessman

Using environment-friendly materials in the building of houses and offices is a common practice in green real estate. However, the core lies within the construction of eco-friendly residences and offices. It all starts with surveying and implementing ways on how to construct a building or a house in the most efficient and effective manner, without harming the environment. This boils down to effective waste management, water consumption control, land surveys, and energy consumption.

A lot of projects have resulted into successful green buildings. For the most part, the implementation of renewable energy has led to reduced costs in construction and building. Technology has contributed in introducing energy-reducing systems that will not only reduce the energy used in creating houses and buildings—it also reduces the costs involved. A lot of builders and contractors have realised the importance of green construction, and it has led to the elimination of high costs—for example, builders in China had implemented an eco-friendly strategy to construct 4,000 houses, and the results were dramatic—green construction allowed them to save up big by eliminating the need to construct landfills, water plants, and waste treatment plants.

It’s About Time!

With a lot of builders deciding to go green, I think it’s about time for you to realise the value and benefits of choosing homes and offices that prioritise the safety of the environment. Think of it as a long-term and fulfilling benefit—you would sure reap in all the savings in the long run. Just look at your electricity bills at the end of the day. Do your part and contribute to the greater good of the environment—there is nothing more fulfilling and priceless.

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide

Marc Residence – A Quick Review

March 8, 2013 By

Percy here. OK, a couple of people I know (in the Malaysia real estate industry, no less) has come to start a property review site called PropertyReviews.my – and they have asked me to contribute something. Well, as you know, I am an expert only when it comes to luxury developments in Malaysia. It’s quite simple, really. We real estate brokers work on a commission basis, and so the higher the transacted price the better it is for us. So, it only makes sense for me to focus on expensive condominiums. This means that I only focus on these areas -

  • Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) area – this includes condos like Marc Residence (which I am going to review here), Stonor Park, OneKL and Dua Residency. KLCC condos are awesome!
  • Mont Kiara – the original expatriate hub which hosts some really good international schools
  • Bangsar – slightly old but still trendy, especially the Telawi area
  • Bukit Tunku – also known as Kenny Hills, this is an upmarket area full of aging but splendid bungalows.
  • Battersea Power Station in London

What’s The Big Deal About Marc Residence?

Thankfully Marc Residence won't look as run down as this even in 10 years time

Thankfully Marc Residence won’t look as run down as this even in 10 years time

Today I am going to write about Marc Residence – one of the more premier luxury condominium developments in the KLCC enclave. The fact that it’s just opposite the famed Petronas Twin Towers is a major plus point for this condominium. Prices have somewhat tapered over the last two years, and so if you are thinking of investing (or moving in) then 2013 might be a good time to do that. :)

Some say that the place has become a little run-down over the years, and I must say that this is not very true. I went there for tea last Saturday with my good friend Benjamin Dover and we couldn’t stop ourselves from admiring the place – it was amazingly well kept. “You should write a review about this place in your blog,” says Ben. I agreed.

If you’re interested to know more about Marc Residence, here’s an excellent in-depth review from those guys at MetroSherpa. But if you want to check out if there are any units for sale or rent then give me a call and I will give you a sweetheart deal ;)

 

 

Filed Under: Malaysia Property Reviews, Real Estate Guide

Battersea Power Station – Good Property Investment?

January 28, 2013 By

One of the biggest pieces of news recently in the Malaysia property market is the launch of the first phase of the Battersea Power Station development in London. While the jury is still out whether the investment would yield good potential returns, we here at Wii Loaded is confident that it will do well – simply because it banks on the excellent reputation of its developers – SP Setia. More information can be found here at the article in The Edge. The price for the most expensive unit (the penthouse) is six million pounds – not spare change by anyone’s standards, that’s for sure, and it makes the development more expensive that any piece of real estate you will find in Malaysia – not even KLCC apartments. Not that anyone should be surprised by that…

Battersea Power Station – The Dossier

The Battersea Power Station development consists of the following components -

  • Art galleries
  • A state-of-the-art gym
  • Heated indoor swimming pool
  • Business studios
  • Theatre
  • Spa

What else would you need? Everything that floats your boat is under one roof… and not to mention that the Power Station is one of the icons of London, and you will impress the heck out of anyone you want to do business with. If you are going to set up a business here then you’ll get the benefit of a rocking business address here.

Cool video on YouTube we found -

Now if you fancy a unit here then make sure that you talk directly with the developers and not any Tom, Dick and Harry you meet on the streets of London. You might just land up with Mickey Bricks and his crew trying to sell you the Power Station itself if you know what I mean.

If you want a free guide on investing in real estate in London (or in Malaysia – our bread and butter) then just email info@wiiloaded.com and we will send you a (hard) copy – please provide your snail mail address.

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide

Blogging About Real Estate – Why?

September 12, 2012 By

Many real estate agents and brokerage firms seem to think that blogging is the way to go as far as marketing their services is concerned. In fact, Internet marketing has become one of the biggest pillars of lead generation as far as the property market is concerned, and blogging, being one of the best ways to generate traffic, is seen as one of the most effective ways to get leads into the sales funnel for many of these realtors.

The good folks at Zillow also blogged about this in particular -

http://www.zillow.com/blog/2012-09-10/what-is-your-goal-for-your-real-estate-website-or-blog/

Many real estate brokers are only starting to realize that the Internet is a highly effective channel to generate leads, and they have been scrambling to hire online marketing firms to capture online leads for them. These firms may be one of the following -

  • SEO or search engine optimization specialists
  • Social media agencies
  • Online PR companies such as PRWeb
  • Full service firms providing most or all of the above

I have also blogged about this earlier (read the blog post here). Online marketing (with respect to the real estate market) is definitely not child’s play. Masters of the game are able to generate traffic and create giant lists that they can leverage to provide on-demand traffic. In this game, the party with the biggest list normally wins.

If you are a property agent and you want to start a blog, consider the following:-

  • How to drive traffic to your site: either using paid traffic methodologies such as PPC or media buys
  • Your positioning – do you want to be a generalist, or a specialist in a certain niche of the property market?
  • Posting platform – WordPress and Drupal are two most popular blogging platforms
  • Link exchanges with other real estate sites

Once you have a clear plan in your mind then commit to blogging at least once a week, and build an audience. Once you have built a rapport with your readers then you will be able to market your services to them more effectively. Here are some of my favorite real estate blogs:-

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide

How Property Buying Is A Self Improvement Exercise

August 17, 2012 By

Most people see property and real estate as an investment vehicle, and nothing more. That is quite unfortunate, but buying property is more than just an attempt to make money (or to fight inflation). Most successful property investors I meet tend to view real estate as something rather zen-like which transcends monetary and material gains. This might sound hokey-pokey to you, but it’s true. It’s a paradox, but in order to make money you have got to STOP thinking about making money. John Kay, the leading British economist outlines this in his Times bestseller “Obliquity” – a must read for all real estate investors even though it’s not a property investment book. The gist of the book is this – if you want to reach a particular goal (whether it is related to property or making money), you have got to find an “oblique” way to reach it. Let me explain.

How Property Buying Is A Self Improvement Exercise

In a man’s life, there are a couple of aspects which particularly stand out:-

  • Money
  • Love, dating and relationships
  • Career (somewhat tied to money)
  • Health

These are not mutually exclusive, and one aspect can well affect the other. For example, career is tied to money, and without good health, you won’t be in a good shape to advance your career. Also arguably if you have got poor health (either you’re a skinny chump or a fat slob) then your relationships will definitely suffer. So, sometimes by fixing one aspect you will be able to make another aspect better as well. For example, if you start working out and manage to sport a six-pack then don’t be surprised if you suddenly find that your ability to seduce women goes up. Another example would be:- let’s say you manage to snag up a house for sale that you have always wanted after saving for about seven years. Your self esteem will go up, which will then improve your mental (and subsequently physical) health, which then benefits your other aspects of your life as well.

In short, don’t view property buying as a mere exercise on money making. It might just improve your love life at the same time – so take it seriously!

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide Tagged With: , , ,

Property For Sale In Malaysia

August 10, 2012 By

The real estate market in Malaysia is heating up at the moment. Prices are tapering down and there’s no short of cash for investment as far as local investors are concerned. Investment properties in Malaysia are attractive and abundant. Malaysia is arguably the most attractive real estate market at the moment.

If you want to invest in Malaysia real estate and you are looking for premium properties which may yield high rental rates, then look at these areas in particular:-

These are upmarket properties which will fetch good rental prices (and give you good upside when it comes to capital appreciation over the long term). If you are looking for something which is more mid-market then consider:-

Hunting for property for sale in Malaysia is much easier with a knowledgeable real estate broker who has local knowledge about the market!

As with any investments, due diligence is a must, and in this day and age of the Internet it makes it so much easier to research on real estate. Look at some of the top real estate websites as detailed in this previous blog post. Hunting for good property for sale in Malaysia can really be tricky, and it helps if you are able to hook up with some local realtors or real estate brokers who can help you make wise investment decisions.

Hiring Realtors In Malaysia – Questions To Ask

If you are not a local then you may be at a disadvantage – simply because you’ll need local knowledge about the Malaysia property market in order to identify good investment properties. Always choose a property agent or negotiator who has your best interest at heart. Otherwise you may decide not to invest at all. When you choose a realtor in Malaysia, ask yourself these questions:-

  1. How much experience does the realtor has in helping expatriates making good real estate decisions?
  2. What’s the realtor’s track record in the sub-market that you choose to play in?
  3. What is the realtor’s specialty in the Malaysia real estate market?

Choosing the right realtor will make things easier for you when it comes to investing in Malaysian properties. A good realtor will even line up for you during hot property launches – no joke. Get somebody that you are comfortable with, and share with her your investment goals. Make sure that she understands that you are investing for the long term, and there will be repeat business if she does a good job. Unfortunately most realtors have a “single transaction” mindset which is not productive for both the buyer and the agent.

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide Tagged With: ,

Property In Malaysia For Sale Or Investment

July 23, 2012 By

This is indeed the right time to look for properties for sale or rent in Malaysia. Prices are tapering off, and if you have got the cash to invest, then real estate is a better choice compared to other investment vehicles such as mutual funds or even stocks. We have done a quick survey of real estate brokers, agents and realtors and a whopping 87% of them agree that the good times are coming as far as Malaysia property sector is concerned. And that is exciting! With numerous property shows and expos – such as those organized by the awesome iproperty and also Star Property – buyers and sellers alike are enthusiastic about the real estate market in Malaysia.

Investment Property In Malaysia

WII Property Consultants are in a good position to help you make wise real estate investment choices. Call us today!

If you have got the cash to spare, then consider getting a piece of property either in Mont Kiara or KLCC. The luxury real estate market is heating up again, and the early buyers will reap the most benefits. Indeed, investors from as far flung as Iran, Siberia and Thailand are all flocking to the Kuala Lumpur City Centre to get a piece of this prime real estate. If you are looking for a piece of property to buy only to rent out then also check out places like Puchong, Subang Jaya or even Bangsar. These are good locations which command good rental prices – you won’t go wrong with any of these locations.

With the liberalization of information in Malaysia, it is amusing to note that the Malaysia real estate sector is once seen as “opaque”. With lots of property sites springing up almost on a monthly basis there are enough tools in the hand of the buyer or the seller to do the necessary due diligence when it comes to real estate investment. No matter if you are looking for a house to buy or a condo to let, it is imperative to do the necessary research in order not to get scammed. If you need help, get in touch with a wiiloaded.com property consultant and we will help you.

 

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide

Condominiums For Sale In KLCC

July 20, 2012 By

Recently we have been bombarded with requests for properties around the KLCC area. It seems that the prices have tapered off since the continuous hike from three years back with the inflow of real property investments (primarily from foreign investors). Now with the economy showing some signs of recovery we are getting requests from our long time clients to prepare property dossier on the KLCC area and identify opportunities which are ripe for investment.

We have been looking out for places like the Binjai (excellent view of the Petronas twin towers) and Marc Residence (amazing food downstairs at the Delicious cafe) to beef up our internal portfolio (disclaimer: WII Consultants are also active investors in the Malaysia real estate space). We checked some of our local property news sources such as homesforsale.com.my and Star property pages to get the inside scoop as far as the new popularity of KLCC is concerned. Indeed, our suspicions were proven with heavy search traffic on popular property portals and search tools (such as MetroSherpa.com.my) around KLCC properties. If you are looking for a condo for sale in KLCC then, well, join the party! Real estate prices that may have been tapering off recently may even spike up soon. Here’s an interesting piece of news which may interest you -

http://property.bernama.com/detail.php?id=602590

The WII Guide To KLCC Property

We have since completed the real estate dossier to be sent to our VIP clients in the next week or so. If you want a copy, either

  • Be our client. Call us at +603.5600.0010 and ask for Shirleen S. Ng to arrange for a consultation, or
  • Buy a copy. Digital editions sell for USD1,700. Absolute bargain.

Inside the guide you will get practical tips and advice on how to invest in a prime KLCC property. Now, you don’t have to go line up at development launches – that’s silly. You will also get the lowdown on the overall Malaysia real estate scene and also the pitfalls that you must avoid. Good stuff, if we may say so ourselves.

Filed Under: Real Estate Guide
« Older Posts