NOTG - Nuggets on the Go by PropertyLimBrothers

#75: Building A Personal Brand, Finding Your Niche & Lessons from a Failed Business

If you’re into financial related content, you might have come across our next guest!
 
In this episode of NOTG, Melvin Lim speaks to Josh Tan, founder ofThe Astute Parent. Josh shares his journey from starting his YouTube channel in 2015 to becoming a trusted financial advisor. He discusses overcoming self-doubt, scaling his brand, and the importance of consistency in achieving long-term goals.
 
Josh elaborates on his distinctive route in financial planning, which began during his undergraduate years and led him to choose a self-employed path. Over time, his focus evolved from basic savings and insurance plans to comprehensive retirement planning, highlighting the importance of aligning one’s online presence with their area of expertise and maintaining consistency in social media messaging.
 
Find out more about Josh strategies on managing financial stages, as he shares advice, case studies and lessons from his (failed) entrepreneurial journey, on this episode of NOTG!
 
Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:48 YouTube Channel Journey02:44 Financial Planning Journey04:42 First niche08:40 Mid 20s financial advice12:54 Seasons of life16:17 Approaching retirement20:24 Is their a formula for retirement?22:09 Good habits23:34 Insurance recommendations28:24 Life insurance for kids30:17 Life or Term?32:36 Allocating your cash for Insurance, Investing, Savings, ETC...35:13 Consuming Policies37:07 Residential loan to retirement38:43 Inheriting a big property41:07 Are you too optimistic on real estate?46:12 Sharing personal journey online50:40 Planning your inheritance54:41 Paying off your outstanding debt with your inheritance01:00:00 Remembering cases of customers01:01:28 Current company01:02:17 PromiseLand01:02:24 Why TheAstuteParent?01:06:06 Ice cream business mistakes01:13:58 Meaning of money?01:18:05 The next step01:19:09 Advice for parents01:20:37 Tax planning and stocks01:23:50 What professional skill are you currently working on?01:25:12 What title would you give this chapter in your life?01:26:56 Work life balance01:33:36 Outtakes

#74: The 5-year Cycle. Market Stability & Timing Your Investment

Welcome back to NOTG whiteboard sessions with Melvin Lim from PropertyLimBrothers! In this episode, Melvin discusses why new launch buyers prefer fresh projects, introducing the 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) concept in relation to land acquisition and the 5-year property cycle. He explains how these cycles impact pricing and investment decisions, providing valuable insights for timing your property investments.
 
The session highlights the median PSF of non-landed private new sales by region, showing significant price increases and the effects of past en bloc projects. Melvin covers our government’s controlled release of land to manage property prices and discusses the ownership distribution of private properties, emphasising the niche market for condos and apartments. He also explains how cooling measures like SSD and the revised ABSD have increased the average holding period of properties, stabilising the market and reducing quick sales.
 
Curious about the future of property prices? Wondering how the decline in en bloc projects and new charges affect the market? Interested in why developers prefer GLS for its cleaner process? Melvin answers these questions and more!
 
Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:44 New whiteboard01:11 Whiteboard Session Recap01:40 4 seasons of land acquisition & 5 year cycle04:36 New Launch sales by region05:18 Era of HUDC en block projects06:36 PSF surged to +$400 PSF in 202407:18 Non-Landed supply09:53 Non-Landed ownership distribution10:49 Non-Landed supply changes year-to-year11:14 En blocs are at an all-time low.12:01 Average holding period13:07 Stable supply13:37 +$400 PSF every 5 years16:52 Applying the 4 seasons to the 5-years cycle18:04 Seasons of where to expect new PSF benchmark19:36 Preparation for each season20:16 Summary21:11 Outtakes

#73: How To Budget, The Art of Self Reliance & Investment Diversification

Join Melvin Lim, Co-founder and CEO of PropertyLimBrothers, as he catches up Dawn Fiona, a.k.a SG Budget Babe! Dawn shares her journey of financial empowerment, having saved $20,000 in just one year on a modest ~$2,000 take-home monthly salary through disciplined savings strategies, not investments. 
 
What began in 2014 as a blog born out of boredom evolved into a platform focusing on finance, driven by Dawn's passion for writing and client engagement.Despite juggling roles, including teaching tuition to supplement income and covering parental allowances and insurance, Dawn found joy in educating others, viewing it as a passion rather than merely a means to an end. 
 
In 2022, she transitioned focus to a new business venture, balancing entrepreneurial pursuits with family responsibilities, including teaching tuition even through pregnancy. Dawn's insights on financial literacy for fresh graduates, emphasising debt clearance, emergency savings, and insurance planning, provide valuable guidance for navigating early adulthood challenges. Find out more about what drives and keeps SG Budget Babe driven, on this special episode of NOTG!
 
Timestamps:00:00 Intro00:33 Start of blogging04:33 Side hustle mindset07:18 Fiona Dawn Cher fitness journey turn into business opportunity10:01 Teaching at home / Falling down the overhead bridge11:47 First finance article went viral13:13 Fresh graduate financial advice (Importance of insurance)14:15 Insurance to get18:27 Cut down debts as fast as possible19:40 Seasons of life29:14 Risk of retrenchment33:33 Will AI replace jobs?37:36 AI Investing39:11 Budgeting in the 20s42:09 Risk of Cryptocurrency42:58 Allocated budget for investing45:25 Knowledge of investing51:58 Checklist before investing55:22 Time analysing stocks / Fear of investing01:01:43 Time to sell a stock01:05:55 Meaning of money01:14:21 Meaning of money in your 40s01:17:08 Dealing with retrenchment01:20:53 Retire at 4501:24:43 Top three books01:28:17 Personal Growth from teaching and writing01:29:50 Work-life balance
 

#72: New Launch Condo Price Highs, EC's Guaranteed Profitability & Condo Analysis Tools

Yu Rong, Jesley, and Marc from PropertyLimBrothers discuss the current issue of new launch prices being too high, and have sales have remained strong in spite of the high prices. They examine how bank valuations and market forces interact to determine these prices—Jesley describing this interaction as a potential flaw—stressing the importance of informed investment decisions and a deep understanding of market dynamics.
 
The team explains the difference between momentum and value investing in real estate. They emphasise the need to ensure new launches have the potential for price appreciation and discuss factors influencing momentum in the property market. They also discuss how different unit types and views (e.g., lake-facing) affect pricing and demand, highlighting the significance of unique architectural features and facilities in driving interest and creating a strong market presence. For more exciting insights, stay tuned to this new launch-focused episode of NOTG!
 
Ever considered investing in a new launch but hesitated, afraid of making the wrong choice or feeling overwhelmed by the options? Analyse over 80 projects in just 10 hours at the PLB New Launch Convention 2024 on July 7th, from 10 am to 8 pm @ Suntec City Convention Centre, Hall 404! Get ready for a day packed with 10 speaking sessions, including 6 frameworks shared by industry experts from PropertyLimBrothers, who will provide exclusive PLB frameworks for choosing the right projects.
 
Tickets are still available! Sign up here: bit.ly/plbnlc24.
 
Timestamps:00:00 Intro03:56 New Launch Convention Sharing07:46 New launches are too expensive?12:14 Momentum Investing14:39 Dairy Farm Residences first launch, not much sales18:14 64 new launches in 1 year21:20 Only new launches will make money?24:24 Resale vs New Launch buying behaviour28:50 This two are 100% guaranteed profitable30:46 Continuing Professional Development (CPD)31:46 2018 Cooling Measure, 11PM announcement35:23 Indicators of when developers will drop prices38:10 Buying the wrong unit by mistake40:05 Feng shui43:16 Floor levels in condos are not important44:20 Sora 80% lake view, which floor level would you select? (Tree Analysis)50:27 One stack, same price (Reverse FOMO Effect)52:25 Purpose of your purchase / Yu Rong is a Value Baller54:45 Facing can give you a 10% to 15% price difference56:50 Choosing the right facing01:03:13 Benchmark PSF01:04:52 Proper floor plans efficiency01:09:15 Selecting the right unit01:13:47 MRT impact to new launches01:17:25 Are MRTs really that important for new projects?01:20:20 "I don't want to be near MRT"01:24:30 Projects to keep a look out01:33:16 Outtakes

#71: A Career Switch Driven by Passion, Juggling Multiple Jobs and Investing When Young

Today on Nuggets On The Go, Melvin Lim from PropertyLimBrothers speaks to Ming Feng, CEO of Seedly, an online platform focused on helping readers make smarter financial decisions with the right tools and the right mindset. He learns about Ming Feng’s journey from co-founding Dollars And Sense, balancing it with his job as a trader, and transitioning to Seedly as an intern; following which he worked his way up to head of marketing, and currently CEO.
 
Find out what motivated this part-time DJ throughout his journey and what drove him to restart his career as an intern at Siddle, as he talks about his interest in growth marketing, Seedly’s evolution from a tech company to a content-driven platform and the importance of adapting to changing content consumption trends, and his thoughts on the future of real estate.
 
On that note, have you always thought of investing in a new launch condo but find yourself hesitating, afraid of making the wrong choice, or perhaps overwhelmed by the options? Compare 151+ condos in 10 hours at PLB x Seedly New Launch Convention 2024 on July 7th, 10 am - 8 pm! 1 day, 10 speaking sessions with 6 keynotes by industry experts from PropertyLimBrothers, sharing exclusive PLB frameworks for choosing the right condo!
 
Early bird tickets now available at $7, and are selling fast!sign up here: bit.ly/plbnlc24
 
Timestamps:00:00 Intro01:04 What's like being the Head of Seedly?02:19 Mid-career switch06:02 First job experience07:22 Dollar and Sense10:00 Starting over as an intern11:45 What is Seedly?13:19 Changes of how people consume content16:20 Platforms of Seedly17:33 Target audience20:02 Being in the personal finance industry23:51 Seedly's active members24:41 The switch from tech company to media house28:37 Allocating a budget for marketing29:45 Short form or long form content?30:58 Paid marketing / How to balance marketing?35:14 Is long-term content better?36:38 What's the marketing approach for brand new companies?39:17 Marketing a band45:20 How Ming Feng became a DJ47:12 Key learning points from being a DJ and experience in finance50:41 Making it into the DJ scene53:54 Float therapy56:23 To-do list tips57:11 Positioning in being a personal finance industry58:52 Positioning in being a DJ59:52 What are the worries of working adults in finance space?01:05:17 Optimal age to start planning for retirement01:06:06 Get rich quick mentality01:08:33 Ming Feng investments01:11:59 Two books for business owners01:13:30 Short term satisfaction01:14:45 Card 1: "When was the last time you were proud of yourself?"01:16:35 Card 2: "If you could witness any event from the past, present or future, what would it be and why?"01:19:18 Future plans of Seedly01:21:21 New Launch Convention01:23:11 Outtakes

#70: HDB to Condo Ownership Trends in Singapore, Affordability & Making Prudent Decisions

On this episode of NOTG, George, Shawn, and Jesley from PropertyLimBrothers discuss the impact of HDB upgraders on Singapore’s property market, noting the trend of increased condo ownership due to rising HDB prices and a desire for better capital appreciation. They explain how higher borrowing capacity also drives this shift. The team covers loan frameworks, MSR regulations, and property valuations, emphasising strategic property investment’s importance for capital growth. They highlight the value of property ownership in Singapore, where a buyer’s name has become a significant asset.
 
Additionally, they share personal regrets and lessons from their property investments, such as not holding onto properties longer or not buying larger properties when possible. They stress considering future needs and the potential benefits of stretching one’s budget for a larger property. Stay tuned for more insights on the challenges of property investment and affordability. Find out about their personal opinions about real estate investment!
 
Speaking of condos, have you always thought of investing in a new launch condo but find yourself hesitating, afraid of making the wrong choice, or perhaps overwhelmed by the options? Compare 80+ condos in 10 hours at PLB New Launch Convention 2024 on July 7th, 10 am - 8 pm! 1 day, 10 speaking sessions with 6 keynotes by industry experts from PropertyLimBrothers, sharing exclusive PLB frameworks for choosing the right condo!
 
Early bird tickets now available at $7, sign up here: bit.ly/plbnlc24
 
00:00 Introduction02:03 Home ownership ratio (Global Comparison)09:23 HDB upgraders16:36 Loaning capability36:47 Healthy monthly mortgage38:36 Searching for a new launch property44:28 Holding a property for too long49:51 Understanding the masterplan and your time horizon56:46 Average PSF for New Launches01:02:22 Efficient layouts01:07:47 Wipe out investment01:22:00 Purchasing power of Singapore household sector01:31:01 Buying too small01:40:15 Buying to the maximum01:50:20 New Launch Convention

#69: Building Capital, Investing in Companies with Dividends & Choosing The Right Stocks!

On this special episode of Nuggets On The Go, we’re joined by Willie Keng, a full-time investor who has guided numerous investors in expanding their dividend portfolios. Previously, an associate director at a prestigious private bank with a solid six-figure income, he often found himself constantly trading his time for a paycheck. His passion for financial markets was undeniable, yet the corporate environment didn’t align with his aspirations.
 
Join us as we explore his journey from his days as a materials engineering student to a lucrative corporate career and now to a full-time investor. Learn how he builds robust dividend portfolios, who inspires him and find out the strategies he adopted that have reshaped his life. See how he turned his passion for financial markets into a thriving pursuit of wealth and freedom. Be sure not to miss this enlightening episode!
 
If you’re keen to read Willie’s articles and tips on dividends, bonds, and REIT investing, visit: https://www.dividendtitan.com/

#68: 2024's Anticipated New Launches, Understanding Floor Plans and the Importance of Layout Flexibility

We’re back with part 2 of New Launch 101! George and Yu Rong talk about the most anticipated new launch condos in 2024. They discuss key factors such as proximity to MRT lines, available amenities, and new launches with potential for lower prices due to low land acquisition costs. Their discussion continues with the importance of layout flexibility in new launch condos—where new launches often offer more bedrooms within the same square footage, providing more options for potential buyers.
 
Find out more about the development of new launches in Toa Payoh, where its GLS sites are highly anticipated, and the potential of new launches in the heartlands like Bedok South, Tampines, and Pasir Ris. That being said, learn about the reasons behind price changes by developers. An interesting topic of discussion is Yu Rong’s mall tiers, ranging from basic neighbourhood malls to large, destination malls with unique offerings, and how this could potentially impact the attractiveness of a property.
 
All these enriching insights and more on this New Launch 101 episode on Nuggets on the go! Speaking of new launch condos, have you always thought of investing in a new launch condo but find yourself hesitating, afraid of making the wrong choice, or perhaps overwhelmed by the options? Compare 80+ condos in 10 hours at PLB New Launch Convention 2024 on July 7th, 10 am - 8 pm! 1 day, 10 speaking sessions with 6 keynotes by industry experts from PropertyLimBrothers, sharing exclusive PLB frameworks for choosing the right condo! Join 3,000 like-minded new launch buyers to gain exclusive frameworks to secure your dream home.
 
Early bird tickets now available at $7, sign up here: bit.ly/plbnlc24
 
(00:00:00) Intro(00:00:45) Chuan Park(00:06:07) New launch is a sure hit?(00:12:21) Lego-style construction(00:15:21) Toa Payoh GLS Site(00:18:48) Golden Mile compound(00:22:53) Bagnall Court(00:29:27) New launch surprises(00:30:27) Tiers of Shopping Malls(00:34:16) PLB New Launch Convention(00:35:59) Outtakes

#67: HDB’s Resale Portal, Pros & Cons of New Launch Condos, & Property Investment Cycles

New Launch 101! George and Yu Rong talk about all there is to know about new launch condos—their current appeal, how to buy one, its processes and risks, their pros and cons, how to analyse factors such as price comparisons, layouts and locations, buyers’ remorse and more recently, the impact of the GFA harmonisation!
 
But before that, the duo shares their thoughts on HDB’s newest resale portal, which aims to provide a more transparent and seamless transaction process for buyers and sellers, which is great news for existing homeowners! However, will it completely rule-out the assistance that a real estate agent could provide? What about when managing complex transactions, such as concurrent buying and selling, and over certain timeframes, or even when talking about portfolio planning?
 
All these enriching insights and more on this New Launch 101 episode on Nuggets on the go! Speaking of new launch condos, have you always thought of investing in a new launch condo but find yourself hesitating, afraid of making the wrong choice, or perhaps overwhelmed by the options? Then get ready to compare 80+ condos in 10 hours at PLB New Launch Convention 2024 on July 7th, 10 am - 8 pm! 1 day, 10 speaking sessions with 6 keynotes by industry experts from PropertyLimBrothers, sharing exclusive PLB frameworks for choosing the right condo! Join 3,000 like-minded new launch buyers to gain exclusive frameworks to secure your dream home
 
Early bird tickets now available at $7, sign up here: bit.ly/plbnlc24

#66: 11 Key Factors That Drive The Allure of New Launch Condos!

The Whiteboard Series is a new series on Nuggets On The Go, focusing on different segments of real estate and exploring its key points in detail. In this first episode of The Whiteboard Series, Melvin Lim, co-founder and CEO of PropertyLimBrothers talks about all things new launch condos and why these projects remain popular among homebuyers, accounting for about 50% of monthly transactions.
 
Stay tuned for an in-depth sharing on what you should know about New Launch condos. Melvin covers 11 key factors that attract buyers to new launches – the TOP Effect, Third Exit Audience, Popularity With Tenants, and Progressive Payment, just to name a few. Melvin also talks about one of the key processes of purchasing a new launch in Singapore, highlighting the importance of addressing defects before starting renovations, in view of the 1-year Defect Liability Period.
 
Find out more about these terms and understand why new launches continue to be popular, beyond just being brand new products. Tune in to hear what Melvin has to say about new launch condos in this week’s focused episode of Nuggets On The Go!
 
Want to be part of the discussions about all things real estate? Feeling a bit FOMO? Then join our NOTG Telegram community at t.me/notgpod, where like-minded individuals discuss everything about Singapore property. The NOTG team is inside the chat to answer all your questions too!
 
(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:00) TOP Effect(00:11:01) Third Exit Audience(00:12:23) SSD(00:14:11) Progressive Payment(00:16:59) Renovation(00:20:40 Defect Warranty(00:21:42) One Year Delayed Instalment(00:22:28) No COV(00:25:59) New 99 year lease(00:29:28) New Design & Tenants Popularity(00:29:44) Closing thoughts(00:30:04) Outtakes