Free Pass.. But no change to go...
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
One Amber Property Price Dropping?!
Been surfing through the net these few days looking out for HDB and the private properties. Some of the flat owners has asked for higher price due to the reason of the coming MRT circle line like the Dakota, Telok Blangah station. Fair enough. Then the governement announced that there will be several more MRT stations by 2020, like the Thomson line, Downtown line, Eastern Region Line and maybe a North Shore Line?
After the condo flipping article on the newspaper, i make a search on properties nearing TOP hoping that i can sniff out some good buy and falling price. Through URA and HDB website, i can't find much on Feb 08 transaction perhaps they have not upload the data yet. Well... it seems that HDB resale price are like getting higher and the private properties has been on high side.
After the condo flipping article on the newspaper, i make a search on properties nearing TOP hoping that i can sniff out some good buy and falling price. Through URA and HDB website, i can't find much on Feb 08 transaction perhaps they have not upload the data yet. Well... it seems that HDB resale price are like getting higher and the private properties has been on high side.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Santiburi Samui Country Club - Koh Samui
We asked the hotel staff any good golf course around and it seem to have only one around in Koh Samui. However, back to our room, i read from the leaflets i took from the lobby and it mentioned there is a new golf club which is a cheaper option than Santiburi.
With the same amount of paying the cab fare to the course from our hotel n back, we rented a car that we can drive around the island for a day. We tried to search for the alternative golf club but gave up in the end.
When we finally reach Santiburi, it was raining (Monsoon season). Jokingly, i ask the staff is there a discount for playing in the rain, he suggest we play the twilight golf (9 holes) and perhaps the rain has stopped by then. After 5 hours of spa, we started our tee off.
I find the course quite challenging for me especially when i can't hit far with irons and lost quite number of balls. It was my first time having a caddy around and i was not used to it. I find it even stressful as my pace seems to get double fast.
I will love to to play again and hope that next time round, i will have lesser balls missing.
Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club - Bukit Tinggi
During the National Day Holidays last year, we thought of making a short trip to KL and maybe a round of golf nearby. From the web, we found this Berhaya Hills Golf which is about 45mins drive from KL and decide to stay there for a night first.
If I remember correctly, it took us 10-15mins to drive up the hill. Along the way, i saw a Japanese Tea House sign, and followed by construction of the castles like hotel which seems to be completing soon. Finally, we reached our destination... for a few minutes, i do not feel like I'm in Malaysia at all. Its a mini old French setting theme park and now the castles along the way i saw make sense. We stayed at Colmar Tropicale like resort and request our room to face the golf course. Since we arrived in late evening, we can't see the course clearly.
Due to the cooling temperature climate, we slept till the late morning and tee off around 10plus. I remember it is not a easy course for me as you can see from the pictures that the fairway is in keropok shape.
A place good for family and kids but i think a day/night stay is enough. Perhaps those castle like hotels has completed and has become a much bigger theme park now?
A Few Reasons To Watch Women's Golf
Wow..
0.30 Paula Creamer pull up her socks near the knee, kawaii eh~~ She can pulls it off.
After watching this video, i saw several comments on you tube that 1:28 is the best part, i watch again and pause it. Ha, the guys really have sharp eyes and great observation.
I wear very simple and now at driving range, i saw more n more ladies dressing up in really nice golf outfit. When you wear nice, you stand out.
HSBC Golf Champions Tournament TV commercial
Hee hee!!
Love the music.
Hmm.. why no ad for coming Women's Champions held in Singapore 2008.
HSBC Golf Ad
So funny!
Yes, i do hear about the difference on the 'benefit' you get when u got yourself a hole in one in Japan.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
I wish this property fever is ending soon or NOW
After reading the 'CONDO-FLIPPING' woes - Bought last year Stuck this year and Newly-weds dominate queue for flats on The Sunday Times newspaper, i wonder how long do i have to wait to get a reasonable price house. I do not mind paying higher than the valuation for a place i like but not at a ridiculous high price!
Or should i come to the terms that this is just the beginning and the price will go even higher since now many items like oil and gold are at it's all time high.
Assistant Manager Samuel Tan commented on Sunday Times that he didn't expect so many people to apply (so do i ) because the surplus flats in mature estates are quite expensive. He said he might just have to buy a resale flat. I think he may get disappointed again...
Surfing through the web on the selling price of HDB and private property, you can see some of them are asking quite high above the valuation. Many can be trying their luck since they keep hearing flats transacted at record high price and hope they can use this opportunity to sell at a 'GOOD' price. I will get tempted too. It also means that many are not really sincere in selling and do mind waiting for a buyer to agree on their favourable price.
Seeing so many others are asking such high price, the rest will follow. Those who waited long for a buyer will probably just lower the selling price a bit since their neighbours are still quoting a high price.
I met one during Sept 07. 4-room flat at Toa Payoh, simple furnishing, 2 mins walk to Braddel MRT, highest floor with quite a nice view, asking for 100k cash. No bargain. 100k cash. New to all these valuation and cash thingy, I didn't know that 100k cash above valuation is a lot and i brought my parents to view it as i kind of like the place.
When i told my friends and colleagues about the 100k cash, all said is too much. They explained to me that for them during the 'normal times', if they like the house a lot, they will pay about 20k above the valuation and many got their house below or at valuation price. Really?
One of my friend in property suggest a third level unit at Kovan Melody for 1 million (neg). I know where is Kovan Melody and remember it was around 500k plus when it was first launched. My first thought was this owner is crazy, is 99yrs and only 3rd level! I make a search on the web and o.. wow.. 1 million is like the minimum.. the higher units are asking higher!
Not willing to come to the terms of accepting that this is what is going to be from now, i told a friend who is searching around for his first property investment. More agitated than i am, he said how many Singaporeans with 1 million can there be!? They can shout all the price they want but who are buying!?
Sharing over our views, we realise that most property agents whom we met at the showroom gave a very very rosy view on the property market. Most bet on the IR and the increase in population that Singapore hopes to achieve. Two months ago, i asked one of the agent at a showroom on my concern of the sub prime and the banking woes in US and will it affect the property market here. He answer confidently that it will not affect Singapore much, sub prime is a temporary phase, and Singapore is doing very well and with the IR ....
For me, i guess i just got to wait. I'm not married yet but planning for this year, so i guess family planning just has to be pushed back.
I know getting new flat at Punggol or Jurong is easier but i really prefer to be more centralised. I think i saw some selling 5 room Seng Kang flat stating it's near MRT close to 400k, i find it pretty expensive.
Or should i come to the terms that this is just the beginning and the price will go even higher since now many items like oil and gold are at it's all time high.
Assistant Manager Samuel Tan commented on Sunday Times that he didn't expect so many people to apply (so do i ) because the surplus flats in mature estates are quite expensive. He said he might just have to buy a resale flat. I think he may get disappointed again...
Surfing through the web on the selling price of HDB and private property, you can see some of them are asking quite high above the valuation. Many can be trying their luck since they keep hearing flats transacted at record high price and hope they can use this opportunity to sell at a 'GOOD' price. I will get tempted too. It also means that many are not really sincere in selling and do mind waiting for a buyer to agree on their favourable price.
Seeing so many others are asking such high price, the rest will follow. Those who waited long for a buyer will probably just lower the selling price a bit since their neighbours are still quoting a high price.
I met one during Sept 07. 4-room flat at Toa Payoh, simple furnishing, 2 mins walk to Braddel MRT, highest floor with quite a nice view, asking for 100k cash. No bargain. 100k cash. New to all these valuation and cash thingy, I didn't know that 100k cash above valuation is a lot and i brought my parents to view it as i kind of like the place.
When i told my friends and colleagues about the 100k cash, all said is too much. They explained to me that for them during the 'normal times', if they like the house a lot, they will pay about 20k above the valuation and many got their house below or at valuation price. Really?
One of my friend in property suggest a third level unit at Kovan Melody for 1 million (neg). I know where is Kovan Melody and remember it was around 500k plus when it was first launched. My first thought was this owner is crazy, is 99yrs and only 3rd level! I make a search on the web and o.. wow.. 1 million is like the minimum.. the higher units are asking higher!
Not willing to come to the terms of accepting that this is what is going to be from now, i told a friend who is searching around for his first property investment. More agitated than i am, he said how many Singaporeans with 1 million can there be!? They can shout all the price they want but who are buying!?
Sharing over our views, we realise that most property agents whom we met at the showroom gave a very very rosy view on the property market. Most bet on the IR and the increase in population that Singapore hopes to achieve. Two months ago, i asked one of the agent at a showroom on my concern of the sub prime and the banking woes in US and will it affect the property market here. He answer confidently that it will not affect Singapore much, sub prime is a temporary phase, and Singapore is doing very well and with the IR ....
For me, i guess i just got to wait. I'm not married yet but planning for this year, so i guess family planning just has to be pushed back.
I know getting new flat at Punggol or Jurong is easier but i really prefer to be more centralised. I think i saw some selling 5 room Seng Kang flat stating it's near MRT close to 400k, i find it pretty expensive.
City View @ Boon Keng
We did our application online for City View at Boon Keng on the first day of its launch though only till the third week we went to the showroom.
Few months ago before the launch, we have been driving pass the construction area a few times and were surprised to see that it is under HDB and how come we have miss such information since we tried applying for the Telok Blangah BTO on HDB website. We though the application must have ended since they are building it now and thinking it be so nice if we can get it.
We really like the location and its very near Des's parents. We thought we have quite a high chance of getting it, thinking living near parents can increase our chances. However, results were out a few days ago, we did not get it. Wonder how do they determine the successful applicants and if i'm not wrong, i think the balloting part was done by Hoi Hup since we applied from their website.
However, I'm not really disappointed of not getting it cause as time goes by and with all the sad and bad news on inflation, the sub prime woes and the stock market, we started to have mixed feelings on getting a $720k HDB flat.
A lot of people were saying that it is not worth to pay so much for a HDB flat. Yup, i do admit that it is expensive, but i also remember 3-4 yrs ago people was complaining that The Pinnacle @ Duxton was expensive and small, but today, they are having the last laugh.
I was thinking since HDB at centralised location has make a record sale of $600k to near $900k, i strongly believe one day HDB may become a million dollars due to the inflation or at the next economic boom.
With all the scary news at the US side, the possibility of bubble burst in China, increased price in wheat, oil, soya, rice and now veges and the ever increasing ERP gates, I thought maybe we should not commit so much in property or not at this moment since prices now are on the high side.
It seems so tough to get a house now. We did not manage to get the BTO at Telok Blangah, City View, and our Q number for the Queenstown was like 2000+ out of 10000 applicants for over like 200 units? The horrible part was when we applied for the 'new flats' in mature estate recently, we saw over 2000+ application on its first day of applying only over 200 units. Scary...
Few months ago before the launch, we have been driving pass the construction area a few times and were surprised to see that it is under HDB and how come we have miss such information since we tried applying for the Telok Blangah BTO on HDB website. We though the application must have ended since they are building it now and thinking it be so nice if we can get it.
We really like the location and its very near Des's parents. We thought we have quite a high chance of getting it, thinking living near parents can increase our chances. However, results were out a few days ago, we did not get it. Wonder how do they determine the successful applicants and if i'm not wrong, i think the balloting part was done by Hoi Hup since we applied from their website.
However, I'm not really disappointed of not getting it cause as time goes by and with all the sad and bad news on inflation, the sub prime woes and the stock market, we started to have mixed feelings on getting a $720k HDB flat.
A lot of people were saying that it is not worth to pay so much for a HDB flat. Yup, i do admit that it is expensive, but i also remember 3-4 yrs ago people was complaining that The Pinnacle @ Duxton was expensive and small, but today, they are having the last laugh.
I was thinking since HDB at centralised location has make a record sale of $600k to near $900k, i strongly believe one day HDB may become a million dollars due to the inflation or at the next economic boom.
With all the scary news at the US side, the possibility of bubble burst in China, increased price in wheat, oil, soya, rice and now veges and the ever increasing ERP gates, I thought maybe we should not commit so much in property or not at this moment since prices now are on the high side.
It seems so tough to get a house now. We did not manage to get the BTO at Telok Blangah, City View, and our Q number for the Queenstown was like 2000+ out of 10000 applicants for over like 200 units? The horrible part was when we applied for the 'new flats' in mature estate recently, we saw over 2000+ application on its first day of applying only over 200 units. Scary...
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Scholl Canyon
Our last golf game on our California trip. Quite a fun course and you will find yourself teeing off higher and higher off the ground.
Laguna Seca Golf Ranch - Monterey, CA
This was my first game that i have completed 18 holes.
When i first saw the buggy, i was shocked.. No shelter?? It was so hot and sunny, i was wondering why can't they provide us a proper buggy with shelter! Heh, then did i realise that those buggy are for bringing us to the driving range only.. thank goodness.
We especially love the surrounding views of the driving range, so spacious, so well maintained, how i wish we can have this kind of driving range in Singapore.
Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Links
Looking at the numbers of pictures uploaded here, you can guess that this is one of my favourite course and at such a great bargain compare to the courses nearby. Since I'm only a novice, I do not want to spend too much on a game or it be just such a waste with my skills, perhaps when I'm better, or much better, then i may reward myself to Mission Hill or Pebble Beach.
It offers spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, and it puts you really at ease where you can heard the waves splashing against the coast and the sea birds flying across us.
It was recently ranked by Zagat Survey as one of America's Best Golf Courses. The 18-hole golf course features a restaurant as well as a golf pro shop.
It was recently ranked by Zagat Survey as one of America's Best Golf Courses. The 18-hole golf course features a restaurant as well as a golf pro shop.
Pebble Beach
As we travel along the 17 mile drive through the Pacific Grove and Pebble Beach, Des insists that we must go to the Pebble Beach Resorts. New to the game of golf, then did i realise that Pebble Beach Resorts is one of the top golf resorts in America. It has been the site of golf's most prestigious tournaments, like the U.S Open Championships.
Des was excited, he said he has watched Pebble Beach on the TV and how beautiful was their signature hole and now he is here.
O mine, it was indeed one of the top golf resorts. Their rates were also top notch, almost US$500 for the 18 holes on Pebble Golf Links, which means about S$800 for a 18 hole game!
We went to a much more affordable course and yet also playing along the same Pacific coast.
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