Huat’s up: Local artists share their property goals for the Fire Monkey year and beyond

PETALING JAYA (Feb 2): Despite their hectic works schedules, it is important to make time to invest in property, local singer and Astro artist Nicole Lai told TheEdgeProperty.com in an exclusive interview.

“Being an independent woman at my age, now is the time to start looking for a property – be it investment or own stay. In my opinion, this year will be a good year for investment as long as long you are financially prepared as there are a lot of choices in the market,” said the 27-year-old singer who won the Astro Star Quest competition in 2012.

Lai, together with Geraldine Gan and Uriah See – the winners of the Astro Star Quest Competition in 2011 and 2014 – were part of Astro’s Chinese New Year entourage who brought festive cheer to The Edge’s office here today. 

The three artists shared their views on property investment with TheEdgeProperty.com after an afternoon of fun and auspicious activities that culminated in a lion dance performance.

Lai still manages to do her “homework” in her quest for a piece of real estate by attending property launches or other marketing events organised by property developers.

“Besides that, my elder sister who is a real estate agent is helping me to find a property which suits my needs and budget.”

What is she aiming for? “Currently, I am looking at studio units which are catered for a professional woman’s trendy lifestyle.”

Although she has plans to eventually own a house, Lai is not in a hurry to make any purchases. “Property is a big ticket item, for the young working class who want to own a house, it is better for them to plan their finances properly before making any decision,” she advised.

Gan concurred, adding that buying a property requires careful planning and due diligence. 

“Property is a good asset that can preserve one’s wealth. Women should plan to own a property without relying on their other half,” said the 24-year-old singer who is also well-known for her soundtrack for the hit movie The Journey.

What’s her dream home? For Gan, it is a condominium with various lifestyle facilities that enables her to relax and exercise. 

“A condominium unit with high security features and in a strategic location will be one of my choices of a dream home,” she added.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old See is no stranger to real estate as his father is a property developer in Johor Baru.

Currently, he has no plans yet to own a property as he is still researching and looking for the right one.

“I think investing in a property and buying a property for my own stay are two different things. If I were to buy a property for my own stay, I would buy a landed home which is in a gated-and-guarded scheme because it has more privacy,” he said.

He added that if for investment purpose, he would opt for condominiums instead as they offer plenty of amenities such as gyms and swimming pools and may see higher demand in the future due to land scarcity.