Are you really purchasing a property that is affordable?

Dear Fellow Johorean,

it has been 2 month of worrying month for those property owner and investor in johor in view of the europe financial crisis. Well i am working in the property line for the past 7 years.
For the past 2 year Johor property is now experiencing a price rise that hasn't been experienced before since 1997. In my opinion, Property pricing escalated is due to a few reason.

1. Increase of the construction cost since 2008. since the cost of building is increased it will definitely directly have its effect on the selling price in order to cover the rising cost from the developers. 
2. Feel good factor in view of the investment from the IDR (Iskandar Development Region) project such as Financial hub in Taman Molek, EduCity in Sri Alam, Legoland and Educity in East Ledang. 
3. Completion of infrastructure such as Bakar Batu - Pasir Gudang Highway, Ulu Tiram - Desaru Highway, Ulu tiram - Kulai Highway, and the Latest one is Danga Bay-Perling bridge. 

Of Course there are many more factor for the increasing favor in the JB property. 

Is also has started to create a property grabbing frenzy here, it has been the talk of the town how property price increases for the past few years and how many investor are benefiting from its. I think it is always good when there are some speculation of property in JB so that the market is active and it can attract some other region player to this region. 

One thing that i am worried is some middle low income earner are starting to get worried. Worried that they will not be able to own their dream house in future if they dont buy now. they strongly believe that the property price will keep on escalating till the end of the world. 

I am worried because these has already blinded by the property speculation pricing. They went overboard by purchasing a property that they hardly can afford to. Developers are luring these un-sensitive buyer with all sort of bait such as

• Free Legal Cost & Stamp Duty
• RM 1000 downpayment (such as 10% discount for early bird)
• Developers Interest Bearing Scheme
• Rental Guarantee Return Scheme
• 100% loan 

All sort of these package could indirectly create a false sense that they could afford to service this property when they actually cant! (I strictly meant only those people without finance knowledge) 

Economy in Johor is highly dependent on singapore, Most of the people living here is working in Singapore. so this is one fact that we know as a johorean. when Singapore economy dropped so does Johor (but not other states in Malaysia). where in the recent years it has been a roller-coaster on singapore economy.

Simple novice advise, Before you wanted to buy a property you must understand a few thing.

• purpose of your purchase. Investment or Own Occupation? 
• What is your budget for installment before choosing property (not the otherwise, normally people will ask what is the Installment after choosing the property they like) - by doing this you will most likely not to over your budget. pls ensure that your budget also taken in consideration such as 
• Renovation 
• monthly maintenance fees of your property such as electricity, quit rent assessment etc
• repair fees 
• Look into surrounding area, is there a better deal around? there might be a cheaper house around such as second hand, or nearby Taman etc. pricing difference sometimes can be up to 30% difference! 
• Where to look for better deal? look for websites such as iProperties.com, call an real estate Agent. Auction listing from newspaper or Real Estate Agent. ETC. 

Pls take good precaution before you buy a house, it is not easy to maintain a house as you had planned. do your budget of installment at only 1/3 of your income. not more than that because you will have a lots more other spending to worry about. House is always the last thing that we wanted to lose in the event of cashflow problem. 

Good luck and happy buying!

Restaurant Hwa Mei Bak Kut Teh, 40 yrs of taste 华美肉骨茶

Restaurant Hwa Mei

There are so many Good taste BKT in Johor, but a few fit my taste bud. Hwa Mei is one of the few that managed to keep my mind on him every time that i was in JB town in the morning. Now the name of the restaurant is confusing. I would think that it should be called Hwa Mei, instead of Mei Hwa. as Old chinese word reading is always from right to left (reverse when compare to english reading). I am confusing is because searching in internet most of the netizen called this restaurant as Hwa mei. Anyway we are referring to the same restaurant.

Hwa Mei already has more than 40 yrs of running business and is still here. although they had changed the "management team" (I actually mean the cashier), original tau keh nio (Lady Boss) has already passed away due to cancer (My condolence). But the chef uncle always with a white singlet (Bruce Lee style) is still there healthy and cooking. So rest assure that as per my title Original taste for 40 yrs is still here.

Environment in this restaurant is always cosy, this shop is located under a big old tree and windy spot, so you can imagine you don't need air-cond to keep yourself cosy in this place.
Its BKT is cooked using charcoal, and the whole restaurant is filled with mild aromatic smell of charcoal.
In terms of service it has actually gotten better since changes of management, it is now managed by their relative on the cashier and service side.
I would rate a 'B' on its cleanliness. The staff working there is also very friendly :)

It is a bowl type BKT, they managed to keep the tenderness of the pork and you can which part of the pork that you like.
It has a very tasty broth - strong sauce taste, but not heavy taste. taste Best when you are having your "Brunch"

Remember to always order a pot of hot tea when having BKT, Tea is said to be helpful on lowering your blood cholesterol. as BKT is consider high cholesterol food. eg: eating satay with cucumber.

Restaurant Hwa Mei 华美肉骨茶
146, Jalan Lumba Kuda
80300, Johor Bahru 
Johor
Operating hour: 10-2pm

Off days : unknown but open on weekend

Pls remember to support us by clicking like at FB website here and follow us on twitter.

Google maps Location as per below. I cant pin point the exact location. you might need to ask the locals there if you cant locate the shop. Good luck! 

View Larger Map

Poh Kee Wan ton Mee (葆记云吞面）well known Pandan Wanton Mee

Sunday Morning,  

Today will be a good day with festive mood, Sun was warm and welcoming temperature breeze. So me and my wife has decided to go for a sumptuous breakfast at Desa Tebrau. That is our traditional favorite breakfast meal Wanton Mee.

There is a plenty of delicious Wanton Mee in JB area. Some selling in the night as a supper and some as breakfast & lunch. so as a malaysian chinese, we can eat wanton mee at anytime of the day whether as breakfast, lunch or supper, but not Dinner (Not enough to full my starving stomach in my opinion).

Poh Kee Wanton Mee

One of the Tebrau area famous wanton mee is at Pandan, it is located behind a chinese temple and since 20 yrs ago there is always 2 stall selling wanton mee in the same place. anyway both also selling very nice wanton mee. but i am not writing this 2 stall, i will be writing this Poh Kee Wanton Mee that is located in Desa Tebrau. it is then 2nd generation that is passed down from 1 of the 2 store that is located in Pandan. I personally prefer this new branch is due to it's quality food (in my opinion it is more tasty than the old shop), cleanliness and ambiance.

Nice Ambiance 

it also come with Music

I love its mee as it has a nice springy biting feel, they are using black sauce for the Mee, which is different from singapore Wanton Mee (Singaporean prefer eating using red sauce), it also give us a sweet taste as it should be, but it's Wanton (meat that is wrapped with a thin skin of flour) it quite normal taste.
Furthermore, apart from its wanton mee, you must also order their Yong Tau Fu, their Yong tau fu is as tasty as it looks. i Particularly love its Taufu and its Eggplant. Must order buddy,

Wanton Mee

Yong Tau Fu (Green Chili)

Tau Ki / Fu Chuk 

Tau fu

Egg Plant

Apart from tasty food, I always thinks that sauce used to dip a food is also very crucial for my option. eating wanton mee must have side dish / Sauce, Green Chili dipped with vinegar to increase our appetite for food, and Chili sauce used to dip yong tau fu. perfect food + perfect side dish = A very happy morning!

On top of all the tasty food that they are providing, they also provide us reasonable pricing for the food!

Pandan Wanton Mee has a long history, i has been eating it for the past 20 yrs. it is a must recommend food for you all.

Enjoy!

Address

52,  

Jalan Harmonium 23/13 

Taman Desa Tebrau 

81100 Johor Bahru 

Operating hours 

to be update (Daily)

lost passion while struggling to meet the so called "Target"

Good Morning Johor!

Today Sunday Morning, it is good day, we are nearing to a festive season, all Johorean & Malaysian will have the same feeling with me. coming on Hari Raya for Muslim on 30th and 31st of August, it also falls on the same day with our National Day on 31st of August. so Malaysian holidays is from 30th of August till 1st of september (Tuesday to Thursday!).

so it is a very long long holiday for all of us especially Muslim Malaysian. Most of my office muslim already started their leave on 29th of August, continued with 2nd of September you will get your perfect 1 week holiday with only 2 days leave taken. Cheers buddy!

I had myself notice that my blog has been unable to keep up with my initial target of 1 post per week due to my busy schedule for the past 2 month. i still manage to find a lots of nice food but the problem is i am unable to continue to write a nice blog. most of the time when i update my blog it will be only some information and without some feeling touch in it. Eventually i stopped to blog it for another 1 month.. the reason is it has break my purpose of blogging. the real purpose of blogging is to share my feeling and also to promote anything happening that catches my attention in Johor. but because of the struggle of keeping the routine of the blogging it almost ruined my blogging mood.

Luckily, after watching a movie Called "Californication" with Hank Moody (Starred by David Duchnovy more well known as actor in X-file) as a writer in this movie has enlighten me that writing is a thing that should be write with feeling or emotion instead of just information.

so today, started a new chapter with my blog hopefully. i have decided that in order to keep my passion for sharing, it is more important to keep quality in order than to keep quantity in order. Cheers again!

Lastly i would like to take this chance to wish All Muslim a Very Happy Hari Raya Aidilfitri and All Malaysian a Happy Merdeka Day! not to forget to wish Singaporean a Happy Holiday Too!