By then $20 paper supplementary license will not be required anymore. Go online and purchase will do. Our OPC will be on the road more often.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Destiny of my OPC
Next year onwards we can use our OPC on Saturday & Sunday whole day and eve of 5 public holidays. These 5 PH eve are New Year, Chinese New Year, Hari Raya Puasa, Deepavali and Christmas.
By then $20 paper supplementary license will not be required anymore. Go online and purchase will do. Our OPC will be on the road more often.
By then $20 paper supplementary license will not be required anymore. Go online and purchase will do. Our OPC will be on the road more often.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Places I want to bring my dorby - Locally
When I am back I want to bring my dorby to the following places
1. Desaru
2. Bintan
3. Road trip to Ipoh, Kenyir
4. Genting, Bkt Tinggi
5. Parks in Singapore (accomplished in 2010)
6. Nusajaya (accomplished in Feb 2011) and Leisure farm resort
7. Langkawi
8. Cruise to nowhere
9. Mulu
10. Penang
This should happen between November 2009 to Dec 2010
The last statement cannot be achieved :(
1. Desaru
2. Bintan
3. Road trip to Ipoh, Kenyir
4. Genting, Bkt Tinggi
5. Parks in Singapore (accomplished in 2010)
6. Nusajaya (accomplished in Feb 2011) and Leisure farm resort
7. Langkawi
8. Cruise to nowhere
9. Mulu
10. Penang
The last statement cannot be achieved :(
Friday, September 4, 2009
Road to Our First Home
Finding a house in 小岛 is not an easy task. Ever since our ROM in March '09 I started to look around for ideal home. I viewed not less than 30 flats in 6 months time and met more than 20 housing agents.
Finally we settled with a tiny humble house in Clementi. In the process, we met different people, visited different HDB estates and learnt different bank loan packages. It was really a great learning & experience. The road was bumpy but the end result was rewarding.
At first, we wanted a flat in Dover because there are 7 good schools in vicinity including NUS, ACS(I), ACJC, Farifield, UWC etc. Then we realised the price is beyound our reach so we changed target(ssss)... Then our "Malaysian" inside us wanted a big house. So we only target EA/EM/5-room. At first I have so many criteria such as high floor, N-S facing, no afternoon sun, windy, unblock, good size toilet, move-in condition, nice neighbour, quiet etc. Actually, there isn't any HDB flat in the whole Singapore fulfill all terms. If there is, those are not for sale. I learnt to be more realistic so I made adjustment to my criteria. I lost count how many times I changed my mind.
I have viewed many flats.
Dover - 3-room x 5, 4-room x 1
Teck Whye - EM x 1, 5-room x 1
CCK/Yew Tee - 4-room x 4, 5-room x 1
Bt Panjang - EA x 1, 4-room x 4, 5-room x 5
Bishan/Toa Payoh/AMK - EM x 1, EA x 1, Jumbo x 1, 5-room x 1, 4-room x 3
Tanglin Halt/C'wealth - 3-room x 7, 2-room x 1
Teban/Pandan - 5-room x 1, 4-room x 2, 3-room x 1
West Coast - 4-room x 2
Clementi - 1 and only 1 and we bought it!
Lesson learned,
1. Don't limit yourself to one fixed area!
We burst the myth. We concurrently targeted at many areas such as Dover, Bishan, AMK, Bt Panjang, Teban, Tanglin Halt, West Coast etc etc... Yet in the end we bought Clementi. Hah! We have never thought of it because Clementi was notorious for it sky-rocket high price. But God's grace is sufficient hehe :)
2. Get an in-principal approval from bank before searching for a flat within budget.
Don't trust the bank too easily. Try to verify with the bank the maximum loan amount so as to avoid wasting time on expesive flats. Check, double check and re-check again. My mistake was trusting them our loan amount was XXX. So we targeted at EA/EM/5-room flats in Bishan, AMK, Toa Payoh areas. Then we checked again. The loan was actually lower, YYY. Then we switched target to EA/EM/5-room in Bt Panjang. We almost bought a 5-room in Gangsa Road even though I don't like the small windows in the MBR (master bedroom). As we happily go and apply for home loan, we were told that our max loan amount is even lower, ZZZ. We failed to buy. So damn disappointed. What to do? Luckily we haven't offer any Option Fee yet.
3. Don't give up.
After the Gangsa Road incident, I stopped viewing for a while. Agent still called to view smaller flats but I refused to go. Until the 2nd quarter HDB price index released, we felt the urgency. I resumed my task. Worked extra hard to fix viewing appointments. Within 2 weeks, we found it!
4. Don't stick one single agent.
Unless you die die must get in a particular area AND unless the person is a SPECIALIST in that particular area. Specialist might have the access to the new listings (in that particular area) so they can provide first hand info. For a non-specialist agent, the likelihood of you finding a flat in the newspaper or website is the same. We maintained relationship with several agents at the same time continue to search for listing every possible way. In the end, managed to contact the Clementi flat sole seller agent from the internet.
5. Argue all you can (constructively) but don't sour the relationship.
In 3rd quarter, the economy results seems to be improving. Unemployment rate controlled and the consumer index increased. All these good and bad news lead to higher HDB asking price. We developed very very very bad mood. We argued over the phone almost every other day. We have even planned for the worse case scenario. Just rent a room in a friend's house. As much as possible, Miao2 didn't want that to happen. The picture of 2 adults squeeze in a tidy room spurred us on.
The next big task is to,
1. Sign OTP, get loan, attend HDB appointment, get the key and get the house.
2. Renovation and buy furniture.
3. Move out from Dover. I'll miss this place :(
4. Begin our new life. Yeah!
At first, we wanted a flat in Dover because there are 7 good schools in vicinity including NUS, ACS(I), ACJC, Farifield, UWC etc. Then we realised the price is beyound our reach so we changed target(ssss)... Then our "Malaysian" inside us wanted a big house. So we only target EA/EM/5-room. At first I have so many criteria such as high floor, N-S facing, no afternoon sun, windy, unblock, good size toilet, move-in condition, nice neighbour, quiet etc. Actually, there isn't any HDB flat in the whole Singapore fulfill all terms. If there is, those are not for sale. I learnt to be more realistic so I made adjustment to my criteria. I lost count how many times I changed my mind.
I have viewed many flats.
Dover - 3-room x 5, 4-room x 1
Teck Whye - EM x 1, 5-room x 1
CCK/Yew Tee - 4-room x 4, 5-room x 1
Bt Panjang - EA x 1, 4-room x 4, 5-room x 5
Bishan/Toa Payoh/AMK - EM x 1, EA x 1, Jumbo x 1, 5-room x 1, 4-room x 3
Tanglin Halt/C'wealth - 3-room x 7, 2-room x 1
Teban/Pandan - 5-room x 1, 4-room x 2, 3-room x 1
West Coast - 4-room x 2
Clementi - 1 and only 1 and we bought it!
Lesson learned,
1. Don't limit yourself to one fixed area!
We burst the myth. We concurrently targeted at many areas such as Dover, Bishan, AMK, Bt Panjang, Teban, Tanglin Halt, West Coast etc etc... Yet in the end we bought Clementi. Hah! We have never thought of it because Clementi was notorious for it sky-rocket high price. But God's grace is sufficient hehe :)
2. Get an in-principal approval from bank before searching for a flat within budget.
Don't trust the bank too easily. Try to verify with the bank the maximum loan amount so as to avoid wasting time on expesive flats. Check, double check and re-check again. My mistake was trusting them our loan amount was XXX. So we targeted at EA/EM/5-room flats in Bishan, AMK, Toa Payoh areas. Then we checked again. The loan was actually lower, YYY. Then we switched target to EA/EM/5-room in Bt Panjang. We almost bought a 5-room in Gangsa Road even though I don't like the small windows in the MBR (master bedroom). As we happily go and apply for home loan, we were told that our max loan amount is even lower, ZZZ. We failed to buy. So damn disappointed. What to do? Luckily we haven't offer any Option Fee yet.
3. Don't give up.
After the Gangsa Road incident, I stopped viewing for a while. Agent still called to view smaller flats but I refused to go. Until the 2nd quarter HDB price index released, we felt the urgency. I resumed my task. Worked extra hard to fix viewing appointments. Within 2 weeks, we found it!
4. Don't stick one single agent.
Unless you die die must get in a particular area AND unless the person is a SPECIALIST in that particular area. Specialist might have the access to the new listings (in that particular area) so they can provide first hand info. For a non-specialist agent, the likelihood of you finding a flat in the newspaper or website is the same. We maintained relationship with several agents at the same time continue to search for listing every possible way. In the end, managed to contact the Clementi flat sole seller agent from the internet.
5. Argue all you can (constructively) but don't sour the relationship.
In 3rd quarter, the economy results seems to be improving. Unemployment rate controlled and the consumer index increased. All these good and bad news lead to higher HDB asking price. We developed very very very bad mood. We argued over the phone almost every other day. We have even planned for the worse case scenario. Just rent a room in a friend's house. As much as possible, Miao2 didn't want that to happen. The picture of 2 adults squeeze in a tidy room spurred us on.
The next big task is to,
1. Sign OTP, get loan, attend HDB appointment, get the key and get the house.
2. Renovation and buy furniture.
3. Move out from Dover. I'll miss this place :(
4. Begin our new life. Yeah!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
November Logistic
Accommodation,
KK
20/11 - 23/11 (4 nights) Colonnades (6 pax) >> Booking confirmed
20/11 - 21/11 (2 nights) Colonnades (6 pax) >> Booking confirmed
KL
26/11 - 30/11 (4 nights) Sri Petaling Hotel (3 pax) >> Booking confirmed
KK
20/11 - 23/11 (4 nights) Colonnades (6 pax) >> Booking confirmed
20/11 - 21/11 (2 nights) Colonnades (6 pax) >> Booking confirmed
KL
26/11 - 30/11 (4 nights) Sri Petaling Hotel (3 pax) >> Booking confirmed
Monday, August 24, 2009
Growing old together - Secret of happy old age
2. Teach children to make enough money
3. Have good relationship with the kids
4. Love your spouse and treat her/ him nice
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wedding gown and photos
In the end we bought a simple gown in Singapore.
History...
In case you forget again. We did talk about this for many many times.
Option 1
Sign up for a RM999 package in KK. We touch down on 19 Nov 1150pm. Go to the studio on 20 Nov. Select gown but no time to take photos. Use it for the customanry & dinner on 21 Nov. Bring it to KL for dinner. Ask my sister to return it. We can only take the indoor shots after wedding. The next we go back is CNY but don't think they are open.
Option 2
Buy a simple gown from the shopping center I mentioned. It's about RM300. We can only shop for the gown on 20 Nov. I assure you, there will be thousands other things to do.
Option 3
Sign up a package in JB when you are back to Singapore. We'll have more time to do the shopping TOGETHER, then select gown, then take photos. But I have no idea how much is it gonna cost.
Option 4
Get a gown from Singapore
Regardless which option we adopt, I'm printing 2 albums for our outdoor KK shots. medium size about A4 size with 20 pages plus minus.
History...
In case you forget again. We did talk about this for many many times.
Option 1
Sign up for a RM999 package in KK. We touch down on 19 Nov 1150pm. Go to the studio on 20 Nov. Select gown but no time to take photos. Use it for the customanry & dinner on 21 Nov. Bring it to KL for dinner. Ask my sister to return it. We can only take the indoor shots after wedding. The next we go back is CNY but don't think they are open.
Option 2
Buy a simple gown from the shopping center I mentioned. It's about RM300. We can only shop for the gown on 20 Nov. I assure you, there will be thousands other things to do.
Option 3
Sign up a package in JB when you are back to Singapore. We'll have more time to do the shopping TOGETHER, then select gown, then take photos. But I have no idea how much is it gonna cost.
Option 4
Get a gown from Singapore
Regardless which option we adopt, I'm printing 2 albums for our outdoor KK shots. medium size about A4 size with 20 pages plus minus.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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