Ever Optimistic Property Agents

IN my country, property agents are not well trained or specialized person to run business. Some perform individually while other set up firm. I think those firm needs to register at government to operate legally. However most of the property agents are moving individual so as to avoid government income tax as well as raise profit. They are mostly considered smart and clever person who has big social cycle. In fact, this is just matter of information only because they gather information of sellers and looking for potential buyers. Then arrange to meet both parties and try to make the business done. From every successful deal, they receive commission from the seller mostly which can cost 5% to 10% of the property price.

Since they are mostly running illegal way, they are on the other hand not taking responsibilities of consequent due to the hidden risks involved. That's why buying a property in my country associate with the in-detachable hidden risks. If everything goes right, there would be no problem. But as a buyer like me who cannot afford to be any mistake need to take extra care and time. The problem is I don't have much time to explore the market. I wish to spend only 1.5 days in searching a suitable flat. It make me taking mission impossible with regard to aforesaid things to be considered.

Believe it or not, my first ever property agent was a taxi driver. How? We took his taxi in going appointment with a property agent. On the way, we are talking about our business and he knows our mission by listening our conversation. He asked us if we are looking for a flat. We said yes and he come out with an information which he claims a chance to grab. After listening to him, we decided to follow him to witness the sale flat. He insist that we'll not like any other flat in that quarter after we see his. In fact, the flat is belong to his friend who is away from the city at the moment. We see physical condition of the flat with the help of him and take note for the asking pricing which he mention for in-discountable price. We took his mobile no and depart for another agent appointment.

The second agent is a woman of middle age who is also resident of that quarter. There are some flats on the market through her links. She continuously showed us one after another. Since our budget is about 12 million, we can't imagine lower flats. Thus, we are shown level 4 and above flats. Some are old but quality of flat is considered good. Some are new but quality is compromising. Some are yet to finish but already on sale and can buy with little upfront. Some are still in the plan but can buy installment with fraction of flat value. Every flat she shows, she is strongly recommend to us. It's obvious that she wants us to buy one flat so that she can enjoy commission from flat owner. We're carefully considering upon the information she provides.

All the flat she shows us are hall type with/ without renovation depend on price. The major withdraw of all flats are not healthy to live in. Because the apartment buildings are being built side by side and they are too close, I think about 1 m apart only. That's why flat windows become meaningless as there is no chance to welcome enough lighting and ventilation to breath. I am not happy to see them all but I can afford such type only. I can get room-type flat only I am afford to buy condo type flat which is far beyond my budget. I'm distraught to make a decision within a relatively short time. I understand the situation of the market and ask agent to let me think and reply later. I asked myself if I can live in such condition in future and my answer is very clear NO. Then I asked if it's good enough to invest in such fragile property to make profit in long term. Also NO. Then I tell myself better don't buy such flat if I am not happy with what I am doing. Then we tried to contact another agent contact for different township. We continue to discover the uncertain flat in the mega city.

We took another taxi and the rain fall down to cool my worry down on the way to another township agent. I quickly thanks to Yangon's famous rain.

To be continue.

Phay Phay

PHAY PHAY which is meant father in Myanmar language. This is the second word my beloving daughter can speak by clear voice after Ba Ba which is Grandpa in Myanmar language. Unfortunately, I am unable to hear such lovingly voice come out from my princess's mouth personally as we two are an ocean away right now. I'm silently pleased to be told by my eldest sister who take care my daughter via telephone. My sister continued that my daughter shout at Santa Clause figure as Phay Phay. It's delightful for all relatives to hear she say additional word after one year she arrived to this planet.

However, as a father of herself, I think of different way from my relative's thought. Of course, I am mixed feeling to learn that. Because I am happy to know she can speak father in Myanmar language clearly. On the contrary, I am sorry for unable to give her a chance to call at the right person, instead of Santa Clause Image that is pasted to the wall of my house by my niece. My daughter might have thought Santa is called Phay Phay in which she may not clear what exactly does it mean. I can't stop keep thinking of how would it be joyous being called as a father first time by own biological child in life. It's pleasure enough by just thinking, I may not measure if it is happening to me by truth. I silently joined by the message as I don't want my wife upset by my action. As a consequence, I dreamed of my daughter and of course she call me Phay Phay in the dream. It doesn't matter it is dream or not so long as I am please for her lovingly call.

Dear my daughter, let me tell you a good news that your mum and I are planning to bring you here in coming summer for visit. We two can't wait to talk with you and being called Phay Phay and May May by your small mouth. We already started how to celebrate and where to go in mind when you eventually arrive to the the land of our working. We sincerely hope you will forgive us for leaving you alone there. For the time being, I'ld like to request you to learn more words of mother languages there and kindly show us how you have been learned when we all meet in this city state. Also remember to practice how to call May May which is meant mother in Myanmar language so that you can steal your mother's heart all the way. I'm sure you'll fulfill our desire by doing this homework before you fly us.

The clock is ticking and we can't wait to meet you, my dear.

They are human beings too

THINGS must change by time. For one instance, in past, Asia nations like China & India people are crazy with getting son. They even intentionally kill their biological unborn girl when they know in advance for genital with the help of TV scan. These two giant nation's people might have a good reason behind to do such cruel act. Chinese had one child one family policy to control their already vast population. Indian parent will have a bundle of worry for wedding cost when their daughter grows up. Luckily, my country has no genital favor when it come to deliver for all parent. Culturally, we consider every child is equivalent to a precious gem. That's why our people appreciate their new babies regardless of boy or girl. We all welcome new member of the family by the best possible effort.

Nowadays, I read a lot news regarding adult working men are finding hard to find a suitable wife especially in those male-favor countries. Obviously, China and India is leading those bride-shortage nations. Rich men are buying their life partners from poorer countries of the region through agents and this business become sizable now. This fashion dramatically lead the human smuggling among the poor countries and fuel the crime. I am not happy to learn such news because most of them are not positive. It used to come in cruel ways. Some agents might have lured the potential young bride with a good paid job in the developed countries. Some frankly bought them from their parent. Some young women are not knowing what're awaiting them ahead and what are they suppose to do until they eventually realize it. For those unlucky women can end up at the brothel house. What an unfair life is it to end like that without consent?

For those who are chosen as a wife also can meet their expectation with very little chance. Because regardless of she loves or hate, she must marry to a man who is interesting in her. They are exposed on a parlor of the agent's office. Those men who are unable to find a bride by their own ability due to different reason usually go such places. It can be because he is so poor or he is so ugly, or he is so old or he don't have a good job or he is not educated man. Anything can happen to those men. No wonder such places or agents become modern paradise of such men. Sadly most of such men treat their wives as a domestic maid. I am really upset to read news of run away wife as she can't bear the cruel of her husband. Being underdogs, they don't have a favor of the family members. Surprisingly, some agents are boasting by marketing that beautiful wife can be taken to home by installment in the lure of poorer men. What a bloody story like this?

Being poor is not a sin and nothing to do with those playful cruel people, I think. They are not object, they are also human beings and they can have a feeling. Please see them as a human being and treat them with dignity. If you don't want to love or kind enough to a certain person, better leave them so that they can meet next kind person. Please do not kill their live to feed your selfish mind. Life is short and we all would be die one day sooner or later. Then we all are the same again. Being human beings is already honored by God and please appreciate it. Do not spoil our beautiful planet by doing those ugly things, my friends.

It's real that rich nations like China, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea are importing young women to fill the gap of their adult men needs. The stats has shown clearly that there is not enough brides to plug in the demanding grooms. This has become modern matter to be solved out by some governments these days. So it is real threat to us if we are from the poor society and lets educate our people so that they can avoid from falling the lure of cruel agents. I am not happy to learn that most of my fellow female people are being smuggled by agent through the boarder. Most agent take advantage of uneducated villagers. Hopefully our civilian government can address this matter before it goes uncontrollable. It's not just a matter of some families who suffer, it's national level case as our new generation can be severely affected by such ill activities.

May the authorities hear my voice and able to take necessary action.

Chaos property market

I HAVE BEEN in the property market for more than six months through my cousin sister who is local business woman and residing in Yangon, Myanmar's biggest city. I told her my budget would be in the range of 10 to 15 million Kyat which is local currency. I heard that there are some building contractors who are selling their flats in advance with little upfront and installment the balance during construction period. Usually people prefer to buy existing/finished flats in order to avoid hidden risks. Some opted to installment scheme due to their shortfall of budget despite they know it is risk involved. How is it going to be risk by installment?

Our local currency is not strong and easily to be inflated or depreciation. As a result, the builder found construction material prices go up by two, three fold within construction period which exceed their master cash flow plan drawn during feasibility stage. When things go against plan, builder's interest fall deepest and hit bottom rock if they are unfortunate enough. In this scenario, most of developer usually stop the project without giving any reason/explanation to its customers who had been invested through installment channel. So what happen if it's surfacing to people?

There is no visible impact at all because those agreement made between builder and buyer are considered illegal. Thus, contractors took this advantage when they are sure the project is going to be lose by stopping it. What customer can do when they are trapped in like that. They just upset and lose their already paid money. Going through legal channel would add further burden by needing them to pay legal fees. Most of the case took long and the end result is not suppose to be reliable. Being corrupted country, the verdict is most likely to go the side who pay more. It's pain to live in such society. In this reason, people usually prefer to buy existing flat despite they might need to pay a bit more compare to those installment flat.

There are other concerns for those who buying installment flats. This is quality of construction material. Since most of customer are not familiar with building knowledge, the builder used cheapest construction material to get most profit available. The builder are most likely to boast with the best quality material when they are marketing before construction start to lure potential buyers. This kind of case is no longer strange to this society which has no exact rule & regulation with regard to property developer to protect customer's right. On the other hand, builder are usually building low cost apartment so that people can afford. Thus, people cannot afford to expect good quality one rather than reasonable one.

The apartment in Yangon are mostly come as a hall-type, i.e, the flat has only one span. The normal width of the span range from 9 ft to 18 ft and length range from 45 ft to 55 ft. The buyer gets plain apartment if he buys a new one. The buyer needs to do further A&A works to suit his requirement according to the budget. Some stays in the plain flat as they can't afford to renovate their flats. For those who doesn't own a flat need to rent from the flat owners and it's not coming cheap as well. Those people who want to rent usually have two options to adopt depend on owner. One is free deposit which come expensive rental fees and another option come cheaper but need to pay heavy deposit.

I am disappointing to be told by my cousin sister that the budget I can afford is not enough to snap a flat in Yangon. She subsequently suggested me to buy a house in home town located in upper Burmese which is much lower in property price. Since my country changed from military rule Junta to democratically elected civilian government, the property market has been shifted so much. The property market price goes up by sky-rocket rate after hefty demand by oversea investor. They are buying a lot land and places with the help of local partners. Local resident can't resist to refuse very good offer made by such local big boys with the back of foreign traders and the property gone crazy.

It's ridiculous thing to see property price goes sky while people are finding very hard to survive their lives. There have been definitely something wrong but there is no sign of control by government. The government is busying with the other things such as privatizing, selling natural gases and precious gems, welcoming foreign investments, etc. The downtown area of Myanmar's biggest cities are acquired by either foreigner or second class citizens. The true Burmese live in far outside town area after selling their heritage land plot and home. Our people are naturally don't know how to do business and lose their asset by time. They are surviving by selling their property and valuable assets. This is not long term solution but they settle like this and it become a fashion in our society.

To be continued.

Water-scare island

SINGAPORE is known for its human resource because it's only way to make city state popular among world's stage. It is just a tiny island and possess no natural resources even don't have enough water to provide its people needs. We all know that Singapore is even buying raw water from Malaysia and they have been cautious in handling this sensitive matter whenever the two nations come to cross. It became internally-self governing in 1959 and got fully independent from Malaysia two years later in 1965.

After split from Malaysia, its founders might have concern with the weak point of city state. It's considerable to fix other problems while lack of drinkable water is unsettled problem. It might have forced its leaders to make water agreements between two states. There were two such agreements made in 1961 and 1962. Yesterday, the 1961 water agreement expired and the city state handed over its facilities to Malaysia authorities. Subsequently, people became so much concern with the impact of ending this first agreement. Is PUB going to increase water bills in near future? How does this agreement contribute to the Singapore? Here are some facts that can make us a little understanding.

1961 water agreement is meant for 50 years contract to date. It allow city state to use 3 water catchment area in which Singapore have to pay land rental fees for S$5.00 an acre. Moreover, Singapore government needed to pay 3.00 cents for every 1,000 gallon raw water they are collecting. Also term limited the maximum quantity at 250 million gallon a day. The city state built water treatment facilities in Johor and sent purified water to back home. As per water resource minister, it only cover 5% of Singapore's needs. Regardless, this news might have made its people nervous. Singapore's current needs of water is 380 million gallons per day.

Minister Dr. Balakrishnan assured its people by explaining city state's effective replacement plan so called increase reservoirs, improvement of NEWater and desalinated water technology. In addition, there is one agreement still left and it'll be legal until 2061 due to 1990 supplement. Together both NEWater and desalinated water contribute 40% of Singapore needs now and it'ld be increased to 80% in 2061. It's incredible performance by a tiny state. The water minister insists that handover will not affect Singapore's water supply. But he didn't assure that PUB bills wont' be affected. It is, I think, the most conscious for all Singaporean. Anyway anyhow, for sure right now is

We all are drinking/using 40% of NEWater and desalinated water at the moment and it would be double at 2061. Hopefully, I wouldn't be reside in this island by the time Singaporean are enjoying 80% of those advanced treatment water. May all Singaporean be safe of water resource regardless of time.