Medan Kota

I have always been obsessed with properties.. I love looking at the layouts, the floor plans etc.. in my younger years, my mum used to bring me along each time she went for any property viewing.. so it could be that, that I have always enjoy looking at the showflats, the miniature of the development.. understanding its direction etc..

With that, over the last several years.. I have been eyeing to buy some for investment.. and I am the type of girl that do detailed research and calculations.. and yes I once paid some US$5000 for a property investment course… and after listening to what, why, and how .. as well as what to look out for.. how to manage.. knowing the difference between residential and commercial property and its benefits… I found myself knowing too much and calculate too much which ended with me not finding any right one at all..

Then during my past December break in Bangkok.. I saw one.. of good value and one that over so many years I spent searching.. it’s the one that I knew it right away that I was gonna make money.. it sorts of put all the green ticks on my checklists..

Having seen how payments are made in Thailand… my husband and me immediately felt that we probably will not be buying any property in Indonesia till some changes to the Laws are made… let me tell you why… however, please note that this is my own personal view..

the down payment.. in Singapore.. it used to be 5% and that was it.. the 95% balance is paid upon receiving the keys.. though the laws have now changed… in Thailand, a 10% down payment is required with the payments being spread over the number of months till the unit is done .. the 90% is then made upon receiving of key.. in Indonesia?.. well 10% is required almost immediately.. and the rest of the payment began just about as soon as you signed the purchase order..  and I’ve just found out that my father-in-law bought one unit in Jakarta.. has since paid it in full some 1 year back.. and today.. the building is not even ½ done…

part of acquiring property for investment is to get some rental yield… in Medan.. there is no possible way that the rental income will ever cover the cost of the mortgage!!.. the rental here in Medan is really something to laugh about… it’s so so cheap that not just me alone but all expats seem to agree with me…

many times.. good properties are owned by the rich.. so each of them has the attitude that.. unless you are offering some crazy price to buy.. only then they will sell it to you ..else it’s like.. ‘this is the price I want to sell.. if you are happy, then buy it.. if not.. then goodbye’.. its never about being reasonable … or the realistic price..

and many times.. what you see is never what you get..

having said all of the above.. one thing that you can be quite certain about property in Indonesia is that.. most of the time.. you will get capital gain.. which I have to say that it’s was the main reason why I wanted to invest in Indonesia initially…(before the $5000 course)  but now with.. read too much.. calculate too much.. listen too much.. seen too much.. Indonesia is definitely not on my list for the moment…

Popularity: 21% [?]

I went on a parenting session last Friday which was a public holiday…. so two days before the day, I informed my boys of how I will not be home and that I will be going to school for a day.. Jadon being the cheeky one, then happily shouted “wow.. mama, you are going school!”. I then explained to him, “it’s only for a day, I will be going to school to learn how to be a better mummy to you boys”.. the boys got excited somehow and couldn’t stop telling everyone.. saying that I am going back to school and that I will have lots of homework etc… and insisted on sending me to my class on the day..

The truth is, it’s only a one day seminar at Aryaduta Hotel.. so on the morning itself, both boys woke up early and were readily to send me off.. and during the breakfast time, on the dining table was a pack of Chinese preserved Honey Plum.. and this was what Jadon came up with..

Me: “Elson, can you please help me put this bottle (the preserved Honey Plum) into my handbag please?”

Jadon: “Mama! you can eat in the class? my Miss won’t let us eat sweets in the classroom..!”

Me: “Jadon, the school that mama goes to is different, mine is school for adults and not children..”

Jadon: “That’s not fair!”

I then began teasing him and joke around…

Me: “actually, my school is at a hotel!.. with nice air-con, nice chairs, nice tables, nice rooms.. and we eat nice food with soup, sweets, coca cola, coffee and tea and it’s at Aryaduta Hotel..!”

Jadon: “wow, so if you are hungry, you can pick up the phone and ask the uncle to deliver food to your classroom too?..”

I find that kids these days have the abilities to come up with all the funny thoughts…

Popularity: 16% [?]

I went on a Parenting Session yesterday, conducted by Dr Ernst Wong.. The topic was “How to Listen to your Children & Get Cooperation From your Children”

We also do Personality Test to see which number we are … it was fun.. my girlfriend and me.. we were laughing throughout the whole test and I have to agree with Dr Wong that by understanding which personality type my 2 boys will be… I will then know how to deal with them.. in a much more understanding manners…

Popularity: 5% [?]

We have a friend name ‘Jonsen’ who used to work for ‘Johnson n Johnson’… the company that all mothers will pick up one of their baby products sometime in the life of her child..

And he was telling us his stories..

Over a telephone conversation to one of the company’s customer.. it went like this..

Customer: which company are you from?
Jonsen: I am from Johnson n Johnson..
Customer: oh..  dari Johnson.
Customer: what’s your name?
Jonsen: Jonsen
Customer: I know you are Johnson.. but what’s your name?
Jonsen: Jonsen..

and it went on for a while before the confusion cleared up.. cute

Popularity: 4% [?]

Some of us travel rather extensively, use the credit cards on practically all things and with all the rewards point accumulating from the airlines program or from the credit card itself.. I have come to find out that exchanging those credit card points to shopping vouchers give the lowest return.. and I find it silly knowing how some choose to exchange the points for payment of the annual fees.. (I never pay for any of my credit card annual fees, I simply demand for mine to be complimentary.. there are ways to do it and yes.. anyone can go about doing it provided you have a good clean record..)

Well.. I am going to be honest with you all here.. I use my credit cards on every chance I could.. not because I want to be on their credit terms i.e owed money to the bank and be charged ridiculous late fees and interest.. rather I exercised my rights in all possible ways to earn the reward points.. hence over some 6-7 years of my so called hard working rights, last week, I sat down and compiled all my points from all the different cards.. did some casual calculations to have it convert to Krisflyer air miles .. well well well.. voila!!! I now have enough air miles to fly on SQ for

1.    Return air tickets to Tokyo for 8 people or
2.    rtn to Sydney for 6 people or
3.    rtn to Athens/Europe for 6 people or
4.    rtn to Los Angeles for 4 people

and by me doing all the processing online, there’s an additional 15% saving on the points deduction as well..  do look out for promotion where at times, SQ do have promotion on 50% off on the rewards redemption.

so yea.. I kinda often look out for the double rewards point promo.. like currently Citibank is giving 10X for all Hotel transactions from now till 17 January with minimum usuage of Rp 2.000.000.. I was kinda of late to find out this promo over the December, else, I could have my shopping planned that would easily lead to one free return Medan to Singapore on Silkair..

Among all major credit cards in Medan, I would say Citibank gives the best rate of return on points accumulation, lots of program during school breaks and there is no expiry on points accumulated..

Popularity: 4% [?]