Running – an analogy for property speculation

I can’t run this year’s Singapore Marathon — the 1st time I can’t make it after joining for four consecutive years.

I saw photos of runners posing in front of Orchard’s Christmas light up and Sentosa’s Universal Studio. How I wish I could be there!

Running can be very addictive. It helps to produce endorphins, uplifting one’s mood and energy level. This improves self-confidence and makes you feel high all the time.

I started running 5 or 10 km, thinking that this is the most I can do. Gradually, the target was adjusted to 21 km. When it proved achievable, I tried my 1st 42 km full marathon last year and finished in 4 1/2 hours. Pretty sure that I could do better the 2nd time, I was considering overseas races.

But I never make it. I didn’t learn enough about the subject, didn’t rest my body, didn’t bother to do warm-up, stretching, core training … and the pain started.

For months, I ignored it, bore the pain and continued my running routine – until it was so bad that, whenever I got out of bed or up from a chair, I could hardly walk.

I have been severe back pain for 2 years. One fine day I 50mg and the effect was noticeable on the third day. Finally my pain was gone.

Property speculation is addictive in a similar way.

You start with buying a tiny unit at the new launch, sell it when the price goes up. Blink! You are tens of thousands richer in just a few months.

Practice can perfect your stint. Every time you are tempted to set a higher profit target. Simply buy a 1,000 sq ft unit at $1k psf and flip the option at $1.1k psf. Wow, $100K profit in just 1 to 2 weeks’ time. Why work so hard for the whole year?

The success makes you more confident because it helps to produce endorphins, minus the need to exercise (the option).

If making profit is such a no-brainer, why waste time researching the market and listening to experts’ advice?

As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. Why settle for one when you can flip a few at the same time with your gang? Gradually, you are a bunch of regulars at VVVIP launch.

Thieves get caught because they don’t do it once. You don’t even know that you are already blacklisted by the government as a ‘property speculator’. Yes, they want a share of your profit too.

When you are blind with your addiction, when easy monies cloud your judgment, you don’t even notice the sudden U-turn in the market. It’s only when the music stops that you see yourself end up with lots of overpriced properties.