A Hong Kong actress met a renowned fengshui master recently at a press conference. With Chinese New Year approaching, she asked him about her relationship in the new year.
“You will find Mr. Right these two years. If you want a good marriage, remember one thing: No need to find a very good man. Just don’t pick a 衰人 (bad guy).”
This is the best relationship advice I’ve heard from a fortune teller!
The first prediction is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
If the actress believes what the fengshui master said, from now on she will start focusing more on her relationship and will consider all her suitors seriously. Then very soon she will tie the knot. It’s very likely to happen in the next two years.
The second piece of advice is necessary. In case it’s a bad marriage, the actress might blame the fengshui master for rushing or misleading her into making a bad decision.
See, I have warned you.
The best part of his advice is “no need to find a very good man” and “don’t pick a bad guy”.
The actress doesn’t need more: There is no need for her to marry the rich. She herself is a millionaire actress. She doesn’t have to marry the famous either. She herself is a well-known actress in the region. It is not necessary to marry the talented. She herself is an award-winning actress.
And the most important part of the advice is “don’t pick a 衰人”.
What does a bad guy mean? A bad husband can be mean, selfish, jealous, controlling, unfaithful, abusive, violent or have addiction problems.
The fengshui master knows that it is fine for the actress to marry any ordinary man, except to a bad guy which can lead to very serious consequences.
The opposite of bad is not good. The opposite of bad is “normal”.
Sounds easy, isn’t it? If it is that simple, why we still hear so many women complaining about their bad husbands?
It works the same way when buying a home. Most people don’t have to wait for the best time to enter the market or buy the best type of properties. They only need to buy an “ordinary” home free of major problems and at a reasonable price.
Sounds easy, isn’t it? If it is that simple, why we still have so many buyers regretting later that they have bought a bad property at the wrong price at the peak of the market?
I have personally stepped into a hundred showflats and gone for hundreds of flat or house viewings. You will be surprised how many home owners bought the wrong types of condominium units and landed houses.
Some are situated in a totally wrong area. More are located very near to undesirable establishments or objects. Many come with bad exterior or interior fengshui due to bad direction, project design or layout.
If you think these things are just common sense. Then common sense is not very common.
The saddest part is: These buyers don’t know what the problem is. They may even pay top dollars for these bad properties.
Buying a home is probably the most expensive item one would purchase in a lifetime. I am not saying they all have to attend my Buying My First Private Property or How to Buy Good Quality Properties workshops. I just wonder how many buyers care to do some homework before they buy.
1. Study the actual location, environment and amenities nearby.
2. Check the past sales transactions of similar projects in the last 5 to 10 years.
3. Google for useful home buying tips instead of just listening to property agents or people with vested interests.
Taiwanese illustrator and writer Jimmy Liao (幾米) wrote this in one of his picture books:
He met a rabbit who lost its way. It asked him to help find the way home.
He asked it ‘where’s your home?’.
‘If I know where my home is, I won’t lose my way,’ the rabbit said seriously.
Do you know the common type of homebuyers coming to me for advice these days? They are middle-aged PMETs (Professional, Managers, Executives and Technicians) with school-going children. They bought a subsidized first-hand HDB flat from the government many years ago. Its value appreciates over time. They have paid off most of the housing loan and managed to save a low 6-figure sum.
When they read the news that property prices will go up in the next two years, they start to focus on house hunting and seriously consider upgrading their home to a private property.
They are helping the industry stakeholders to make their prediction a self-fulfilling prophecy – except this time the fortune tellers didn’t warn them not to pick a bad property.
NO need for wishy washy futsy feng shui.
Just say ” Hard to See; Difficult to Tell “
Aiyah same as : Why did the Chicken cross the road ?
Ans: Cos It wanted to get to the Other side
Chickens cross the road to prove that they are no chickens.
First and foremost, a very Happy New Year to all.
I have posted in this blog late last year. Back then, the so called rise of the property sector is a bit perplexing and hence, I did a study of the possible reason(s) for its increase.
The reason why I have posted here again is that I have found the answer.
I have posted the answer on another platform but I guess the denial & skepticism was understandable.
Maybe by posting here, it will at least help to put in some alternative perspective to the property market at the current moment.
My simple answer to the possible rise in property prices could be summed up by three letters; “DPS”.
DPS for uncompleted properties was banned back then maybe 2007? However, a hybrid for completed units has taken its place. It all started from OUE Twin Peaks back in 2016(?) and from there, it pretty much catch on.
Other additional parameters to watch over the next 12 months; the interest rates. Interest rates are slowly creeping up and the local rates are somewhat correlated to the US interest rates. Despite all has been said about the US stock markets, the general US economy will experience a gradual increase in inflation due in part to the lowering of taxes there. When inflation increase, interest rate will generally follow behind. That is when we will see the local rates slowly pick up from there. Monitor the 10 year US Treasury rates for some insights.
When the local rates increase, it will hurt blokes with property loans a bit but not so much for people with 1 or 2 properties. However, from a recent news report from CNA, there are about 20,000 people holding 3-10 properties. These are the guys whom will be hurt hard by the gradual increase in rates.
Things will be somewhat different 12 months from now. That, is my own personal assessment of the situation.
Stay safe and spend your money wisely.
Thank you very much for your input. For people who own 3 to 10 private properties, their properties can be solely or jointly owned. Rise in interest rates can be slow and gradual. It will only affect owners whose properties are heavily leveraged. However, for landlords who lease 3 or more private properties, the continuing softening of the rental market is a bigger blow. I used to rent out a few properties at the same time so I understand very much the frustration as a landlord to see the disappointing rental return of your properties that continues for a long time.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to reply and sharing some of the experience from a landlord’s point of view.
Enjoyed your posting on the Oxley analysis as well.
Take care and have a great year ahead.