Just want to give you an update on workshops and courses conducted through Property Club Singapore. It is presented in a Q&A format for your easy reference.
Q: Why are you conducting new face-to-face workshops?
A: We rolled out the first e-learning course Buying My First Private Property Online Course on July 19 this year. Quite a number of people have signed up and attended the course online. Thank you for your support!
The original idea of e-learning is catered to people who want to learn whenever and wherever convenient to them, during their free time and at their own pace. Besides, I can also take a break from conducting workshops.
There are pros and cons of e-learning. One disadvantage is students don’t have the face-to-face interactions with the trainer and other students. You never know whether they understand all the presentation content and materials in the course. After they attend the online course, I have to spend considerable time answering their questions and explaining some concepts again.
We should offer the option for people who prefer to learn in a classroom, join the others in group discussions or role plays, ask questions and provide their input whenever they want to.
I think there are many buyers or investors out there who are interested to attend classes taught by someone who shares her real-life property experiences, who is neutral with no vested interest in the industry.
I will try to fit the workshops into my schedule when I am free to do it. Although I often feel exhausted after talking and standing the whole day, I really enjoy sharing what I know and answering questions from the participants. They keep me going!
Q: How will the new workshops be different from the previous ones?
A: Both Buying My First Private Property Workshop and How To Buy Good Quality Properties Workshop have conducted for seven times since 2015. I feel a bit tired of talking about the same things.
To me, a big motivation to conduct face-to-face workshops again is to do things differently (and better) this time. There are two major changes:
1) We will separate home buyers and property investors into two different workshops. Although there might be things that both groups need to know, in general they have different levels of knowledge, experience, purchase budget and criteria. Also, sitting with participants from similar background in the same class can definitely encourage more lively discussions and interesting conversations.
2) For the new workshops, I will relate frequently to the current market situation for both home buyers or property investors. While sharing more of my own experience, I will also arrange more group activities for the participants.
Q: Why are you conducting the Finding and Managing Residential Rental Properties Workshop?
A: Many people want to buy investment properties for passive income or for potential capital appreciation. But they don’t know where and how to do their research to pick the right properties. Many buy out of ignorance or trust of dishonest property agents and end up losing money.
Above all, when I bought my first investment property in 2002, I didn’t know being a landlord is a daunting task. Like many amateur landlords, I was very frustrated and thought of giving up at times. But over the years, I have my fair share of mistakes, lessons learned, tips and traps that I could share with other fellow landlords.
Q: What do you have for private home buyers?
A: First time private home buyers are not very much affected by the new cooling measures. But they are at a higher risk of being talked into buying the wrong new launches or any resale unit the property agents have on hand.
I want to share with these new buyers important things such as how to read all the property data, how to research and shortlist suitable properties, what to look out for in financing, property agents, legal matters, defects inspection, renovation, etc.
Buying a private home is probably the most expensive thing to pay in one’s lifetime. Similar to events like wedding and renovation, most people only do it once or doing it for the first time. That is why they are likely to fall into traps or make huge mistakes that they will regret later.
That is my reason behind running the How To Buy First Private Home Workshop on November 18. I want the participants to be equipped with all the necessary market knowledge and property buying skills before they take the plunge.
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