Searching for that perfect home to buy can be long and stressful. Whether it is for your own stay or investment, you want to make sure you are making the right choice.
OrangeTee, one of Singapore’s largest real estate agency and advisory group, will be running their first Virtual Property Expo this weekend. From 17 – 18 October, the online event will walk you through with all the tips and skills for property hunting or investment.
Find your dream home with over 60 newly launched projects, 10,000 resale listings and 40 free seminars covering various topics on properties such as “The Importance Of Diversification“, “Australia – Your Safe Haven” and “How To Be A Smart And Tech Savvy Property Investor“.
Have some idle money sitting around and hoping to invest and secure a rate of return that is higher than your usual bank interest rates? Well don’t we all? Every investment comes with different levels of risk. A guaranteed return on your investments simply means that you are promised, with some levels of certainty, that you will receive a return on your investment in any circumstances.
To learn more about guaranteed returns investments, let’s take a look at 2 effectively guaranteed returns products offered by Funding Societies, Southeast Asia’s largest Peer to Peer lending platform. Peer to Peer Lending or P2P lending is an investment concept where individuals & institutions invest in loans to SMEs and earn returns in the form of interests. Investments on the Funding Societies platform starts from S$20 with a maximum tenor of 12 months and monthly/periodic repayments to investors.
For more information on investing with Funding Societies, join their upcoming webinar on 29th Sept 2020 at 7PM. Register for free here.
How does it work
An effectively guaranteed returns product offered by Funding Societies means that you as an investor are effectively guaranteed to receive both your principal & interests on the investments regardless of the SME’s repayment status. There are currently 2 products available under this line, namely Guaranteed Returns Investments (GRI) andGuaranteed Property-backed Investments (GPI).
Guaranteed Property-backed Investments
Guaranteed Property-backed Investment (GPI) is an investment into a collateral-backed note with an additional guarantee of repayments to investors. Should the SME fail to fulfil their obligations, Funding Societies has the right to liquidate the property to recover the funds.
Key Investment Information
Minimum Investment Amount – $20 per investment
Interest rates: usually 3% – 8% per annum
Tenor: 6 to 12 months
Repayments: Monthly repayment of interest and principal at the end of tenor
Guarantee: Principal & interest repayments are both effectively guaranteed regardless of the SME’s status
Collateralised property information: Only local Singapore properties owned by the SME or it’s directors are accepted
Sign up and start investing with Funding Societies here
Guaranteed Returns Investments
Guaranteed Returns Investment is an investment into a loan given to a small business in the form of a note with a layer of security whereby the repayments are effectively guaranteed even if the SME does not pay.
These small businesses come from all walks of life and Kaca Coffee House is one of them. See their story here:
Repayments: Usually Monthly repayment of Principal & interest
Guarantee – Principal and Interest are both effectively guaranteed regardless of SME status
Please invest with the knowledge that while returns are effectively guaranteed by FS Capital Pte. Ltd., there may be a chance where they might not be able to fulfil the obligations under this arrangement. To mitigate this risk, a cash reserve buffer is maintained to allow for repayments to be made on time.
Importance of investment diversification
As the saying goes, do not put all your eggs into one basket. Just as how it is important to diversify across asset classes and business types, the same goes for varying risk return investments. Diversifying your investments with guaranteed returns products can be an option to consider to balance out your portfolio.
If you have done your own due diligence and decided to invest with Funding Societies, they currently have a promotion for new investors. Sign up with promo code MONEY20 and make a total investment of S$200 by 31st Oct 2020 to get a S$20 cashback.
Terms and Conditions apply
Investors must sign up with the aforementioned promo code and make a total investment of at least S$200 by 31st Oct 2020 to be eligible for the $20 cashback. Cashback will be credited into the eligible investors’ accounts by the end of November 2020. Funding Societies’ investor T&Cs apply.
Funding Societies is the largest SME digital financing platform in Southeast Asia. It is licensed in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia, and backed by Sequoia India and Softbank Ventures Asia Corp amongst many others. It provides business financing to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is crowdfunded by individual and institutional investors. Investors can invest from as low as S$20 with a tenor of no more than 12 months. Depending on the investment product, interest rates can range between 2% to 18% per annum.
Investment is defined as the money committed or property owned that is acquired for future income. It has two main classes namely: fixed income (e.g., bonds or fixed deposits) and variable income (e.g., property ownership). The choices you make when investing your money can influence your future.
Most of us are unaware of the investment mistakes and other financial missteps that can affect our short-term and long-term financial goals. However, the pandemic has given us no choice but to face our financial nightmares head-on. On that note, please do your best to avoid making costly investment mistakes.
#1: SELLING OFF INVESTMENTS OUT OF FEAR
2020 hit us hard. Many people are maxing out on their credit cards and are breaking their savings to pay for rent, groceries, and other essentials. The market crash triggered a global panic as people are selling off investments, losing billions in the bear market.
Let us be honest. It is impossible to know when another market crash will happen. The market’s recovery has been based on the idea that the pandemic has become more manageable. The reality is that the COVID-19 cases continue to spike each day. The numbers may continue to get worse as the global economy reopens. In Singapore, new closures and safety restrictions have been employed by retail stores and other commercial establishments.
It is tempting to sell off your investments given the current situation. Think about it. You should not sell something due to relatively short-term market conditions. You are in this for the long-haul. Unless your investment beliefs and strategies have changed, you must consider keeping those stocks. Building an emergency fund by investing money can be a lifesaver.
#2: BELIEVING IN MARKET GURUS
Some people eagerly listen to “money gurus” that are believed to predict the market. Media gurus make their money from discussing about investments, selling their advice or charging fees to manage other people’s money. But, their followers are not all rich. If you could predict the market’s future, wouldn’t you shut your mouth and make money for yourself?
Forget about the money gurus, what will help you is to diversify your portfolio. Knowing the right companies to allocate your money to takes guts, wits, and luck.
#3: FOLLOWING YOUR PORTFOLIO ON A DAILY BASIS
The market is volatile and people are more concerned about the stock market than before. There is a lot of noise surrounding this. The noise may brew fear inside of you, which can lead to bad decisions. Try not to follow your portfolio on a daily basis.
Do not let fear consume you as many people are screaming voices of gloom and doom. As was mentioned a while ago, you are in it for the long-haul. You are not invested for today or tomorrow. Markets will fall and crash, but good companies will eventually recover as history showed us.
#4: WAITING FOR A BOTTOM TO BUY STOCKS
In theory, you can buy good stocks at a discount when the market crashes. However, it is nearly impossible to purchase something at a perfect price and a perfect time. Do not try to time the market as it can cause you to miss glistening opportunities.
Image Credits: unsplash.com
No one knows when a crash will come or where the bottom is exactly. Consider purchasing stocks from good companies at all-time highs. If you are planning to be in this journey for a long time, you can buy shares from the businesses you believe in. Just be strategic and realistic!
Uptown @ Farrer is an integrated development by Low Keng Huat, a reputable developer listed on the main board of SGX. This project is estimated to receive its Temporary Occupation Permit by 1Q 2021. Being so close to its completion date, so there only remains a small window of opportunity to gain a foothold into this unique development. Here are 3 main reasons why Uptown @ Farrer is a good investment property.
1. City Fringe Location
Uptown @ Farrer is located in an enviable city fringe location in prime district 8. It takes only 1-minute walk from Exit G of Farrer Park MRT station to reach the development. From there, you are only 2 MRT stops to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station, Singapore’s most connected MRT station with 3 interweaving lines. Because of its proximity to the MRT and city fringe location, it takes less than 15 minutes by public transport to get to Raffles Place and Orchard Road. This is the ultimate accessibility that one can enjoy!
Furthermore, the condominium is situated just opposite City Square mall, a large shopping mall catered to young families. It has a comprehensive mix of retailers such as Toys”R”us, MindChamps, Decathlon, Don Don Donki and NTUC to cater to every family’s needs.
In addition, it sits adjacent to the Ophir-Rochor road Corridor, a key district identified by URA to be a key area for growth and rejuvenation. Key plans include installation of key infrastructure to transform the entire area into a car-lite and lush green zone packed with lifestyle offerings. Uptown @Farrer is a beneficiary that stands to capture any positive spill-over effects from this massive government undertaking.
2. Easy to rent
This is a rare opportunity to invest in an integrated development that will be popular with renters. The entire project consists of a single residential tower with an exclusive number of just 116 units. Retail shop units nearby offer direct and easy access to F&B offerings (eg: Michelin star-rated Putien) and lifestyle services. These are key amenities that potential tenants will definitely come to expect and appreciate. In addition, the serviced apartment will be operated under Ascott’s co-living brand, lyf, targeted at millennials. With its social kitchen and modular spaces catering for gigs and events, it adds a whole new vibrancy to the entire development.
With fewer units located within the building adding to the exclusivity, as well as an established transport infrastructure and numerous retail offerings a stone’s throw away, this condominium will appeal heavily to renters. Positive examples such as City Square Residences are testament to the popularity of this location. The ease of renting your residential unit signals strong potential capital appreciation in the future.
3. Rare Loft Units That Double Up
A significant effect of Covid-19 is that working from home may soon become the new normal. Therefore, it has become very important to find a conducive place within the house where one can conduct Zoom meetings to work in peace or have their children able to do home-based learning if needed. This is why loft units have increasingly become the apartment type of choice. Uptown @ Farrer offer several types of loft units with ceiling heights reaching 5.9m! The voluminous space allows a home-owner to craft out an extra place for a work office or a study room. In addition, the developer will be providing the loft decking when the unit is completed which is normally not the case. This is an efficient and cost-effective way to carve out more space for your home!
Here are 3 key reasons why Uptown @ Farrer makes a very compelling and good investment property. Simply make an appointment online or via your preferred property agent beforehand to view the showflat and make your purchase.
Right from the start, I commenced my gold investment journey with Everest Gold by downloading its mobile application. With the mobile app, it offers supreme convenience as I am able to trade 24/7 from the comfort of my home. This is something that banks cannot offer since gold has to be purchased over the counter.
The mobile app was designed with “ease of use” as the intention in mind as investors can access their investments anytime, anywhere. I really appreciate the instant liquidity and the option of trading on the go. It also negates the need for long hours of monitoring so that I can focus my time on other activities in life.
Low Investment Threshold
Whether it is purchasing gold jewellery or gold bullion from banks, the traditional way of investing in gold often involves high entry barriers. The amazing feature set by Everest Gold is that investment threshold starts from as low as 1 EGU= 0.01g of gold. This means that retail investors eager to get started on investing in gold no longer need to wait till a sizeable amount of funds have been accumulated before beginning.
Furthermore, any savvy investor would realise that fees eats into returns. The lower the fees, the higher the returns. Therefore, it definitely helps that there are no transaction fees involved when purchasing gold over the Everest Gold platform.
Safe and Secure
With all the amazing features outlined above, it is just as important to know that my investments will be safe and secure. At Everest Gold, all transactions are fully encrypted with the use of 256-bit SSL. This means that my transactions are safeguarded and personal information protected. Privacy is respected since it is compliant with requirements of the Personal Data Protection Act of Singapore.
I am also impressed with the robust verification process which is supplemented by biometric authentication. Prior to trading, a compulsory personal verification process is required to prevent financial fraud and identity theft. An auditor conducts regular audits to ensure the clear delineation of investor funds with Everest Gold’s own funds for business use. With stringent audits in place, all transactions at Everest Gold are transparent, constantly updated and fully accounted for.
Conclusion
As a retail investor, I am really glad that Everest Gold is here to streamline outdated procedures of investing in gold. In return, I know that I am getting higher liquidity, better efficiency and lower costs for my gold portfolio by trading and owning my gold on the Everest Gold platform.
In line with National Day, enter referral code “WAVTW” when you register your Everest Gold account and receive 55 SGD worth of reward points. Be rewarded with 400,000 reward points for each successful account verification. Reward points can be converted into EGU during Gold Subscription Events. Promotion is for users residing in Singapore only. Valid till 31 Aug 2020.
