as his mentors. He spent his childhood mostly in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) neighbourhood, which cultivated his love for landed properties too. “I am less keen in condominiums or apartments, they all look the same,” claimed Roen. In fact, he could still recall the challenges he faced in selling his Casa Kiara 1 apartment, which he only managed to sell in the fifth year. His subsequent property was a semidetached house, which he rented off for eight years. It saw tremendous appreciation over the years as it cost him only RM390,000 back then. Roen quipped, “I look at postcodes! That element really determines any of my purchases. Bangsar, Damansara Heights are excellent areas for investments when you have the cash.” Roen is in the midst of completing his dream bungalow in Section 16 Petaling Jaya, on plot of land over 10,000 sq. ft. For Roen, whether one is single or having a family comes into consideration in deciding what properties to purchase. “I would rather live in a modest home nestled in central metro, than in the suburbs and getting stuck in jam for hours,” said Roen. If the economy runs bad, he can always opt to live in his abode situated at Jalan Negeri Sembilan, Federal Hill, where he owns a link-lot too. Currently, it was rented to an English native teaching here. In Roen’s opinion, it defeats the purpose of owning a property closer to the public amenities if those amenities are not utilised by the owner at all. For instance, he recalled about a rich man who owned a property in TTDI. The property is strategically located nearby the MRT station, yet what is the point if the owner merely rent the unit to tenants from elsewhere, thus hardly enjoy the benefit of MRT. Roen prefers a liveable, mature neighbourhood where schools, malls, good roads and public amenities are easily accessible. For him, Section 16 has a soul and character attached to it. It has a unique charm which boasts of markets, eateries, entertainment outlets within a short distance, where even the houses come in various designs and architectural qualities. Priorities and necessities change every time one climbs the corporate ladder or the family grows bigger. As such, Roen wishes to remind us to take into consideration the changing needs as one invests in a
property. Since the mobility of the family members matter too, Roen actually listed the Section 16 neighbourhood as his favourite community, due to its convenient centralised location. By setting up the office in his own house, Roen gets to spend quality time with loved ones often. He can meet up with his wife or parents anytime it fits his timing, or when a need arrives for a situation that calls for his attention. He can even have meetings with business partners at his home office. His father often helps to manage some of his properties too. So far, Roen only owns residential properties, although he says commercial lots yields higher rent returns. “For first time home buyers, it is best to look for a developer who has been long enough in the industry. Buy a house you would want to live in,” Roen shared. Property ownerships are a ‘cash cow’, thus it would the best deal in town for investors if leveraged wisely. Meanwhile, Roen said “No selling and no
buying of properties for me this year. But I would consider to enter into a maintenance mode, that is to manage my tenants, to be more agile and responsive. Now, the timing is very unpredictable, it has hit rock bottom. So, I would just wait and see what happens,”. He remarked that it might take a while for a rebounce to occur, albeit the construction of building has not stopped entirely. If the competitors are around, the supply are will more often than not increase. Roen believes that smart investors don’t only rely on properties alone, but would leverage and try new investments to make more money, with a time frame of around 3 to 5 years’ as the goal in mind. “For me, the most workable strategy is neither to buy a RM12 million mansion in Bangsar, nor to own 12 houses in Sekinchan. As long as you have a proper home, a safe sanctuary for your loved ones, an assurance that your family do not have to live in worries, that is a more palatable goal,” Roen said.
I would rather live in a modest home nestled in central metro, than in the suburbs and getting stuck in jam for hours” - Roen Cian Nagapan www.propertyinsight.com.my FEBRUARY 2017 I 53