360 KLCC FAQs
Why is your blog called 360 KLCC? The genesis of the blog actually began in 2017 when I was trying to set up a business selling 360 virtual tours (e.g Matterport 3D doll house models, Meta Real, Asteroom etc) to owners and real estate agents. Unfortunately after spending a lot of time and $$$ doing market research, checking out competitors and trying out a test website with search functions, my website (KLCCVirtualTours.com) was stillborn. However, in the current pandemic, property viewings are of course not allowed under existing MCOs. In fact, unless they can get hold of a MITI letter which is about as rare as hen’s teeth, property agents cannot even show prospective buyers or tenants their listings. So some more enterprising agents are using virtual video tours instead. For higher end properties, some agents also offer 360 virtual tours.
Why are you starting a blog NOW? Interesting question, that one. The stock answer from a blog creator is usually Carpe Diem. I’ll like to tell a nice story about how my doctor said I have an incurable medical condition and the median mortality rate is 8 months. But the truthful answer is that now more than ever is there a need for a site that looks at transactional analysis, ie. price tracking. Yesterday, the Malay Mail ran a story of a Singapore based investor who had to sell his Cyberjaya property at a huge loss. A sad reflection of how the pandemic has ravaged people’s incomes. I rather suspect the property market outlook is not going to recover quickly. Even if we manage to vaccinate 70-80% of the population by November/December and achieve herd immunity. The economic impact of a long drawn out MCO on SMEs and individuals who were laid off by their employers has yet to filter through down to the property market. Property investors, especially those highly leveraged buyers who bought multiple units in overpriced developments drawn by cheap financing, will be under increasing pressure to sell. Expect to see bank auctions to increase as property investors find no tenants to fill their vacant apartments.
Tell us something about your background? I worked in the financial services sector but took an extended break. I currently own a high end KLCC condominium. I did “National Service” by serving as an unpaid volunteer on several MC/JMB committees. I have a second rate MBA from a UK business school (ranked #1 in the world for value for MBA distance learning ). Like all Malaysians, I like Nasi Lemak and CKT and convivial company. Is that enough ?
What do you think are your strengths as a blogger in a field that is already well served by property portals and YouTubers ? My “Value Added” is a background as an investment analyst with experience working in global and regional stockbroking companies.
What are your plans for 360 KLCC? I am starting with the high end KLCC market because that is the market I know best. My first investment in a high end KLCC condominium was Kondominium Kirana in 2000. I might add a 360 blog on Penang.
Are there are plans to do live streaming? Audio podcasts with property experts? YouTube videos? Condominium reviews? Whoa! That’s a lot of stuff to do even for a 20+ millennial with lots of energy. For an old foggy like me (is I am a senior citizen in my mid 60s), “slow and easy* is the way to go. If you are interested in reading future blog posts and would like to be kept in the loop about any new channels, please fill in the CONTACT form. Thank you for taking time off to read my blog. Sorry but comments have been disabled for obvious reasons. I simply do not have time to reply to questions readers might have. So I hope this FAQ section covers most of your questions.
Can you recommend any property agents if I want to sell or buy KLCC properties ? Not at the moment. I do not hold a licence as a property negotiator or as an investment advisor. This blog is primarily about the KLCC property market, written from the point of view of an owner. But I also plan to track property management issues. Many KLCC condominiums are aging. Some not very gracefully, sorry to say. Increasingly a good property management team is key to maintaining their investment value. I am also interested in tracking changes in legislation that might impact high end property owners.
What do you do in your spare time? Writing my 360 KLCC blog is a labor of love. But I can still find time for other pursuits like taking photographs of sunsets and sunrises, listening to Spotify playlists and of course I hope to resume the Malaysian practice of “lepaking” in kopitiams when the MCO is finally lifted (keeping my fingers crossed this will be soon)
Dated August 2021
Screen shot of KLCCVirtualTours.com splash page in 2017
