MONEY SPECIALIST

Since the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997, property prices in Ipoh had been stagnant. As property prices in Ipoh are largely determined by economic fundamentals devoid of speculative investment, prices of properties are relatively stable even through the recent recession.

The present home ownership in Ipoh is about 60%, while the remaining 40% comprised those who stay as extended families or in rented premises. The potential for home ownership to grow in Ipoh is there, as it has a population of about 710,000. The purchase of primary and secondary residential properties in Ipoh was largely driven by effective home ownership demand. And only a fraction of which is in the form of property asset investment.

Fast forward to year 2010, the property development market in Ipoh has shown signs of picking up. The growing demand in the property market at Ipoh area, rising raw material prices, and land cost are likely to push property prices up. The selling price of landed properties targeted for launch here in the second half of this year will be priced between 10% and 15% higher than last year. Developers that will be launching new property development projects in Ipoh starting from mid-2010 include Taiko Properties Sdn Bhd, Kinta Properties Holdings Sdn Bhd, and Namcom Development Sdn Bhd.

The launches with the highest gross sales value comes from Taiko Properties’ Bandar Seri Botani and The Thompson projects in southern Ipoh and Ipoh city, with an estimated gross sales value of RM194mil. To be launched for Bandar Seri Botani in the third and fourth quarters of 2010 are 317 units of double-storey semi-detached houses, double-storey linked houses, and bungalows, with an estimated gross sales value of RM79mil. These properties have buit-up areas of between 1,287 sq ft and 2,180 sq ft, priced between RM155,000 and RM365,000.

On the other hand, the RM115mil Thompson project, scheduled for launching in mid-2010, comprises 46 bungalows in a guarded community with built-up areas ranging between 6,900 sq ft and 8,100 sq ft, priced from RM2.4mil onwards. The project, located on a 13-acre site, is between Jalan Tun Dr Ismail and Lorong Tun Dr Ismail, the most prestigious area of Ipoh city.

Kinta Properties is launching 136 units of landed properties, comprising linked and semi-detached houses, with an estimated gross sales value of RM31.9mil from mid-2010 onwards in Bandar Baru Sri Klebang. The linked properties have built-up areas ranging between 1,500 sq ft and 2,160 sq ft, priced between RM205,000 and RM298,800. In February, Kinta Properties launched 21 bungalows priced between RM449,800 and RM788,000.

Namcom Development Sdn Bhd is launching in the third quarter RM65mil worth of landed and high-rise properties comprising 158 semi-detached, double-terraced, and terraced houses in Klebang Ria, and 37 condominium units in Jalan Tun Dr Ismail. The landed properties with built-up of between 1,000 sq ft and 2,500 sq ft are priced between RM138,000 and RM368,000. The condominiums, with built-up of 1,500 to 3,400 sq ft, are between RM420 and RM450 per sq ft.

Wow… After Kick-Ass, here is another action film based on comic book hitting our cinemas now, called The Losers. The title can be a bit misleading if you are not a fan of the comic book published by DC Comics. Although I have yet to read the comic book, I get to watch the movie version instead, thanks to Warner Bros.

The story begins with a team of mercenaries who wage war on the CIA after they’re double-crossed in the field and left to die. The 5 members of the team were on a blacks-ops mission in the Bolivian jungle when rogue CIA agent Max hung them out to dry.

After beating the odds and surviving their ordeal, the team decides to strike back against Max even if it means sacrificing their own lives to do so. Aiding them on their treacherous suicide mission is operative Aisha, who has her own reasons for wanting to see Max get his just deserts.

Getting to Max won’t be easy, because in addition to having the CIA on his side, he’s about to spark a war that could plunge the entire globe into chaos. Their time quickly running out as Max’s plan kicks into overdrive. The 5 “Losers” that everyone assumed dead arms themselves to the teeth and prepares to strike back with a vengeance.

The action sequences are fine but the script is something to look forward to. The smart and funny script alone is engaging enough to receive 4 out of 5 stars from me. By the way, do stay on to your seat even when the credits start rolling as there is a scene of the hospital.

Anyway, the plot with a twist is nothing new for a revenge action genre. Here’s a spoiler, Max is not dead in the end. So I expect a sequel coming if the movie generates enough of ticket sales.

I do not know any of the cast members, except for Zoe Saldana (of Avatar fame), who plays the sexy operative Aisha. She is definitely a magnet to attract the male demographic to watch the show. Which guy wouldn’t want to catch her in fighting scene with just her underwear? Enough said… Go watch it in cinema now!