Have you ever wondered like me if your home could be your ticket to financial freedom? In Singapore, our obsession with property has led many of us to purchase a home not just to live in, but also to invest in. For my wife and me, we started with a modest 4-room HDB flat bought during the Sale of Balance Flats exercise.

At the time, we were just happy to have a comfortable home near the MRT and shopping malls. But since our university days, we had learned about passive income and always had investing in the back of our minds. Joining PropNex proved invaluable, as I gained knowledge on a range of relevant topics. These included recognizing an undervalued property, choosing units with potential and mitigating risk. This first flat would end up being the start of an unexpected investment journey, full of valuable lessons that would ultimately pay off in a big way.

I can still vividly recall the day we received the keys to our flat in Bukit Panjang. As we stepped inside for the first time, the space filled us with pride and excitement. This was our first home together as a married couple. For several years, we were content with our cozy flat, giving little thought to its investment potential.

However, as the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) approached, the concept of buying a second property for investment crossed our minds. With the confidence gained from PropNex, I began viewing our flat in a new light. What if we sold it after attaining MOP rather than paying hefty Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty to keep it? This thought process marked a critical shift in our investment journey. When the day finally arrived, saying goodbye to our beloved first home was bittersweet. But it gave us the opportunity to own multiple properties.

Years later, an opportunity to restructure our portfolio presented itself. We are delighted that the profit can cover the original purchase price of our first flat! We’ll never forget the incredible feeling of seeing the numbers on the cheque. Emotions flooded in – relief, joy, and a newfound determination to keep pushing forward.

That life-changing moment taught us an invaluable lesson about the consequences of holding onto our HDB flat versus selling at the right time. We’re so grateful we didn’t delay our decision. With the profits gained, we successfully restructured our portfolio by upgrading one of our private properties from a 3-bedroom to a much more spacious 4-bedroom unit.

Looking back now, it’s clear that had we clung onto our first HDB flat and done nothing, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We wouldn’t have made the profit that covered the entire original flat price. Patience and long-term planning were essential. The true outcome of a decision may only be apparent 5, 10, even 20 years later.

Having gone through this journey myself, I understand the struggles, challenges and thought processes individuals face when starting out. Whether you begin with a new BTO or your own private property, I want to empower you to avoid the costly mistakes others have made.

My question is – will your home be the key to achieving your property investment goals? I’m excited to share my personal experience with you so we can explore that question together. Feel free to reach out at +65 9855 5431.