GEORGE TOWN: The Star Property Fair 2012 got off to a good start with exhibitors expressing surprise over the big turnout of visitors despite it being a weekday.

Many exhibitors said they received enquiries and even closed sales within the first two hours of the fair’s opening at Gurney Plaza and G Hotel here at 10am yesterday.

IJM Land senior manager (sales and marketing) Patsy Lee said she was overwhelmed by the encouraging response as they sold three condominium units shortly after the fair was opened to the public.

“There were about 50 enquiries on our various projects. Based on our conversations with those who made enquiries, they were serious buyers.

“It seemed they have done their homework as most of the questions they asked were pertinent to our projects,” she said.

Asia Green Group director Tan Li Mei said she was thrilled over the large crowd at the company’s booths.

“We normally expect people to come either at night or during weekends. But the turnout was good, considering that it is a Thursday,” Tan said.

Ivory Properties Group Bhd senior marketing executive Koay Tze Chung said the response on the first day of the fair was better compared to previous years.

“Many of them came well prepared by asking all the relevant details on our projects. We expect them to return during the weekend once they have finished conducting surveys at the fair today (yesterday),” he said.

SP Setia Bhd sales and marketing property division (North) senior executive Agnes Chua said they received about 40 enquiries for one of their condominium projects.

“It is a weekday but there is already a sizeable turnout at the fair. We expect things to get better as the fair goes on,” she said.

Fifty exhibitors, including financial institutions and investment companies, are taking part in the four-day fair which is touted as Malaysia’s premier showcase for stylish living.

The fair, organised by The Star for the 10th year, is open from 10am to 10pm daily until Sunday. Admission is free.

Source: The Star

A COUPLE drove all the way from Ipoh just to check out the selection of top property at the Star Property Fair 2012 at Gurney Plaza and G Hotel in Penang.

Casino operations assistant ma-nager Ng Boon Ping, 42, and his wife Chow Yeng Yeng, 40, did not mind driving the distance as long as they could secure a dream home in Penang.

“We are looking for a unit, either landed or high-rise, to invest in. We were told the prices for property in Penang could escalate real fast.

“We hope to own a home here. We can then either rent it out or make it a holiday home for us,” said Chow who also brought along their two-year-old son Lysander.

Another visitor was Shaik Sindamadar Sahul Hamid, 60, who said he did not want to miss the chance to check out the property on offer.

“I plan to buy a new home,” said the pensioner.

Businessman Lee Han Mow, 22, came in search of a dream home with his girlfriend Soo Ilya, 23.

Both of them were looking for a condominium priced at about RM500,000.

“We were told that we could get almost everything here, from landed homes, bungalows, condominiums to shop offices.

“The exhibitors here are also renowned developers. We feel safe and secure to make our purchase here,” Lee said.

Meanwhile, exhibitors had put up eye-catching and inventive displays at their booths to woo visitors.

A giant arch could be seen welcoming visitors at the booths of SP Setia Bhd.

Its sales and marketing property division (north) senior executive Agnes Chua said the arch provided a “grand” feel for visitors.

IJM Land senior manager (sales and marketing) Patsy Lee said they spent about RM35,000 to decorate their booths, including putting up artificial greens and flooring of a maze garden.

“We wanted to emphasise impressive landscaping and lush greenery in our property projects.

“In fact, one of our projects has a durian orchard,” she said.

Asia Green Group director Tan Li Mei said they adopted a green concept for the design and layout of their booths.

Star Publications (M) Bhd executive director Tan Sri Kamal Hashim was among those who visited the fair yesterday.

Kamal said the response to be part of the fair was so overwhelming that they had to turn away some of those who wanted to be exhibitors due to space limitation.

“We apologise for that. This only shows that the major industry players have great confidence in our event,” he said.

Fifty exhibitors, including financial institutions and investment companies, are participating in the four-day fair which is touted as Malaysia’s premier showcase for stylish living.

For contest buffs, three Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7 and other attractive prizes are up for grabs daily over the four days in the IJM-The Star Property Fair Contest.

There are also daily talks on various topics.

The fair, which is organised by The Star for the 10th year, is open from 10am and 10pm daily until Sunday. Admission is free.

Source: The Star

SOME 1,300 residents of Taman Emas high-rise flats in Teluk Kumbar in Penang got some cheer upon coming home to find their blocks had been given a fresh coat of paint.

The surau of the flats was also upgraded.

It was furnished with new carpets and curtains and it was also repainted on the exterior.

Both the projects were undertaken by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) called the Penang Malay Congress.

Its president Rahmad Isahak said the project was funded by a Penang-born entrepreneur who wished to remain anonymous.

“The flats before they were repainted were unsightly.

“Since they were constructed 22 years ago, they had not been given a fresh coat of paint until now.”

The total amount spent on both the repainting of the blocks and the upgrading of the surau was RM330,000.

“The sum was donated by the entrepreneur. The work took one and a half months to complete.

“We are probably the first NGO in Malaysia who has managed to complete this type of project,” he said before launching the repainting effort recently.

Rahmad stressed there was no political motive behind the repainting effort.

“We are an NGO who just want the best for the Malay community and we truly want to help those who are in need.

“These projects will also benefit the non-Malays who are living here,” he said.

The flats consist of three five-storey blocks totalling 320 units.

Source: The Star

Sunway Hills, a proposed residential development by Sunway City at Sungai Ara, Penang. Comprises 472 units of apartments, 36 units of duplex condo-villas, 30 units of zero-lot villas and 62 units of villas.

Only 45% of the land will be utilised leaving approximately 35 acres of green land preserved with the original landscape of indigenous trees. It will be turned into a forest sanctuary dotted with jungle trails, foot paths, reading pavilions, tea pavilions, picnic shelters, open decks, observatory, rock garden, orchards, landscaped park and cascading water features and streams.

This is still in its planning stage and pending for approval. More details to be available upon official launch.

Property Project : Sunway Hills (to be confirmed)
Location : Sungai Ara, Penang
Property Type : Condominium/Apartment, Villas
Tenure : Freehold
Developer : Sunway City

Location Map:

Setia Pinnacle, part of Setia Greens residential development in Sungai Ara by SP Setia. 434 units of GBI (Green Building Index) rated condominium with size ranging from 1,050 sq.ft – 1,470 sq.ft. It comes with full condominium facilities, grand drop-off  point and elegant entrance foyer.

Property Project : Setia Pinnacle
Location : Setia Greens, Sungai Ara, Penang
Property Type : Condominium
Total Units : 434
Indicative Price : RM500,000 onwards
Developer : SP Setia (Kewira Jaya Sdn Bhd)