Investing in stocks, equities, bonds, and financial linked investments isn’t for everyone. In Singapore, the path of brick and mortar investment stands out as a safer bet, especially with our 90% ownership rate, one of the highest globally. Not everyone can afford multiple properties given today’s pricing, TDSR, LTV, and cooling measures. Personally, I’ve found success in moving houses every 3-4 years, capitalizing on capital gains. My journey started humbly with a 5-flat BTO in Punggol, eventually progressing to new launch condo, penthouse, landed property and resale condo with enbloc potential.
Hello, I’m Gary Goh, and my upbringing was marred by financial struggles. I can still vividly recall how my parents made those phone calls to relatives and friends to borrow money just to put food on the table when I was young. I went astray and became a delinquent teenager and was deemed beyond redemption by relatives and my maternal grandmother. My parents are simple people and I love them but their lack of education, knowledge and financial planning led to mounting debts, exacerbated by my father’s gambling habits.
My wife and I were married in 2001 and got our BTO flat in 2002 for $232,400. We sold it for $308,000 in 2007 and bought our first private property for $820,000, a new launch with balance units ready to move in. That was how our property journey started without any professional advice from property agents. We sold it for $1,238,000 in 2010 for a whopping $400k+ capital gains and the ball keeps rolling.
Encouraged by my wife, I obtained a real estate license in 2012, marking the beginning of a fulfilling career to help more people with asset planning and avoiding costly mistakes. I’ve personally transacted more than $200 million worth of properties over the years, witnessing how real estate has helped many people, including those with financial difficulties. Interacting with industry veterans and learning from diverse clients has honed my expertise, enabling me to provide invaluable advice and solutions, enriching lives and building wealth for clients along the way.
As a father of two boys, I’m committed to ensuring they avoid the pitfalls I encountered. Transparency about my past mistakes and unwavering dedication to their education and development have been paramount. Through proper planning and sacrifices, we secured placements for them in a reputable primary school and nurtured their talents, leading to success in competitive sports as well as entry into one of the top secondary school in Singapore via the DSA route.
Watching my sons excel on the national, regional and international stage is a source of immense pride. Their achievements underscore the importance of mental fortitude, resilience, and strategic thinking – qualities I’ve instilled in them since young, how they should race in various conditions and focusing on self-improvement rather than placing blame on others, setting realistic achievements but lofty goals and planning ahead. My elder son was a medalist for both SEA Games and Asian Games in 2023. Both of them have received numerous primary/secondary school and National level awards too including scholarship awards. I believe my innate analytical mind and strategic thinking do contribute to their success.
I can do that for your real estate plans too. A curated and customized forward-thinking plans to realize your real estate dreams. By leveraging real estate as a tool for capital growth, enhance your net worth and ultimately achieve financial freedom for retirement. Mitigating risk is also very important because real estate is likely to be the largest purchase we make in our lives. My wife and I always provide free advice and tips to our real estate clients on what we did to nurture our children, ensuring a better pathway for them when they enter the society. We can guide you through how to get into a good primary school, DSA matters for secondary school including parenting skills on sports excellence.