The Edge real estate investment forum continues to draw the crowd

Full house at the forum - photo by Abdul Ghani Ismail/TheEdge

KUALA LUMPUR: The annual The Edge Investment Forum on Real Estate once again drew overwhelming response, attracting a crowd of about 750 participants this year. The forum was organised exclusively for The Edge Malaysia readers who took time off to attend the half day forum at the Sime Darby Convention Center in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday, April 9.

This year's forum was themed, “Buy, Sell or Hold?".  It was presented by UOB Malaysia and supported by S P Setia Bhd, the No 1 ranked developer in The Edge Top Property Developers Awards 2010.

The Edge Editor-in-Chief, Dorothy Teoh in her opening remarks said the number of participants at the investment forum continues to grow as property is a 'hot topic' and represent the biggest
investment in one's lifetime for many people.

The first speaker, CB Richard Ellis (M) Sdn Bhd's executive chairman, Christopher Boyd gave some of his views on whether Klang Valley property prices will continue to rise, followed by Ho Chin Soon, director of Ho Chin Soon Research Sdn Bhd who spoke on possible real estate hot spots along the proposed Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line in Greater Kuala Lumpur.

Reapfield Properties senior vice president Gerard Kho then gave a few pointers about investing in shop offices, focusing on areas to invest in as well as some basic fundamentals to consider before buying.

Participants stayed on after a short coffee break for a panel discussion on the topic 'Build-then-sell: the impact on property prices. In the panel was Bandar Utama developer See Hoy Chan Holdings Group director, Datuk Teo Chiang Kok, UOB Malaysia's managing director and country head of personal finance services, Kevin Lam, and Rehda (Real Estate and Housing Developers Association) Youth member Sam Tan who is also executive director of Ken Holdings Bhd.

One participants who only wants to be known as Kee, an auditor, said he found the forum enlightening and took notes of the presentations throughout the forum.

Another attendee who works as a manager a local bank said it was his first time attending the forum which is into its fifth year.

"I will definitely attend the next one. All the speakers had given so much information about property investment," he said.

Outside the hall, participants took the opportunity to check out the latest products at the booths of UOB Malaysia, S P Setia and Ho Chin Soon Research. Ten participants also took home Ho Chin Soon research maps via a lucky draw.

For the full coverage of The Edge Investment Forum on Real Estate 2011, read the April 18 issue of City & Country, the property pullout of The Edge Malaysia.

From left: Boyd, Tan, Teo, Lam, Teoh, S P Setia representative Diana Chin, Ho and The Edge Chief Marketing Officer Au Foong Yee