Benefits of Baby Massage

Apart from fostering parent-child connection, giving your baby a massage has been shown to help calm him down, improve sleep patterns and aid digestion. It's also a loving way for moms, dads, older siblings, grandparents and other caregivers to share special time with the new baby.

Gentle massage also promotes the growth and development of premature babies. One study found that premature babies who were massaged for 15 minutes, three times a day for two weeks gained almost 50 % more weight, were more alert and active, and were discharged 6 days earlier from the hospital than premature infants who were not massaged.

Most babies love to be touched and most parents love to touch their babies so enjoy the massage process. Use this intimate session to talk to your baby. Tell him what you are doing and ask for permission even if your baby cannot give verbal consent yet. Start with a short session at first, no more than about five minutes. You can gradually lengthen your massage sessions when your little one becomes familiar with the ritual over time. And remember to watch your baby's reactions and body language for feedback. Look out for signs of enjoyment (smiles, coos) or discomfort (fussing, turning away) and stop if he seems uncomfortable. Respect your baby's signals.

For 3 simple steps to massage baby, please visit:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Baby-Massage-123

Landed Property Home vs. Condominium

If you have RM500,000 in Malaysia, which would you buy? Landed property home or condominium? Let’s assume location is the same, then I will fall back to the purpose of the property being purchased. Personally, I feel if the property is purchased for own stay its better to go for landed property. Own stay means long term and landed property will appreciate better as compared to condominium. Condominium will get old over time and the facilities become run down hence reducing its value. Landed property home will also get old but the land below will appreciate over time. Landed property home also has more privacy.

If the property is for investment, I think condominium is a better choice. Generally, condominium is easier to rent out than landed property home. Also the rental returns for condominium is higher. Furthermore, managing a condominium is less hassle as maintenance is taken care by the developer.

Read article below for better illustration.


The Two Sides of Owning a Landed Property
by Lim J.

Landed property, usually referring to houses (bungalows, semi-D, terrace houses), have long been properties favored by various investors over the course of time. Despite the competition form high-rise strata properties, the market for landed property continues to grow in good health, for now, as well as for the years to come in Malaysia.

Why own a Landed property?

When one buys a landed property, they not only get the house, but the whole piece of land which the house is built on as well. The freedom of owning a piece of land is one of the main reasons for these buyers. The spare land areas could be used to improve their living, such as landscaping it into a beautiful front yard garden, or turn it into a productive backyard mini-orchard, or just make it into a recreational space for the children and house pets-whatever that floats the owner's boat.

From an investor's point of view however, one can see that landed property tends to appreciate better in the long term, compared to high-rise properties. A house on a land bought by your grandfather 60 years ago at RM200K might cost about double or triple the price today, depending on its location. The main reason - land tends to grow scarce in times to come, as development and resident population quickly catches up. Thus, the larger the population, the more rapid the development, the more expensive prime land costs. Not to mention, the cost to reuse former high-rise land will always be higher than the cost to reuse lands that once were landed property (houses or structure less than 2 or 3-storey high).

However, it doesn't matter if you're a house buyer or an investor. It is common knowledge that the property life expectancy of a landed property will definitely outlived those of a high-rise property. A condominium or an apartment will see its value depreciate after a certain period of time (usually when it is no longer new, or safe to live in), while a landed property will still have its land’s value, which will rarely depreciate over time.

From these reasons, we can see why some people, even if they have the means, choose to buy a terrace in Cheras, but not a luxury condominium around Mont Kiara. However, a landed property will have its own problems as well.

Why Some Don't

Perimeter security is the strong point for most high-rise properties, particularly lifestyle or resort-style living condominiums found in areas such as Mont Kiara and Damansara. This is one factor that landed properties usually lack, unless it is a gated and guarded community. Even so, most of the gated communities are formed and hired by the residents themselves, whereas security features in condominiums came along with the whole package. Not to mention, the levels of security in a high-rise property is usually stricter than that of a landed property, the latter being harder to manage.

Maintenance is another factor. For a condominium, a fixed visible sum of maintenance fees is usually needed every once in a month or so to keep up the maintenance of the property, which will also include the facilities: gym, garden, swimming pool etc. aside from any external or internal repairs (sewage system etc). For one's own landed property, there is no need for maintenance fees, but the owner will have to make sure all the maintenance are done on their own - the garden yard, the pipes and sewage system. But then again, the maintenance for a condominium will always be higher than that of a landed property itself.

All in all, it finally falls to each person's lifestyle and preference if it comes to deciding for a home between a landed or a high-rise. However, if it is for investment purposes, more research will need to be done to see which type of investment will be more worthy - if it is on the land itself, a landed property will do good; but if it is on tenant rental collection, high-rise (apartments esp.) are most popular among renters for their lesser entry fee and deposit.

Running Joy and Fun Rules

I did mention in my earlier post, Running is simple.

You don't need a room full of pricey equipment or to phone in advance for a tee time. Running doesn't even require much skill—nothing could be easier. Naturally, there are tons of rules. Not for the act of running itself, but about the code, largely unspoken, that governs behavior and informs decisions in situations that every runner encounters sooner or later. These are guidelines to make running a little bit happier, healthier, and more fun for everyone. Because the first rule of running is just that: Have fun.

Have Fun

No other fact is so fundamental to running: Done properly, running is fun. Even when you do it improperly, running is still inherently, liberating fun. If you doubt this, just spend a few minutes watching a child or a dog in any wide open space. Their glee is instinctual and undeniable. Enjoy it. After all, there aren't many animal impulses that we can act on in public without getting arrested.

Expand Your Sense of Fun

As a runner, your definition of fun must be, well, let's just say broadened and might include:

Waking up at 5:30 a.m. to run 20km

Running in blistering heat

Running in the rain

Running in 400-meter circles

Feeling as if your lungs are about to explode

Paying good money for the privilege of turning your toenails black

Any combination of the above

Black Toenails Are Badges of Honor

Run long enough and you'll wind up ruining a toenail or two. Whether it's because your shoes are too big or too small or because you've run a race with punishing downhills or the toenail gods happen to be in a foul mood, someday you will peel off your socks and see black where once there was pink. Congratulations! These bruised nails are tiny trophies conferred upon you for toughing it out. Just don't flash them in public.

Let Angry Motorists Go

I understand the impulse when a driver has just pulled out in front of you or turned directly in your path or otherwise behaved like a jerk. I know how much you'd love to slap the trunk of that driver's car, or shout at the person behind the wheel, helpfully suggesting that he or she "learn to drive." Or showing him the finger. Do yourself—and all runners—a favor and fight that impulse. Smile. Your lashing out isn't likely to change the driver's behavior, and may, in fact, worsen it. For all you know, the still-seething guy may drive extra close to the next runner he sees, just to make a point. Let him go.

The Open-Ended Question Is Your Friend

Running with someone who's faster than you? Is this person oblivious to your gasping? If so, it's time to deploy that surefire weapon of struggling runners everywhere: Ask the offending speedster a question so broad, he or she could spend 10 minutes answering it. And just might! This is particularly useful on long hills.

"Say, how's the job?"

"Any vacation plans this year?"

For Pete's Sake, Stand Still at Red Lights

Sharks die when they stop moving. Runners do not. There's no need to jog in place or dance from foot to foot like you have to pee. Just chill. Wait a few moments. Note: If a nonrunner waiting with you at the crosswalk is dancing from foot to foot, he or she may indeed have to pee. Give this person wide berth.

Looking good!"...and other runners' lies

Lying is not something we normally endorse. But it's perfectly acceptable to tell a runner that he is looking good at mile 19 of a marathon when, in fact, he looks like an insomniac who's trying to sneeze, and is confused because someone has switched his running shoes with replicas made of concrete. The go-to lie is "Looking good!" Or you could say, "If I weren't so awed by the apparent ease with which you're navigating this course, I might be angry with you for nearly knocking me unconscious with your very awesomeness!" The key is to say something. Even a zombie appreciates encouragement.

Pass Gas, Not Judgment

Runners ingest a fair amount of healthy foods, which produce gas in the GI tract, where it cannot stay forever. Especially when that GI tract is bounced and jostled. Passing gas while running is excusable and inevitable, but... You may not mock another runner for having passed gas, unless he has previously mocked you for the same or unless he mocks himself. If a runner has taken pains to mask flatulence, pretend nothing happened. It's fun to pretend that the gas you expelled is propelling you forward, like a little booster rocket. That isn't really a guideline, though, is it?

Never Miss a Chance To Thank a Volunteer

Even if you're running the race of your life, you can still manage a bit of eye contact and a nod as you grab a cup of water from an outstretched hand. Even if it feels like your quads are quite literally on fire, you can manage to sputter a short "thanks" to the course marshal standing in the intersection. It will make the volunteer feel good. And you, too.

A Dose of Justice Served

This post is taken from an article I wrote in the Hubpages. I think this augurs well for the property sector in the country. It’s a good sign. We want Malaysia to strife for good governance which is so lacking in this country.

“I have almost lost faith in the Malaysian Judiciary System. This did not happen recently. It was built up over the years. However, the landmark ruling by the Federal Court on 21 January 2010 made me rethink the direction our Judiciary System is heading. This ruling will put a stop to illegal land transfers in the country. There may yet be hope.

Previously, the Federal Court had ruled that owner whose property was transferred via fraudulent means could not take legal action against the third party who bought the land from the fraudster. Unscrupulous people will falsify tittles transfer and documents to themselves and then sell the properties. Once the property is sold, the law could not protect the rightful owner as long as it can be proven that the third party buyer bought the land on good faith. This resulted in property fraud victims being unable to recover their property. Since the ruling about 10 years ago, fraudulent transfer has become a thriving business for some. After a decade, this has finally been corrected.

The landmark ruling on 21st Jan 2010 meant that if it can be proven that a title has been obtained by forgery or misrepresentation, then the claim can be defeated. This will help curb forgery incidents and property scams and protect owners from losing their property. In this rare joint effort by the entire legal fraternity including the 4 highest ranking judges, it is no longer legal for anyone to buy a piece of property from someone who got hold of the property through fraudulent means.

This will also give us assurance that our property will not be easily stolen and we can take legal action if it happens. I think it will also increase investors’ confidence in Malaysia.

This is just a dose of Justice served. Many, many, many more doses are required. We are still far away from an effective and efficient Judiciary System. The beginning of a long journey, maybe.”

Case References:

Tan Yin Hong vs Tan Sian San

Adorna Properties Sdn Bhd vs Boonsom Boonyanit

Do give us your comments or views on this matter. Cheers!

5% Real Property Gain Tax in Malaysia

What some foreigners say..

“How can your government do this “see-saw” ruling on RPGT? I was under the impression and believed that I could get a 30% profit from my condominium sale? I am a pensioner and this gain will assist me with my monthly expenses and now I am faced with 5 % less! It is unfair! Please ask your government to weigh the pros and cons before the ruling is made. It will have an adverse effect on your property industry.” – Mr. Joe of the United States, 56 years old

“We like and love Malaysia and you have all the beauty of land, sea and beautiful houses and condominiums. We like to stay here because it is cheaper to educate our children and purchase an apartment in your country. In Korea, a 1,400 sq ft apartment 45 km from the city centre will cost us USD1 mil. Therefore, Malaysia is heaven to us. Tell your government, we investors have expenses but no income as we don’t have a business here. We sometimes travel in and out (of Malaysia) for our business in Korea, and if we have enough money, we will buy property here. Revenue will be brought into your country. Ask the government to impose tax on other things, OK?” – Mr. Jin Lee of Korea, 48 years old

“I have visited your country for the past 6 years just to learn your rulings (on property) and I feel that it is unfair because pamphlets printed by us have not been fully distributed (in Iran) and now a new ruling has been made. Buying property is one of the main priorities for Iranians because we strongly believe that having our own home is better than renting. We are new in your country and are still learning (about the local property market). We have not digested the old ruling and there is already a new set of ruling. I am not old but it is taking me a long time to understand what’s going on, so imagine what it is like for the older ones who hardly speak English. How do we explain the changes to them? They won’t understand and will think we are trying to swindle them. Government of Malaysia, do think through (the ruling) and don’t impose the 5% RPGT for the good of the property industry!” – Mr. Reza, of Iran, 47 years old

Let's hope there will be no more changes or surprises from the government. Do not scare away good investors. We want stability and consistency in government policies.

CONDO-MINIMUM – the plain truth

I came across this article and think its worth posting. Quite general but may be helpful.

Are you buying a condominium? Here is a guide to help you understand the commitments better so that you know what you are buying into.

There are many reasons why people make their homes in condominiums. Some do it because their children have grown up and moved out, and their homes are now too large. Others consider it because it is cheaper to buy a unit in a condo rather than a landed property in the location they want.

The sharing of maintenance and repair responsibilities may also appeal to people who have limited time, or are not interested in such chores, as well as those who want recreational facilities at their doorsteps. Thus, when you buy a condo, you are buying into a certain lifestyle, complete with requisite facilities and services such as security, cleaning of common areas, swimming pools, multi-purpose halls, playgrounds for children and courts for racquet games.

The word ‘condominium’ comes from the Latin words ‘con’ which means ‘together’; and ‘dominium’, meaning ‘property’.

This type of property ownership has two parts to it: Ownership of the individual unit, and joint ownership of the ‘common property’ with the other unit owners in the project.

It is easy to be seduced by the ‘glamour’ of living in a condo. Therefore, before the allure clouds your mind, you must first understand that ownership comes with shared responsibilities and factors you should beware of. Here are some:

Payments, and more payments

As the owner of one of the units in a project, you are required to pay a monthly service charge to cover the cost of maintenance and the management of the common areas.

This charge will increase over time, as a result of inflation and other aspects beyond your control. Many of the ‘common’ facilities and services - such as lifts, swimming pool, gym, tennis court, landscaped gardens and even security services - are expensive to maintain.

Many first-time condo buyers usually give little thought to exactly how this charge is derived and are also generally unclear about who actually does the maintenance, or who ultimately makes the decision about what work gets done.

Furthermore, they may also not know whether it is the developer that looks after the project, or if it by the Joint Management Body (JMB) or is it a Management Corporation (MC) that is entrusted to handle the task.

In this situation, the best thing all condo owners should do is study their Sale and Purchase Agreements, Building & Common Property (Maintenance & Management) Act, 2007 and the Strata Titles Act carefully to understand the responsibilities that comes along with stratified property ownership and the contributions to the funds involved.

Tolerance

Condo residents share walls, floors, ceilings, hallways, entrances and parking areas with their neighbours. Respect for other people's right to the quiet and peaceful enjoyment of their homes is therefore essential.

As a resident, your neighbours will appreciate (and hopefully reciprocate) your efforts to turn down the volume of your TV or hi-fi set, walk softly, close your doors quietly and limit your vacuuming to reasonable hours.

Inconsiderate residents ruin the lives of those around them, but at the same time, you will need to have some degree of tolerance to live in a condo. For example, you have to accept the presence of noisy, boisterous children.

Community rules

Whether a condo is small or large, it will invariably come with a set of by-laws, rules and regulations for the benefit of the community at large.

Whether it is the developer or the JMB or that of the MC that sets them, the covenants, by-laws, rules and other conditions bind all owners.

These by-laws govern almost everything, from special assessments and the election of residents' association officers to the allocation of parking space and use of recreational facilities.

Owners who fail to follow the by-laws can be fined, and complaints with the relevant authorities for the seizure of an owner's property can be made if fines or assessments are not paid. You can only be happy living in a condo if you are willing to follow its by-laws, rules and regulations.

Volunteering time

All unit owners automatically become members of a condo's MC, which is formed once strata titles have been issued to the individual units. However, even before the issuance of these titles, it is the JMB that is formulated to jointly work with the developers.

The office bearers of the JMB or MC are made up of volunteer owners. There are cases, of course, of condo owners never volunteering their service, or even turning up for meetings. Residents will notice such lack of participation, especially if the project is small.

Being part of a community means being prepared to serve on the JMB or MC, or joining a special committee, helping to get estimates for repairs, or taking responsibility for other tasks that benefit the condo as a whole. If you are willing to pitch in, you will earn the gratitude and respect of your fellow unit owners.

Before you make the move…

When contemplating buying a condo, there are some questions you should ask yourself. Some of these include:

•What is the history or background to the development? For example, have there been persistent problems with water leakage or poor collection of service charges?

•If you are purchasing a unit that has yet to be issued with a strata title, will you have to bear the cost of any difference in the built-up area, should it be larger than the 'estimated size" as described in your Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA)?

•What is the current financial status of the condo's Joint Management Body (JMB) or Management Corporation (MC)? Ask for a copy of the year-end financial statement, the current budget and evidence of adequate insurance coverage. However, this is usually easier said than done, as many developers who manage condos consider financial statements highly confidential. You will have to be persistent so as not to be saddled with any sudden increase in service charges, or end up with a badly managed condo that will reduce the value of your property.

•Does the common property appear to be well maintained and managed?

•Will the unit owners own the facilities as part of the common property, or will the developer continue to own them?

•How many units in the building does the developer own? In cases where the developer owns a larger number, it will continue to dominate the MC.

•How many units have been rented out? In condos where there are more tenants than owner-occupiers, chances are you will have fewer people volunteering for community services.

•Are there extra parking bays for owners? Are there enough parking bays for visitors? Are there restrictions on visitor or owner parking? Is there any parking allocation for motorcycles?

•If there is vacant land around the condo, will some new project take shape there in the future? If so, what impact will it have on the quality of life that you expect?

You will have to talk to the existing condo residents, particularly owner-occupiers, for answers to some of these questions. Ultimately, the decision as to whether condo living is right for you or not should be based on your preferences and tolerance level.

Buying a condo should be a well thought-out decision, based upon an understanding of the social, financial and legal aspects of the purchase.

Just as with the purchase of any type of house, you should consider carefully whether it is the right place for you and your family to live in, in the long term.

 

By : NATIONAL HOUSE BUYERS ASSOCIATION [HBA]

Setia Alam Welcome Centre

This morning we went to Setia Alam Welcome Centre.

 Its a minute drive from my home.

Just to share a few photos of this prominent landmark in my neighbourhood.

The banners show few campaigns are on-going.

One section in the Welcome Centre.

Today, Bandar Setia Alam is launching the new 20'x70'. The price is RM468,000 for an intermediate unit. I feel its very much on the high side. Could get a semi detached for this price in other locations. Let's just see how their sales will be.

View from the highway.

Zoomed.

This building houses the administration, sales & marketing, customer care and estate management of Bandar Setia Alam. Next to it is the show village where numerous show units are built and fully furnished for customers to have a 'look & feel' of what they are buying.

Entry & Exit.

What is BPA?

Bisphenol A, commonly abbreviated as BPA, is an organic compound with two phenol functional groups. It is a difunctional building block of several important plastics and plastic additives.

Suspected of being hazardous to humans since the 1930s, concerns about the use of bisphenol A in consumer products were regularly reported in the news media in 2008 after several governments issued reports questioning its safety, and some retailers have removed products made of it from their shelves.

Recent reports suggest that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in the plastics used to make many types of baby bottles could cause behavioral changes in babies or contribute to early onset of puberty in girls. Further study is needed on the exact effects of BPA in humans, but many parents are switching to BPA-free bottles just to be on the safe side.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) continues to make headlines, more than a year after the National Toxicology Program draft report. Many parents are still struggling to figure out which bottles and sippy cups are BPA-free, and whether or not the chemical is of great concern to them. The most recent research on BPA and baby indicates that it may be harder than you think to find a BPA-free bottle for you or baby, but also that finding those BPA-free products for the whole family may be more important than ever.

BPA Linked with Aggression in Toddler Girls

A study from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill and Canada's Simon Fraser University shows that BPA's estrogen-mimicking tendencies may have far-reaching consequences. The study followed nearly 250 women throughout their pregnancies and then also evaluated their children. The women who showed the highest concentrations of BPA in their urine at 16 weeks pregnant had more aggressive, hyperactive daughters than those with lower concentrations of BPA. BPA exposure has been linked to neurological changes, diabetes and asthma, among other conditions, but previously much of the research focused on postnatal exposure. Past research has shown that prenatal exposure to BPA can affect the sex differences in mice, including affecting aggression among young females.

Even after hours of our own research on the internet, there are no conclusive facts confirming the danger of BPA. However, we are not taking any chances. We have since switched to MAM’s BPA free baby bottles for Keith.

Want to spend more time playing with your baby? Try using a baby bottle sterilizer.

Japanese Dining : Ninja Jones

This Japanese restaurant was recommended by Agnes' colleague. We were shopping at Mid Valley Megamall so we decided to try it. Located at Northpoint, Mid Valley City Kuala Lumpur this Japanese restaurant is not easy to find. We had to go to the infomation counter for directions. After crossing a sky bridge and descending escalator we found the restaurant. We were greeted by a friendly waitress. I did not go in right away but examined the menu. OK, prices are still within our means. So let's go enjoy our lunch.

First time here.. don't know what is good. So we just order what we feel like eating. For starters we ordered a dish called Ninja Harumaki. Quite tasty.. has soft shell crab and prawn.

Agnes ordered.. Teriyaki Chicken & Tempura set (only RM28). This set comes with salad and cawamushi which is not in the picture. Already in our "perut".

My order.. Stone grilled Wahgyu beef. Absolutely delicious. The meat is more tender than Agnes' teriyaki chicken and a lot juicier. Almost like melting in my mouth. Wish I could eat another serving of this but alas i do not want to live beyond my means.

We found a Ninja in the restaurant. He was armed with a katana.

Luckily this is a friendly Ninja.

Later he showed us his favorite weapon. The Shuriken.

 
Will definitely come back here for the food. And to try the rest of the offerings (especially sashimi) on the menu. Also to chat with our Ninja friend and learn more of their arts.