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Malaysia is a malting pot of different cultures that happened a long time ago, so it's not surprising that it would also have brought together a mish-mash of superstitions. What is surprising, though, is how many of which are still believed today, dictating what should and should not be done around the house like where a house should be built, how it should be built and what to have and not to have in and around the house. Are you familiar with any of them? 1. Don't buy a home with a front gate that faces a T-junction This one comes from the belief that lost spirits wander along T-junctions as they'd stop to think of where to go next, which increases the chances that you'd have unwanted contact with one of them. Regardless of what you believe, it does make sense if you don't want annoying headlights to shine into your house while you're trying to sleep – or maybe even a car crashing headlong into your front gate. 2. Don't obstruct the front door. The front door should be kept clear as it would block good energy from getting into the house. Well, we like to think of that good energy as good common sense since obstructions not only look ugly but it can make it difficult to move things in and out of the house (maybe even evacuating someone during an emergency). 3. The bigger the main door, the better. What could be better than having a bigger door to let in that good energy! Yes, I'd certainly one a bigger door. Imagine how difficult it would be to get furniture in if the door was too small. Also, a big door helps with ventilation and natural lighting, which prevents mold and germs from proliferating. 4. Say no to the number “4” Associating your house with “dead” and “die”? No, thank you. But that's what the number four sounds like in Chinese - “ser”. So if you've ever walked down a street, looking at house numbers and wondered why some houses had the number “3A” rather than “4”, you know why now. 5. Remove the roof and let the interior space be bathed in sunlight for 49 days to get rid of spirits If by spirits you mean germs, mold and other dangerous microorganisms then, yes, we can definitely understand the basis for this superstition. What we don't understand is how removing the entire roof could possibly be help with it, rain and exposure to more “spirits” notwithstanding. 6. Stay away from cemeteries, electrical power lines, water tanks and telecommunications towers. With the exception of the cemetery (which can seem creepy and be psychologically damaging), this one leaves me completely stumped, but many superstitious people believe that it's bad luck to live near any of these places. Well, okay, maybe just not that obvious, but I think it's taking it a little too far. 7. Unnatural deaths (suicides, accidents) is bad news. This definitely get this one, whether you believe in spirits or not. Unless, of course, you have a morbid curiosity. 8. Don't have drains running parallel to your main door. This one is because drains that run parallel to front doors run through positive energy and disrupts its flow through the front door. We think it's probably they smell bad and someone could possibly fall through it if left open, especially at night. ________________ Superstition or not, you can't go wrong with your home renovation with a Reliable Contractor in Johor Bahru ________________ Superstitions of Malaysian Chinese

If you work for a bank, then wow you're in luck. As reported by The Star, employees of banks in Malaysia will pay 0% interest in their housing loan for the first RM100,000. This includes all banks under the Malayan Commercial Banks' Association (MCBA), starting 1 April 2019. This benefit will be secured under the Collective Agreement (CA) which was prepared by the MCBA and National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE). According to MCBA President, Nora Abd Manaf, the purpose of the waiver is to help their employees secure a home as quickly as possible. In addition to increasing their disposable income, the move also facilitates the Malaysian government's efforts to increase the number of homeowners among the low-income population. The benefit is applicable to all employees with existing housing loans. Employees working at member banks of the MCBA will also receive up to 12% to 16% increments in salary. Monthly cost-of-living allowances will also be revised from RM400 to RM600. The changes means that an entry level clerk will start at around RM2,400 not including the two-month bonus that will paid out every December. 4 things you must do when considering a renovation loan

It's perfectly understandable if we make mistakes the first time. But when that mistake is as costly as buying a new home, you'd wish that you'd done a little more homework. Fortunately, those who have gone before us have put together a list of these mistakes in the hopes that future home buyers won't repeat them. Here are five of the most common and important ones: 1. Not finding out more about the housing developer It's easy to get caught up checking out a home's design, location, price and payment plans because they seem to be only factors that matter when purchasing a home. What many of us forget to do, however, is to run a check by the developer. In fact, it shouldn't even matter if the developer government backed - governments fail, too, and the chances that a private developer would is substantially higher. Image via Giphy. What you should be doing: Find out who are in charge. An experienced, reputable management team is strong assurance. Learn more about their previous projects. Are their property owners complaining about defects, cracks in the structure, rusty pipes or misleading promises? 2. Failing to consider locations outside the city centre This one is a balancing act - how much is convenience worth to you? Whatever you do, keep in mind that properties located in the suburbs or just outside the city centre are often A LOT cheaper - and you also often won't have to sacrifice a lot for it either. True, it may be further away, but when you factor in traffic jams and other nonsense, you'd be surprised that there sometimes isn't much of a difference. Another big plus (if you're buying the property and not just renting) there's a good chance that the property will experience a crazy rise in valuation as the city district grows to encompass your once-cheap-place, thus making it a possible good investment. Image via www.imoney.com What you should be doing: Check up property prices of the outskirts of the city district. Smaller townships outside of main city districts often offer plenty of amenities (e.g. facilities, shopping malls) while also offering lower prices to attract home buyers. Is the property you're looking at properly connected to the city district? We're talking highways and infrastructure that will help you get to where you need to go. Find out if the developer has plans to further develop the area which will raise its price valuation (and make your investment that much more profitable). 3. Purchasing a pocket development over a township Let's clear up some definitions: a pocket development refers to a piece of property where the developer builds houses and nothing else. A township, on the hand, is a developer that builds houses and additional infrastructure and amenities that support the housing project. In other words, not only will this play to your investment interest but will also mean that anyone living there would have access to a whole lot of "quality of life" extras. No one wants to drive 20km just to buy a meal... What you should be doing: Again, find out the developer's plans and capabilities. Real estate that features shopping malls and sports complexes not only raise quality of life but also your investment. Find out if the housing estate is a "gated community". Those security guards at the guard post and patrols are not for show. Usually (again, check up on developer's reliability and trustworthiness). ______________ Need help with your renovation? Find a Reliable Contractor in Johor Bahru ______________ 4. Swooping in to buy a house simply because its cheap Wow, this one is contender for the first biggest mistake home buyers make. Remember the law of conservation? While it may not apply as strictly to buying a home, the gist of the concept stays the same: if something is too cheap to be true, then it probably isn't because the only way to make something cheaper is to (i) cut profit margins, or (ii) cut development costs (e.g. quality, safety) and hope that no one notices. Further reading: Is your contractor cheating you? How to avoid scamming contractors in Malaysia What you should be doing: Double back and see what other developers are offering with their homes that they're forgetting to mention in their brochure: does the location offer extra niceties like shade, trees, good roads and parking space? Will you LIKE living there? How safe is the location? Does the developer have plans to reinforce security in the area? How does the home's land area compare to other places? If you bought your home cheap because it's small, remember that there won't be enough room if you intend to have a family in future or bring the folks home to stay with you. Never mind about throwing parties... 5. Biting (or buying) off more than you can chew The size of your housing loan should not equal your gross salary. It's sad how many people give in to greed and end up buying homes (and therefore picking up home loans) that are above their pay grade. What you should be doing: Know your budget and make sure you're saving after servicing your loans and other costs. This emergency fund should be enough to cover your for half a year. Study bank loans before taking them up. Different banks may offer better repayment plans that are easier to service or maybe even cheaper in the long-run. Be on the lookout for rebates on offer by developers. You might just get away with not having to pay the 10% down payment for that new home! How much is the cost of renovation in Malaysia?