Ratan Tata Speaks

Truly words of wisdom!

Housing and Construction: Future Views

Pricing in the Higher Costs?

Will prices of real estate go up in 2015 and thereafter?

Let us look at some issues.

Now that the issue of water may be settled soon with the impending water transfer from Pahang and the building of the Langat 2 reservoir in tow, let us look at the closer-to-home issues.

Apart from water which constitute about 45% of the woes for developers in the utilities category, higher costs has impacted development of new projects generally.

Developers have now cited the higher cost of doing business in the first half of 2014.  The increase is 20% higher than before.

What are the causes?

The increase cost has been attributed to such items as higher compliance cost, scarcity of land, higher infrastructure contribution funds and higher conversion premium.

There were also claims that building material steel bars, cement, bricks, sand and river sand and wages have risen in the first six months of 2014.

The latest REHDA survey paints this picture:

Overall, 45 percent of the respondents are neutral of the property market in 2H 2014, while 33 percent are pessimistic.

Moreover, 41 percent of the respondents are pessimistic for 1H 2015.

What’s in store for 2015?

Currently, developers are holding back new launches.  Take up rates have dropped to 49%.

Despite this, with the looming GST imposition comes April 2014, many experts have predicted that prices will continue to increase, not discounting the 8% rise already experienced in 1H 2014.

Thought residential properties may be GST-exempt, higher building costs will inadvertently be passed on the buyers via higher launch prices.

So, it does not look too good for house and real estate buyers comes 2015. 

What say you?

Totally Trees

You must see these trees.

They are just nature's majestic work of art!

That Million Dollar Smile

Makes Your Day

This is a interesting observation from a close friend of mine.

Beauty Smile

According to him, you do not have to have love for a girl or even worse, lust.

All you need to do is to appreciate the beautiful things in life.

Glance Away

And so it came to past that a regular Jane that he hardly knew  personally flash one of the most beautiful smile at him.

He felt like a million dollars not because of that smile literally but more because of its significance-an acknowledgement that she knew him, no matter how remote,  and that she smiled personally for him and nobody else!

Manifestation of Loveliness

That is what made his day!

Make Your Life Better

These simple advice are truly great.

Try to practise some of them everyday.

Words of Wisdom

Cybil Shepherd's Best

Heartbreaking Humour

Most of the younger generation will remember the Ben Stiller version of the Heartbreak Kid which was mostly comedic and meant to poke fun.

However, the original 1972 Heartbreak Kid was really something else. And much more.

Lusting or Loving?

Here, a young Charles Grodin played Lenny in a more 'awkward' and less funny way.

Lenny is the  protagonist who did not know what he wanted out of a relationship or even a marriage or two.

This original movie was also the true debutante platform for a young and charming Cybil Shepherd who played Kelly.

It showcased her physical form, beauty and cheekiness as she played love and lust games along with a confused Lenny.

Rapture and Capture

Lenny was actually spun like a top by this young thing who led him up the garden path from the beach in Miami to a remote cabin in Minnesota.

The stripping game in which Kelly toyed with Lenny  in the old cabin was  mischievously funny and reminds one of a coming of age movie.

An Icy Encounter with Kelly's parents

It is  sexual teasing that is so well done and remains one of moviedom extraordinary great moments which has yet to be paralleled up to this day!

The really weird confrontation between a silent and glummy Kelly's father and a brash and gutsy Lenny was equally amusing  particularly the scene when he tried to buy over Lenny, poker style with his wad of cash.

Lusty Cheekiness

The final scene when Lenny was totally lost even at his own wedding dinner after marrying Kelly truly exemplify the woes of a heartbreak kid!

What does he really want?

Amusing fare. Great movie!

The Goodbye Girl-A Gem of a Movie

Pure Entertainment

I finally managed to go down memory lane on this classic movie, "The Goodbye Girl".

Based on a Neil Simon play, this movie centers itself upon the lives of three main characters in an apartment in New York. It is a gem of an outing that plays on the rough edges of  love of the main players and the stressful breakups that can affect an innocent child.

Joy of New Love

Built around witty dialogues with Quinn Cummings as the precocious prima donna daughter Lucy, Marsha Mason as Paula-the unfortunate Good-bye Girl and Richard Dreyfuss as Elliot the Johnny-Comes-Lately actor that came into Paula's life, it testifies that love can stay and grow. All you do need is faith and trust.

Truly unpredictable, you will enjoy this one every time you go down memory lane.

Meditative Humour

And then there is that most unforgettable song by David Gates of the film title worth savouring time and again.

Smart-alecky Ten-Year Old Kid

I enjoyed this one!