Meet Roger Lim, the creator and brain behind EBIC Holdings Sdn Bhd, a fresh and vibrant property developer set to shake the property development industry in this nation. Recently, Top 10 of Malaysia speaks with this talented and successful strategist as he shares from his heart about the property business he is in.
Roger Lim set up EBIC Holdings Sdn Bhd (EBIC) back in 2010 when he was just 31 years old. EBIC businesses include property development, construction, industrial, investment, mining trading and ventures. Roger was selected by Gamuda Berhad to participate in its apprentice and scholarship programme in Australia where he pursued his Diploma in Quantity Surveying, BSc in Building and MBA in 1997. He is also a member of the Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyor (AIQS).
He soon found himself working with one of the most prominent engineering and construction companies in the region. Being a Gamuda high-flying executive for 10 years has taught him many things and he has brought his wealth of experience into EBIC.
Roger believes that property is the way to go in making big money. The older generation has an entirely different perception and mindset as far as making money goes. They thought that in order for one to make money and be secured, one has to save. Roger feels that his generation has evolved to having a new mindset.
“By saving, you are actually losing money because the effects of inflation will diminish the value of money that you have. Hence, in order to be one up on inflation, people should invest in sustainable, lucrative and secured investments such as property,” says Roger.
“Investing in the stock market is perhaps another type of investment to consider. However, it is very volatile in recent times . It is beyond your control,” he adds.
According to Roger, investment in property is the best investment tool. In a local context one can fully leverage financing from banks. An individual can control 100% of his or her assets with a 10% deposit or even zero entry thanks to the innovative developers in town. Furthermore banks can accept property as collateral for borrowings. It is impossible to find this kind of leverage in terms of stocks.
Roger bought his first property when he was 21 years old. At that time, he was still on Gamuda’s apprentice and scholarship programme in Malaysia.
“During that time, I saved a little but I knew that in order to make more money, I had to do more than just save. What better way to make more money than to invest in property?” he recalls.
He then invested in an apartment with an 8% guaranteed return. It was definitely better than the average fixed deposit interest income. In Roger’s opinion, tangible assets like properties which appreciate in value are still better at the end of the day.
“One good example of how much the value of money will go down with time is to compare the kind and size of house that you can buy today in comparison to three to four years ago, with say RM300, 000. That is how much and how fast property value climbs,” says Roger.
The biggest challenge that EBIC probably faces is to provide good value for money for its customers. At EBIC, every project is unique.
“We are pocket developers. We don’t design and build townships. We won’t be competing with big names such as SP Setia, IJM and Gamuda. We identify potential locations, and just do pocket-size development. The risk is lesser,” reveals Roger.
“For the same amount of money, you could get a much better quality house from EBIC because most major developers factor in the value of their brand in the selling price. For example, other developers would be charging you much more for the same semi-detached property from EBIC,” he continues.
When asked on how EBIC can survive and compete in such hostile competitive environment, Roger explains, “Easy. Provide a better quality of product at a lower price. In short we cut down our profit margin. We make more sales this way.”
Roger advises that an investment in any area in the Klang Valley would not go wrong. Apart from this, one can also look into properties in Penang and Johor where rapid development is taking place. Properties in Penang are pricier than those in Johor for an obvious reason – scarcity of land. The government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) has spurred a massive growth of property development activities in Johor. However, Johor still has a lot of land banks and this would result in lower property prices as compared to prices in Penang.
Some of EBIC’s current notable projects include a 284-unit freehold condominium development in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, 16 units of semi-detached and bungalows in Melawati, Selangor (next to Sunway Ridgeway), a 50-acre development of terraced, super-linked and semi-detached houses in Rawang, and a commercial development in Terengganu which is set to fire up the property demand there with its strategic location that is facing the South China Sea. Roger says that a plan to build a 10-acre freehold high end super-linked houses in Melawati is in the pipeline and will be launched sometime during the year.
Roger feels that one should not be overly concerned about a collapse in the property market in Malaysia as demand is there, especially in Klang Valley. “The Klang Valley area will always be flooded with people coming from other states because here is where the job and business opportunities are. People would come here to work and live. Local property prices attract a lot of foreign investors. Our local prices are still the lowest when compared to a lot of neighbouring countries,” explains Roger.
Roger has big plans for EBIC to move triumphantly into the future. The company is planning to design and develop a chain of boutique hotels in every state to be managed by a soon-to-be-formed sister company. This will hopefully propel EBIC into a more prominent property player in the region. EBIC is also looking into purchasing Industrial land for future development. Unlike some people, Roger spends his leisure time driving around looking for land with potential for good development purposes.
“I tried to have a normal hobby like watching a movie, but I kept falling asleep. I’m happier spending my spare time looking around for opportunities and envisioning how it could turn out in the future,” he says with a smile. “I don’t mind waking up early for this, but not for anything else, apart for golf of course.”
When asked about his views on property flipping, Roger feels that it poses no danger or threat to the property industry. “You just got to have what it takes to be on top of things. There is no such thing as the right time to buy property. Anytime can be the right time. You buy and wait, not wait to buy,” he says.
According to Roger, investing in land is definitely a smart choice. Land is scarce and it becomes more and more valuable with time. “All lands have great potential regardless of the location. It depends on what you want to do with them and how you want to manage them. I can turn any land into a success once I lay my eyes on them. It’s all about the right strategy,” says a confident Roger.
Roger believes in the need to have a balance in life. When he is not strolling around looking for potential property, he spends quality time with his wife and four children.
He soon found himself working with one of the most prominent engineering and construction companies in the region. Being a Gamuda high-flying executive for 10 years has taught him many things and he has brought his wealth of experience into EBIC.
Roger believes that property is the way to go in making big money. The older generation has an entirely different perception and mindset as far as making money goes. They thought that in order for one to make money and be secured, one has to save. Roger feels that his generation has evolved to having a new mindset.
“By saving, you are actually losing money because the effects of inflation will diminish the value of money that you have. Hence, in order to be one up on inflation, people should invest in sustainable, lucrative and secured investments such as property,” says Roger.
“Investing in the stock market is perhaps another type of investment to consider. However, it is very volatile in recent times . It is beyond your control,” he adds.
According to Roger, investment in property is the best investment tool. In a local context one can fully leverage financing from banks. An individual can control 100% of his or her assets with a 10% deposit or even zero entry thanks to the innovative developers in town. Furthermore banks can accept property as collateral for borrowings. It is impossible to find this kind of leverage in terms of stocks.
Roger bought his first property when he was 21 years old. At that time, he was still on Gamuda’s apprentice and scholarship programme in Malaysia.
“During that time, I saved a little but I knew that in order to make more money, I had to do more than just save. What better way to make more money than to invest in property?” he recalls.
He then invested in an apartment with an 8% guaranteed return. It was definitely better than the average fixed deposit interest income. In Roger’s opinion, tangible assets like properties which appreciate in value are still better at the end of the day.
“One good example of how much the value of money will go down with time is to compare the kind and size of house that you can buy today in comparison to three to four years ago, with say RM300, 000. That is how much and how fast property value climbs,” says Roger.
The biggest challenge that EBIC probably faces is to provide good value for money for its customers. At EBIC, every project is unique.
“We are pocket developers. We don’t design and build townships. We won’t be competing with big names such as SP Setia, IJM and Gamuda. We identify potential locations, and just do pocket-size development. The risk is lesser,” reveals Roger.
“For the same amount of money, you could get a much better quality house from EBIC because most major developers factor in the value of their brand in the selling price. For example, other developers would be charging you much more for the same semi-detached property from EBIC,” he continues.
When asked on how EBIC can survive and compete in such hostile competitive environment, Roger explains, “Easy. Provide a better quality of product at a lower price. In short we cut down our profit margin. We make more sales this way.”
Roger advises that an investment in any area in the Klang Valley would not go wrong. Apart from this, one can also look into properties in Penang and Johor where rapid development is taking place. Properties in Penang are pricier than those in Johor for an obvious reason – scarcity of land. The government’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) has spurred a massive growth of property development activities in Johor. However, Johor still has a lot of land banks and this would result in lower property prices as compared to prices in Penang.
Some of EBIC’s current notable projects include a 284-unit freehold condominium development in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, 16 units of semi-detached and bungalows in Melawati, Selangor (next to Sunway Ridgeway), a 50-acre development of terraced, super-linked and semi-detached houses in Rawang, and a commercial development in Terengganu which is set to fire up the property demand there with its strategic location that is facing the South China Sea. Roger says that a plan to build a 10-acre freehold high end super-linked houses in Melawati is in the pipeline and will be launched sometime during the year.
Roger feels that one should not be overly concerned about a collapse in the property market in Malaysia as demand is there, especially in Klang Valley. “The Klang Valley area will always be flooded with people coming from other states because here is where the job and business opportunities are. People would come here to work and live. Local property prices attract a lot of foreign investors. Our local prices are still the lowest when compared to a lot of neighbouring countries,” explains Roger.
Roger has big plans for EBIC to move triumphantly into the future. The company is planning to design and develop a chain of boutique hotels in every state to be managed by a soon-to-be-formed sister company. This will hopefully propel EBIC into a more prominent property player in the region. EBIC is also looking into purchasing Industrial land for future development. Unlike some people, Roger spends his leisure time driving around looking for land with potential for good development purposes.
“I tried to have a normal hobby like watching a movie, but I kept falling asleep. I’m happier spending my spare time looking around for opportunities and envisioning how it could turn out in the future,” he says with a smile. “I don’t mind waking up early for this, but not for anything else, apart for golf of course.”
When asked about his views on property flipping, Roger feels that it poses no danger or threat to the property industry. “You just got to have what it takes to be on top of things. There is no such thing as the right time to buy property. Anytime can be the right time. You buy and wait, not wait to buy,” he says.
According to Roger, investing in land is definitely a smart choice. Land is scarce and it becomes more and more valuable with time. “All lands have great potential regardless of the location. It depends on what you want to do with them and how you want to manage them. I can turn any land into a success once I lay my eyes on them. It’s all about the right strategy,” says a confident Roger.
Roger believes in the need to have a balance in life. When he is not strolling around looking for potential property, he spends quality time with his wife and four children.
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