Hi all! I haven't checked the site for a few days and already so many new postings! That shows how lively and active the community is which is really cool. I enjoy reading up on the various tips and insights (and try to offer some of my own whenever possible) and look forward to contributing (and asking) more especially when we're closer to getting our keys in 2012. However, I do notice some developments in the threads that dented my enjoyment of it slightly (and no offence meant):
1. The investment talk. I know it's died out in the last few posts but it's a bit off-putting to hear about flipping properties, comparing potential returns, and you or someone you know owning many houses etc. I believe this thread is about living in JB and making the house your home and I'd like to keep it that way as much as possible please.
2. Indications of disrespect or taking advantage of the Malaysian community/resources. Referring to Malaysia as mudland, talking about how you're wasting water and electiricity, showing off cars (this is more about other people showing off their cars) etc.
3. The (potential) forming of enclaves and bringing bad Singapore traits to our host country. I don't think this is done intentionally and I appreciate it when members talk about how they look forward to integrating with the locals, trying to fit in rather than enjoying their luxurious living in their own castles. I don't think any posters here are guilty of these negative behaviors so it's more a reminder for myself as well rather than anything accusatory.
In a more positive note, I'd like to suggest a FAQ of some kind be compiled and put up somewhere so that the more frequent questions can be addressed and referenced easier than having to go through all 160 pages or asking the same questions (and some extremely helpful poster - usually dear Wuqi - has to answer) over and over again. I'm not sure how the forum works, but if a FAQ PDF can be put up as a sticky or something it might be a great help for the newbies as well as those who are looking for something specific (which I suspect I will have to do sometime in the future). This FAQ can be updated by anyone at any time to provide the latest info. I'd suggest pinning some useful information on the Google map but somehow whenever I visit Google map of Nusajaya area it looks like it hasn't been updated for a few years! And as usual, I'll try to help out with the content as much as I can.
I also went to NI last weekend and noticed that almost all the units at Precint 8A has sold out which is encouraging as I recall the slow not-so-great take-up rate as recently as Feb 2011. They were also selling the units in the planned small shopping area beside Precint 8 already (and I found out that 2 out of the 4 planned 3-storey shophouses available for foreign ownership were already taken up). I also noticed the crowds at the SP Setia fair at Jusco and feel that the interest in owning JB property is growing significantly, which is a good thing.
Please don't get me wrong I really appreciate the thread and find it to be the most valuable on-going up-to-date source of information for people like me who wish to live in JB. I will continue to soak up the valuable information, offer some whenever I can, and hopefully form some good friendships with the posters here and in real life (we can always look into that customized ferry service for our school-going kids right?). Apologies for my semi-rant. Please carry on!
