Mi Choza De Nipa

Yesterday at about 11.40am , the phone rang. It was the bank officer , and she broke the news to us: your bank loan is approved!   To complete the process , we needed to meet up with her to sign the loan offer , and a stack of other papers. The timing was set , and in the afternoon , we went to the Yishun branch of Hong Leong Finance grp. An hour or so , and we were done.   She explained about the terms and conditions , the interest rate , the tenure , etc. , etc. And when all that she needed to explain has been explained , she asked us if we have questions or clarifications , or comments , and when there is none , we completed the signing of the forms , which they will complete , and she presented us with a gift , which is only valid for 2 months (Oct , Nov). It was a small , lightweight DVD player , something which we were planning to buy for quite sometime now. And also , they covered $800 in one of the fees; both ...

With the changes upcoming for CPF usage , it will be a blow to Buy-and-sell boys.   Why?   They’d be hitting the limit. When they sell , they’d have to buy after. So what’s the gain?

With the bank loan pending final approval , the banker keeping track of my application reassured me that ‘it should be ok’.   My agent , on the other hand , called in about an hour later , and he also promptly called me to say that I shouldn’t be worrying about the bank loan.   To top it up , he told me that I can go and ‘see’ the house one more time. ‘When can I do that?’ was my reply. Next week , when the LO is out for signing.   Since there is a branch in Yishun for the financial institution , I suggested that iunstead of going all the way to Bukit Merah (Red Hill) , we would just request the bank officer to come down to Yishun , especially that I and my wife would both be signing the papers.   And , we’d be paying the rest of the downpayment of 4k when we go and see the flat the second time around. I was thinking that the kids wouldn’t even want to go in ...

Beware of Garbage Trucks by David J. Pollay   How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver , rude waiter , curt boss , or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator , for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However , the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what's important.   Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.   I hopped in a taxi , and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when , all of a sudden , a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks , skidded , and missed the other car's back end by just inches!   The driver of the other car , the guy who almost caused a big accident , whipped his head...

The bank loan has been applied and is already half-through for about 3 weeks now. The Option and Valuation documents were sent in yesterday , and the bank officer promptly contacted me to inform me of final documentation requirements.   Amidst the joy of “owning” a house , of being able to call a roof our own , a place where we can sleep soundly under the protection of our Lord , in a place that He has provided , there is still the doubt creeping up now and then. I analyze , and I find that it is not lack of faith. It is , rather , the means by which , even in the midst of the fulfillment of God’s promises , even at the point of receiving the answer to our prayers , and the blessings He so freely will give , if only we believe – and it is not that we don’t believe , but that we still have our finite sight , there are moments when even we know that God is on our side , we doubt. God allows it , as in t...

In my hunt for purchaseable flats , I’ve learned a few lessons: 1.        It pays to view. - Pictures don’t even come close to the real thing , so go out there , and view flats! 2.       What you don’t get , you learn from. - I’ve seen many flats , saw their makes and designs , and some undesigns , while some , no designs at all. And we’ve seen some that we like so much , but cannot afford , and wouldn’t afford even if we have the money. Nonetheless , we have learned a great deal of how to fix up and mix up and arrange things in the (new) house , thanks to what we have seen. 3.       Obstacles are what we see , when God is showing us something else. - Sometimes , we pray for great things. And when God wanted us to see the answer , we can’t , because we have fixed our eyes on what we think is the best house , ever. 4. ...

I saw a house so lovely , My joy just overflowed; I asked the Lord to bless me , With one of such abode.   I thought about the others , I made comparisons: A bigger house , a smaller one , Much diff’rences we’d note.   And with 2 rounds of viewing , Ideas have evolved: Some , bigger , but not nicer , Some , farther , but , behold!   And yes , if it were bigger , And nearer to the train , For sure it would be dearer , Your money – sure to drain.   Some , old house , yet the asking , Some , high floors , to restore; Some , fancy , but , the pricing! Some , low floors , oh , adore!   But hey , we know one unit , Though lower floor , it’s lovely; It sure is good , but pricey , Where would we get the money?   Our pockets? No! It’s not enough. Ask rel’tives? No. Not much they’ve got. We know! We have our Father dear , Who...