Special Feature

Claire Tey: The realtor who prescribes the best way of unlocking your financial potential

May 10, 2024 4:15 PM SGT

Tey's hard work is exemplified by her impressive collection of over 20 Pegasus awards, including Gold Pegasus honors in both 2022 and 2023.

"I believe in focusing on attending to the individual needs of my clients as no two clients are alike."

—

Claire Tey

Despite operating in different industries, realtors and doctors share some striking similarities. Both roles involve diagnosing needs be it a patient’s health symptoms nor a client’s property requirements — and guiding them through complex (and perhaps life-changing) decisions.

“Instead of specialising in specific types of property or location, I believe in focusing on attending to the individual needs of my clients as no two clients are alike. Similar to a doctor, I’ll listen to and understand their needs, goals and circumstances before prescribing the next best course of action,” says Claire Tey of Singapore Realtors Inc (SRI).

Tey, a multiple-time millionaire producer, has once again been recognized during SRI's Keynote 2024. (Picture: Claire Tey)

Delivering a highly personalised service calls for depth and breadth of market knowledge and analysis of the asset classes in Singapore. This is no easy feat but is made possible by Tey’s passion for property and her background as a banker.

Prior to joining SRI, Tey helped small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) secure industrial and commercial property loans during her time at OCBC and DBS. “Speaking to SME owners made me realise how interesting the real estate market is and why it is an attractive investment option in Singapore. There’s also an emotional aspect to owning and investing in properties. The combination of these factors drives my long-term passion for real estate,” she shares.

Tey secured the 4th place for the Top Sales Achiever in the Non-landed category during SRI's Keynote 2024. (Picture: Claire Tey)

Walk the talk

Since buying a property in Singapore requires a significant capital outlay, most consumers tend to think that asset progression or owning multiple properties is out of their reach. But Tey believes otherwise for the upper middle class, and she is a living example of it.

She upgraded from an HDB flat to two landed terrace houses, just seven years after becoming a realtor and also due to her wise investment in industrial assets and effective management of her overall portfolio. “This is the result of making prudent yet swift decisions and investing within my means. I believe others can achieve similar success, which is why I’m open to sharing my knowledge and first-hand experience from being both a buyer and a seller,” she shares.

Tey observes that fear is the common deterrence to asset progression and investing in real estate. To help boost her clients’ confidence, she helps them filter the overload of information related to property decision-making such as insights on market conditions, new housing policies and grants, and more. She then helps clients identify a property that aligns with their financial situation, immediate desired result and future aspirations. Some clients even seek her advice on applying for the right property loan as she can draw on her knowledge of the complicated loan approval process from her banking days.

Tey also claimed the 6th spot among the Top 10 Producers. (Picture: Claire Tey)

A long-term trusted advisor

Tey’s commitment to providing holistic, genuine and personalised advice has garnered her a consistent flow of repeat clients and referrals who view her as a long-term trusted advisor. This includes those who were initially sceptical, but later on became loyal clients when they realised that she genuinely helps her clients achieve the best outcome instead of being transactional.

As a testament to her hard work, she has over 20 Pegasus awards under her belt, including a Gold Pegasus in each of 2022 and 2023 which is presented only to agents who generate more than $250,000 in commissions in a single month. She has also received SRI’s Millionaire Award thrice in a row over the past three years and was listed as the company’s top 10 realtors throughout this period. Beyond that, she bagged the Salespersons Achievement Award (Diamond) last year, which the Singapore Estate Agents Association (SEAA) awarded to realtors with commissions totalling $1 million and above. “Achieving these awards wasn’t easy. It was the cumulative result of consistent efforts and sheer dedication to deliver the best value to my clients,” she reflects.

"Be rational and take calculated risks — those will help you grow your wealth.” - Claire Tey (Picture: Claire Tey)

Moving forward, Tey will continue focusing on “upgraders”, who are usually in the upper middle-income group, to help them reach their financial potential.

Tey believes there is never a good or bad time to buy real estate. What is crucial is finding the “fundamentally correct property” with the right location, layout and facilities. “These three must be checked for a property to be considered a jackpot. When considering the location, it’s not about which area it is in (like Orchard or in the heartlands). Instead, look at the immediate amenities available around the property that would serve your daily needs like bus stops, coffee shops, or schools. In terms of layout, look for those that will make the house appear more spacious and suit your design ideas. As for facilities, I would go for bigger developments as they provide a full range of facilities,” she explains.

She also advises: “If you can afford to purchase or invest in property without changing your current lifestyle, why not do so as it could help you during rainy days? Instead of dwelling on fears due to ‘what if’ situations, it’s better to make logical decisions swiftly after doing due diligence. Be rational and take calculated risks — those will help you grow your wealth.”