“I know it can be competitive in this field, but I truly believe you gain more by sharing.” — Desmond Liew
Real estate agents have the rare privilege of inspiring homeowners from all walks of life to make positive, transformative decisions that benefit them and their families for many years, says Desmond Liew, associate group district director at PropNex Realty. “As property agents, we do more than match our services to prospective client’s needs; we are uniquely positioned to play a vital role in their homeownership journey,” he says.
Grounded by his motto, “for the people, with the people”, Liew firmly believes in the positive impact like-minded real estate agents can have on their clients and fellow agents. He leads by example, devoting his time and effort as a trusted mentor and advisor to clients and aspiring agents under his wing.
“In Singapore, buying property can be the biggest ticket item in most people’s lives, and many homebuyers worry that if they make the right financial and real estate decisions, it will affect their future,” says Liew.
He adds: “We can play a vital role as advisors for first-time homeowners and others who want to climb the real estate ladder and point them in the right direction that will serve them well later in life.”
DesmondLiewDistrict Top 10 Achiever (Picture: Desmond Liew)
Liew also leads a team of nearly 70 agents who share his passion, belief and personal conviction. Liew’s ability to mentor and positively impact others sets him apart in the Singapore property market. Much of his leadership prowess comes from over 20 years of experience in leadership roles in the Navy.
Despite his brief five-year tenure in the industry, Liew has swiftly ascended the ranks in PropNex. In his debut year as a property agent in 2019, he clinched the Top Rookie award, achieving $600,000 in sales commission as a first-year agent.
In the next three consecutive years, he earned the prestigious Millionaire Award in 2021, 2022 and 2023, surpassing $1 million in sales commission annually.
Liew's team, now 70-strong, up from 20 last year, speaks volumes about his success. (Picture: Desmond Liew)
Liew recalls the challenges he experienced when he made his first property purchase. At 21, he purchased his first HDB home while still serving in the Navy. At 25, he sold it and upgraded it to his first private property. This began his property ownership journey and kindled his passion for real estate.
“For first-time home buyers, entering the property market can be a daunting experience. Given the relatively high cost of property today, buyers have a wide variety of financial considerations and lifestyle decisions to make,” he says.
“When I embarked on my professional career in real estate, I was struck by how influential an understanding of market trends and data can be in making the right property decisions. Since then, adopting this data-driven approach has elevated my career and informed my property purchases.”
He views his role as a guide, assisting clients in making well-informed decisions to secure their homeownership journey. “My role is to empower them to make an informed decision by furnishing all the facts about their properties and the real estate market. That’s how I believe I can impact and transform their lives,” he adds.
Liew says there is a wealth of publicly available information about the property market, but this can be overwhelming for most homebuyers, adding: “I put myself in my client’s shoes to understand their lifestyle needs, financial considerations and aspirations for the future. Doing this helps me provide targeted and relevant data about the property they intend to sell or buy”.
Sharing essential information can empower prospective buyers and sellers. Homebuyers also benefit when agents shortlist potential properties based on their budget and lifestyle needs.
Liew says this sometimes includes advising clients that asset progression is possible, as some buyers do not think they can upgrade their HDB to private homes. One of the first clients he advised when he started as an agent in 2019 was an entry-level employee in his 30s.
Initially, he had not intended to purchase a property, says Liew. However, after outlining an investment plan, Liew convinced him to purchase a one-bedroom condo apartment for about $600,000, which he could barely afford then.
This meant he had his own home when he married a few years later. Also, the property’s significant appreciation led to a substantial profit, enabling him to upgrade to a freehold two-bedroom unit. Given the rising prices, he might not have been able to afford a marital home without his initial property purchase.
Liew recalls it as one of the most memorable transactions he had ever brokered. Witnessing the lasting positive impact of his advice on his client, even years after the transaction, left a profound impression. “That’s the type of success I aim for and strive to replicate to benefit as many people as possible.”
In 2023, Liew attained PropNex millionaire status, further enriching his already impressive portfolio. (Picture: Desmond Liew)
In the fiercely competitive world of real estate, Liew distinguishes himself through his dedication to uplifting those around him. His team, now comprising around 70 agents, up from 20 the year before, attests to his success. Motivated by his achievements, he willingly shares his wealth of knowledge with fellow agents, irrespective of their experience level.
Honed through his service in the Navy, Liew’s exemplary leadership skills drive a culture of collaboration and ongoing learning in his team. “I believe in sharing culture and mindset. I want to be able to share my strategies with as many agents as possible so that it can improve their lives and help more clients,” he says.
His leadership skills derive from his experience as a real estate agent and as an investor in the field. By applying his strategies firsthand, he has demonstrated their effectiveness in his life. Having previously owned five freehold properties, one serving as his residence and the other four renting out, his commitment to mentoring remains unwavering as he looks forward to expanding his team.
Liew remains passionate about mentoring others and plans to replicate his success by expanding the team. “I aim to groom more mentors or leaders in the future. Simply put, I want to build more ‘me’ in other agents so that more clients can benefit from it,” he adds. “I know it can be competitive in this field, but I truly believe you gain more by sharing.”
Benny Tan (left) rose to excellence from a part-time agent to a full-timer and team leader under Liew’s mentorship. (Picture Samuel Isaac Chua/ The Edge Singapore)
Benny Tan had been a part-time real estate agent for five years before meeting Desmond Liew. Like many agents, Tan was concerned with the lack of benefits and unstable income at the property agent job. As such, he had been juggling two jobs simultaneously despite his passion for real estate work. However, everything changed two years ago when he crossed paths with Liew, who recognised Tan’s potential. Liew identified Tan’s strengths, encouraging him to hone his skills and advance in the sales ladder.
Liew successfully changed Tan’s mindset, convincing him to commit to pursuing a full-time career in the industry.
Tan began to see consistent results after learning and adopting Liew’s systematic approach. With his customer-focused mindset and strong market understanding, he quickly rose in the industry. Within a year of mentoring, he achieved a sales breakthrough and gained the confidence to become a full-time agent. This was driven by his desire to give 100% commitment to clients. Today, he ranks in the Top 20% of property agents at PropNex.
In addition, Tan successfully groomed his leadership skills, propelling him to rise and manage an entire team of agents swiftly. He has effectively trained his team using the framework Liew taught him, yielding impressive results. Yap Shu Hua stands out as a top performer among his team members, ranking in the top 20% of her cohort within a year of joining the team.
Now that he can give customers his undivided attention, Tan focuses on meeting clients’ needs, deriving satisfaction from earning their trust and aiding them in property management for profit. He is an attentive listener who can provide solutions tailored to customers’ needs and meet their life goals.
A career highlight was advising a client to invest in a five-bedroom apartment, resulting in significant appreciation. This success left a lasting impact on the client, who later transitioned to a real estate career inspired by Tan.
Desmond Liew inspired Nicholas Lim (third from right) to sharpen his sales and leadership skills, which propelled
him to swiftly transition from a salesperson to an esteemed Top 3 Division Director. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Nicholas Lim was already a successful salesperson with an extensive 10 years of experience before he met Desmond Liew, ranking among the Top 10% producers over those years.
An encounter with Liew, who saw his potential, pushed him to excel higher. Liew took him under his wing and imparted invaluable knowledge and guidance. This pushed him to gain success beyond individual sales, which reaped limited gains.
Lim stepped out of his comfort zone and embraced the growth opportunities; he developed his mentorship, culture-setting, and team development skills. Within a year, he swiftly transitioned from a salesperson to an esteemed Top 3 Division Director of a team of more than 10 agents. Under his guidance, most of his team members have risen to the Top 10% to 20% in sales.
He has guided his team to success by sharing the knowledge he has acquired over the years. This has helped his team members gain insight into various scenarios that can come up and how to navigate around them, whether they deal with HDB, condo, or landed property. Lim deeply understood systems, processes and leadership principles and blossomed into a team leader of 15 agents.
Lim’s rapid progress demonstrates the positive influence of Liew’s mentorship on agents. Lim continues to develop and unlock his full potential in the industry. Over time, Lim has built strong client relationships due to his commitment to honesty and sincerity in building rapport.
His extensive sales background has been crucial in honing his strong leadership skills. With hands-on experience in sales, he excels in educating and coaching team members on the ever-evolving real estate market. Additionally, his effective communication skills enable him to connect with team members, regardless of their level of experience in real estate.
Inspired by Liew’s success in the real estate industry, Daniel Low (first from right) was encouraged to take a leap of faith and
make a late-career switch from the Navy. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Inspired by his longtime friend and mentor Desmond Liew, Daniel Low boldly transitioned from a stable Navy career to the dynamic realm of real estate. Despite his 20-year tenure as a senior officer, Low was inspired by his friend’s accomplishments and his positive influence on others.
Low’s charismatic demeanour, determination and adaptability quickly led him to success in the new industry — specifically, among the Top 300 agents in PropNex.
With a background as a senior officer in the Navy, Low brings extensive coaching and mentoring experience to his leadership approach. He prioritises the development and well-being of those around him, dedicating at least an hour or two daily to engage with his agents. Renowned for grooming numerous junior officers, he is recognised as a compassionate leader. His effective leadership is evidenced by the success of two agents, who had just joined him in less than three months and achieved platinum awards for generating over $100,000 in sales commission in a single month.
Another factor that sets Low apart from other agents is his ability to connect with clients on a personal level. Drawing from his experience as a real estate investor, he can understand their needs and aspirations and provide suitable solutions.
During his younger days, he discovered a passion for properties and bought and sold various properties multiple times, including residential and commercial properties. His prior experience had taught him how to create wealth through asset progression and cemented his belief that building wealth through a career in real estate was possible. He joined the real estate industry to empower people with his experiences and connect with like-minded people — a vision that aligns with Liew’s. At times when clients are unsure of what they want, Low can offer them diverse options that can benefit them in the long run.
He focuses on earning clients’ trust through data-driven insights and transparent entry and exit strategies, aiding their asset progression. The satisfaction of seeing the rewards drives him to continually enhance his real estate expertise and share it with others, facilitating their lifestyle upgrades. Low swiftly adapted to the industry and achieved strong performance.
His outstanding interpersonal and communication skills drive his ability to deliver personalised customer service to clients. Low has assisted clients from diverse backgrounds, from homebuyers to business owners. Under Liew’s leadership and guidance, Low has honed his skills and effectively elevated his services to meet his clients’ needs.
For more information,
Contact Desmond Liew | 82682081
ASSOCIATE GROUP DISTRICT DIRECTOR (R060699I)
PROPNEX REALTY PTE. LTD.