Special Feature
He builds wins on structure, numbers and staying power
Former banker Nat Tjew applies a structured, numbers-driven mindset to property decisions. (Photo: EdgeProp Singapore)
Nat Tjew strikes customers and colleagues alike as a realtor who does not try to impress with big promises or fast-talking grandiosity.
When we first meet at The Continuum’s showflat, I am struck by the way he listens and reflects before responding to my questions. It is not surprising when Tjew introduces himself as a “family man”.
“For me, being a family man means being reliable,” he says. “It means being present, being dependable and being able to provide over the long term.”
For this 36-year-old father of two, a “family-first” approach to life underpins how he works, how he leads and how he advises clients. His guiding principle is something many consider to be challenging in real estate: consistency.
Deliberate move from banking to real estate
Before entering real estate, Tjew had always been in sales, spending four years at OCBC handling unsecured loans and credit facilities. Real estate eventually offered what his previous sales roles could not. “In banking, the scope is defined,” he explains. “Whereas in real estate, every client’s situation is different. I don’t just advise a client on a product, but on timing, risk and long-term implications of buying or not buying property.”
That level of responsibility was what drew him into the industry.
More importantly, property was something he believed in, having a father who was himself a realtor. “Real estate in Singapore is an asset class I understand and trust,” he says. “I prefer to sell something I genuinely believe in.”
Tjew balances a demanding real estate career with deliberate time set aside for family. (Photo: Nat Tjew)
Family influence shapes his mindset
In fact, one could say that Tjew's view on property, as a strategic tool towards financial viability, is built on legacy. “My father was always restructuring, capturing gains and planning ahead," he says. "I’ve probably lived in about five homes growing up.”
Today, Tjew builds his own portfolio, with plans that mirror his father’s legacy: owner-occupation, rental income and long-term asset growth. “I want to create the same level of security for my children,” he says. “Not just having comfort, but options in life.”
Tjew believes strong teams are built through structure, clarity, and long-term guidance rather than hype and quick wins. (Photo: Nat Tjew)
Numbers-driven approach
On client demographics, Tjew focuses primarily on residential real estate, working extensively with HDB upgraders, and new-launch buyers and private condominium buyers, with some exposure to landed homes purchasers. He describes himself as being analytical, basing recommendations on data rather than intuition.
Not surprisingly, he takes pains to clearly highlight practical outcomes in his advisory work. “I run the numbers,” he says. “I plan timelines from the sale of their current property to the move-in date of the new one. I show clients different scenarios so they understand the trade-offs clearly.”
Importantly, he advises them on how to avoid overleveraging themselves. Equally important: his guidance on the next property move. “Even if they are buying for their own stay, I believe that everyone should buy with an investment mindset,” he explains. “Who wants to be stuck in a property that limits their future options? Nobody. Every property decision should support the next viable move.”
This approach resonates particularly with HDB upgraders who navigate complex sale-and-purchase sequences. Tjew even spends time mapping cash flow, loan eligibility and exit strategies so clients can move forward with confidence.
Tjew achieved PropNex Rising Millionaire status in 2023, marking a major milestone in his real estate career. (Photo: Nat Tjew)
Build a team on direction, not hype
In 2023, Tjew achieved the Propnex Rising Millionaire status, and began focusing on team building. His goal is to grow his team to around 20 agents by the end of 2026, while keeping a new milestone in mind: mentorship.
“A lot of agents are lost, especially in the early years,” he observes. “Without guidance, people drift.”
The type of agents his leadership style is best suited for, Tjew notes, are those who value his method of structure and clarity. They have long-term sustainability in business rather than hype numbers and fast cash.
So, whether his downlines join after they co-broke or work with him on shared deals, or whether they are former OCBC colleagues or come from different agencies, clarity in how he leads is a priori: “People stay after they experience how you make a difference to them,” he says. “What matters most to them is when they gain clarity about where they are going and know how to get there.”
Family plays a central role in shaping how Nat Tjew works, leads and advises clients. (Photo: Nat Tjew)
Leadership rooted in structure and discipline
A structured work approach is the secret to being a successful real estate agent. “As self-employed people, there is no fixed schedule to our work days,” he says. “If an agent is not intentional, he or she will waste time without realising it.”
Tjew’s days follow a set pattern: he rises early enough to prepare his children for school, then it’s work till past 8pm or so. Mondays are anchored by in-person team training sessions held twice a month, each lasting three hours. These sessions focus on fundamentals, execution and keeping agents aligned.
After training, he segues into negotiations, documentation and client follow-ups. The last is non-negotiable for Tjew, who blocks off two days each week for it. “Follow-up should not be something agents should do only when they are free,” he says. “It needs to be scheduled. That is how you build trust and momentum.”
Midweek is reserved for preparation and research, which ensures that he goes into client meetings well-informed.
But Tjew is just as deliberate about scheduling family time. He takes at least two family vacations a year. Also, Thursdays are “sacred” and set aside for commitments like sending his children to their enrichment classes, he says. “Because my weekends are dedicated to appointments and viewings, it’s important that quality time with my wife and kids is untouched.”
While Tjew does not impose this professional and personal pacing on his team, he is transparent about it, encouraging them to adopt a similar approach. “They can adapt it to their own lives, but the discipline remains.”
As a father of two, Tjew’s family-first mindset guides both his career and personal priorities. (Photo: Nat Tjew)
Mentorship that supports growth
His first entry into the real estate industry was at another agency where training was infrequent, guidance was limited and growth felt uncertain. That experience shaped his appreciation for his current mentor, Adrian Koh, and the Here To Win district.
Under this system, training is not only regular but practical. Sessions cover not only quarterly market updates, sales frameworks, HDB and condo timelines and financial calculations, but also role plays and presentation skills.
“Market data changes frequently, and not all agents are on top of this when they’re preoccupied with transactions and client work,” Tjew notes. If agents are not up-to-date, they risk giving outdated advice. “Structured training in my agency keeps everyone aligned, and this is the kind of mentor support I’m really grateful for and will gladly pay forward to my own downlines.”
For more information,
Contact Nat Tjew | 91893554
ASSOCIATE GROUP DIRECTOR (R067727F)
PROPNEX REALTY PTE. LTD.
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