Special Feature
Passionate couple redefining the landscape of luxury and commercial real estate
By Tyson Yuk & Angeline Ding
/ EdgeProp Singapore |
Tyson and Angeline’s unique gift of spotting undervalued property and turning it into a brilliant space
There is a Chinese axiom (危机 wēi jī) that says it is from crises that opportunities arise. It marks a turning point when human characteristics such as agility and resourcefulness come into play.
For Tyson Yuk, a Group Associate Director at PropNex Singapore and founder of Commercial Realty website, his journey to success has always been one of overcoming the odds of personal and family crises to become what he is today, but also one that is shared with his childhood sweetheart and now wife, Angeline Ding.
They married young, with Angeline joining Singapore Airlines as a cabin crew while Tyson took on the role of a personal trainer, working his way up to the rank of a Regional Fitness Director at the Planet Fitness chain. He oversaw six locations and managed over 100 trainers.
The retail unit at River Valley transacted by Tyson is reshaped into a marvelling showcase of watches
Life went seemingly well for the couple until a series of events changed their lives — the death of Tyson’s mother from cancer, a bout of sickness which required multiple surgeries for Tyson and the onset of the subprime financial crisis in 2008, which he lost not only the investment wealth he had built up, but also went into debt at a time when Angeline was pregnant.
His life story was made into a video by his employer PropNex as inspiration to others.
At that time, Angeline had already switched to a career in real estate. Tyson decided to leave the fitness industry to team up with his wife. He had already built up a network of high-profile, senior executives through the fitness industry, which include ultra-high net worth individuals who had interest in investing in properties. “That’s why we chose to focus on the high-end residential segment” adds Tyson.
Tyson has been consistently ranked as one of the top producers at PropNex since 2010. A pioneer and co-founder of the PropNex Luxury Team. He was the team lead for The Peak at Cairnhill 2 project, which sold 85% of total units within 3 months.
Over time, Tyson developed a knack of seeking out and acquiring undervalued commercial properties in Singapore. During the Covid restrictions period, the couple managed to secure some S$50 million in transactions from their overseas clients, many of whom could not travel to Singapore to see the physical properties themselves. “They have a lot of trust in us even though most of the deals were done through video calls and virtual tours,” says Tyson.
One unique example is a retail shop at River Valley Road which was purchased by an overseas client. They went the extra mile to secure a tenant named 2Tone Vintage, where a global treasure trove of luxury timepieces is now on display.
Arab Street, another commercial property Tyson acquired for his investors even fitting in a tenant
Another example is a 2.5-storey shophouse at Arab Street which had been vacant for more than a year. It was finally acquired for $5.5 million by an Indonesian client. The latest addition they helped to suss out for acquisition and upgrading includes a shop house at Syed Alwi Road, as well as a F&B outlet at Novena which they managed to secure approximately 50% off the launched price.
Asked about his forte, Tyson likens his zest in commercial properties to sculptural art or jewellery — “like finding a raw gem” — where he has the opportunity to add value through maximising the gross floor area or reconfiguring the space for a more efficient layout. “I find great satisfaction in crafting a beautiful diamond from a mere rock, it feels good to spot and transform a property into an awe-inspiring space,” he notes.
As for Angeline, her strength lies in a penchant for finding “beautiful homes” for clients, especially those who want to leave a “lasting family legacy”. She does it with such finesse that it has helped to build long lasting relationships, so much so that many clients have also become friends of the Yuk family, including their three children.
Keeping family first, Tyson and Angeline always strive for the future of their three children
“Tyson and I complement each other as both life and work partners in building up our family and business,” says Angeline. She adds that the beginning of a long lasting relationship with their clients starts at the point of purchase. “When my client purchased a home on Orchard Road, I was busy ensuring their renovation and interior design was perfectly in time for their arrival,” says Angeline. She also makes sure the house is sparkling clean and there are groceries in the fridge before they arrive. “My greatest satisfaction comes when our clients are happily moved in, and they tell us that Singapore is the best place to live in. This makes us proud to be Singaporeans," she added
Tyson is of the view that Singapore has become an even more favourable destination for foreign investors due to the political stability and effectiveness of its pandemic measures. As the New Year begins, Tyson and Angeline are looking forward to meeting their overseas clients from within the region, including those from China, Indonesia and Malaysia.
For more information, please visit https://commercialrealty.sg/
Contact Tyson Yuk l 85333888
Associate Group Director (R015967D)
Propnex Singapore
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