Justin Ngai, newly appointed Senior Group Division Director at ERA, made a remarkable impact at this year’s ERA Asia Pacific Business Conference. Alongside his recent promotion — one of the agency’s most prestigious titles — he secured a series of notable accolades: Top 200 Achievers, Top Group Division Directors and Rising Millionaire. ERA awards the Rising Millionaire title exclusively to agents who surpass $500,000 in commissions within a single year.
With just over eight years in the industry, Ngai’s latest awards mark another milestone in his impressive rise as one of the agency’s next-generation stars. Yet, this level of success was a distant thought when he first began.
Justin promoted to Senior Group Division Director at ERA APAC 2025 (Photo: Justin Ngai)
Starting out in Singapore’s most competitive market
“I became an agent because of family circumstances,” says Ngai. “My father passed away when I was 23. So, when I graduated from university two years later, I decided to give up my youth to not burden my mum.”
That was when he met a seasoned agent who became his guide and mentor in the property market. “I am very fortunate to have met Ivan because he provided a path for me to follow him into the landed market,” adds Ngai.
With a limited supply of landed properties in Singapore and the lure of attractive commissions, the landed residential sector is among the most competitive and demanding markets for agents.
“I started by distributing fliers and door-knocking around landed estates in the Outside of Central Region (OCR),” says Ngai. “For at least the first eighteen months, I would walk around a different estate.”
It was a tiring time for the freshly minted agent, but his time walking the different estates proved invaluable once he attained his first exclusive listing. Ngai had developed a deeper understanding of the market from walking the ground. This, supplemented by his mentor’s advice, ultimately helped him convince the buyer and seller to close the deal.
“Working in landed requires a deeper understanding of the buyers and the market. As landed houses comes in different builds, some in their original condition, some renovated, the ability to identify and evaluate the value of a landed property boils down to your expertise on the ground and of the market.”
Since his first sale, Ngai has earned consistent commissions from his landed residential deals and has also expanded his expertise into the new launch condominium market.
Justin conducting Jumpstart Training for new salespersons (Photo: Justin Ngai)
Leading by example
Ngai is a big proponent of leading his team by example, which is why he joined his team in the new launch market. “Succeeding in the new launch market requires a different skill set than the landed segment, but I wanted to show my team that if I can do it, they can too,” he explained.
Walking the talk, Ngai was project Division Director for the recent launch of The Orie, a 777-unit private condo in Toa Payoh. The project sold about 86% on its first day, of which ERA secured close to 30% of the transactions.
Ngai helps his team assess how each condo, as well as different units within the project, may appeal to other kinds of buyers. For example, he notes that some buyers may view condo launches as a stepping stone into the landed property market. He then outlines how he can assist them in achieving their financial goals.
Justin awarded the Rising Millionaire Award 2025 (Photo: Justin Ngai)
It was the case for one couple in their 30s who were looking to sell their Bendemeer HDB flat. Ngai facilitated the sale, advising them to subsequently purchase two condo units in District 19, which he assessed as undervalued at the time. In three years, the two condo units appreciated by a total of over $700,000. As a result of Ngai’s advice, the couple now lives in a landed property they purchased for $4.2 million.
To further show his faith in picking a good investment property, Ngai has gone one step further to throw his own hat in the ring. In 2024, he purchased a three-bedroom unit in District 15.
“The newly launched development ticked all the boxes for a condo with the potential for high capital appreciation,” says Ngai. “Furtheremore, the project’s launch prices were lower than comparable resale units in the area, even after taking into account the harmonization of floor area – which excludes unusable areas such as aircon ledges from the calculation of psf-prices.”
Now, Ngai leads a dynamic team of 70 and is actively recruiting new members. Several of those directly under his leadership have already begun building their teams, comprising four to eight agents.
Justin clinched multiple awards at the Preeminent Group Gala 2024 (Photo: Justin Ngai)
Guiding the next generation
With the trials of his early journey still clear in his mind, Ngai made it his mission to mentor new agents, just as his mentor had done for him. “We are a young group, but that is also why we can resonate with our agents in the issues that they are facing,” says Ngai. “I can empathise with newer agents when I see them impatient to close a deal, and I know how to guide them in how to improve.”
Each week, he opens his office to agents in the division, offering them the opportunity to seek his guidance and advice. “The support and grounding I received early in my career helped me get to where I am today. There were also things I needed to fine-tune — the way I spoke, my patience, my confidence — these are all soft skills that no one taught me when I was 25 years old,” says Ngai. “Now, I can offer the same advice that I once needed.”
Justin Ngai celebrates his Division’s efforts (Photo: Justin Ngai)
“I also work with them one-on-one to customise a business plan for them so that they scale with their effort. This way, their earning potential always has room to grow, and they know exactly how to do so,” he adds.
As a result, Ngai reports that new agents under his mentorship regularly close their first deal within three to four months, about half the time it took Ngai to secure his first deal.
For more information,
Contact Justin Ngai | 96615511
Senior Group Division Director (R057335G)
ERA REALTY NETWORK PTE LTD
