The pool of private home buyers is fast shrinking in the current property market. While HDB resale flat prices are on the rise, why are HDB owners not upgrading? Other countries are fighting hard to avoid slipping into recession. In contrast, the economy of Singapore still looks fine at least on the surface. Where have all the private home buyers gone? Private home sales … [Read more...]
How Budget 2023 broke my heart this Valentine’s Day
What's the worst that could happen on Valentine’s Day? No doubt it’s Budget 2023. The front desk was a sea of flowers and goodies. Yet, nothing was for me. The streets were crowded with lovebirds. But I was ineligible for love. The defeated soul went home alone depressed and drained. Still, they broke the bad news about paying more to buy private properties. From tomorrow … [Read more...]
Property cooling measures, here we go again!
Yesterday (December 15) right before midnight, the government announced new property cooling measures, with higher ABSD (Additional Buyer's Stamp Duties), lowered LTV (Loan-to-Value) and tightened TDSR (Total Debt Servicing Ratio). The predictable pattern to impose new curbs We had the last round of cooling measures just three years ago in July 2018. Let's recall the … [Read more...]
Podcast Ep#44: Three Property Delusions Under Covid-19
Under the threat of Covid-19, there are 3 questionable sayings circulating in the property market: 1) Government should lift unnecessary cooling measures during this difficult time. 2) A low or zero interest rate from the banks will provide cheap money for property investors. 3) With the easing of the circuit breaker, things will go back to normal and the market will … [Read more...]
Will the cooling new sales market be frozen 2?
To divert public attention from the recent hot topic of supply glut in the property market, The Straits Times made use of November’s new sales to give developers a face-saving headline: “New private home sales rebound in November amid supply glut: URA data”. (The Straits Times, Dec 16) The article said “Excluding ECs, developers sold 1,147 units last month, 23.2 percent more … [Read more...]