Below is a letter I wrote to the editor of The Straits Times three weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was not picked up and has never been published in the Straits Times Forum. After the hectic election week, things are back to normal now. Let me share the content of the letter in my personal blog. P.S. The two new home sales tactics of re-issuing OTPs and buyer kickbacks … [Read more...]
Podcast Ep#46: How To Engage Property Agents (Part I)
How to engage property agents is a question I get from people who are new to renting, buying, selling or leasing their homes. Since I relocated to Singapore 22 years ago, I had rented HDB and private homes, looked for condo units, houses and commercial properties to buy, as well as leased and sold my properties. In this video, I will share my personal experiences with you and … [Read more...]
3 common lies property agents tell you
Last month, a PropNex agent was fined S$30,000 and suspended for 12 months by the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) for being unprofessional and unethical in a property transaction (The Straits Times, Oct 21). The agent in question was found to be telling lies and faking offers and counter-offers in order to pocket a higher commission - simply because he failed to negotiate for … [Read more...]
CEA’s response: Agents must act responsibly to promote clients’ interests
I refer to my letter to The Straits Times Forum titled "Questionable property ads popping up on social media" which was published on 3 May 2019 as follows: Questionable property ads popping up on social media MAY 3, 2019 When the Government implemented property cooling measures last July, individuals were cautioned against over-leveraging in property … [Read more...]
Case Study: A curious case of “no money down” property schemes
We present the case of John and his parents. John is an undergraduate student who has taken finance and investment classes that cover a range of asset-types, including real estate. During a family dinner, when discussing a module that John was taking in the university, Real Estate Investments and Finance, his parents divulged that they have made a real estate investment several … [Read more...]