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...]
New cooling measures is a waiting game
On September 29 (Thursday) evening, the government announced new property cooling measures again. The new rules aimed to moderate demand and ensure prudent borrowing amid rising interest rates. They were also meant to address the public concern of rising home prices and to improve housing affordability. While industry stakeholders and homebuyers were caught by surprise, some … [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...]
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...]
Podcast Ep#14: When Is The Best Time To Buy?
Podcast episode 14 is a recording of the first part of my presentation "When Is the Best Time To Buy and Sell?" at the SMART Expo on 22 September 2018 at Sands Expo & Convention Centre. I was traveling when the organizer informed me the timing of my speaking slot early this month. I completely forgot to post the "mark your calendar" announcement in my blog. I only did so on … [Read more...]