I had an old blog post titled “Is property the reason why Singapore is not among the happiest countries in the world?”. I thought the topic was a bit dry. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be one of the most read posts in my blog. That is not a good sign. It shows that many Singaporeans are not really happy with life. Because normally, people don’t read an article when they … [Read more...]
Podcast Ep#35: How BTO Fares Against Condo
These days BTO projects and condo projects share a lot of similarities. Putting their pricing aside, let’s examine how they look alike in three areas: 1. Product Packaging; 2. Buyer Incentives; and 3. Sales Performance. You can now watch the podcast below. The video comes with full script or subtitles. If you are watching from your mobile, ensure that the … [Read more...]
Podcast Ep#34: Who’s The Loser of New CPF Grants
On September 10, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong announced higher CPF grants and higher income ceilings for HDB and EC homebuyers. The new policies make it more attractive to buy new BTO flats and HDB resale flats. Can old HDB resale flat owners really benefit from the additional CPF grants? Who are the biggest loser the new changes? Let me tell you the … [Read more...]
Will buying a home make us happier?
This week the government announced higher CPF grants and a raised income ceiling for first-time HDB buyers. More citizens are now eligible to buy new BTO flats or resale HDB flats. A recent advertisement from the CPF Board is seen at MRT platforms with a headline that reads, “In 2018, nearly one million Singaporeans used CPF for their housing and found what really sparks … [Read more...]
Is home ownership for everyone?
The Singapore government is planning to reach out to 1,000 HDB rental-flat families to help them buy their own flats. The scheme aims to mitigate income inequality and uplift lower-income families because “home ownership is key to providing stability and progress for families in the long run”. A Home Ownership Support Team will be set up to provide stronger, personalised … [Read more...]