Property Market Commentary

Why Are Singapore Property Prices Returning To Pre-Covid-19 Levels So Fast?

There’s been some recent buzz over a report by Colliers, predicting a return to pre-Covid-19 levels for Singapore property. Before we get too excited, this isn’t specific to Singapore’s residential property scene only; the prediction is based on real estate…

• 21 Apr 2021
• 7 min read
• 0

4 Important Lessons From The Thomson Road Building Demolition. Yes, It’s About En-Bloc.

There was a bit of a shocker this week, when the government announced the demolition of 68 to 74 Thomson Road. While this is an old building, it’s also a freehold property; and because of its good location (it’s just…

• 20 Apr 2021
• 7 min read
• 0

The Trend of Commission Cashback – Why It Happens And Why It Can Be Harmful

This article below by The Business Times provided a look on the practice of commission cashback – or better known as agents sharing new launch commissions with their buyer. The reason this happens? Developers have to sell their units but…

• 4 Apr 2021
• 5 min read
• 4

PPVC Construction : Why It Matters For Investors (The Good, Bad, And Ugly)

Let’s roll back time to the year 2017.  You are a savvy property investor, and have realised that the property market has bottomed out. So you believe it is now the right time to start buying your investment property. You’ve…

• 3 Apr 2021
• 5 min read
• 5

Why Old, Strata Malls Matter More Than You Think

Queensway Shopping Centre, Katong Shopping Centre, Golden Mile Tower…these old malls are often disregarded, or even considered eyesores. When it comes to “important old buildings”, Singaporeans tend to think of shophouses or historic bungalows; the concept of an old strata-titled…

• 25 Mar 2021
• 6 min read
• 0

How Do The New EGM Rules For En-Bloc Affect You? (It’s Bigger Than You Think)

Starting in January this year, the Land Titles (Strata) Act (LTSA) saw a small but important amendment: a limit to the number of proxy voters during en-bloc sales. This will forever change the nature of Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) for…

• 23 Mar 2021
• 5 min read
• 0

5 Special Old Features Of HDB’s In Singapore That Are Hard To Imagine Today

It is frankly quite amazing to see the progress Singapore has made over the last few decades. Today, we have structures like the now iconic Marina Bay Sands, the glittering lights from Gardens By The Bay, and the current tallest…

• 20 Mar 2021
• 8 min read
• 0

SERS: What Is It, Where Has It Happened, And What Are Your Odds?

The Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) is often considered the next big “HDB lottery winner”, next to a central region BTO flat. In fact, one of the reasons many Singaporeans want a central region flat is because they believe there’s…

• 14 Mar 2021
• 5 min read
• 0

Why ABSD For Developers Needs To Be Tweaked And How It Affects You As A Home Buyer

Most home buyers are familiar with the concept of Additional Buyers Stamp Duty (ABSD) as it applies to them. What’s less commonly known is that property developers also have to pay ABSD; and this added tax shapes multiple decisions. From…

• 12 Mar 2021
• 7 min read
• 2

Humility Is The Greatest Investment Strategy. Here’re 5 Reasons Why.

I listened to the story with fascination as the property agent shared with me the story about how his seller turned down a record price for his unit. Why? Because the buyer had remarked that “the kitchen was ugly”. I…

• 24 Feb 2021
• 7 min read
• 0

4 Reasons Why Resale Condos May Be More Popular In 2021

2020 was dominated by a slew of new condo launches. If you were listening to the radio or browsing property portals, there wouldn’t be a single day where you wouldn’t come across two or three ads – minimum – for…

• 18 Feb 2021
• 6 min read
• 0

What’s Behind The Surge Of New Launch Condo Purchases In January 2021?

At this point, the prediction of new cooling measures may have become a self-fulfilling prophecy. New condo sales surged month-on-month, between December 2020 and January of this year; and while the reasons are varied, one of them may ironically be…

• 16 Feb 2021
• 6 min read
• 0

URA Is Asking Questions About Property Agent Commissions; Here’s How It Could Affect You

Property developers have been grumbling of late, and we’re not talking about potential new cooling measures. The gripe has been about property agent commissions, and how they’ve been growing over the years. In recent news however, agents and market watchers…

• 9 Feb 2021
• 6 min read
• 0

5 Common Scenarios In A Divorce Settlement: How Your Property Will Be Divided

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, marriages go wrong. In an ideal scenario, everyone involved parts ways amicably. In a realistic scenario, the division of assets gets messy; and the most serious complication typically involves the home we stay in. Most…

• 5 Feb 2021
• 9 min read
• 0

Can We Expect Cash Over Valuation (COV) To Keep Climbing For HDB Flats?

Late last year, property agents already alerted us to the issue of rising Cash Over Valuation (COV) in resale flat transactions. As of last week, news reports seem to affirm that COV is, indeed, creeping its way back into the…

• 4 Feb 2021
• 6 min read
• 0

5 New Retirement Realities For The Millennial Singaporean

In an era of low interest rates, the traditional strategy of saving and stashing away your monies in higher-interest rate accounts is dead in the water. With various banks slashing their interest rates multiple times in 2020 – there is…

• 30 Jan 2021
• 9 min read
• 0

4 Reasons Why HDB Upgraders Prefer Executive Condos To Private Condos

Two common expressions you’ll hear in Singapore are “What? Why is an EC so expensive?” followed by “What? The EC sold out again?”  Few market watchers will ever forget the famed Piermont Grand EC. When it first came on the…

• 26 Jan 2021
• 6 min read
• 0

Are Sentosa Cove Bungalows Really Seeing A Turnaround?

If you’ve been reading the news lately, you may be surprised to hear about the “wave of regional buyers” that are expected to descend on Sentosa Cove. Yes, we’re talking about the same place where the prices of detached homes…

• 25 Jan 2021
• 6 min read
• 0