Property Market Commentary

Sign of the Times: Comparing An Old Resale HDB To A New BTO

Having stayed in an (old) resale flat for almost my entire life, I have grown accustomed to having sufficient space in my home.  However, as I’m at the stage where getting my own place is becoming a distinct possibility, I…

• 26 Nov 2020
• 7 min read
• 1
• 1.6k

Can You Still Afford A Mature-estate HDB Flat In 2020?

It’s BTO launch time, and once again your eyes are being drawn to places like Bidadari and Bishan. But a part of you may be thinking: this is all a fantasy right? Even if the balloting works out, the flats…

• 23 Nov 2020
• 8 min read
• 0
• 582

Why You Should Rethink Any Expensive Property Investment Seminars

By now, you’ve probably seen the YouTube ads warning you about declining HDB flat values; or the older ads claiming you can own multiple properties with no money down. Most recently, a certain education company has come under fire for…

• 21 Nov 2020
• 8 min read
• 6
• 1k

6 Fastest-Selling New Launch Condos: How Are They Doing Now?

New launches are a bit like the Premier League matches of the property market. Behind the scenes, there’s always an undercurrent of nerves as developers – and their marketing teams – see whether their multi-million-dollar ventures are going to pan…

• 20 Nov 2020
• 13 min read
• 3
• 817

6 Developer Pricing Strategies For New Launch Condos

One of the great mysteries in Singapore’s private property market is developer pricing for new launches. We’ve encountered few events that are more laden with myth, rumours, and outright falsehoods. In most cases, the only part that most people get…

• 18 Nov 2020
• 9 min read
• 0
• 2.5k

Singapore’s Major Integrated Developments: A 5-year Update

The term “integrated development” is bandied about quite a bit in the Singapore private property market. Often, it’s confused with mixed-use developments, or as just a condo with a few shops.  In actuality, an integrated development is one that combines…

• 15 Nov 2020
• 8 min read
• 0
• 674

Where Do These Million-dollar Flats Keep Coming From?

It is quite crazy if you were to think about it. The very first HDB flat to hit this magical million dollar mark was an executive apartment at Block 149 Mei Ling Street in Queenstown. This unit was sold for…

• 13 Nov 2020
• 6 min read
• 0
• 471

How Does 2020’s Low Interest Rates Impact Your Property Purchase?

If you have been on the lookout for a home this year, you’ve probably heard this many times by now. Now is a good time to buy, as the costs of borrowing money is so much lower. Put simply, a…

• 12 Nov 2020
• 6 min read
• 0
• 579

What Is Cash Over Valuation (COV) And Why Would You Pay It?

We’re seeing a resale flat revolution. As of Q3, resale prices are rising at their fastest pace since around 2012, and transaction volumes are at a 10-year high. We have a more detailed discussion of this in our previous article. …

• 9 Nov 2020
• 6 min read
• 0
• 1.4k

Is It Time To Refinance From An HDB Loan To A Bank Loan?

After almost seven years of consecutive decline, the HDB resale market seems to have turned a corner. They hit a 10-year high as of Q3 2020; and there’s a good chance the momentum will continue.  Perhaps you’ve been tempted into…

• 5 Nov 2020
• 7 min read
• 0
• 551

Neighbourhood Of The Week: Yishun (District 27)

Yishun is one of the most meme-worthy neighbourhoods in Singapore. It’s nicknames include “The Devil’s Ring” and to date, it’s the only neighbourhood to have inspired a website entirely about its strange happenings. It’s also one of the rare non-central…

• 1 Nov 2020
• 5 min read
• 0
• 386

Margin Calls: Possibly The Most Overlooked Risk In High-quantum Properties

You could say that the Singapore private property market has left many people puzzled. Despite Singapore seeing its worst recession in over 55 years, home sales and prices are rising across the board.  HDB resale flats are at a 10-year…

• 30 Oct 2020
• 5 min read
• 0
• 466

Here’s How The Sellers Stamp Duty Has Affected Boutique Condos

Have you ever wondered why things in limited quantities are so weirdly appealing? Just attach the word “exclusive” to any product and it seems to take on a whole new light.  So much so that entire businesses are built upon…

• 29 Oct 2020
• 7 min read
• 0
• 741

Are Luxury Or Mass-market Condos Better Investments In Singapore?

There are two conflicting theories we often hear in the Singapore private property market. The first is that luxury condos, such as those in prime areas, are better investments: they’re scarce, in high demand, and see better appreciation. On the…

• 28 Oct 2020
• 6 min read
• 0
• 939

How Covid-19 May Have Ended Up A Boon To Resale Flats

HDB resale prices and volumes have seen a sharp rebound as of Q3 2020. After almost seven straight years of decline, it seems as though resale flats may have found their way back into home buyer’s preferences.  Here’s how the…

• 26 Oct 2020
• 6 min read
• 0
• 905

Why Are Landed Home Sales Hitting New Highs Despite Covid-19?

If you’re like most people, you might guess the most expensive property segment – landed property – will fare worst in the downturn. After all, who would buy a bungalow or Semi-D in Singapore’s worst economic situation to date, right?…

• 20 Oct 2020
• 5 min read
• 2
• 1.5k

We Evaluate The Truths Behind 4 Common Property Sayings

The Singapore property market is awash with sayings and platitudes. Some old favourites include “If you want to see a more expensive house, come back to view this one tomorrow,” or “Selling this will be easy, people who stay on…

• 16 Oct 2020
• 8 min read
• 0
• 849

How Do The Additional Relief Measures For Developers Affect Home Buyers?

As of last week (9th October), property developers were granted another six-month extension to complete their projects. This is a second round of extension, with the last one being in May – altogether, property developers now have a full additional…

• 14 Oct 2020
• 6 min read
• 0
• 306