Property Market Commentary

Singapore’s Worst-Rated Condos On Google: Are They Really That Bad?

Most home buyers know that online reviews have to be taken with a pinch – nay – a heaping spoonful – of salt. Depending on the platform, these can be gamified or even fake – there are even businesses online…

• 4 Sep 2023
• 8 min read
• 0

Is This The End Of Real Estate Agents As We Know It? Here’s How AI Can Transform Real Estate

Besides insurance agents, property agents are often one of the most “hated” professions. Whether it’s the hefty commissions or the sometimes less-than-transparent practices, many people have dreamed of a world where tech could completely replace the traditional property agent. But…

• 2 Sep 2023
• 9 min read
• 2

We Tried To Eliminate Property Agents In Singapore: Why We Failed & The Challenges New Platforms Face

Here we go again: a couple of websites have sprouted up that seek to replace property agents. It’s not the first time we’ve heard the story, and in most cases, the same thing happens: the platform that tries to replace…

• 15 Aug 2023
• 9 min read
• 14

This Rare Condo Has Both 99-Year And 993-Year Leases: We Explore Unusual Mixed-Lease Properties In Singapore

For most properties these days, it’s a clear-cut case of them being freehold or leasehold. But head back into the 1970s or 80s, and you’ll find things weren’t so neat back then. For reasons we no longer fathom (but are…

• 14 Aug 2023
• 4 min read
• 1

6 Old-School Quirks You Can Only Find In Old Condos In Singapore

When it comes to condos from the 1980s and earlier, you can often tell their age at a glance. What consumers wanted in a home was different back then – large patios, open rooftops, and perhaps even a more brutalist…

• 10 Aug 2023
• 2 min read
• 0

Is The $16k EC Income Ceiling Too Low? A Look At How New EC Prices Have Risen And Why It Should Be Raised

The income ceiling for Executive Condos currently stands at $16,000. But there has been discussion lately over whether it’s time to raise this income ceiling, along with that of BTO flats. It doesn’t surprise us to hear it: amid rising…

• 3 Aug 2023
• 7 min read
• 9

How Grand Dunman “Helped” To Sell The Continuum: The Hidden Influence Of Price Anchoring In Real Estate

Imagine intending to buy a stock, but it’s jumped from $50 to $100 since you started tracking it. Suddenly, $50 becomes your anchor point, making $100 seem costly. But is $100 truly expensive? It’s hard to tell. If the company’s…

• 2 Aug 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

The Hidden Cost Of Homeownership: How A $1M Home Could Lead To $300K In Interest Alone Over 10 Years

One of the least interesting property topics is financing. Home loans are dry, complicated, and don’t make for easy reading; which is why home loan interest rates are often overlooked. In fact, you’ve probably heard by now that rates are…

• 25 Jul 2023
• 5 min read
• 0

Why Your En-Bloc Dreams Might Need to Wait Beyond 2023

Numerous market observers, including us at Stacked, have been anticipating a resurgence of en-bloc fever in 2022/23. However, the collective sale landscape has remained unexpectedly quiet. This is especially peculiar considering the last batch of “en-bloc fever properties” from 2017…

• 25 Jul 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

Why DBSS Flats Are Defying The Odds: Achieving Record Million-Dollar Prices Despite Past Criticisms

Approximately a decade ago, when the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) came to an end, the event was largely met with nonchalance. From property blogs to casual conversations, the consensus seemed to favour the scheme’s termination. For most people,…

• 24 Jul 2023
• 7 min read
• 1

Expecting New Condo Prices To Drop In Singapore? Here’s 6 Factors Why You Shouldn’t

While the recent unveiling of eight new GLS sites will undoubtedly provide some relief to soaring property prices, it’s essential to temper expectations. While increased land availability can bolster housing supply, and possibly lead to more moderate property prices over…

• 17 Jul 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

5,000 New HDB Flats At Mount Pleasant: Should You Wait For This Heritage Site Transformation?

It’s probably not a coincidence that, with the Ridout Road Black & White bungalows seeing so much drama, the Mt. Pleasant site has come up again. Originally mentioned by HDB back in 2021, this upcoming site isn’t just centrally located:…

• 15 Jul 2023
• 6 min read
• 2

How To Lower Property Prices In Singapore: More Loan Curbs Or ABSD?

The Additional Buyers Stamp Duty (ABSD) is seen as a core component of cooling measures. Every time prices creep too high, we see the government ramp up ABSD – most recently on 27th April 2023, when the ABSD on foreign…

• 27 Jun 2023
• 7 min read
• 1

8 New GLS Sites Revealed For 2023: We Explore Each Site And How They May Impact Homebuyers

In an unexpected move, the government has announced eight new GLS sites for the second half of 2023; one of the biggest land sales events we’ve seen in around a decade. On top of that, two of the GLS sites…

• 22 Jun 2023
• 8 min read
• 0

Singapore Vs Vienna Public Housing: Is Vienna Doing It Better Than Singapore (And What Can We Learn)

Imagine a city where public housing doesn’t just meet basic living standards, but can be architectural masterpieces as well, scattered in prime locations throughout the city. And no, we’re not talking about Singapore. Welcome to Vienna, Austria, where public housing…

• 21 Jun 2023
• 9 min read
• 0

The Allure Of Integrated Developments: Are They Worth The Price Premium?

Singaporeans love convenience. And nothing shows this better than the sales trend of new launch integrated developments, which have been flying off the shelves: Integrated Development % Sales at launch The Reserve Residences 71% Lentor Modern 84% Canninghill Piers 77%…

• 13 Jun 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

Record Million-Dollar Property Prices: Skillful Agents Or Just A Hot Market?

While most of us know the conventional cost of a property agent (two per cent of the sale price) when it comes to selling a home, we’ve also seen more exceptions in recent years. Some sellers, for example, have told…

• 8 Jun 2023
• 8 min read
• 0

Do We Still Need Property Agents In 2023?

With property portals and the HDB resale portal now so established, buyers and sellers alike have started to wonder: why do we still need realtors? Has Proptech evolved to the point where we can cut out the middlemen? The answer…

• 3 May 2023
• 9 min read
• 1