Commentary

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
• 11 min read
• 1

New 2023 Property Cooling Measures: Will 60% Foreigner ABSD Really Affect Singapore’s Property Market?

A new set of cooling measures is upon us, and as has been typical for the past few – it was announced at a time close to midnight so that no one has any time to react. So the big…

• 27 Apr 2023
• 7 min read
• 2

What’s With The Rising Defects In New Launches In 2023?

Perhaps it’s due to tough construction issues during the Circuit Breaker, or perhaps it’s just slipping standards due to the rush, but we’ve been hearing an inordinate number of complaints about recent new launches. While we don’t want to point…

• 26 Apr 2023
• 7 min read
• 1

3 Surprising Upcoming Changes That May Affect Property Prices (And En Bloc) In 2023

Back in 2022, we were told that URA, BCA, SLA, and even the SCDF were going to acknowledge a new and shared definition of the term Gross Floor Area (GFA). That’s about to come into effect as of June this…

• 19 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

I’ve Been A Landlord For 18 Years: Here’s Why I Don’t Rent To Singles And Only Families

Co-living has been a roaring trend since last year, with many landlords adding rooms to get as many tenants as possible. There’s always one or two contrarians, however, such as SK, who absolutely refuse to follow the crowd. A landlord…

• 16 Apr 2023
• 8 min read
• 0

New Housing For Low-Income Singles: We Share What Some Older Singaporeans Think

We’ve had some time to think of HDB’s new pilot rental housing scheme: the Single Room Shared Facilities units. While this is a new kind of flat, the concept is not entirely new – it’s somewhat comparable to co-living. But…

• 14 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

Is The 99-1 Loophole Illegal? We Clear Up 6 Common Property Misconceptions In 2023

As we head into 2023, some erroneous beliefs about the property market are starting to surface. Some are new, but many are from a few years before. This may be related to recent shake-ups and changes to the rules, such…

• 12 Apr 2023
• 8 min read
• 2

Will Rental Rates Drop Soon? Here’s What Landlords (And Tenants) Need To Know

As a landlord, if you had the choice between a short and a long lease – which would you choose? On the surface, it seems like such an obvious answer. Who wouldn’t want to have a longer lease? But over…

• 7 Apr 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

My Experience Staying In A Ground Floor Unit: Here Are The Pros And Cons To Know

‘When buying my first property, I was cautioned by my realtor: “Either you buy very high, or buy very low – don’t buy in-between.” This saying suggests that – whilst most people acknowledge higher floors are better – there are…

• 6 Apr 2023
• 9 min read
• 2

Could This Be The Real Reason Why ACS Moved? Uncovering The Future Potential Of Newton/Novena

There’s been a lot of talk over the moving of ACS Primary from its Barker Road location, to Tengah. However, the attention so far has been on brand obsession issues, the age-old complaints of elitism, and the discussion on whether…

• 4 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 1

Can Every HDB Flat Be A Valuable Nest Egg For Retirement? Not Everyone Agrees. Here’s Why.

We’ve heard some angry arguments bounding around lately, both for and against HDB flats as retirement assets. The root of this seems to be a recent incident when it was claimed that “Every HDB flat will be a valuable nest…

• 27 Mar 2023
• 8 min read
• 5

The URA Master Plan Can Make Or Break Your Property’s Potential: Why You Need To Pay Attention

When it comes to the URA Master Plan, most homeowners are familiar only with big upcoming changes – announcements like the planned move of Paya Lebar Airport, or the development of a Punggol Digital District. These are blasted in the…

• 17 Mar 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

6 Unusual Rules That Have Shaped How Condos Have Been Built (For Better Or Worse)

Property developers in Singapore have a solid reputation, but a common criticism is that our projects are all “cookie-cutter”. There’s only one Interlace for every dozen other similar-looking projects. But there are reasons why developers build this way, just as…

• 13 Mar 2023
• 9 min read
• 0

The Rise Of The Telegram/WhatsApp Group Chat: How These Chat Groups Affect Condo Living

A subtle, powerful, change has taken place in the way condos are run. From older resale properties to new launches in recent years, condos have seen a surge in collective action, active resident committees, and – unfortunately – snooping around…

• 8 Mar 2023
• 8 min read
• 0

Slimmer Chance Of Getting A BTO If You Cancel The First Time: Here’s What Singaporeans Think

It may be time to stop being choosy or gaming the system, as HDB clamps down with a new “choose it or lose it” policy. Those who fail to show up at BTO selection won’t just lose their chance at…

• 7 Mar 2023
• 7 min read
• 1

Property Agent Flyers On Your Gate Illegal? 6 Surprising Things You May Not Know About Singapore Property

As we near the middle of 2023, a lot of strangeness has surfaced in the property market. From blatant privacy intrusions by agents to new buyers puzzled over key collection times, there are some things that need clearing up. Gathered…

• 6 Mar 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

“So How Much Does It Cost To Build A HDB?” 7 Intriguing Real Estate Data That We Want To Know In Singapore

Long-time readers of Stacked will know that we love data, and the chance to observe quantifiable trends. Unfortunately, the information isn’t perfect – and in some cases, the data that was once published has now become untraceable. In this list,…

• 4 Mar 2023
• 7 min read
• 1

“How Do They Know Where I Live!?” New Property Agent Tactics Targeting New Condo Owners

Imagine this: You bought a new launch condo a while back, and it’s now getting closer to key collection day. You open the mailbox in your current home and are faced with the usual deluge of mail. Out goes the…

• 2 Mar 2023
• 7 min read
• 0