Guides

New ABSD Rates In 2023: Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Additional Buyers Stamp Duty In Singapore

The so-called “temporary” ABSD measure has now been with us for over a decade – and over the years there have been changes. The multiple revisions have, we notice, caused some confusion among buyers; and many first-timers get confused by…

• 23 May 2023
• 5 min read
• 0

Can An Old Condo Perform Better Than A New Condo? Here Are 3 Real-Life Examples

A common sales pitch is that newer condos tend to outperform older ones; whether due to the shiny newness factor, having newer facilities, or maybe a more suitable, modern layout. Some seasoned property investors have also disputed this, however, with…

• 22 May 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

A Review Of New Launch Condos Performance In 2023: Here’s How Major Launches Have Fared So Far

As we approach the mid-year mark in 2023, we thought it would be appropriate to look back and see how the new launches have been doing. With the new cooling measures just announced recently, it certainly has dampened things, with…

• 10 May 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

8 Overlooked Factors Your Property Agent May Not Mention When Choosing Your Home In 2023

There have been some changes to marketing strategies over the years, and it pays for home buyers to know them when picking units. While we’ve somewhat covered this topic before, consider this an update based on what we’re increasingly seeing…

• 10 May 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

6 Ideal 2-Bedroom Condo Layouts That Don’t Compromise On Practicality 

Two-bedders are the most tricky units to work with, in terms of interior space. They can be for young couples, retirees, roommates, or even a single homeowner who just wants more space. This makes it hard to come to an…

• 8 May 2023
• 5 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

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

April 2023 has brought a new set of property cooling measures in Singapore, 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…

• 27 Apr 2023
• 5 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
• 5 min read
• 1

Adding An Extra Room To Your Home? Here Are 6 Important Things To Note

While removing partitions used to be the more common fad, the reverse is now true. From families seeking to add another room, to landlords making the most of the roaring tenant market, more owners are adding partitions. But while it…

• 24 Apr 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

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
• 5 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
• 6 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
• 4 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
• 6 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
• 6 min read
• 0

7 Easy Hacks To Save On High Rental Rates In 2023

As we mentioned in a previous article, rental rates are at a six-year high, and are still likely to increase. 2022 has proven kind to landlords, but not so much to tenants. 2023 could be the year when rental starts…

• 7 Apr 2023
• 6 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
• 7 min read
• 2

3 Homeowners Share Their Biggest Regrets Selling Their Property At The Wrong Time

The internet is chock full of successful homeowners stories; and with so many realtors advertising sales above valuation, it can paint an overly optimistic picture of the Singapore property market. But while real estate may not be as risky as,…

• 5 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 3

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
• 5 min read
• 2