Guides

Tour A 24-Year-Old Resale HDB Transformation: How A Couple With A $120k Reno Budget Built A Cosy Wabi Sabi Home

Like many couples during the pandemic, Gwen (*not her real name for privacy reasons) and her husband were looking for a place bigger than their previous home.  As such, they were on the hunt for older resale HDBs where the…

• 28 Dec 2022
• 8 min read
• 0

7 Considerations To Make When Partitioning Your Condo For Better Resale Value/Rental Returns

A lot of newer condos come with “flexi” rooms, whilst dumbbell layouts are quite versatile. These make it quite easy to create an added bedroom, study, or other space; but before you go ahead and build the partitions, consider the…

• 27 Dec 2022
• 6 min read
• 0

Should We Build More HDB Maisonettes? 5 Convincing Reasons Why

HDB stopped building maisonettes way back in 1995, but Singaporeans never got over their love for it. As we’ve pointed out before, a significant portion of million-dollar flats are maisonettes; and if Singaporeans are buying them despite the advanced lease…

• 23 Dec 2022
• 5 min read
• 0

7 Unique Gifts For The Person Who Has Everything

Some people are just very hard to give gifts for. They are often blessed in the financial department or are very picky with what they like/don’t like. So what do you gift someone who seemingly has everything? At some point,…

• 22 Dec 2022
• 5 min read
• 0

12 Reasons To Be Happy (Or Scared) About The Singapore Property Market In 2023

2022 was a wild ride for the property market, and for the world in general. From a new war in Europe, to record-high interest rates, to new cooling measures. There are definitely some bumps ahead in the coming year, but…

• 21 Dec 2022
• 9 min read
• 2

40 Unique Local Home Decor Brands In Singapore To Differentiate Your Space

Here’s the thing about shopping. In today’s social media world, it’s all about discoverability.  There’s tons of competition on platforms like Lazada and Shopee, and the Instagram algorithm just isn’t as good as it should be for unearthing different brands….

• 20 Dec 2022
• 18 min read
• 0

If You Own An Investment Shoebox Unit, Here Are 5 Important Points To Note Before Selling In 2023

Right up to 2013, the single-bedder or shoebox unit was an in-demand property choice. It’s affordable to new investors, has a higher rental yield, and can be sold as an investment. But come 2023, the “selling” part is a much…

• 19 Dec 2022
• 6 min read
• 0

Tour An Old 1984 HDB Transformation: How A Couple Built A Raw Yet Playful Home With A $90k Reno Budget

Open-concept living is very popular in Singapore, for a variety of reasons. The most important reason though? It can make even the smallest of spaces feel bigger and brighter. And when you have a bigger space, it really allows you…

• 18 Dec 2022
• 9 min read
• 0

8 Best Gifts Under $70 That Hit The Sweet Spot

Christmas and New Year are around the corner. With them comes the annual challenge of picking a gift that won’t be received with a warm smile, and then quickly re-wrapped and sent to the boss or colleague the receiver half-despises….

• 17 Dec 2022
• 5 min read
• 0

Most Sellers Don’t Know This: 7 Less Obvious Factors That Can Affect Your Selling Price

The fundamentals that affect your property price – such as location, lease decay, state of maintenance, etc. – are relatively easy to spot. Most realtors and valuation companies have broadly similar checklists. However, we often get questions on why, even…

• 16 Dec 2022
• 6 min read
• 0

7 Useful Tips For Soon-To-Be Retirees To Find The Ideal Forever Home

Finding a home for the rest of your life can be an emotional event. For many, it’s seen as being the last milestone of a life well-lived. This is the one property purchase for which we’d say go ahead and…

• 15 Dec 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

Will Property Prices Remain High In 2023? Here’s Why A Property Undersupply May Prop Up Demand Despite The Economic Uncertainty

Every five years, there should be a cycle of en-bloc sales where property developers replenish land banks, and put up new developments. The last bout was in 2017; so why aren’t we seeing a major one in 2022? Compounding the…

• 12 Dec 2022
• 8 min read
• 0

7 Stylish Portable Table Lamps That Do More Than Just Brighten Up Your Space

Portable lamps may not be as grand as chandeliers, but they remain a significant part of every home. It offers something that either desk or standing lamps cannot fulfill: flexibility. With no extensions to lug around, you can bring them…

• 10 Dec 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

7 Useful Questions To Ask Your Property Agent Before You Buy Or Sell Your Property

Most of us know the routine questions to ask a realtor, such as “how long have you been in the industry,” or “where was the last place you sold,” and so forth. These questions are so common that most realtors…

• 7 Dec 2022
• 6 min read
• 0

8 Different Executive Apartment HDB Layout Ideas To Utilise Your Space Better

There’s always a caveat to everything, isn’t there? There’s no question that everyone would want an Executive Apartment (if not for the lease decay). But for the buyer who doesn’t mind, it’s easy to see why these are in such…

• 7 Dec 2022
• 8 min read
• 0

“I Regret Buying From Taobao” 5 Homeowners Share Their Worst Renovation Regrets

Table Of Contents 1. Lack of ventilation in the bathrooms 2. Getting everything at the lowest price from Taobao 3. Buying fittings from Taobao 4. Insisting on starting renovations before you’ve checked for defects 5. Built too much in-built carpentry…

• 5 Dec 2022
• 7 min read
• 0

6 Things Foreign Investors Are Seldom Told About The Singapore Property Market

Singapore property is often advertised as a safe-haven asset, in a low-tax environment. Coupled with a history of continued price appreciation, and a high-quality built environment, it’s no surprise that our real estate finds its way into many foreign portfolios….

• 5 Dec 2022
• 6 min read
• 0

Tour A 4-Storey Multi-Generational Home Transformation: How A Couple Mixed An Aussie Aesthetic With Japandi Style

Designing a multi-generational house has always been a challenge as it needs to cater to both the individual and collective needs of the residents.  There are many nuances to consider. Do you create separate entrances for more privacy? How do…

• 2 Dec 2022
• 8 min read
• 0