Guides

6 Things To Prepare If You’re Buying A Home In 2021

One of the worst feelings is to have finally found your dream home, and then being forced to walk away because your financing is uncertain. Or perhaps you’ve put down the booking fee and signed the papers, only to realise…

• 2 Jan 2021
• 5 min read
• 0

The Singapore Property Market 2020: Key Highlights And Trends

There’s a saying that there are decades when nothing happens, and there are weeks when decades happen. That feels about right for the roller-coaster year of 2020, which was unprecedented for the Singapore property market: from a never-before Circuit Breaker…

• 31 Dec 2020
• 10 min read
• 0

Should You Keep Your HDB Flat To Rent Out After Buying A Condo?

We recently received this particularly interesting question: Do you think it is worth to pay ABSD for second property (condo) and keep the first property (HDB) for a rental income? While that does mean incurring Additional Buyers Stamp Duty (ABSD),…

• 30 Dec 2020
• 7 min read
• 0

2020 Year-End Checklist For Your Property Investment

So you’ve owned a home, or perhaps even a second property, for quite some time. In the eyes of many, this leaves you set for life; but you probably know the truth by now: it’s not as simple as sitting…

• 29 Dec 2020
• 8 min read
• 0

Resale Condos Were Underrated In 2020, But Might Take The Spotlight In 2021

You’ve been seeing one new launch after another for 2020; so it’s not surprising you may have missed the trend in the background. Resale condos have avoided the limelight despite sales volumes hitting a two-year high back in August, and…

• 26 Dec 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

Will Singapore’s Rental Market Maintain Its Resilience In 2021?

If you’re like most landlords this year, you’d have felt a deep sense of relief the moment the Tenancy Agreement was signed; even if it’s less than you expected. Rental rates, like property prices, have so far shown some resilience…

• 22 Dec 2020
• 6 min read
• 2

9 Low-cost Methods To Retain Tenants During Covid-19

The mental image that Singaporeans have of landlords is all wrong. If you’re like most people who have a second property to rent out, you’ll know what we mean: everyone visualises you as a towkay who can sit back and…

• 18 Dec 2020
• 7 min read
• 2

Should You “Sell One, Buy Two”, Or Just Buy A Bigger Condo Unit?

With a bumper crop of resale flats hitting the market, and prices rising across the board, it seems the Singapore private property market is in upgrading mode; and so much for the coronavirus. This inevitably brings up the upgrading trend…

• 12 Dec 2020
• 7 min read
• 4

Can Singaporeans Really Afford Their Properties During Covid-19?

Last year, MAS issued cautions as new launches grew, side-lining resale units. Then the re-issue of Options To Purchase (OTPs) came to an end, ostensibly because it could contribute to “property fever”. As of yesterday, MAS has directly advised prudence…

• 8 Dec 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

How Do We Deal With The “Unfairness” Of Prime Region HDB Flats?

Before you fork out $20,000 or $30,000 in Cash Over Valuation (COV), you should pay close attention to what National Development Minister Desmond Lee has been saying. Amid various discussions on Covid-19, mortgages, and help for the construction industry, the…

• 1 Dec 2020
• 5 min read
• 0

What Should You Check When Buying A Tenanted Property In Singapore?

You’ve found the ideal property that’s five minutes from work and the children’s school, but there’s just one issue: a tenant is living there, and his lease only expires almost 10 months from now. That’s a long time to wait…

• 29 Nov 2020
• 7 min read
• 0

6 Key Steps To Take When Right-sizing Your Property

So the children have moved out, and you’re sick of cleaning up your huge 1980’s five-room flat / three-storey bungalow / humongous condo. Or perhaps it’s time to cash out and retire early or retire well. Whatever the case, you’re…

• 25 Nov 2020
• 7 min read
• 0

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

How Can An Old Condo Be A Better Investment?

“Lease decay” is the buzzword that never seems to go away. On the HDB end of things, it leads to constant complaints that you “don’t really own your flat”. In Singapore’s private property market, it leads to comments like “99-year…

• 17 Nov 2020
• 7 min read
• 2

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

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

What’s Driving The Aggressive Bids For The Tanah Merah And Yishun GLS Sites?

Given the current Covid-19 crisis, you’d think developers would want to play it safe. After all, who would dare to make aggressive bids for Government Land Sales (GLS) sites, when we don’t know how the market will look a year…

• 10 Nov 2020
• 7 min read
• 2

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