Guides

Do Resale Properties Really Cost More To Renovate?

If you’re choosing between a new launch and a resale property, you’ve probably heard the saying that “the resale will cost more to renovate”.  The theory is that, because you need to hack up the previous work, there’s added time…

• 19 Sep 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

Neighbourhood Of The Week: Bukit Timah (District 21)

Bukit Timah is the neighbourhood for the upscale nature lover / family own stay type. This is a prime area, where landed housing and private condominiums outnumber HDB flats.  Unlike Orchard or the CBD however, Bukit Timah is a green…

• 16 Sep 2020
• 5 min read
• 2

How Much Better Are Rental Yields For Compact Units?

Like many property buyers, you’ve probably had a chance to squint at a tiny floor plan of a compact unit (510 sq.ft. or under). Some of them are so small, you may have stayed in motel rooms that offer more…

• 13 Sep 2020
• 7 min read
• 3

Why Are Some Homeowners Being Advised To Take Lock-in Home Loans?

You’ve gone through all the terms and conditions, and you still can’t believe what the mortgage broker is telling you: go for a home loan package that has a lock-in clause. You can’t make sense of it – why take…

• 9 Sep 2020
• 5 min read
• 0

You Have Enough To Pay Off Your Home Loan Early; But Should You?

It is a miracle! For years you’ve slogged away at your home loan, thinking you were never going to get it paid. Then lo and behold, long before even your 55th birthday, you check the mortgage and realise: hey, you…

• 1 Sep 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

The Stacked Guide for Foreigners Buying Property in Singapore

Singapore private property is both literally and metaphorically a safe port in the storm. This may be one of the few countries where demand for luxury properties can climb to 11-year highs, precisely because of economic downturns.  But despite its…

• 31 Aug 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

The Stacked Guide To Property Tax And Stamp Duties

Many first-time home owners overestimate the price of their first property. It’s probably due to constant conditioning over social media, news, etc. that remind you how “Singapore is the world’s most expensive city”, etc. But here’s the bit that’s often…

• 28 Aug 2020
• 7 min read
• 0

When Is It Actually Better To Pay The ABSD?

Tell someone you’re considering actually paying the Additional Buyers Stamp Duty (ABSD) on your second home, and watch as their eyes pop out. They’ll rattle off a whole bunch of reasons how you can avoid it – from buying dual-key…

• 23 Aug 2020
• 5 min read
• 0

Top 10 Singapore Districts With The Highest Property Appreciation

How much can change in 10 years? If you’re in a small, fast-paced country like Singapore, the answer is “to the point of unrecognizability”. Today, Orchard has been dethroned by Beach Road in terms of price per square foot; and…

• 15 Aug 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

The Key Things To Prepare For When Inheriting Property In Singapore

Inheriting a property isn’t like inheriting cash, or gold, or an art collection. All those things involve paperwork; but few things involve as much red tape as inheriting a property. To prepare you for what’s to come, we spoke to…

• 14 Aug 2020
• 6 min read
• 6

Loan to Value (LTV): How To Increase The Loan Quantum For Your Property

After five years, you’re ready to sell your flat and make the jump to a private property. Or perhaps you’ve got your heart set on an Executive Condominium, for which you need to use a bank loan. In both cases,…

• 12 Aug 2020
• 7 min read
• 0

Should You Take Up A Deferred Payment Scheme When Buying A Condo?

You’ve had your eye on that new launch condo for a long time; and now that it’s complete, you can even move in right after buying. Well, get ready to be introduced to the Deferred Payment Scheme (DPS) when you…

• 12 Aug 2020
• 6 min read
• 3

How Much Does A Property’s Age Affect Its Rental Income And Yield?

One of the reasons to buy an older property is supposedly good rental yield. As the theory goes, tenants will still pay around the same rental rate (they don’t care about the remaining lease), while the cost of the property…

• 5 Aug 2020
• 5 min read
• 3

Should You Upgrade To A Condo, Or Just A Bigger Resale Flat?

So your five year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is up, and you know what the whole internet screams at you to do: upgrade! Sell one, buy two! Buy a prime district condo, it’s more affordable than you think! Etc. Except…

• 1 Aug 2020
• 6 min read
• 1

4 Insider Tips To Buying Property In Singapore

“Overwhelming…” “Stressful…” Ask anyone about buying property in Singapore and I can assure you, these would usually be the first few words that come out of their mouth.  Because buying a home isn’t like buying a fridge from Harvey Norman. …

• 31 Jul 2020
• 5 min read
• 2

Is It Really A Buyer’s Market Right Now?

 “Covid-19 = economic downturn = desperate sellers”.  This seems to be the common assumption right now in Singapore’s real estate market. A report released earlier this month that’s often cited is the 1.1 per cent decline in private home prices….

• 29 Jul 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

10 Entryway Items For A Stylish Welcome Home

With the size of units in Singapore shrinking as time goes by, having an entryway into the home is becoming increasingly less common as well. Many of the new launch units will have done away with an entryway completely, with…

• 27 Jul 2020
• 6 min read
• 0

What To Look For In An Older Condo Before You Buy

New launch condos have a lot of psychological appeal, until you hear the horror stories – like Laurel Tree and Sycamore Tree condos going unfinished, or the $32 million lawsuit over defects at The Seaview.  Or maybe you’d love to…

• 22 Jul 2020
• 6 min read
• 14