News

Why Singapore Landlords Hold All The Power

For the most part, landlords have a strong advantage over tenants in Singapore. We have no formal rent control measures (at least not since 2001*), there is no specific tenancy resolution body (everything goes to the Small Claims Tribunal or…

• 9 Feb 2025
• 3 min read
• 0

Is Your Condo Management A “Hidden Dictatorship” In Singapore?

Don’t live in a dictatorship seems like common-sense advice, but sometimes that’s what local condo buyers get themselves into.  This week, I heard a story about a certain condo and dogs. I won’t name it, but it sounds a bit…

• 2 Feb 2025
• 2 min read
• 0

What Happens To Your Home Loan In Singapore If Your Spouse Passes Away?

There are some pretty hair-raising ideas out there, about what happens when one co-borrower passes on.  This was a source of panic for an acquaintance last week, when that exact thing happened. He’d been under the impression that, when the…

• 26 Jan 2025
• 4 min read
• 0

Property Cooling Measures In 2025: Here We Go Again

Much like the backside of a Secondary School delinquent, we’ve thickened our skin against the rotan of cooling measures. We just got a statement that the government is “not averse” to more cooling measures. But when I mentioned it to…

• 19 Jan 2025
• 4 min read
• 2

Is The $16,000 Executive Condo Income Ceiling Still Relevant In 2025?

“False ceiling” is now a term we can apply to an interior design feature, and the cash minimums for Executive Condos (ECs). Right now the income ceiling to buy one is $16,000 per month, up from $14,000 (the previous ceiling…

• 13 Jan 2025
• 4 min read
• 4

Would You Pay $900k For A 3-Room HDB? Let’s Break It Down

How much more would you pay for a very new (i.e., around five years old) resale flat?  You might figure it’s at a premium, since (a) you can move in immediately and skip the construction time, and (b) the lease…

• 5 Jan 2025
• 5 min read
• 2

Are More Property Cooling Measures Coming to Singapore In 2025?

Thanks to a recent newspaper article, many people are asking if new cooling measures have already kicked in.  Which is disappointing for so many reasons, not least being that so few read beyond the headline these days. Some of you…

• 29 Dec 2024
• 2 min read
• 1

Why This Potential New Singapore Property Rule Could Be A Good Thing For You In 2025

“I’m not sure I want the ‘old bird’ agent,” was the phrase that surprised me this week. In most situations, people would want a veteran on their side. Most of us prefer the older and more experienced doctor, the 20-year…

• 22 Dec 2024
• 4 min read
• 0

The Surprising Changes In Singapore Property Market Trends In 2024

Maybe there’s a use for those shuttered stores in old, empty malls. Integrated and mixed-use projects aren’t a new concept in Singapore; but here’s a spin we’re seeing in the US: turning some of those closed-down stores into small, single-bedder…

• 15 Dec 2024
• 5 min read
• 0

This Secret Hack Gets You The Best New Launch Units In Singapore

There’s a secret exploit for getting the exact unit you want at a launch  Here’s the thing, the real secret to getting a profitable property (other than identifying the right one) is to get a good ballot number. You may…

• 9 Dec 2024
• 4 min read
• 0

Why The $16,000 Income Ceiling For Executive Condos Is Too Low

The minimum down payment on an EC can be more than 25 per cent. Consider this: as of 2024, ECs have an income ceiling of $16,000 per month. Now along with this income ceiling, there’s a Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR)…

• 1 Dec 2024
• 4 min read
• 0

The Differing Sale Tactics Of Chuan Park And Emerald of Katong

Fast or slow: what’s the best way to sell a condo?  The answer seems obvious right? But not quite. Speed does count to some extent: condo developers work within tight time constraints – if the project isn’t completed and sold…

• 24 Nov 2024
• 4 min read
• 0

Why Are New Launch Condos In Singapore Selling Like Hotcakes Again?

I’m told that US politics is badly affected by the “echo chamber,” but perhaps our property market is as well.  The echo chamber effect happens when algorithms match you up to people with similar views and concerns, so you end…

• 17 Nov 2024
• 5 min read
• 0

Why This New HDB Rule Is A Big Win For Singles (After Years Of Being Overlooked)

Caring for singles is caring for seniors. Which is why I like the new family care scheme, starting in mid-2025. Under new rules coming next year, singles applying for BTO flats will get priority, so long as their intended home…

• 10 Nov 2024
• 4 min read
• 0

6 New Launch Condos In Singapore This Weekend… Which Is The Hot Favourite?

Watch out for the “surge in private home transactions” news report soon. Every quarter, the local media will publish a story on private home transactions; often one that sensationalises how high or low they are, while completely ignoring the number…

• 3 Nov 2024
• 4 min read
• 0

What Would Singapore Property Prices Be Like In 30 Years?

Singapore real estate is in its own class, when it comes to inflation Maybe you’ve seen this old ad going around; and granted, it’s American, but the entire world has been feeling the effects of inflation lately. Most Singaporeans can…

• 27 Oct 2024
• 4 min read
• 4

Is The Cost Of Land Too Expensive In Singapore Right Now?

No one wants government land anymore. We’ve entered the Government Land Sales (GLS) winter. For the third time, with the Media Circle land plot, there have been no winning bids. For long-time market watchers, this is a bit disorienting –…

• 20 Oct 2024
• 4 min read
• 2

What Makes An HDB Flat Prime Or Plus?

What makes a flat Plus, and what makes it Prime?  I’m convinced this is the next (mostly) unresolvable argument we’ll see in the coming decades; on par with the age-old “freehold versus leasehold” argument. As I’m writing this, we’re about…

• 13 Oct 2024
• 3 min read
• 0