This $92 Million Dollar Lawsuit Exposes A Problem In Singapore’s Property Market
The notorious furniture rebate deal
UOB is suing a developer over 38 units at the Marina Collection. The developer allegedly gave rebates of 22 to 34 per cent, resulting in UOB now claiming $92 million in losses from the loans. What exactly is this nonsense?
Well, in essence, the developer and the real estate agent work together to let you get a bigger loan amount. For new launches, the valuation is always considered to be the same as the property price (unlike a resale unit, where if there’s a disparity between the sale price and valuation, the loan only covers the lower of the two).
This is a strange quirk in real estate, where banks are prepared to lend you money based on whatever the developer decides to price the home (even if the property was exorbitantly priced).
At some point, some people worked out that they could use this to help buyers take bigger loans. All they need to do is sell at an inflated price, but later give a discount to offset this.
For example: if they want to sell a unit at $4 million, they sell it at $4.2 million instead. The bank, thinking this is the valuation, extends a maximum possible loan of 75 per cent of $4.2 million – that’s $3.15 million, instead of the correct limit which is $3 million. So buyers are getting a higher loan.
After the transaction is made, the developer then refunds the $200,000 difference, by using terms such as “furniture rebates.”
All of this, by the way, pushes up home prices for everybody; not least because the full amount is recorded under URA transactions, and it anchors property prices higher. This is far from a new trick – it was being done way back in the ‘90s even.
Would we be seeing more of such things happening soon?
Besides cash back deals or furniture rebates on the buy side, I could see some agents competing further on the sell side.
Given the increasing number of agents, coupled with a seemingly slowing market, you can expect competition to increase between agents looking for inventory to sell.
I’d be prepared to get inundated with flyers and calls (if you’re not on the PDPA) to sell (if you weren’t already flooded with those). While house sellers have always been a hot commodity, there will be more desperate attempts to secure sellers this time of year.
From what I’ve heard on the ground, the advertising to get sellers has been getting even more hot and heavy.
High property prices, you see, aren’t just an automatic windfall for sellers. As the old saying goes, “you sell high, you buy high.” It’s considerably less exciting when your flat has appreciated by 30 per cent, but every condo you want to upgrade to has gone up by the same amount – you’re basically back at square one.
This situation is also a pain for realtors. When no one can afford to upgrade to something – or if they feel that way – then increasingly no one wants to sell.
Of course, this will start to change as we see more supply come on the market (and we are already seeing signs of this happening).
But for the next few months – get your inbox ready.
Meanwhile in other property news…
- Are HDB upgraders priced out of condos at today’s prices? You think I’m going to tell you something reassuring here, but that’s the exact reason I don’t get money from property agencies and developers. Because I’m not saying something reassuring.
- Would you like a private property near an MRT, and are you the sort who doesn’t care about the pool and gym? If so, here are some affordable freehold walk-ups for around $1.25 million or under.
- Bugis is going to replace Orchard at this rate. Check out its top-most properties, which can rival the best of districts 9 and 10.
- Some condos are just built different, like this one that has a free balcony.
Weekly Sales Roundup (22 January – 28 January)
Top 5 Most Expensive New Sales (By Project)
| PROJECT NAME | PRICE S$ | AREA (SQFT) | $PSF | TENURE |
| 19 NASSIM | $6,000,000 | 1830 | $3,279 | 99 yrs (2019) |
| MIDTOWN MODERN | $4,539,000 | 1464 | $3,101 | 99 yrs (2019) |
| GRAND DUNMAN | $4,395,000 | 1787 | $2,460 | 99 yrs (2022) |
| THE CONTINUUM | $2,893,000 | 1066 | $2,715 | 99 yrs (2022) |
| LENTOR HILLS RESIDENCES | $2,889,000 | 1356 | $2,130 | FH |
Top 5 Cheapest New Sales (By Project)
| PROJECT NAME | PRICE S$ | AREA (SQFT) | $PSF | TENURE |
| THE MYST | $1,214,000 | 517 | $2,350 | 99 yrs (2023) |
| HILLHAVEN | $1,378,020 | 678 | $2,032 | 99 years |
| THE LANDMARK | $1,430,400 | 495 | $2,889 | 99 yrs (2020) |
| THE ARCADY AT BOON KENG | $1,718,000 | 678 | $2,533 | FH |
| GRAND DUNMAN | $1,880,000 | 721 | $2,607 | 99 yrs (2022) |
Top 5 Most Expensive Resale
| PROJECT NAME | PRICE S$ | AREA (SQFT) | $PSF | TENURE |
| NASSIM JADE | $9,250,000 | 3380 | $2,737 | FH |
| ARDMORE II | $6,960,000 | 2024 | $3,439 | FH |
| THE REGALIA | $5,760,000 | 2573 | $2,239 | FH |
| SOMMERVILLE PARK | $5,500,000 | 2799 | $1,965 | FH |
| GLENTREES | $4,350,000 | 3412 | $1,275 | 999 yrs (1885) |
Top 5 Cheapest Resale
| PROJECT NAME | PRICE S$ | AREA (SQFT) | $PSF | TENURE |
| SKYSUITES17 | $650,000 | 355 | $1,830 | FH |
| AVANT RESIDENCES | $680,000 | 452 | $1,504 | 99 yrs (2012) |
| HILLSTA | $718,000 | 527 | $1,361 | 99 yrs (2011) |
| THE PALETTE | $723,000 | 506 | $1,429 | 99 yrs (2010) |
| EUHABITAT | $740,000 | 538 | $1,375 | 99 yrs (2010) |
Top 5 Biggest Winners
| PROJECT NAME | PRICE S$ | AREA (SQFT) | $PSF | RETURNS | HOLDING PERIOD |
| SPRING @ KATONG | $2,920,000 | 1679 | $1,739 | $2,055,000 | 19 Years |
| THE REGALIA | $5,760,000 | 2573 | $2,239 | $1,760,000 | 11 Years |
| THE ESTA | $3,680,000 | 1593 | $2,310 | $1,664,855 | 13 Years |
| THE SPRINGBLOOM | $2,250,000 | 1432 | $1,572 | $1,615,193 | 25 Years |
| ARDMORE II | $6,960,000 | 2024 | $3,439 | $1,610,000 | 5 Years |
Top 5 Biggest Losers
| PROJECT NAME | PRICE S$ | AREA (SQFT) | $PSF | RETURNS | HOLDING PERIOD |
| THE PEAK @ CAIRNHILL II | $2,138,000 | 904 | $2,365 | -$250,000 | 5 Year |
| AVANT RESIDENCES | $680,000 | 452 | $1,504 | -$55,000 | 6 Years |
| THE SAIL @ MARINA BAY | $3,500,000 | 1625 | $2,153 | -$50,000 | 8 Years |
| SKYSUITES@ANSON | $1,515,000 | 700 | $2,165 | -$36,000 | 13 Years |
| SEAHILL | $775,000 | 527 | $1,469 | -$18,000 | 11 Years |
Transaction Breakdown
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