Singapore Property Loan Tenure Caps at 35 Years

Amidst the heating Singapore market, MAS has released an immediate press release which will take immediate effect from tomorrow,

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will restrict the tenure of loans granted by financial institutions for the purchase of residential properties. MAS’ move is part of the Government’s broader aim of avoiding a price bubble and fostering long term stability in the property market.

2 The maximum tenure of all new residential property loans will be capped at 35 years. In addition, loans exceeding 30 years tenure will face significantly tighter loan-to-value (LTV) limits. This will apply to both private properties and HDB flats. The new rules will take effect from 6 October 2012.

[block type=”download”]Read the official press release from MAS here[/block]

These measures are somewhat expected and mirrored what Hong Kong has done after QE3 was announced by the Feds. Traditionally tenures over 30 years are not too popular, and shouldn’t affect the current property prices. This is especially a good move for home buyers whom might overestimate their affordability as well as investors who tend to stretch the loan tenures in case any volatility will to happen in the market.

Square Foot – A New Contender Tool in Singapore Property Analysis

Squarefoot is relatively new and yet it has been buzzing the Realtor’s arena as the new kid on the block which delivers property data putting itself in the ranks of StreetSine which has a more mature Singapore Realtors’ market share. What makes Square Foot tick?

Interesting Data

Shoebox yo?

Under market watch, you would be able to check out the trends on the shoebox units (definition: units less than 500sqft) in the market which is of interest to many property investors as of late on how they are doing, prior and after the TOP status on their annualized gains. You have interesting details such as returned units in the market, where such data is rarely available. This would give a more accurate forecast of the actual units which is being sold in a primary market as depicting whether the units are fully sold out (whether phases of their marketing is really doing well since you can get a good picture of how many units are returned back) Continue reading “Square Foot – A New Contender Tool in Singapore Property Analysis”

HDB Steps Up Enforcement Against Illegal Subletting & Revises PR Subletting Rules

HDB Steps up against illegal subletting by enforcing more checks and placed the heartlanders’ concerns with regards to Permanent Residents monetizing public housing.

HDB flats are primarily meant for owner occupation. Those who wish to sublet their flats must meet the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) and obtain HDB’s approval before they can do so. This rule applies to both Singapore Citizens (SCs) and Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs).

Enforcement Actions Taken Against Unauthorised Subletting

2In 2011, HDB carried out 7,000 flat inspections and took action against 56 flat owners for unauthorised subletting. Of these, HDB has initiated compulsory acquisition action against 18 flat owners for blatantly infringing subletting rules. (See Annex A (PDF 22KB) for details of 3 cases where HDB has initiated compulsory acquisition actions as the flat owners have blatantly abused the public housing system and flouted HDB rules.)

Revised Subletting Rules for Singapore Permanent Residents (SPRs)

HDB reviews policies and rules regularly to keep them relevant. As part of ongoing reviews, the rules for subletting by flat owners who are SPRs will be revised with effect from 11 Jul 2012.

[block type=”alert”]Read the full Official Press Release from HDB[/block]

It just shows how flexible can they be when it comes to tweaking the rulings to curb with certain issues. These are measures definitely to appease the citizens to prevent possible abuse of monetizing public housing for rental income.

But of course, people who are illegally subletting their flats now should be wary.

FLO Residence – Punggol Field Pre Launch

Some design perspectives of the new project FLO Residence is out,

Artiste Impressions of FLO Residence

For those who are not familiar with ADDP Architect, they are the ones responsible for Grand Duchess at St Patrick’s, NIN Residence, Natura Loft, Parc Emily and many more award winning residential enclaves.

ZACD & Capital Development are the joint developers for FLO Residence; Both are not new to the local residential market and have extensive experiences in both building and planning in creating lifestyle homes.
Continue reading “FLO Residence – Punggol Field Pre Launch”

New URA Housing Development Rules

With effect from 18th April 2012, the new Housing Development Rules changes in the Housing Development Act (HDA) kicks in for greater transparency for the consumers when purchasing a brand new home from the primary sale market. Extracted from URA, these are among the key changes:-

1. Mandatory information to intending home-buyers

Developers will have to provide more information on the housing project and property to home-buyers before the issue of the Option-to-Purchase. The information to be provided would include a drawn-to-scale location plan and site plan of the project, unit floor plan and a breakdown of a unit’s floor area by the various spaces such as bedrooms, balconies and bay windows.


2. Track record of developers

Developers will have to provide information on at least one completed project they had built to home-buyers before the issue of the Option-to-Purchase.

3. Home-buyers’ consent for changes to a housing unit

Developers will have to obtain the home-buyer’s consent for changes in a unit that would affect the home-buyer, e.g. changes to the layout of the unit.

4. Extend controls on advertisements to those on websites

Existing controls on advertisements in newspapers and sales brochures will be extended to advertisements on websites. Similar to advertisements in newspapers and sales brochures, advertisements on websites must not contain any false or misleading information.

This definitely gives a whole new level of transparency to home buyers (especially the first timers), and they would expect what they see is what they mostly will get (minus off the interior design treatment).

Thumbs up.

EDB to Scrape Financial Investor Scheme?

Economic Development Board Singapore to scrape off FIS?

I would not think that should affect too much on the property market since they account for less than 1% of the property transactions in Singapore, but MAS has mentioned it will scrap off the Financial Investor Scheme (FIS) from the Global Investor Program soon.

Under the GIP scheme, the foreigner has to invest S$2.5 million in a new company in Singapore or expand an existing business that has an annual turnover of at least S$30 million.

EDB said the details of the changes will be available on the Contact Singapore website next Sunday.

The GIP, along with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Financial Investor Scheme are seen as quick ways for wealthy foreigners to obtain permanent resident status in Singapore.

Details on Channel News Asia.

FLO Residence Details and VVIP Invites

FLO Residence Condominium at Punggol Field

Here are the breakdown on why FLO Residence in Punggol Field might spark your interest,

Central Location in Punggol

  • Next to Coral Edge LRT (5 min to Punggol MRT)
  • 3 stops to Punggol MRT and new Mega Shopping Mall (Waterway Point)
  • Next to Punggol Riverwalk(Waterfront & Boardwalk)
  • Next to Punggol Plaza, Next to Punggol 21 CC & @ Punggol (Riverside F&B restaurants)
  • Short walk away to many recreational activities @ Punggol including Golf Driving Range, Futsal, Seafood & Fast Food Restaurants
  • 10 minutes drive to Nex Mall
  • 20 minutes drive to Town via KPE and the upcoming Marina Coastal Expressway
  • Next to upcoming International School

Continue reading “FLO Residence Details and VVIP Invites”

URA Stops Allowing Landed Homes In Condominiums

Business Times published today with regards to the “loophole” which the developers has Strata houses which does not require Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) approval for foreigners to buy in.

Some projects mentioned which did very well in their primary sales are euHabitat in Jalan Eunos, Thomson Grand at Upper Thomson, Archipelago at Bedok.

These is niche since apart from Sentosa Cove (LDAU still required, but Fastracked), there are no other areas which allows foreign buyers to purchase a landed type property without approval, even for cluster housings.

These creates a unique selling point as well for great future capital gains with its limited number of its kind since it offers flexibility and features of a landed property and yet has great communal facilities (even better than cluster housings since land parcel is bigger and shares the same condominium facilities as the rest of the apartment condos)