HDB will look at those affected by policy changes on case-by-case basis
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has said it will look at requests of those affected by the new changes to resale flat applications on a case-by-case basis. It was referring to those who have exercised the Option to Purchase a resale flat and secured a bank loan before August 30, but have not submitted … Read more
Rules tightening to return sanity to HDB resale market
Before Monday, if HDB resale flats were tradeable investment products on the screen of international ratings agencies, they would have attained a triple-A rating; so highly regarded were they by property investors. However, all that changed when the Government announced measures to effectively close them to new investors and speculators. The new rules disallow concurrent … Read more
Changes to dual ownership leave some home owners in a bind
The recent changes to dual home ownership aimed at cooling the sizzling property market have left some owners in a bind. From 30 August, private property owners who want to buy a flat from the Housing and Development Board (HDB) would have to sell their private property within six months. The regulation also applies to … Read more
Owners of foreign homes not exempt
They must sell overseas home within six months of buying HDB flat PEOPLE who own a home overseas will still have to comply with the tough new rules on property ownership if they want to buy an HDB resale flat. The clarification yesterday came amid uncertainty over who might or might not be exempt from … Read more
Govt puts 3,000 flats up for sale, releases 5 private housing sites
One day after unveiling cooling measures, the Government has put 3,032 new flats up for sale – the largest supply of public housing in a single launch to date – and released five residential sites for private homes. The five 99-year leasehold plots is expected to yield a total of 2,045 units. Yesterday, the Government … Read more
HDB penthouse at $100k over valuation: Clever or crazy?
Despite friends’ dissuasion, journalist buys Choa Chu Kang HDB penthouse at whopping $755,000. YES, I paid $100,000 in cash-over-valuation (COV) for my HDB flat. No, I did not mistakenly add an extra zero to that figure. “Gila” (crazy in Malay), said one friend. Totally exorbitant, chided another. But I have only one question: How much … Read more
Private home-owners can’t play HDB chip any more
String of steps to douse speculation; prices and sales of mass-market private homes may be hit The Prime Minister had hinted on Sunday that major moves were afoot to cool the property market. Even so, when the Ministry of National Development (MND) spelt out the measures yesterday, several market-watchers did a double-take. Many of them … Read more
HDB puts up record supply of flats for sale
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) put up for sale 3,032 flats Tuesday. This is the largest supply of flats in a single launch to date. 1,408 new flats in Yishun will be offered under the Build to Order (BTO) system. The project is known as the Yishun Riverwalk, and its flats are located at … Read more
Raise MOP to 10 years for first-timers
The slew of measures introduced by the Government yesterday appears aimed at the property market speculator and should provide some relief to the genuine home-buyer from sky-high prices. Developers, while openly welcoming the measures, will surely be cursing under their breath. Also rumbling will be those holding property stocks which will take a little beating, … Read more
HDB ups MOP for resale flats to 5 years
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will increase the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of non-subsidised flats from three to five years. It said this will reinforce the message that flats are meant for long-term occupation and dampen demand from those who are not in urgent need of housing. Buyers of these flats will also be … Read more
