octoberbaby:

sometimes, in a small flat, can tahan so many adults staying at home during working hours mah? For example: baby, baby's mother, together with grandma and grandpa and maid. Poor husband 1 person works, the rest of 5 dependents waiting for his income, got retrenched, how ar?

Dora1:

limlim:

Isn't it better to stay with in-laws so that they can help to look after the newborn? the complain about flat taking too long to build hence cannot have babies and many of those rant about govt being responsible for them not have babies is really a joke..

Limlim

I think that's an unfair statement. For me, if I have no flat, I won't even get married, don't talk abt having babies. There is no way I will stay with my MIL. That was what I made hubby promise when he proposed, I will only stay with her when her health is very poor and can't run my life. Luckily we were in the era of leftover flats so we just walked in selected and got keys 2 months later. However if I have to wait 5 years for a flat I won't blame the gov lah, I just won't get married lor. The gov just dun blame us for not giving birth and mass import foreigners can liao

limlim:

Isn't it better to stay with in-laws so that they can help to look after the newborn? the complain about flat taking too long to build hence cannot have babies and many of those rant about govt being responsible for them not have babies is really a joke..

JannettLee:

Indeed, I am actually the one that have thought so deeply about the largest picture, apparently much more so than the govt, that is why I know that they should instead be focusing on solving the over-priced HDB flats problems that affects majority of Singaporeans by:

1) Make new HDB flats cheap

2) Make new HDB flats available quickly within 1-1.5 years

3) Make resale HDB flats cheap, by re-instating a previous policy where people buying private properties must sell their HDB flats within 6 months.

4) Ban all rental of HDB flats. Owners must stay in the HDB flats.

I believe the above would be welcomed by majority of singaporeans looking for affordable housing both in terms of new HDB flats and resale HDB flats. Public properties are heavily subsidized by govt and hence should be reserved for residents' own consumption, and not to milk for profit via rental.

Just relax:

The difficulty is that Govt. has allowed the impression that you can continually upgrade although u should start small with a 3room flat. The problem with upgrading is that as the flats to upgrade to are in the resale market and seem to track pte prop. prices so boh pian current house must try and sell at much higher price or else cannot upgrade. So every owner thinks that way and the house price mechanism becomes a self-fulfilling and self-perpetuating monster.

pirate:

It is therefore important for the Minister to assure Singaporeans that BTO prices are somehow correlated to income and not to market sentiment. Yah, I know he does not want to say 'peg to median household income' because that's what the WP said so cannot agree right?

HDB's previous policy of pricing BTO flats by referring to resale prices is actually letting the tail wag the dog.

Moonsun55:

you get it, I am saying that there is no basis to support what pirate said. It seems more like we are seeing HDB flats transacting at close to a million $ & hence people think private at $1.5m is still very cheap. there are 7 cooling measures targeted at private & none for Citizens' HDB flats, may be govt targeted wrong segment & hence policy ineffective? But then again, probably they have fear of incurring anger for targeting the HDB? Have they become so soft & do what is popular to majority rather do what is needed?

toddles:

Everytime I read news articles (under the guise of \"commentaries\") on the ppty market by real estate folks, it's just so blatantly obvious that they are trying to buoy/talk the market up! E.g. oh there is genuine demand, these cooling measures will have no effect, ppty market still heading up up up! :siao:

Totally self-interested! Wonder why they continually get published. Should be classified with Big Bold Header as \"ADVERTORIAL\".

Tragedy is that the man on the street might actually lend credence to their words when what they're saying is totally self serving.

Moonsun55:

you get it, I am saying that there is no basis to support what pirate said. It seems more like we are seeing HDB flats transacting at close to a million $ & hence people think private at $1.5m is still very cheap. there are 7 cooling measures targeted at private & none for Citizens' HDB flats, may be govt targeted wrong segment & hence policy ineffective? But then again, probably they have fear of incurring anger for targeting the HDB? Have they become so soft & do what is popular to majority rather do what is needed?

Moonsun55:

It is easy to just quote such example but what likelihood is such scenario going to happen? We know very well that likelihood of your example happening is almost zero. you forgot that given that there are 80% HDB & 20 privat properties, there are 4 fighting for 1 private so by virtue of economic theory, private to HDB prices should be 4:1 (hypothetically).
[quote=\"Moonsun55\"]Why private drop HDB will drop? I don't understand & can't see any logic. can explain?

pirate:

If 1,300 sf HDB flat cost $500k and 1,300 sf private condo in the same area also cost $500k, which one will you buy?

3Boys:

Errr......no. There is basis in economics for your example. It's like saying that a Lamborghini should cost 100,000 times more than a Honda.

pirate is saying HDB property prices are capped by private prices, and if you bring down private property prices, HDB prices 'should' follow. It's not a 100% correlation, but its there.

Moonsun55:

It is easy to just quote such example but what likelihood is such scenario going to happen? We know very well that likelihood of your example happening is almost zero. you forgot that given that there are 80% HDB & 20 privat properties, there are 4 fighting for 1 private so by virtue of economic theory, private to HDB prices should be 4:1 (hypothetically).

Moonsun55:

Why private drop HDB will drop? I don't understand & can't see any logic. can explain?

pirate:

If 1,300 sf HDB flat cost $500k and 1,300 sf private condo in the same area also cost $500k, which one will you buy?

3Boys:

Errr......no. There is basis in economics for your example. It's like saying that a Lamborghini should cost 100,000 times more than a Honda.

pirate is saying HDB property prices are capped by private prices, and if you bring down private property prices, HDB prices 'should' follow. It's not a 100% correlation, but its there.

concern2:

PUNGGOL EAST SMC – PRELIMINARY UPDATE ON HANDOVER OF TOWN COUNCIL FUNCTIONS

(source: http://www.ahtc.org.sg/ahtc/media-release-31-january-2013/)

Arising from the outcome of the Punggol East SMC by-election on 26 Jan 2013, the Workers’ Party has commenced preparations to take over the town council functions from Pasir Ris – Punggol Town Council.

Preliminary discussions commenced on 29 Jan 2013 between the outgoing and incoming managements, and more status updates will be given in due course.

The incoming management will be applying for Punggol East SMC to be merged with the existing Aljunied-Hougang Town to form a new town consisting of Aljunied GRC, Hougang SMC and Punggol East SMC. This proposed merger will give rise to a mutually beneficial relationship between Aljunied-Hougang Town and Punggol East:

1. The proposed Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council will now be bigger in size, giving greater flexibility to achieve higher operational efficiencies through process re-engineering, centralization of functions and specialization of work. While Punggol East SMC will be able to leverage on the economies of scale of a bigger town council, likewise, the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council will potentially be able to enjoy further cost savings arising from this merger.

2. Being part of the family, the Punggol East SMC will be able to benefit from the pooled experience and resources of both Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC in town council management. For example, the existing standing committees of AHTC which are helmed by the various Members of Parliament, will be able to advise on the calling and award of contracts, financial matters, estate maintenance and improvement, etc.

A key aspect of the handover is the need for the incoming management to have office premises within Punggol East SMC to operate from as soon as possible, to effect preparatory works. As the existing town council office at Blk 156A Rivervale Crescent is within the boundary of Punggol East SMC, having the incoming management take over the office would be the most obvious option. We will work with the Housing and Development Board on this issue urgently.

We thank the residents of Punggol East SMC for their support and look forward to serving them in the coming years.

LEE LI LIAN, MP-ELECT, PUNGGOL EAST SMC
SYLVIA LIM, CHAIRMAN, ALJUNIED-HOUGANG TOWN COUNCIL

Moonsun55:

It is easy to just quote such example but what likelihood is such scenario going to happen? We know very well that likelihood of your example happening is almost zero. you forgot that given that there are 80% HDB & 20 privat properties, there are 4 fighting for 1 private so by virtue of economic theory, private to HDB prices should be 4:1 (hypothetically).

pirate:

[quote=\"Moonsun55\"]Why private drop HDB will drop? I don't understand & can't see any logic. can explain?

If 1,300 sf HDB flat cost $500k and 1,300 sf private condo in the same area also cost $500k, which one will you buy?

pirate:

Moonsun55:

Why private drop HDB will drop? I don't understand & can't see any logic. can explain?

If 1,300 sf HDB flat cost $500k and 1,300 sf private condo in the same area also cost $500k, which one will you buy?

shine:

Indeed, the problems were created by the “short-sighted” government, whereby policies created did not anticipate and respond in time to the changing economic environment, and only tried to put out fire by introducing many rounds of cooling measures when things started to spiral out of control.

Dora1:

shine:

Hi, hi, I’m just an ordinary citizen who bought my 1st HDB and have stayed there ever since. Know nuts about property and investment. I welcome the recent cooling measures but at the same time, do find some sense about this JannettLee comment about people hogging HDB flats after they got the 2nd private property.


My elder brother had to return his HDB flat at a loss as he was unable to sell it off within 6 mths after he got his condo many years back. What was the reason for the change of policy where HDB dwellers are able to retain their flats even after they got a 2nd property? Is it to reduce cases of people selling at a loss like what happened to my brother, or to encourage people to venture into property investment if they have enough cash? Kindly share your views and knowledge. Thanks.

So that the HDB flat can be rented out to the FTs mah... if not the millions of FTs, where are they going to stay??
And SCs will be happy mah, money making leh, who won't like? Win-win situation!
The only losers are the young couples trying to get a new flat to stay because of the sky rocketing price.

pirate:

This part of what she said actually makes sense. But I think the change was implemented at a time when the property market was weak.

So, don't be surprised if Cooling Measures 8 require existing HDB flat owners who buy a private property to sell their HDB flats within 6 months. And don't be surprised if CM9 requires existing HDB flat owners who also own private residential properties to sell either their HDB flats or private properties.

3Boys:

sleepy:

can't exactly sell at profit and then sleep under the bride right? So the purchase price (loan amount) is of utmost importance to most people whom I presume only own one roof.

I don't mind sleeping under the bride.....

Or can we sell the bride for a profit instead......