Channel News Asia | 12 Sep 2013

SINGAPORE: Sales of new private homes are poised for an increase in August from a month earlier.

Analysts expect around 600 to 700 units to be sold in August.

Tembusu in the suburbs in Kovan was one of the few projects launched in August - traditionally a lull period because of the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Channel News Asia | 4 Sept 2013

SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has stressed as Singapore gets more densely built up, good landscape design will be even more critical.

To raise industry standards and inspire more creative landscaping, the HDB has launched a guide setting out standards and principles for landscape design in public housing developments.

CHEERS.

www.propertyguru.com.sg | 2 Sept 2013

The housing board’s latest restrictions on newly-minted permanent residents (PRs) has abruptly halted around 150 property deals, said media reports which quoted property agents.

The new measures announced last week came into immediate effect and requires new PRs to wait three years before they can buy a resale flat. National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan explained that the move is in line with the government's efforts to “restore balance” in the HDB market.

Channel News Asia | 1 Sept 2013

SINGAPORE: More people are selling their Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in the resale market without a cash premium.

The Singapore Real Estate Exchange (SRX) said transactions involving zero Cash-Over-Valuation (COV) have more than tripled, from 14 in January to 49 in July.

www.propertyguru.com.sg | 30 Aug 2013

Singapore's household debt during the first quarter was relatively high compared to other Asian countries at 77.2 percent of its GDP, revealed a report from Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

It then comes as no surprise that the government has implemented measures to ensure that Singaporean households do not over-borrow, and also cool the HDB resale market, the report added.  

www.propertyguru.com.sg | 28 Aug 2013

Buyers are being drawn to more affordable and smaller units following the government's latest property cooling measures and stricter loan rules, according to a report from DTZ.

During the second quarter, 2,571 buyers (38 percent) opted to buy homes below S$1 million, higher than the 1,835 buyers (31 percent) in the previous quarter. Purchases between S$1 million to S$1.5 million also increased to 33 percent or 2,265 units in Q2.

Channel News Asia | 27 Aug 2013

SINGAPORE: The government has introduced further measures to stabilise the HDB resale market.

The maximum tenure for HDB housing loans will be reduced from 30 years to 25 years.

It's aimed at ensuring financial prudence in the purchase of public housing and discourage over-consumption.

www.propertyguru.com.sg | 26 Aug 2013

Smaller developers are teaming up as consortiums to leverage on each other's resources when bidding for sites amid stiff market competition, said media reports.According to Donald Han, Managing Director at property consultancy Chestern Singapore, smaller players need to raise more funds "unlike bigger listed developers who have access to a myriad of financing facilities and sources of funds". 

For instance, the recent tender for an executive condominium (EC) site in Yuan Ching Road recorded a top bid of S$418 psf ppr, submitted by a consortium comprising Evia Real Estate, CNH Investment, BBR Development and OKP Land. In 

www.propertyguru.com.sg | 23 Aug 2013

OSIM founder Ron Sim is reportedly selling his good class bungalow (GCB) at Bin Tong Park for S$117 million, which translates to a psf price of around S$2,500. This would set a new record psf price, media reports stated.

The property has an area of about 22,000 sq ft and is located on a hillside slope. The site comprises two plots of freehold land that totals 46,842 sq ft. It features a 25m swimming pool, spa, home theatre, tennis court, private lift, wine cellar and a basement garage for 15 cars.