Property questions

[Eagle-Ladybird]

Today's article from SBR :

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More signs residential market slowing as price rises abatePROPERTY | More signs residential market slowing as price rises abate
You may want to hold back on buying that property with latest URA figures showing a slowdown in residential prices, which rose 5.1% in the three months to March compared to 7.4 % in the previous quarter.

Based on the estimated price index of private residential property, prices rose from 165.7 points in the 4th Quarter 2009 to 174.2 points in the 1st Quarter 2010. This represents an increase of 5.1%, compared with 7.4% in the previous quarter (see Annex A).

URA also released the flash estimates of the price changes in the 3 geographical regions for 1st Quarter 2010. Prices of non-landed private residential properties increased by 4.5% in Core Central Region, 7.2% in Rest of Central Region and 3.9% in Outside Central Region in the quarter (see Annex B). In comparison, for 4th Quarter 2009, prices of non-landed private residential properties increased by 7.3% in Core Central Region, 9.5% in Rest of Central Region and 6.3% in Outside Central Region.

The flash estimates are compiled based on transaction prices given in caveats lodged during the first ten weeks of the quarter supplemented by information on the number of new units sold. The statistics will be updated 4 weeks later when URA releases the full 1st Quarter 2010 real estate statistics, when more data on the caveats lodged and the take-up of new projects are captured. Past data have shown that the difference between the quarterly price changes indicated by the flash estimate and the actual price changes could be significant when the change is small. The public is advised to interpret the flash estimates with caution.

URA will continue to release relevant property market information in a timely manner to allow the public to make informed decisions. On the supply side, the statistics on private residential units in the pipeline, which were last released in January 2010, will be updated in the 1st Quarter 2010 Real Estate Statistics to be released on 23 April 2010.
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Happy reading

[Funz]

I’ve been advised to sell now and hold the money till 3rd qtr this year. And when looking for a property as an investment. The ones with the best potential will be those near waterfront or along the IR belt.

[happychick]

Hi Funz - if u dont mind me asking - are you talking abt your second property ? if so, then i think it’s ok to take that risk …

but if you only have one property - will you consider renting in the meantime ?

[Funz]

happychick:

Hi Funz - if u dont mind me asking - are you talking abt your second property ? if so, then i think it's ok to take that risk ..

but if you only have one property - will you consider renting in the meantime ?

keke, guess you just joined this thread.

I have 3 properties. In the midst of selling one, signed papers oredi. No intention to sell the one we are staying in at all in the near future even though we keep getting calls and pretty attractive offers. And another overseas property almost fully paid up and already appreciated by 30%.

Now deciding whether to pay up loan on the property we are staying in or to hold the money to invest when the oppty comes. Just re-priced our loan and the interest rate is low so we are kinda leaning towards holding the $$ to reinvest.

[happychick]

ahh i c

Thanks for the clarification
well done on the investments !

Of course you sld not sell the one you currently live in - otherwise, if the property prices shoot up, u'd be cash rich but nowhere to live !

Good on you for taking profit on your other local property ! I suppose you didnt wanna settle for rental yield ?

just my 2 cents, i think i'd refinance with the current low interest rates and hang on to the cash to \"cash in\" if the prices do come down in Q3.



All the best !

[MMM]

Hi,


What is the best housing loan in the market right now?

We are looking at refinancing our house. For this property, we are currently with UOB but I am really pissed with them. When we did a loan re-financing before lock in period, they charge us penalty of few k. Then when we approach them for refinancing this time round... they asked us to pay $500 for admin fee... just to refinance with them :x This is already outside lock in period. Just wonder where is their service level and they don't seem interested in customer retention.

For my other property, we are using Citibank and i am very happy with their service. When we did re-financing from 3.75% to current 1.8% still within lock in, they did a new package for us and waived off all penalty. This is what I call service.

UOB really sucks. Everything wants to charge. We need to look into refinancing as they just up their interest to 2.88%. From interest perspective, yes it is still cheaper to pay them $500 for refinancing BUT I just don't like the service level of charging for this and that :roll: What happens after 1 year and we want to refinance again???? Another $500?

[happychick]

Hi MMM !


awww shucks that's just awful service !!!

I just did one with DBS and it had the lowest rates

[MMM]

Can you share what is the rate like?


Also, will you be able to PM me your mobile banker contact?

Hubby was also telling me about DBS and we haven’t done much homework. Still need to serve 3 months notice to UOB. Either serve notice or continue. We lag on this and only realise that it’s the 2nd yr after receiving the revision in interest rate notice. :x

[csb]

Hi happchick, did you refinance or take up a new loan with DBS? We’ve refinanced 2x with dbs and twice, we were charged $500 each time for the refinancing. I asked dh to try negotiate to have them waive the $500 but it seems like it’s a standard "non-waive-able" charge.

[MMM]

csb:

Hi happchick, did you refinance or take up a new loan with DBS? We've refinanced 2x with dbs and twice, we were charged $500 each time for the refinancing. I asked dh to try negotiate to have them waive the $500 but it seems like it's a standard \"non-waive-able\" charge.

Is that a common practice for local banks???? $500 for renewal?

I don't have this issue with Citibank. They were willing to waive off few k of penalty for 2 of my loans unlike local banks.

If that is the case, then I am keen to switch to them.