tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post3215758164344186028..comments2024-01-14T01:01:13.143+08:00Comments on Singapore Alternatives: Elaboration on answers to Housing Issues @ TOC ForumAdminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08118282904480380059noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-36688196652586421362011-02-09T08:28:35.510+08:002011-02-09T08:28:35.510+08:00Mr Goh,
We are a young couple who is trying to ge...Mr Goh,<br /><br />We are a young couple who is trying to get a flat and have a child. We are both in our early thirties. We can't wait for 5 years to get a HDB flat. So the next option is to buy resale flats. If you suggest to remove the grants for first-time buyers of resale flats, then how do you expect us to start a family? So we are completely against your second option. The only solution for the second option to work is if we don't have to wait 5 years for a new flat. And if we have to, we would of course, want it at cost but what's the point of it all if we have to wait 5-6 years from the moment we intend to go online and hunt for a flat? There must be transitional rental flats which are subsidized to allow young couples to stay and build a family while waiting for that key. But there isn't. And for this reason, many of us new couples and my fellow friends will not vote for PAP this election.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-28160274375574873732010-12-26T23:35:31.351+08:002010-12-26T23:35:31.351+08:00Your ideas would work if our new flats are being b...Your ideas would work if our new flats are being bought with cash and not with our cpf. The pap has through their liberalization of the cpf to buy hdb started our complete dependence on ever rising asset prices to maintain our cheap buying of our government debts. To explain it clearer, the money we owned to cpf is placed in its assets side of its balance book which it uses to buy the government bonds(debt) issued by the pap at low interest rate. Unfortunately such ponzi like scheme eventually brings tears when the property market corrects and collapses. <br /><br />Unfortunately your idea to sell new flats at cost price will cause this house of cards to fall down sooner rather than later in say 2013. The PAP will use this to blame those that suggested such a proposition. <br /><br />The best time to implement your policy is only when the housing prices has corrected or collapse by itself because then the foolishness of the pap would be revealed and your idea would be able to gain more traction because of it more sound policy.jamesneonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-11270133759817060752010-12-26T12:34:45.879+08:002010-12-26T12:34:45.879+08:00"However, I also caution that our only HDB fl..."However, I also caution that our only HDB flat is OUR HOME and SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS INVESTMENT. A HOME is not something you can sell off that easily. Each and every corners of your HOME are embedded with the collective memories of your family members. "<br /><br />This is rather similar to what HDB is doing at present, is it not? While the principle behind the cost-price new flats and laissez faire resale market is laudable, there is a distinct possibility that nothing will change from the status-quo.<br /><br />These are my observations:<br />1) Risk-taking middle income families are selling their HDB homes to make a quick buck.<br />2) With existing HDB rules, resellers cannot purchase another new flat within x years.<br />3) The above result in social problems that we see today.<br /><br />By widening the gap between purchase price and sale price of new HDB flats, the proposed policy in effect increases the INCENTIVE to take risks. I am afraid that such a policy may propagate the very problems that it attempts to solve. A delicate balance is indeed required and i have not found an ideal equilibrium thus far. I wish you luck in the search for yours.<br /><br />DenisAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16586564127814742970noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-91184898682915208762010-12-24T15:05:14.874+08:002010-12-24T15:05:14.874+08:00Just to say hi to you,
Merry Christmas and A Happy...Just to say hi to you,<br />Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.market2gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13596836882037391885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-7033650475196235642010-12-24T11:38:43.177+08:002010-12-24T11:38:43.177+08:00Why did SKT chose such a time to reveal all these ...Why did SKT chose such a time to reveal all these since it was reported tht CST has been donating $500 for a long time. Does tht mean SKT has been closing a blind eye for a long time too? Cos it doesnt affect his chances to stand @ CCK he keep quiet, if tht's the case then we better be careful abt this man too. Nw tht his chances of standing in CCk has been affected then suddenly he feel threatened the he spill all these out. I mean if indeed u r a gd chairman of the party, the moment something like this happen, u dont say, wait till ur chances of standing in ur preferred ward r threatened then u act, wht kind of man r u?peregrinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-16778950754020240602010-12-24T11:31:09.660+08:002010-12-24T11:31:09.660+08:00I'm indeed very suprised by the comments made ...I'm indeed very suprised by the comments made by GMs to the media. He says this is an internal matter which shldnt be reported in the media. I hold a different opinion. I mean this is really a matter of public interest, hw can it be settled behind closed doors, if indeed so y did Sin K T openly condemn his actions. Party constitution states it very clearly, u r to donate 10% of ur MP allowance to the party yet u donate $500, when asked repeatedly hw much u made, u chose to keep quiet, wht does tht means, I think it's pretty obvious. It tell u wht kind of person CST is, wht if he is the PM and he doesnt tell u wht's happening. Furthemore being the top man of SPP, this is wht he does, does not set a gd example to the rest.peregrinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-15757064604618848682010-12-21T16:13:08.350+08:002010-12-21T16:13:08.350+08:00if u inflat the hdb prices. we owners will suffer....if u inflat the hdb prices. we owners will suffer.<br /><br />dont make harsh comments<br /><br />think before u talk<br /><br />my vote for PAPAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-81235270523641920742010-12-20T00:51:06.459+08:002010-12-20T00:51:06.459+08:00On a more micro level, we have to also look into t...On a more micro level, we have to also look into the supply demand curve of NEW HDB flat and how the shortage pushes the young couples to buy a resale flat.<br /><br />Balloting = try your luck. There are just people who are born 'unlucky'<br /><br />Is balloting a meritocratic way to determine who get a chance to choose a flat?<br /><br />So 'unlucky' young people are out.<br /><br />It is also tricky to ask couples to get married first and the house comes later. So many who can't wait (for various reasons) resort to buying a resale flat.<br /><br />*C'mon, we all know that a HDB flat doesn't comes off the shelf like in NTUC, but when Govt put their effort behind in building mega resorts, time line was super fast. A simple plot of land with a couple blocks of flats in it. Takes 3 years and more. We are not asking for a hotel right?<br /><br />So its always a matter of priority.<br />YOG over rebuilding National Stadium. NDP celebrated over 'floating platform' no wonder the govt are shaky.<br /><br />Just my 2 cents worth.<br />Kira Lau.Kirahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03626780518813156935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-9516912830152807312010-12-19T21:45:06.028+08:002010-12-19T21:45:06.028+08:00At today's price new BTO 3 room is S$125,000, ...At today's price new BTO 3 room is S$125,000, 4 room S$250,000 and 5 room S$330,000, so the 3 room per year lease is S$1262, 4 room S$2,525 and 5 room S$3,333. <br />For a very low income family with low CPF they just fork out S$6,310 or S$12620 to pay for the 5 or 10 years'lease for a 3 room to start a family. During this 5 years they can accumulate more CPF of about S$25,000 (include interest) for a houshold income of $1,500.<br />The family can decide to use $18930 to pay another 15 years lease to form the equivalent of 20% downpayment just like purchasing a new flat. They can take a loan from cpf or bank to pay for the remaining portion of the lease (79 years) and start paying monthly instalments and entitled to sell away their flat after staying for another 3 years if they need to upgrade to a bigger flats. Or they can defer taking up a loan to pay for the remaing 79 years after the 20th year lease but they cannot resell during these 15 year new lease.<br />This scheme help first time home buyer to pay low during the first 20 years without incurring interest payment and at the same time allow them to build up their cpf savings to partial redeem or fully pay the remaining 79 years lease. It is very unlikely that he will default on future monthly instalment payments.<br />The second comment and this comment are written by David GohAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-55670300824016391782010-12-19T18:13:18.491+08:002010-12-19T18:13:18.491+08:00Besides selling at cost in todays' context may...Besides selling at cost in todays' context may be quite high for some couple/family due to high construction cost, A free to lease scheme should be implemented for all new flats afterall HDB flats only have a short lease of 99 years. <br />This scheme allow couples to use whatever amount in their current CPF to buy upfront short lease of 5 years or ten years without taking loan from CPF or the bank that incurs huge interest burden. They just renew the lease every 5 or 10 year. Subsequently, when they accumulate enough CPF they can take the options to buy the remaining lease just like buying a new flat. This will eliminate paying interest and save a lot for their retirement savings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11957101.post-79948610191824870412010-12-18T23:33:00.717+08:002010-12-18T23:33:00.717+08:00Mr Goh, would you care to share your view on the B...Mr Goh, would you care to share your view on the BTO scheme implemented by Mah Bow Tan. Are first-timers being forced into the resale market because of the long waiting period for the completion of the BTO flats, which can take as long as four years (from the initial application) to be occupied?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com