Just three weeks after the Cabinet was announced, the new National Development minister, Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, has implemented many new policies. Will he continue to come up with refreshing ideas? And will he bring about change in the property market?
The raft of changes to Singapore’s housing policy makes it hard to believe it’s just been about three weeks since the new Cabinet was announced and Singapore had a new property czar.
Yet in the time since former health minister Khaw Boon Wan took over at the Ministry of National Development, he has set up a new ‘Housing Matters’ blog. His posts have been short, casual and chatty – but they pack a punch. In fact, the first three all led to Page 1 stories.
He started out modestly by identifying three segments of the population that needed to be helped in housing: young couples, divorcees with children and low-income families.
But his next post marked a radical departure from a past practice that the Housing Board (HDB) had steadfastly held on to for almost a decade. Instead of building flats to order, it would now build them ahead of order.
And most recently, Mr Khaw said he would direct HDB to offer new flats in mature estates wherever possible – marking another sharp shift in policy.
Golden Lily BTO flat in Paris Ris. Image courtesy of HDB.
Unsurprisingly, Mr Khaw’s moves have generated a great deal of buzz. Industry analysts and netizens alike now watch his blog like a hawk to discover the Government’s next move in addressing the dissatisfaction that has built up on housing issues among the electorate. But people are also wondering: Can Minister Khaw really deliver? How far will he go to reverse existing policies to placate the public? And perhaps more importantly, what kind of impact will new policies have on Singapore’s property market?
Well, one needs only to look back at Mr Khaw’s past record to get some inkling of what could happen in the next five years.
When he became acting health minister in 2003, he was also entering a hot seat, albeit of a different kind. Singapore was then facing the threat of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and a combination of strict rules and public vigilance helped the nation get through the crisis.
When he became full-fledged minister, Mr Khaw caused a stir in the health-care sector when he demanded that hospitals publicise their prices, so that health-care fees can become more competitive. He turned out to be ‘better than his word’, a phrase used at the time to describe him. A month after his call, information on the cost of 28 common procedures at the hospitals was up on the Health Ministry website.
In his eight years at Health, Mr Khaw went on to revamp MediShield, the national medical insurance scheme, to bring premiums down. He reviewed health-care costs to make them more equitable, and he even took on controversial issues with a moral slant, such as broadening the Human Organ Transplant Act (Hota).
For this reason, industry observers are betting that the straight-talking civil servant who entered politics in 2001, will ‘deliver what he says’.
HDB flats in mature estates such as Bukit Merah will see 'new' neighbours soon.
One property analyst said Mr Khaw seems intent on adopting a ‘back to basics’, needs based approach to housing, seeking to ensure urgent needs are met first.
This contrasts with the former National Development minister Mah Bow Tan’s overall ‘asset enhancement’ approach, with the HDB flat functioning as more than just a roof over a home buyer’s head. It was also an investment, a hedge against inflation and a possible retirement nest egg through HDB’s various schemes.
But are the two approaches exclusive? For now, some think that both elements could be married. Mr Khaw could do well to maintain the role of the HDB flat as Singapore’s social safety net, even while he focuses more attention on alleviating the unhappiness of certain segments of the population.
The question that worries analysts more is what else will Mr Khaw change, since he is clearly in a mood to rewrite policy?
He has so far kept silent on the contentious issue of pricing HDB flats, which emerged as a top election issue. HDB, under Mr Mah, maintained that market-based pricing made more sense, although opposition parties had argued for a more transparent cost-based method.
Will Mr Khaw move to bring down the prices of new flats? And what effect would that have on resale flat prices, which are at historic highs?
Sims Edge condominium in Geylang East.
Industry experts say the market could see another round of measures to cool the market, particularly if the private property market sees rising sales volumes and home prices.
Some commentators are fearful that Mr Khaw’s moves – which some have already described as’populist’ – could spell, in the worst-case scenario, a supply glut of HDB homes in the future and a moribund property market for years to come.
Building ahead of demand, for example, seems the right thing to do now. But it also seemed like the right to do in the 1990s – until, that is, the Asian financial crisis struck and buyers disappeared.
This resulted in a massive stock of unsold flats that depressed HDB flat prices for many years until 2006, when the market picked up.
What property watchers can agree on is that Mr Khaw’s biggest strength – and what would be key to crafting the best housing policies – is the sense he is giving that in making policy he will conduct a two-way conversation.
Mr Khaw was among the first to begin a blog in 2009, and to use social media, among other avenues, to widely consult stakeholders in any policy change.
In announcing his blog in 2009, the Ministry of Health said Mr Khaw had felt everything ‘should be transparent’, and that ‘if our policy is flawed and can be enhanced, we welcome comments and will adopt practical suggestions’.
Singapore’s property market – with an open economy making it vulnerable to headwinds that change constantly – requires policymakers to be nimble.
Policy U-turns should not be seen as a sign of weakness, and policymaking should be an evolutionary process where the people also feel they have a say in the decision-making process.
From Mr Khaw’s moves so far, he seems to understand all this.
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Reprinted with permission.
Editor’s Commentary:
Only time will tell as policies take time to effect, and affect. Will Minister Khaw’s “back to basics” modus operandi work? We look forward to see what other “policy U-turns” take place.
Related posts:
Loading ...
I am shocked with the movement of resale flat in Jurong.. Every appointment there were at least 5 to 6 groups of buyer and the cov is 48k to 60k..
I hope our minister will look into valuation and cov issued.. Imagine a totally rundown flat asking for 30k. The valuation for a well done flat is 350k while a totally original is 340k… and yet the cov is so high … Every one is asking so high how will the flat price be down ??
Maybe can stop this cov…. or only with receipt showing all the renovation than can command cov..
Just a suggestion
I agree that cov should be proportionately related to amount spent on renovation. The price value of the flat is already addressed by the controlled valuation from HDB.
The rise in property prices fundamentally caused by property agents who are clever to drive the sales & marketing. The flat sellers & buyers components only tag along and they cannot be removed – but the agents component can be removed or controlled by HDB. Efforts and further controls should be directed towards agents rather than sellers & buyers. Agents’ focus is to drive up the prices so to get higher commission. If there is a fixed commission not pegged to the sales value of the flat then things WILL be different eventually. Then agents will focus on selling properties only (not the price) concerning the HDB flats.
Why go on a witch hunting trying to fix problems on all parties to include sellers & buyers? Focus on the agents as they are the primary party that drives up prices abnormally. Normal price increases are acceptable and cannot be avoided (e.g. location, amenities & demand).
Let’s go back to basics OK.
Why there is a COV, if there is no resales of HDB to open market? No one will able to profiting from resales of HDB flat.The price is control.
Shoebox units are generally described as self-contained apartments with a bedroom, living area, kitchen and bathroom all within 500 sq ft. URA recently had an application from a developer to build units less than 300 sq ft, which is more of a hotel room than an apartment. URA rejected the application.
Everyone is just don’t understand that HDB have 2 different policy. Why I say that? In the same building (BTO) which have Studio Apartment (SA) , 3rm and 4 rm.But they have different leasing, For SA only 30 year and 3, 4 rm is 99 years? Why ? The price is not cheaper. Anyone know this ? I have been writing to ask HDB for answer, they can’t asnwer me. Same for 3rm and 4rm, why they can resale in open market? Where SA can’t. This is not for people from profiting. If all HDB cannot resell to open market, I think this is your answer. there will not have any COV, and the price is control. No one is able from profiting. But why HDB is not doing so till today?? Now the HBD price is going to sky high.
been raised often about whether the HDB, after four decades of heroic duty, should return to its primary role of providing basic, affordable housing.
Media repoted :Ministry of National Development step into needs for the
three segments of the population that needed to be helped in housing: young couples, divorcees with children and low-income families.
I’m divorcees with 2 kids (boy 10yrs & girl 8yrs), i’ve applied the reprocessed unit from HDB last year. The listed of unit release for selecteion are (Studio Appt – 55 yrs above), BTO & few unit of reprocessed unit. The day of my selection is left with 1 unit & the unit given to me which i need to top-up $6,000 above the granted loan from HDB. Which i do not have any cash to processed this unit & HDB have bar me from applying the reprocessed unit. Now i have to rent a room with my 2 kids & even after selling the house due to court order for the divorcee case. I have reapplied the HDB granted LOAN + my CPF sum which total about $290k which i can applied a 3 room or 4 room in the open-market. I desperated to apply a house for my 2 kids (3 room) from HDB for the reprocesss unit instead of renting a room for a stranger for safety reason. Even after my divorces case, there is a court order that order CPF board to transfer the outstanding maintenance from His (ex-spouse) CPF account unfortunately CPF only deducted a small amount instead of the said amount stated in the court order. Now i do not know how to recovered the amount from HIS CPF acccount to transfer to my HDB account. I sincerely seek your help to granted me a shelter house & legal advise how to recovered the maintenance sum. Now my ex-spouse have short fall in paying the monthly maintenance to my kids. I’m a working mother to support my 2 kids & living a life within our meant.
Sincrely, thank you.
Kristine
I’m also a divorcee with custody of 3 kids. After the divorce i have to sell my house and have to give 60/40 from the court order. So after the selling of the flat i need to have rental house from HDB and i don;t know why it is so difficult for divorcee with custody to get a rental house!! Till i’m become homeless stay all around and rest whenever i felt tired. Sleep at HDB void deck, aiport etc. Till one day police come and ask why i;m sleeping at the void deck wiyh my kids. I felt so miserable untill i seek for help with the social workers in AMK. They help by putting my kids in Pertapis till i got a rental hse. I rush HDB for rental hse by telling my condition but the ignore. I thought they will have a piority for divorcee with custody but my judgement is wrong!!! Now I have a rental house in Henderson but 2 yrs contract. But last mth i receive a LETTER TO QUIT!! Yes i understand that the rental hse at my blk need to be SERS end of the year. Why they have the heart to ask me to moved out this end August??? Where should i go after that? I will be homeless again!! I don’t want this to happened again. I am working and I’m intend to buy a flat for me and my kids. But I can’t as i have already sold my hse before. Now I couldn’t even buy BTO flat or Open market as i dont have cash to buy.. If i buy BTO i need to pay levy! Open market need cash money! Please tell me how am i going to leave peacefully with my kids as thay are still small and need a place to grow up and study.. Please have sympaty towards me? I don;t want to be appart from my kids anymore. I love them and i want them to have alive with me forever. Hope Ministry that incharge could help me? I would like to purchase the Low income HDB Flat for my future please please help me???? I don’t want to be homeless again.
Sincerely,
Mr Khaw,
I would also like to suggest that you look into the Studio Apartment price. Since resale market for even a smallest flat is beyond the reach for those of us who learn less than $2000 per month, the only hope we have is the SA. However, even with this, the SA price is also getting out of reach, from $40,000/60,000 from the beginning price of such flat now it is doubled. With only 30 years lease, to buy a bigger model of SA cost from 96,000-120,000 depending on the location is definitely too costly for a retired person to pay. There is no re-sale value and after paying for such an apartment, what is left for living expenses for the rest of our lives? I agreed with most of the comments stated here, we just need a decent roof over our heads and we are not asking for anything fancy and yet the HDB is making life unbearable with its thousand and one rules for genuine S’pore born S’poreans who contributed all their lives in serving this country and yet unable to live with dignity in their own homeland when they get older. I hope the you would look into the pricing of the SA as it should remain low since it does not have any resale value with limited lease period. The current new pricing for such flats is definitely too high, I would like to know how this price is arrived at. Also, all unballoted existing flats in all areas should be opened up for application each month to give us more choices to choose from rather than waiting indefinitely for HDB to announce the next BTO for SA. Thank you.
Dear Minister Mr. Khaw,
I would like to bring to your attention of an article written in the July 2011 issue of the Expat Living magazine pg 46 to 59.
This article features an expat British family who bought a landed property in Tanjong Katong. In the 2nd last paragraph it reports, I quote “The Riches are keen to move onto another project. They are actively looking for rundown landed properties on which to work their magic. We want to find a house in this area to renovate, one on a bigger plot of land” unquote.
Why is it so that permission is granted to foreigners to purchase landed properties in Singapore when land is scarce?
They are already enjoying the benefit of purchasing private condos and the HDB(PR).
This is why we Singaporeans are displeased.
Dear Minister Mr Khaw
For selection of applicants, can it be done on case by case basis? I do understand that first timers and applicants who has applied before will be given priority. But, can 2nd timer applicant who needs to pay off grand sum of levy to be given the priority? I am emphasizing on those applicants who need to pay off levy that has on going interest and has to be paid by cash. The interest has no cap on the interest, as time pass the levy will eventually became unaffortable to pay.To a 2nd timer who has never own a new flat but really wanted to purchase one, the levy will be a burden and an obstacle.
I sincerely hope that Mr Khaw would consider my suggestion.
Dear Minister Mr Khaw
I am sorry for the typing error at the 4th sentence, instead of the interest has no cap on the interest, it should be there is no cap for the interest of the levy.
Once again, sorry about the error.
Fiona has valid comments and more can be said.
Through taling with various friends & relatives, I discover that mostly 1st time buyers dont have enough money and have to rely on heavy borrowing to buy a flat. So, at this current high property market condition, dont Mr Khaw realize that too much bank borrowings can lead to similar result as the USA property collapse??
High percentage of 1st time buyers are getting grants and borrowing heavily from banks, then when they get their flats, they simply lock it up (treat it as holiday house) or secretly rent it out to generate income; while they continue to live with their parents. And who’s helping them do it? HDB and Govt policy. Go find out how many couples are still living with their parents after buying their flats. Common reason can be given as children being looked after by grand-parents; but there is no real geographical movement of physical stay – so what real benefit or gain has the HDB created? other than personal gains.
2nd time buyers (to a certain extent) have cash value from selling the 1st or previous flat; they dont have to borrow heavily from banks. They should be given priority or at last an equal opportunity to buy a 2nd time from HDB. In fact they are the families who are truly expanding (or contracting) and they require HDB’s help during this change/ adjustment period of their lives. HDB can truly gain more “liquid cash” from such sale to 2nd time buyers as they dont borrow so much from HDB, thus, the exposure to a similar situation as USA is low.
MY personal opinion of HDB and the ministry is that they seem to be clever in making policies but not WISE. Young working couples may dislike my comments as they fall in the category of 1st time buyers; and policies are directly or indirectly made by them too.
But is the Truth to be covered?
Dear Minister,
I am very disappointed in our Housing Board, HDB’s efficiency is very poor. For my house renovation,from application dated on 03/06/2011, up to now I have got, let people be wndweful !!!
Mr Mah added: “When you buy an HDB flat, you are investing for your future. We subsidise when you buy, we increase the value of the flat as you live in it and encourage you or facilitate you to cash out when you grow old.”
Dear Minister,
That what Mr Mah said above. So, what’s next on your planning board.
I am ordinary citizen, already coming to 55 years. Wondering how I can afford my next lap.
Do you have better plan for me.
Please help.
It’s a very impressive post! I am so excited I stumbled your site. Keep up the amazing work. Have a good day!
I understand that when i sell my flat; i need to return the amount i borrowed from my cpf savings plus the accrued interest!! I am a bit disturbed as to why should I pay back the interest when i am actually taking out my own savings for my flat! At most; i do not earn any interest for the period! I hope Minister Khaw can look into my logic…..
The new policy to increase income ceiling is good. However, upon checking the HDB website, it is only applicable to those new launch from 15/8/11. Instead of being happy that people can finally go and book a unit at a location which they are eyeing for so long, they still cannot buy. This is disappointing.
The implementation of the new policy on increase income ceiling should be for those who booked from 15/8/11 so that people who are stuck previously due to income restriction, are not slap again and told to buy else where which is not within their location choice (to stay near relatives who can care for their children).
I hope Mr Khaw will look into this and change the implementation to those that booked from 15/8/11 (for BTO and EC). thanks.
Thanks for your article, it’s very interesting. Hope things will be different with the new governance, and after the coming Presidential Election…
Dear Minister,
due to financial difficulty i sold my flat under the instruction of bukit merah branch head of deptartment year 2008 and till now i am renting a room $900 per month,there is an outstanding amount of $18,000 owing to hdb for the repayment of the upgrading of my estate and i was not make aware that i need to pay cash should i sell the flat after the upgrading its fine, but i cant pay them as the monthly installment is $870 per month my family income is only $2,200 so its pending till now. everytime i go to hdb at toa payoh to appeal to see higher authority they will reply is i need to see the bukit merah branch to settle not hdb hq, am i liivng in the world of communisiam why cant i see higher authority???,so i approach them for a solution for this 2 years by suggesting to them that i use the rental money to pay my installment and grant me an opportunity to buy a resale flat and pay by my cpf as we combine have $150,000 in our cpf oa, but they will not listen and throw the had regulation to me everytime i approach them where is the logic when there is a solution but they keep giving you the problem.i sincerely hope that this issue can be solve so i can have a roof over my head as i grow old we are now 53 yrs & 50 yrs old i do not want to go on living like a gypsy life is hard already where is the compasion that the goverment promise to the son & children of singapore that during the election say that the goverment will listen to the people and provide whatever the best they can to the children of singapore i sincerely hope to live in a small flat and be able to contribute to our nation pls help us and give us an opportunity to buy a small 3 room resale flat start our life again it is very important to have a roof over our head thats the very first basic need for the family
thank you
Part of the HDB housing policies include ‘Married Child Priority Scheme’ and ‘Third Child Priority Scheme’. I would like to know why is the income ceiling of these family with higher monthly expenditure cap at a fixed income level as other family without children? Shouldn’t the govenment relook into this income ceiling policy?
It would be more sensible to calculate household income by pax per household. According to current HDB policy, if income ceiling is cap at $10,000 for new 5-room or DBSS purchase, the max household income per pax (if both couple don’t have children) is $,4000.
For example: Both parents earn $12,000 (which exceeds the HDB purchase eiligible condition) and they have 3 children. The household income per pax is $12,000/5 people = $2,400
The couple should be eiligible to purchase HDB flat.
Dear Mr Khaw,
I happen to come across this article in Todayonline Voices on 29 Sept 2011. i suppot his stand.
I am also puzzle how does such restriction would assist us to stablise the Housing Market as the writter mention earlier as if the enforcement of such is not feesable or practical for all. As for Singaporean you are easily able to track because of the close nitted system however for PR’s it would be a question mark. I am not against the idea of PR purchasing HDB resale Flats but you restriction would not be fair for both parties if it is not enforced effectively. Singaporeans might loose out again . I am also wondering why we should be restricting Singaporean from buying overseas properties for moderate investment purposes and old age and if they declare the properties here as it would not affect the resale market here as we should be are entitle to have one sale or resale flat (depending on our income ceiling), which is the least we can do for a born and bred Singaporen here to make us feel this is my home and only home. I have seen you making a lot of changes in a short span of time to realign most of housing policies to make it practical, logical, useful and fair for everyone born or came here to make this their home. Thanks for your bold changes and wish you good health.
I have copied Mr Lee’s letter which published
in today online for you if you have missed the article.
Revisit regulation on HDB resale flats
Letter from Lee Chuan Siang
SINCE last September, a regulation of the
Housing & Development Board compels one
who owns a private residential property,
local or foreign, to sell it within six months
of buying an HDB resale flat.
An adjunct to it disallows one from buying
private property if one has owned an HDB
resale flat for less than five years.
Enforcement is easy in the case of Singaporeans,
as property ownership here can be
verified through local data. What of permanent
residents from countries where property
records are not centralised or inaccessible
by a foreign authority?
It seems quite difficult for the HDB to verify
that a PR does not own residential property back
home or has sold or transferred it within the
prescribed period after buying a resale flat here.
The HDB can only accept a PR’s declaration
at face value; threat of action against
non-compliance seems academic in most
cases. This disparity in enforcement efficacy
is unfair to Singaporeans.
The regulations were intended to help
ensure that public housing is affordable and
its supply, adequate. The premise for the
regulations is valid up to a point.
Someone who owns private property here
should be discouraged from competing in the
resale market with those having fewer resources
and more need to own and occupy a resale flat.
But is the premise as valid for a Singaporean
who owns a modest home, say, in Malacca,
and can only afford to buy a resale flat here?
For PRs, a somewhat different approach
is justified. They are here for some years
(some become citizens) and treat a resale flat
as more than temporary housing.
What would otherwise be expended as
rent becomes a savings/investment plan in
the form of mortgage payment and likely
capital appreciation later. Indeed, a case can
be argued for allowing a PR to buy a resale flat
only some time after becoming a PR.
Any such differentiation is not an antiforeigner
slant but an assertion of the Singaporean-
first efforts.
voices@mediacorp.com.sg
Dear Mr Khaw,
Despite nearly 10 times over 3-4years. My hubby and I still receive a less than ideal queue no. Most recently, we are on queue #556 out of 127 in Casa Clementi. Through out these years, the only time we received an invitation to apply for a flat is in Jurong West. By the time it reaches our queue no, only the unit on 2nd floor, next to the rubbbish chute is available. I really do not know and cannot understand what else must we do to have a hdb unit. We have exhausted all ways and means. We have visited our MP – Christopher De Souza over this issue, visited HDB to express our concerns and we placed a bid almost every quarter for BTO (In almost any areas in the West), just to be near to our parents who are living in a very popular area – Ghim Moh Rd and to be near to our workplace in the West. I hope you and your ministry understand the importance of a HDB flat to a newly married couple (And we have been married for over a year now) as we are unable to start any form of family planning till we have a roof (our roof) over our head. Like yourself, we are consumer with our rights and we will be paying decent money (eventually) to get a flat. It is not acceptable to be pushed to a corner or to get a much less than ideal or rent or buy in the resale market (With exorbitant COV in today’s market in our area). We are not looking at good view, top floor, good facing extremely near to amenities etc. As 1st timers, we are reasonable in our choices and selection. Im am facing this now and I believed there are many more Singaporeans who are similarly in this situation. I would like to ask the ministry how and in what ways are you effectively addressing this issue, noting that it was announced that priorities are given to 1st time applicants (supposedly for me) for all recent bids.
I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.
Rgds,
Jessica
Dear sir , we are a married couple with a two years old girl.we applied for a BTO 3room flat in fernvale residence In 2008 .we waited.beginning of 2012,finally we can collect our keys to our new flats .when we about to sign the final lease for flat and collect the keys.suddenly ,the hdb officer tell us if we wan to collect our keys ,we need to top up nearly to $60 000 of cash on the spot in order to take the keys.we suddenly in shock ,we don’t have 60 000 of cash to top up .the hdb officer say our HLE grant loan is too low ($20700).we need to appeal for higher loan in order to take our flat .we have AVG grant of$25000 for both of us .the loan officer is because my husband recently change his job as a hotel officer salary only $1500plus and I am a housewife which is unemployed.so the grant is low.we told the officer that we don’t $60grands to top up.they say will try to help if the loan is the same we can’t have the flat.we currently living with my parent ,silblings n one grandparent total is 7 adults 1 kid in a 3 room flat in Serangoon .we are low income family .we sincerely hope mr khaw can advise n help us .hope to hear from you .thank you!
Dear Mr Khaw,
We are living in Blk 95 Henderson Road. In 2006 or 2007, we have received a letter from HDB that this block will be en-blocked and were asked to choose for a new flat in Kim Kian. We had elected a 3 room flat which is just enough to house my parents, my brother and me, myself. We have finally received a notification letter to collect our keys to our new flat in Nov last year. When we about to sign the final lease for flat and collect the keys, we were asked by the HDB officer to top up nearly $45,000 in cash on the spot in order to take the keys. We were too shocked. We do not have that much of hard cash with us. We have appealed to the officer by email to grant us a higher loan but sad to say, we had received a letter just this week that our appeal had been rejected. With my parents’ current income, they are only able to loan us $41,000. And if we were not able to pay by the due date (which is on the 20 Jan of this month), they will forfeit our deposit.
It had caused disappointment and distressed to my family. 5 years ago, we had been given a hope to be able to move into a better living condition area whereby all 4 of us need not squeeze in a 2 room flat. It seems like we had been living in our dreams for the past 5 years and now we have to wake up from our dreams. We had quarreled everyday in regard to this issue. Where are we going to find the 45k hard cash? If we have the cash, we won’t be living in a rented 2 room flat. And now it has caused a once united and happy family into a family without peace. We were just hoping that HDB would grant us more loan. I am able and willing to help up with my family on the monthly installment. I am working as an administrative officer who earns 2.2k a month and had been in this company for 4 years. My brother works as a part time mover.
We would really appreciate it if you can assist us in this issue. Thanks a lot.
Great read thank you!
Dear Minister Khaw
Could you give additional ballot chances to me for a new flat who is
1) First Timer;
2) BALLOTED SINCE 1996, after 16 YEARS of countless attempts (I was not given priority when I started applying under the fiance/fiancee scheme);
3) Having received a SMS from HDB to cancel my appointment to attend a flat selection just 4 hours before my appointment time that all flats had just been duly alloted.
Yours truly luckless, hopeless
Queue No. 390 for 295 flats
P S. Now, I am back to square 1, like 16 years ago when I first started to ask the Government for a flat. Do I have to wait another 16 years, having to endure the change in Ministers with change of housing policies and further de-prioritising me.
Dear Minister,
I am a first timer applicant. My fiance and I have had 4 unsuccessful applications over the past 3 years:
1. Waterway Punggol
2. Bedok Sale of Bal flat
3. Tampines Ave 9 (Opposite Temasek Poly)<-after writing to MP Mr. Lim Swee Say but still unsuccessful
4. Punggol Sale of Bal flat
If we can get the next bto, we can start to plan for kids earlier. But if we continue to stay at our parents' house we will have to delay the plan (due to inconvenience) and we will be over 35 by then. We are going to get married in 5 weeks time. Do couples have more priority if they have ROM-ed?
P.S: We noticed there are people who are not very serious about getting a flat have also applied and got it the first time. This brings down the chances for serious and needy buyers. Is there a way to sieve out serious buyers from this lot.
here to read the rest: Khaw Boon wan | Housing Policies | New HDB Flats Property Blog This entry was posted in Malaysia News, Malaysia Tourism and tgegad minister, national,
As a single who’s above 35yo, I am not eligible to buy a new HDB flat, instead I have to buy a resale secondhand flat which is grossly inflated in price. I can understand the logic and preference for those who are getting married/already married to buy new flats, and I fully support those young Singaporean couples who are getting married to get their subsidised homes.
However, please correct me if I am wrong, can even PRs, who arrive in Singapore within 1 year, already allowed to buy a new HDB? If so, I question the logic of doing 2.5years of military service, when I am not even allowed to buy a new flat, given I spent the past of my 36yrs in Singapore, while any foreigners who just arrived within 1 year can buy a new flat?
What is the logic?
for residential hosiung remains high despite Minister Khaw’s promise to build a record 25,000 new flats this year and continue a heightened building pace for next year,
Dear Mr Khaw, my husband and me had been applying 5 room BTO and balance of flats since 3 years ago, we are 1st timer and my 2 kids are growing and we need our own house as this current does not belong to us and we have family problem.Before you took over, we were always excess the Q no.. We are very happy when you took over and said that you are going to help 1st timer to get their home fast.Then goes we happily apply sengkang, same we excess the Q no, and we were ask to go to select the balance unit, before our turn, not much unit left, only 2nd floor which no much choice left for us so we give out. Happily we eyeing on Hougang Capview which is near to my parents and my niceces house (i currently taking care of them cos their father had passed away and they are still teenages). Again my Q no excess again. when our turn come for selection on tuesday (20 march, we went down HBD to try again, left only 3 units and all low floor. We want a good house to stay for long term, so that my family can be happy and healthy.
With the new implemention of policy to help to increase 1st timer to get their house, it’seem to be far far away for us. We are very dissappointed and don’t know when we will get our house. both my husband n me already in our late 40s, so we have to wait for young couple to complete the Q then our turn? 1st timer are given 2X to select, we are not within the Q no, ask us to go for selection of the balance units after the units allocted had been selected and count as 1X, is it fair to us. With Sengang ang Hougang, HDB took us as 2X so we cannot apply again after 1 year later.What Mr Khaw can help us? We are praying to have our own happy house as soon as possible. Please help us.
the crux of the public’s unhappiness over the government’s housing policies is the high price of new hdb flats. these high prices not only caused a great financial burden on new flat buyers but also are a cause of spiralling inflation.
mr. khaw must have the political inclination and will to bring down the prices of new hdb flats if his term as national development minister is to make any real difference to the suffering public. otherwise all these piecemeal changes will mean nothing to the public.