Young couples, divorcees and low income earners top the list of Singaporeans whom the new housing minister Mr. Khaw Boon Wan, hopes to help first.
Young couples, divorcees with children and low income families are among those who have made it to the Ministry of National Development’s (MND) priority list.
Former Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, now the National Development Minister, revealed this yesterday in the first post he put up on his new Housing Matters blog.
In the entry titled Trepidation and Expectation, Mr Khaw said that many people have sent him emails, letters and facebook messages offering feedback and suggestions for housing issues.
‘There were hundreds of them and many more will come, I am sure. I thank them all. They have given me a feel of the nature and the scale of the unhappiness and concerns,’ he said.
His first post has generated plenty of positive feedback, with MPs and industry experts saying Mr Khaw has correctly identified those in ‘critical’ need of help.
Dennis Wee Group director Chris Koh said Mr Khaw is ‘spot-on’ in identifying those most affected and was right to say that not everyone can be pleased.
Young couples and single parents, for example, face difficulties as they lack the cash to buy resale flats, he added.
HDB flats in Queenstown
Mr Koh also identified genuine upgraders with an existing mortgage as another segment under pressure. The 60 per cent loan-to-value ratio for those with an outstanding loan has made it harder for them to finance a larger home.
Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Liang Eng Hwa said divorced couples particularly need help because many cannot afford a new flat as a single after splitting the proceeds of the matrimonial home.
‘HDB might want to be more flexible with its rules, especially when there are children involved. I’m glad the minister is looking into this matter,’ he said.
Teacher Amelie Chew, 30, has wanted to buy a resale HDB flat in Bishan since marrying three years ago.
She told The Straits Times: ‘I can afford the mortgage but not the cash-over-valuation the sellers are asking for. I don’t have $30,000 cash to spare.’
Mr Zainudin Nordin, mayor of Central Singapore District, said low-income earners often face problems getting a rental flat and for some, buying a flat they can afford.
Ang Mo Kio HDB flat for rent
He suggested Mr Khaw should also focus on those who lost their jobs during the recession, defaulted on mortgages and had their homes repossessed.
‘Some of them ended up living on the beach. They are now in temporary homes but they still need their own place,’ he said. Mr Zainudin added he will post some suggestions on Mr Khaw’s blog.
Mr Tan Kok Keong, OrangeTee’s head of research and consultancy, suggested the Government look to increasing the number of rental flats for low-income families as there is a long waitlist.
The HDB could also consider introducing further stepped levels of housing grants for those in need, he added.
Affordability of HDB was a big issue in this year's general elections. Image courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board.
Associate Professor Sing Tien Foo,of the National University of Singapore’s department of real estate, said meeting the aspirations of younger people is a challenge while Mr Khaw will have to walk a tightrope between providing affordable housing and preserving the value of existing homes.
But Mr Khaw stressed that it is not possible to please everyone as demands are often contradictory. He gave an example: many people want him to bring property prices down, but many also warned him against doing so.
‘I am therefore realistic about what is doable. The key is to prioritise and set realistic goals, for short term, medium term and long term,’ he said.
‘In the immediate, I will focus on the housing needs of some groups like the young couples, divorcees with children, and low income families as I appreciate the anxieties they are currently experiencing.’
Fast rising home prices amid a sharp economic recovery in the last two years have bred a group of anxious home seekers. Housing affordability became a hot potato during the general election, with opposition parties coming up with various suggestions to keep flats within reach.
Housing Matters blog
Through his new blog, he will regularly share his thoughts on issues under MND’s purview. These include housing, land use, construction and food safety. Just this week, MND also launched its Facebook page.
‘I will use all communications platforms available, online, offline, closed-door forums, open forums, big groups, small groups. It will be time-consuming but I am sure will be enriching and educational.’ It goes without saying that it will also be challenging given how housing became such a fierce issue during the election campaign.
As befitting someone who has made full use of new communications avenues, Mr Khaw stressed that he will consult widely with experts, customers, industry players and Singaporeans themselves.
Source: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Reprinted with permission.
Editor’s Commentary:
The public has spoken. And now so has the new National Development minister. What lies ahead for the ministry and the property market will depend on the new policies which will soon follow.
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RE: URGENTLY IN NEED OF A ROOF ABOVE ME
I SEEK YOUR HELP, I AM 68 YEARS OLD WOMAN AND RECENTLY DIVORCED LOOSING MY EX-HUSBAND TO A RICHER WOMAN. I WAS TOLD BY MY THEN STEP CHILDREN TO LEAVE THE HOUSE. I HAVE SEEKED TWO FORMER MPS IN TIONG BAHRU AND BENDEER FOR HELP.
HDB HAS GIVEN REPLIES THAT I AM ELIGIBLE DUE TO I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TWO SUBSIDIES IN HOUSING.
BUT MR. KHAW ISN,T IT THERE IS SPECIAL CASES LIKE ME, I DO NOT EXPECT MY 17 YEARS OF MARRIAGE TO BREAK AND HOMELESS NOW.
PLEASE HELP ME FOR HOW LONG I LIVE? TEN YEARS?
HDB CAN RENT A FLAT TO ME WITHOUT SUBSIDY, I AM WORKING NOW, I HAVE LEGS INJURIES IN BOTH FEET. MY NINE TOES ARR BROKEN LAST YEAR AND AM NOW RECOVERING WITH PAIN DAILY. I CAN EARN 2,000.00 A MONTH WITH THE LEG INJURIES AND IF FULLY RECOVER, I AM SURE THAT I CAN EARN MORE.
I THANKT YOU FOR PROVIDING A HOME TO ME.
YOURS SINCERELY
MAE WONG
Hi Mr Khaw, Worries for Some Singaporean buying private properties is questionable. why ?
1. Release more land sales (GLS) means increase more buyers
2. Increase Land sales Bidding Price (GLS) means increase in Developer selling Price
3. Increase in Property Developer Selling Price means Private Property Buyers is paying high price
4. Buyers who are paying high price need to take up high financial loan
5. Thus more land sales & high land sales prices means more buyers need to take up high financial Loan
********* If property market crashed, does that mean Mr Khaw ideas of increasing land sales may even causes more Singaporeans into Financial trouble? *********
From the way I read his worries contradict his action & idea, hope that I am wrong. please comment, Thank You
Sengkang is not a mature flat yet my daughter apply under the married child scheme in hope of purchasing a flat only in sengkang.. near my place. She has 5 chances yet could not until recent when 5 projects put out in april… and in the end what… Hougang and Q-no right nearly at the bottom! !!! I think mr khaw should take a look of puting those who wish to live near their parents first on the ballot ,,, then come the more chances an applicants has … then come those who first time apply without any chances outstanding…. funny that this current balloting .. first time ballot can get a flat… is like striking a toto … and if unlucky one got to wait years!!!!
Is the Minister awared that now the HDB resale market has gone worse than before, with COV calling mostly 50 to 60k, with some even as high as 100k?
Some buyers are forced to buy at such high COV as there aren’t enough stocks in the market.
What can be done to help the poor buyers?
Suggest that HDB should return to its original objective, ie to ensure everyone has a roof over their head by means of selling it cheap or renting. That means, what HDB need to provide is back to basic type of HDB design. Forget about building EC or DBSS flat. Leave these EC or DBSS to private developer. HDB can also put in place the policy that public housing flat should not be sold in the open market but back to HDB. No COV and at the valuation price by HDB. Any cash earn should go back to CPF or to support the new flat. This would ensure that ppl are genuine needing a HDB flat to stay and not speculate.
I am 43 years old average Singapore guy and single. I living with my parents in the 3 room flat. It is possible for me to apply for an new BTO HDB flat ?(preferably new 3 rooms HDB flats will do). Understand, single can only buy an HDB flat from resale. However, the resale price is simply beyond my ability as the resale price is far too high, and i simply not able to afford it.
Hope to see single Singaporean guy like me can too afford an HDB flat to have an home.
Public housing flats should not let private developers decide the pricings, the valuation of HDB resale flats should not let private valuators have a hand on it too.
Private housing and Public housing are two different kinds of living. One is profit making and the other is to provide a roof over their head.
EC and DBSS indirectly are private housing of lower end and at the same time they help to push up the pricing for private housing. This is the situation.
I need help badly as i’m about to no place to stay…
I’m a mother of 4 kids age 10,5,3 & 1.
I’m seeking help from u & really hope to hear from u soon.
Can u pls kindly give me a reply to my email & from there, i give u more info……Thank u!
1. Media reported : 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 selection 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 divorce 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 desperate 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 account to transfer to my HDB account. I sincerely seek your help to granted me a shelter house & legal advice how to recovered the maintenance sum. Now my ex-spouse have short fall in paying the monthly maintenance to my kids.
Currently i renting a room from the open market together with my 2 kids, and working mother to support my 2 kids & living a life within our meant.
Sincerely, thank you.
Dear Mr Khaw,
Recently I wrote in to hdb to appeal for a purchase of a 3-room resale flat. As I’ve a vested interest in my family’s property, I was asked to furnish some documents for perusal. One of which is the title deed reflecting my interest. I submitted which clearly shows that I just hold a very small share which is a gift from my parents. Yet I was still asked to furnish the latest valuation report by a professional licenced valuer and some other details. It was also made clear to me that even so, there’s no guarantee that my appeal may be successful.
I’m single and is a caregiver to my 84 year old mother whom I live with her currently in the family’s property. Most of my siblings have their own homes whereas for me I do not even own a place that I can call my very own home. In view that family life has changed over the years and there are disputes, I hope hdb will consider my appeal as I need to have a roof over my head lest my mother pass away anytime. The family is not of general consensus to sell the property to pave the way for me to be eligible to buy a flat. I also cannot stay for long in this family property as there are constantly feuds. That’s why I’m appealing my case that since I’ve already submitted the title deed which shows that I just hold a minor share in the family’s property, I need not submit the valuation report which I’ve to engage and incur costs on my part with no surety that my appeal will be successful.
I hope you will study my case with kind consideration and look forward to receive a favourable reply.
Dear Mr Khaw,
I am a divorcee without the care and control of my child and presently renting rooms outside to stay as the resale market are far too high for me to afford . Please spend some time looking through and consider of taking out a new rule for divorcee to get their second flat directly from HDB as I still have a younger brother who is also renting rooms outside like me and I still have to support him cause both my parents have passed away few years already. My commitment is so high plus I can only get HDB loan if I need to get flat for myself and they expect me to pay back the profit I made from my previous sale of flat. As i am stuck caused my ex husband is a hard core gambler and get me into problems for getting bank loans. Hereby sincercely hope that you will consider and look through. Thank you very much.
Best Regards,
Jennifer
Dear Mr Khaw,
I am 49th while my Husband in his 51yrs old. We have to sell our 5 rooms HDB Flat due to unable to keep up with the morgage loan (my husband was retrenched & was in between jobs most time) & we have to avoid HDB acquisition of flat. We have a negative sale proceed and with repayment to CPF on outstanding loan, we are now unable to even secure a smaller resale flat as we have no cash to susbtatiate the COV amount. I have 3 kids – still schooling. I am worry that our hope to get a roof over our head within one month period are not visible as our buyer will be moving. Appreciate if you could help to look into our predicament.
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 and help us to collect our new flat .hope to hear from you .thank you!
Hope mr khaw boon wan can help us urgently
Dear Mr Khaw – I would like to voice my concern over the valuation of resale flat which is getting higher and higher for every 3 months. I understand that you have been trying very hard to keep the resale price of HDB. The old valuation of 345K just expired 2 weeks ago and now the seller has just gotten a new valuation of 375K for the flat; which is a hefty increased of 30K in price!! My question to you is that how would you keep the resale price stable stable when the valuation keeps on going higher??? When the price of the resale HDB flat is controlled; how can the valuation of the flat not be stabilised??
Now on top of the 30K increase in valuation; the seller is still asking for the same 50K COV!!!
Please look into the valuation of flat by HDB seriously in order to keep the resale flat affordable.
Kindly look into this issue of valuation by HDB…
Thank You.