Under the new normal, Singaporeans are not only learning to live with Covid-19, but also to live with scams. With lockdowns around the world, the businesses of criminals are affected by social gathering restrictions, nightspot closures and logistic disruptions. To make up for the shortfall, organized crimes are driven online for alternative sources of income. More … [Read more...]
Case Studies: How private homebuyers ended up buying crap
I talked about the five miseries that unfortunate owners are facing in my last blog post. In response, there were messages from readers sharing their own sad stories. It proves that Singapore really lacks a proper platform for owners and homebuyers to voice their grievances. One of them commented that there is a 6th misery of homebuyers – poor construction quality of … [Read more...]
5 miseries that unfortunate owners are facing
I am writing this blog post for a minority group in our society – the unfortunate owners of private homes. Their number is not small but their voices are not heard. You might say: But these people have money to buy private properties. Most of us can’t afford to live in condos. Some of us don’t even have an HDB flat under our name. Compared with us, their problems are not … [Read more...]
What rental viewings told me about the leasing market
My long-time friend was recently relocated to Singapore a second time. When her stay home notice ended, I tagged along with her to go for rental viewings. We shortlisted many one and two-bedroom units that met her budget and criteria. They were all in prime districts, from Newton, Orchard, River Valley, and all the way to Marina Bay. Since she is not driving, we decided … [Read more...]
Why we only buy when prices are high
The title of this blog post is not meant to be sarcastic. It is about human nature to follow the herd, especially the irrational urge to buy something when prices are high. A second-hand HDB home for over a million? Our local media have the tendency to report properties that were recently sold at an unbelievably high price. Or the purchase price had just set a new … [Read more...]