We have been living in the same estate over the last twelve years. When we first moved in, I noticed a middle-age couple and their son staying in the opposite house. I still recalled how this latchkey kid in his primary school uniform returned home alone after school and climbed upstairs to his room. A few years later, one day I saw him coming back home in his mother’s car. … [Read more...]
Why are you not rich?
Happy New Year! May your year in 2020 be filled with joy and laughter. In less than a month, it will be Chinese New Year when we wish each other a prosperous lunar new year. But why prosperous? Why do we want our family, friends, colleagues, acquaintance and strangers to do well financially? Is this unique to the Chinese when other races wish each other happiness, peace … [Read more...]
The naked truth of Singapore’s property porn
(Disclaimer: This blog post contains mature content and is restricted to adults age 21 and above. Readers under 21 or immature in sexual or financial intelligence are advised to seek parental guidance before continue reading.) According to HSBC's 2019 survey, Singaporeans spend an average of over three hours per week on property-related window shopping, reading real estate … [Read more...]
Will buying a home make us happier?
This week the government announced higher CPF grants and a raised income ceiling for first-time HDB buyers. More citizens are now eligible to buy new BTO flats or resale HDB flats. A recent advertisement from the CPF Board is seen at MRT platforms with a headline that reads, “In 2018, nearly one million Singaporeans used CPF for their housing and found what really sparks … [Read more...]
Will Hong Kong people buy Singapore homes?
Some readers ask me whether there will be more Hong Kong people buying Singapore homes, and whether this will raise local property prices and sales volumes. Maybe they know I was from Hong Kong two decades ago. Or they have seen too many media reports on riots in Hong Kong. Like many foreign countries, protests and strikes to Hong Kong people are like typhoons that … [Read more...]