Daily Archives: 18 Aug 2009

Private home sales up 52%

SALES of private homes hit a new high for the second straight month in July, surging about 52 per cent from June.

Low interest rates, relatively lower prices and a fear of missing the bottom are some reasons behind the strong sales. Although there were also signs of speculation, a significant portion of the sales was backed by real demand, said analysts.

According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, 2,767 units were sold last month, compared to 1,825 in June. The total number of private homes sold in the first seven months of the year hit 10,017 units.

Property consulting firm Cushman and Wakefield director Donald Han said: “With another five more months to go, (sales could) potentially cross the 15,000 mark. It might go as high to 16,000 to 18,000; it will definitely be one of the records being set.”

Out of the total number of units sold last month, more than half were in the suburban areas, about 27 per cent of the transactions were in the city fringe Continue reading

Jobs credit blues at condo

IMAGINE you are a condominium owner, and your property’s management corporation (MCST) has been engaging the services of two administrators, two technicians and some cleaners for the estate.

You cheered when the government announced the Jobs Credit scheme earlier this year, thinking the savings will go to your MCST.

Well, think again. Like the MCST of Bayshore Park, a condominium on the East Coast, you may well find that the payout from the Jobs Credit scheme has gone – not to your MCST – but to the managing agent hired by your MCST to manage the payroll of condo employees.

At Bayshore Park, its MCST is now embroiled in a dispute with its former managing agent, CKH Strata Management, over a Jobs Credit payout worth $10,000 to $15,000 for the qualifying period from last October to June this year.

Some companies that engage payroll agents also face similar problems. Continue reading