Squeezed even harder

THE HDB resale price index has surged relentlessly since 2007. Since the first quarter of 2007, the index has increased 35.3 per cent and is now at a record high, even though the economy is still recovering from downturn.

This is an anomaly the Government should examine.

The recent Punggol Residences launch by HDB, which drew seven applications for every unit on sale, is another case to show the Government needs to increase supply to prevent housing prices escalating further.

While there is the additional housing grant to help the lower-income group, I urge the Government not to overlook the sandwich class group – those who are not eligible for subsidised public housing, yet cannot afford private housing. The escalation of mass market property prices has made the dream of owning a private property even more distant.

I urge the Government to reconsider the income ceiling of $8,000 as a criterion to be eligible for the Central Provident Fund (CPF) housing grant, which has been in place since 1994. Since 1994, the CPF Ordinary Account contribution rate has decreased from 30 per cent to 23 per cent and the HDB resale housing index has almost doubled from 75.5 to 140.2.

The supply of executive condominiums has also come to a halt. For those who aspire to condo living, Design, Build and Sell Scheme units launched by private developers range in prices from $550,000 to $720,000. Given the income ceiling of $8,000, couples who buy such flats must take huge loans which may not be proportionate to their income.

I urge the Government to look into the following to help the sandwich class: