Daily Archives: 17 Oct 2009

Stanchart offers loan approval at the showflat

STANDARD Chartered Bank yesterday announced a new service initiative at property showflats through which potential homebuyers will be able to obtain in-principle approval and advice on housing loan quantum and tenor in as little as 15 minutes.

To kick-start the service, it will be offered as a value-added feature this weekend at Mi Casa in Choa Chu Kang. The bank said it is the first in the industry to offer such a service.

Developer Far East Organization will release two new towers at the 457-unit Mi Casa, where the take-up rate has been good since sales started in March.

Stanchart said it will be able to offer loan approval in principle in 15-60 minutes if customers provide basic information such as monthly income and other financial commitments, without official documents. They can then follow up by sending their documents to the bank, which can grant actual approval in as little as two days.

‘If customers see a unit they like and want to book it before others see it, they want to know how much they can borrow and for how long,’ said Dennis Khoo, Stanchart’s general manager for retail banking products. Continue reading

One flat, many looks

From country to Peranakan to modern, this HDB maisonette has them all

The living room, which has a country feel, houses a collection of kooky knick-knacks, an old sewing machine that is now a charming table as well as modern black-and-white pictures. — PHOTOS: WONG WEI LIANG; ART DIRECTION: CARRIE TAN; TEXT: JACQUELINE TAN
Industrial-chic cement flooring visually unites the dining area(foreground), which has a Peranakan theme, with the sleek, monochromatic kitchen (background).. — PHOTOS: WONG WEI LIANG; ART DIRECTION: CARRIE TAN; TEXT: JACQUELINE TAN
The stairwell, which used to be dark, now enjoys plenty of light, thanks to the French door that has replaced a wall in the master bedroom. — PHOTOS: WONG WEI LIANG; ART DIRECTION: CARRIE TAN; TEXT: JACQUELINE TAN

HDB void decks and dumpsters are not the usual places where you would pick up furniture. Continue reading