Tag Archives: Approval-in-Principle

Incentives abound for home buyers looking for property loans

Some banks are rolling out new services and attractive mortgage packages to increase their market share in the private housing loan sector.

Banks such as Standard Chartered has set up a service counter to offer loan evaluations at show flats.

Said Dennis Khoo, general manager of Wealth Management Consumer Banking at Standard Chartered Bank: “I think it’s even better prudence because before (a buyer) puts down the money, he can quickly – within 15 minutes – check, and then go and put the money down knowing that he’s making a good decision.”

The mortgage war among the banks has seen interest rates being revised downwards.

However, the lowering of rates is not the only weapon. Some banks are also trying to gain a greater market share by providing incentives such as air tickets and dining vouchers. Continue reading

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