Tag Archives: Market Report

Government says ready to stop any property bubble

The Singapore government stands ready to step in to prevent a property bubble after signs of speculation in the real estate market, state media quoted a cabinet minister as saying today.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan told reporters it was not clear if the buying momentum of new private homes in the past few months could be sustained and the government was keeping a negative growth projection for such demand this year.

“I wouldn’t say there’s excessive speculation at the moment, but there is some element of speculation involved. I think some of the practices that you saw in the last property boom are starting to come back. So I think we’ll have to be careful,” Mah was quoted as saying by state radio 938LIVE‘s website.

Property and stock prices in Singapore and elsewhere in Asia have jumped in recent months after central banks and governments pumped cash into the ailing global economy, but Asia’s monetary authorities may be set to ignore frothy markets. Continue reading

Singapore’s property rebound may not be sustained, Mah says

Demand in Singapore’s property market may not be sustained because of economic uncertainty and ample supply, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said.

The city-state is “monitoring the market closely” to ensure speculation in the property market doesn’t lead to a bubble forming, Mah told reporters today in Singapore.

“I think some of the practices and habits you saw in the last property boom are beginning to come back,” said Mah. “We will take whatever actions necessary to prevent such a situation from happening, but it is important for buyers themselves to be aware.”

Home sales jumped 9.1% in June from May to the highest since the Urban Redevelopment Authority began releasing the data. Still, home prices have fallen for a fourth straight quarter, with an index of private residential property prices dropping 4.7% last quarter, the authority said July 24. Continue reading