Tag Archives: Singapore Property

Would you own 3 to 4 properties in your lifetime?

THERE was a recent Singapore news report about steps taken by the government to “cool” down the real estate market. There was concern that speculative fever might be heightened, especially when forecasts seem to indicate a more challenging and subdued economic environment.

How can the Singapore property market run up so significantly on the back of the worst global financial crisis in history?

Some attribute this to the liquidity available in the banking system, while others are quick to point to a low interest rate environment. It was also highlighted that many buyers were home upgraders who are cash-rich, and of course, some were speculators hoping to make a quick profit within a year or two. There are certainly many types of players in the real estate market, and it is not easy to fully comprehend the dynamics.

In a recent discussion that I had with some colleagues, an interesting trend surfaced – a person is likely to own about three to four properties in his or her life time! Mapping that to one’s life stages, it is easy to identify the four possible stages. Such life stages are similar to those used for investment planning as well. Continue reading

Think out of the shoe box: Analysts

If you are thinking of investing in small apartments measuring less than 500 sq ft because they are cheaper, you may want to think again, according to property experts.

As there are only a few “shoe box” housing units available on the market, and with a popularity that’s still in the early stages, analysts said the returns on investment in these properties could be limited.

“This is a non-standard investment which, in terms of size, may not appeal to some tenants,” said Cushman and Wakefield Singapore managing director Donald Han.

“If you’re thinking of leasing out and holding this as an asset typical to any studio-sized residential apartment, then this is something very different.”

Such “shoe box” apartments have been popular with property buyers recently, as sales of such units this year have hit an all-time high of 412, up from 299 last year and 275 in 2007. In 1995, there was only one such transaction.

The investment returns for such small-sized apartments depend on tenants’ preference for these types of units. And analysts said that in times of a market downturn, potential tenants tend to hold the bargaining power. Continue reading