hdb

Singaporeans are owners of HDB flats as they profit from it: Minister

Singaporeans have been able to make profits from the sale of Housing Board flats, and that proves they are owners, not mere tenants, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah yesterday. "If you're not the owner, then you don't get to keep the profit either because tenants don't get to sell," she stressed, when responding to a question from a member of the Indian community during a...

CPF rule change for HDB loans gives buyers flexibility, but beware of over-leveraging risks: Experts

Allowing those who are taking a home loan package from the Housing Board to have options in how they want to use their Central Provident Fund (CPF) money is a “good” move that will give flat buyers greater flexibility in planning for their finances, experts said. However, there could be some risks of over-leveraging as would-be homeowners take up bigger loans, they cautioned. In an announcement...

HDB launches more than 5,000 new flats in August sales exercise

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has launched 5,101 flats for sale under the August 2018 Build-to-Order (BTO) and Re-Offer of Balance Flats (ROF) exercise, it said in a press release on Tuesday (Aug 28). The flats include 4,375 BTO units in Punggol and Yishun and another 726 ROF units across various towns and estates, HDB said. BTO EXERCISE The BTO flats on offer are spread across four...

Flat buyers can now keep S$20,000 in CPF when taking HDB loan

Flat buyers can now choose to keep up to S$20,000 each in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) when taking a loan from the Housing and Development Board (HDB), the housing board said on Tuesday (Aug 28). Previously, buyers would have to fully utilise the balances in their CPF Ordinary Account (OA) to pay for their flat before taking up an HDB loan. The move will provide flat buyers with "greater...

HDB flats with waterfront views will cost more, say experts

HDB flats in the new Punggol Point District with waterfront views could fetch 5 to 10 per cent more than units that do not overlook the sea, said property analysts yesterday. But they added that buyers will still be mainly focused on factors such as the apartment's proximity to transport nodes and amenities. Their insights came a day after the Housing Board announced details of the new Punggol zone,...

CPF rule change for HDB loans: Less worry, more flexibility for flat owners

Besides improving retirement adequacy, the move to allow flat buyers to retain S$20,000 in their Central Provident Fund (CPF) Ordinary Account when taking up Housing and Development Board (HDB) loans would provide some relief and flexibility to homeowners who are retrenched or between jobs, said experts. Before the change, which took effect on Tuesday (Aug 28), buyers had to first use up the entire...

HDB to launch 2,112 flats in Punggol waterfront district

More than 2,000 flats located at a waterfront housing district in Punggol will be launched this month, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) announced on Sunday (Aug 26). The flats are within the first two housing projects for Punggol Point District and are expected to be completed in 2023. Punggol Point Cove will comprise five blocks with 1,172 units while Punggol Point Woods will have six blocks...

Windfalls and bailouts should not be an expected part of the public housing equation

Apprehensions over ageing HDB leases might have eased to some extent after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s National Day Rally speech. Mr Lee did well to explain why HDB leases are limited to 99 years and cannot be indefinitely renewed, for the sake of future generations and for social and practical reasons. While understanding the reasons, Singaporeans can look forward to other options that could...

Strong political commitment to housing is precisely what younger Singaporeans need

The Government’s commitment to long-term planning shown at this National Day Rally will be needed to continue the work of town redevelopment, and assure younger generations of Singaporeans of a vibrant and modern home. Where does an award-winning conductor who directs world-renowned orchestras call home? That question would likely summon images of a grand Beverly Hills mansion or a luxurious...

Singapore’s home-ownership and asset enhancement policies have worked well: PM Lee

Less than a week after announcing long-term housing initiatives during the National Day Rally (NDR), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Friday (Aug 24) held up the success of the Government's home-ownership and asset enhancement policies, and chided those who claim that the 99-year leases of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats is "merely extended rental and not a sale". "I find this argument...