Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
March 23, 2008
PROPERTY
Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Prices aren't tumbling but it's a good time to get a unit at a reasonable price, say experts
By Joyce Teo, Property Correspondent
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIM...YJTBARGAIN.jpg
UNUSUAL PRODUCTS SUCH AS THE FREEHOLD 39-UNIT AMBROSIA IN TELOK KURAU, which offers units with swimming pools - not common in small projects - have attracted fairly strong interest. About 30 per cent of the five-storey development has been sold at an average price of $950 per sq ft. -- PHOTO: KNIGHT FRANK
IT IS no secret that the residential property market is in a lacklustre mood.
With many buyers and sellers having scurried to the sidelines as the United States sub-prime woes brought about an uncertain stock market, new home sales slipped to a nine-month low last month.
For those looking to buy a home, the question is whether to buy now or later.
As fire sales have yet to hit the market and prices largely appear to be holding steady, it may not yet be a time when bargains abound everywhere.
But property experts say this may be the best time to bargain for a reasonable deal if you have something in mind.
It is a time when sellers - be it developers selling their new developments or individuals selling their properties in the resale market - are more flexible and buyers have more bargaining power, they say.
Generally, developers are still loath to lower their prices. So a good bet now is likely to be the resale market, where sellers can be more flexible, depending on their reasons for wishing to sell their property.
Completed properties also have the advantage of generating an immediate rental yield, or allowing buyers to move in any time they like, consultants say.
'Right now, bargain-hunting may take place in the secondary market,' says Mr Donald Han, Cushman & Wakefield's managing director.
Some sellers may be looking to get out of the property market because they either cannot or do not wish to hold on to the asset on hand, he adds.
There are certainly desperate sellers out there, but it is not as though they are all ready to sell at a major discount or take a significant loss, says a property investor who declined to be named.
Last month, only 185 new homes were sold, down from 328 in January.
If the current standstill in the market continues, some small developers may start to lower their prices, say property consultants.
And if this happens, it will affect the entire market.
Home prices could fall, but by then, other buyers may beat potential buyers to the properties that they like.
This is why some property consultants say it is really an individual's reading of the market on when to buy.
This is particularly so for those with a specific unit or a small project in mind, or those seeking unusual products such as suburban condominium units with pools.
The freehold 39-unit Ambrosia in Telok Kurau, for example, offers units with swimming pools, which is not common in small projects.
Its nine penthouses and two ground-floor units come with private pools and these have attracted fairly strong interest.
About 30 per cent of the five-storey development has been sold at an average price of $950 per sq ft (psf), says property consultancy Knight Frank, which is marketing the project.
'Last year, valuation was trying to keep up with transacted prices,' says Mr Han. 'Now, transacted prices are keeping up with valuations.'
Mr Eric Cheng, executive director of HSR property group, says: 'In today's market, you can find cheap buys.'
But not all units are cheap, even if the sellers are willing to offload their homes without any profit, he adds.
For instance, some sellers at the 99-year leasehold The Rochester in Buona Vista may be keen to sell at around $1,200 psf, which could be the price they bought at last year.
But the project was launched at 2007 prices, at a time when the market was booming, he said, so they are not a real bargain.
[email protected]
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
buy when not many people buying.
sell when everybody buying.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
buy when not many people buying.
sell when everybody buying.
Who don't know! mother is a woman.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Who don't know! mother is a woman.
haha, this cracked me up. God start for the week. Thx!
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Who don't know! mother is a woman.
dont be so sure. in some countries mother father can both be men or women.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
I think the biggest loser right now are those property agents, all eating grass at the moment. Becos the gap of expectation is rather huge, ie. buyers looking for lelong, sellers wanting to sell high. Thats the reason why so little deals were sealed.
Over the weekends, alot of look-see-look-see buyers going in and out of TOPs condos wasting their time, the agent's time and also the seller's time.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
I think the biggest loser right now are those property agents, all eating grass at the moment. Becos the gap of expectation is rather huge, ie. buyers looking for lelong, sellers wanting to sell high. Thats the reason why so little deals were sealed.
Over the weekends, alot of look-see-look-see buyers going in and out of TOPs condos wasting their time, the agent's time and also the seller's time.
With the contagion from US and UK subprime mess, jobs at international banks are in danger of been cut, and other sectors may be affected with any form of downturn.
Much of the ferment in the stock market are the result of share-buyback by big companies to boost their share prices.
According to a reliable source the property market is as good as dead!Hurray! Whoever and whatever can sustain a horrible 200% rise in property prices! It is just madness! Imagine a $6m to $10m apartment!
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
I think the biggest loser right now are those property agents, all eating grass at the moment. Becos the gap of expectation is rather huge, ie. buyers looking for lelong, sellers wanting to sell high. Thats the reason why so little deals were sealed.
Over the weekends, alot of look-see-look-see buyers going in and out of TOPs condos wasting their time, the agent's time and also the seller's time.
It would be interesting to see what the speculators would do when they have to cough up the money as projects get completed. They could lose all of their 50% profit if they hang on too long. What goes up comes down. Thats natures law.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
With the contagion from US and UK subprime mess, jobs at international banks are in danger of been cut, and other sectors may be affected with any form of downturn.
Much of the ferment in the stock market are the result of share-buyback by big companies to boost their share prices.
According to a reliable source the property market is as good as dead!Hurray! Whoever and whatever can sustain a horrible 200% rise in property prices! It is just madness! Imagine a $6m to $10m apartment!
Well you said it. Its dead!!!
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
I think the biggest loser right now are those property agents, all eating grass at the moment. Becos the gap of expectation is rather huge, ie. buyers looking for lelong, sellers wanting to sell high. Thats the reason why so little deals were sealed.
Over the weekends, alot of look-see-look-see buyers going in and out of TOPs condos wasting their time, the agent's time and also the seller's time.
What profession are you in?
How come over the weekend you can simultaneously be at different TOP condos to observe the buyers going in and out?
One possible profession is "property agent", which I don't think you are, since you say they are "eating grass at the moment".
The other possibility is that you are one of "look-see-look-see" buyers going from one condo to another, which I don't think you are, because you already said that's wasting everybody's time.
Hence the only possibility is that you could be somebody who delivers coffee or sour grape juice to the developer's marketing representativs stationed at the different condos, hence you go from condo to condo.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
What profession are you in?
How come over the weekend you can simultaneously be at different TOP condos to observe the buyers going in and out?
One possible profession is "property agent", which I don't think you are, since you say they are "eating grass at the moment".
The other possibility is that you are one of "look-see-look-see" buyers going from one condo to another, which I don't think you are, because you already said that's wasting everybody's time.
Hence the only possibility is that you could be somebody who delivers coffee or sour grape juice to the developer's marketing representativs stationed at the different condos, hence you go from condo to condo.
sour grape juice will get cheaper with SIBOR rate going down to 0.75%. Messrs Tan Koo Koo and Wait Long Long will serve them free at newly TOP condos.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
No problem for choice lah. Still so many units left at City View @ Boon Keng. Over 3,500 applied for 710 units but only 460 units sold after the long 20-day process. Now you can walk in and choose a unit anytime.
Lots of agents also at every condo launch. Messrs Tan Koo Koo and Wait Long Long are already at the showflats. They've been waiting a long time for the buyers to come forward.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
No problem for choice lah. Still so many units left at City View @ Boon Keng. Over 3,500 applied for 710 units but only 460 units sold after the long 20-day process. Now you can walk in and choose a unit anytime.
Lots of agents also at every condo launch. Messrs Tan Koo Koo and Wait Long Long are already at the showflats. They've been waiting a long time for the buyers to come forward.
don't worry, when STI hits 3300, buyers will sleep outside HDB HQ for few nights to grap those leftover units. Typical sporean mentality. Should let these people suffer. Purely opportunists,
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
sour grape juice will get cheaper with SIBOR rate going down to 0.75%. Messrs Tan Koo Koo and Wait Long Long will serve them free at newly TOP condos.
Correct need to serve you first.
Re: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
LOL. This forum is very funny.
The sour grapes hoping to buy a property cheaply by scaring property investors.
Reminds me of "water ghosts" 水鬼 looking for a victims to give up their "souls".
水鬼找替身.
Water Ghost: "Come ... come ... give me your souls ... everyone who is born will have to die one day ... so why don't you quickly give me your soul ..."
Sour Grape: "Come ... come ... sell away your properties cheaply so I can buy ... everything that goes up must come down again one day ... so why don't you quickly sell away your properties ..."
Then those victims who really sold away their properties cheaply, e.g. those who sold their properties during the SARs period around 2003 will then turn into a new "water ghost".
The "water ghost" will then have to look for a new victim before it can get reincarnated into a respectable Singapore citizen again.
