Can't seem to find a suitable condo, suggestions?

[novel]

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[Begbie]

ya ya...I did not expect any fairness lah...but this jitkiat was mentioning abt fairness you see so trying to tell him there are alot of unfair cases around.

hehe.. thats funny...didn't realise there was a moving target and u've set your homing device on it....

[apple3]

thats the beauty of a Freehold ... the value stays pretty well ... till the reach 21 ..

in general , but true to leasehold

I was still thinking where is Mr Proud and if he is reading HP65 comments. (Which is fairly good)

And Pooh!!! Here come Mr Standby-FH Guru!

Hey Pal, hows your day?

[loopy]

I don't think any Calrose units have 4 bedrooms, it's all 3 or below from what I saw in the floorplans.

http://www.singaporeexpats.com/housi...HE-CALROSE.htm

I am not sure if the above link will be clickable or not. If you go to
website of singaporeexpats.com, and search for CalRose, you will be able
to find it.
Then you just click "Floor plan" icon, and check those large ones

Type PC1/PC2/PC2

2756 sq ft -2900 sqft 4 bedroom.

[new2mondrian]

For people who really need a roof, I suggest renting instead. There are so many to choose from in prime districts. For investors, no need to rush in too. Especially with the recent sudden increase in asking prices of sellers. Prices just hasnt dropped low enough and if buying it just for capital appreciation in the mid-term and keeping it empty, blue chip shares would be a better bet, with dividends to boot.

And the costs of construction will not be increasing much. Have you forgotten that we are now in the middle of a recession? The massive spike in prices pre-lehman days were due to speculators driving up prices + Beijing Olympics but those days are over dude. Everyone now is trying to avoid deflation. Yeah, prices may not be as low, but I wouldnt expect it to shoot through the roof either. So, pls do not buy into developers smokescreen that costs of construction are going up. I say, then maybe you have to reduce others admin costs if developers still want to mantain margins.

Absolutely right. That's why we have been renting for more than a year now, though all our friends thought us "nuts" to be paying so much in rental ($2k plus) for a brand new 3-bedder unit. But if one think hard about this, there are so many blue-chips/infrastructural trusts (eg CitySprings) out there right now that give a dividend yield of 12-15% per annum. At such rate of returns, I really cannot see any compelling case for sinking $1M into a property, when the opportunity cost for that $1M is $120k-$150k in dividend income (post-tax, plus no property related charges like stamp duty/maintenance/property tax) on a yearly basis. When one talks about capital appreciation in a property, it is no different from capital appreciation in blue-chips and commodities portfolio. If property market appreciates 30%, the stock market would probably have appreciated by the same amount too.

[new2mondrian]

Thanks for the info, really appreciate it I did manage to take a look at that penthouse you are talking about, but I feel for my needs it's still a bit cramped. At this point I am thinking I may just buy a condo for my mom to stay in and buy HDB for myself and fiancee that is close to my mom's condo...

Actually u can look at all the HDB Maisonettes along Towner Road. Not too far from Boon Keng, definitely within 15mins drive from Novena, and 4 bedrooms (1 study on the 1st floor, 3 bedrooms upstairs). It's just that it might be below 1800sqft. But no wasted spaces like bay windows and planter boxes. So the livable space may work out to be the same, and definitely half of your $1.2M budget. =)

From a rental yield perspective, HDB still provides the highest yield. So if u stay in one for 5 years, after which u can still rent it out comfortably should u wish to move into private.

[HungryPillow]

Actually u can look at all the HDB Maisonettes along Towner Road. Not too far from Boon Keng, definitely within 15mins drive from Novena, and 4 bedrooms (1 study on the 1st floor, 3 bedrooms upstairs). It's just that it might be below 1800sqft. But no wasted spaces like bay windows and planter boxes. So the livable space may work out to be the same, and definitely half of your $1.2M budget. =)

From a rental yield perspective, HDB still provides the highest yield. So if u stay in one for 5 years, after which u can still rent it out comfortably should u wish to move into private.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will definitely check it out.

I think the plan now is to look for a 3-bedder private condo and a HDB estate within stones throw away. My colleagues suggested to check out the Bishan area (I think Shun Fu or Shun Foo or something like that?) They suggested Marymount View, Boonview, and Sin Ming Plaza. Hopefully the pricing will fit my budget. I was thinking about 700-800k for my mom and 300-400k for myself and fiancee. I do like the Bishan area, but doesn't seem to be many freehold apartments there...

If I can find the units it may end up working out better this way since I won't have to be sandwiched between a grumpy mom and a grumpy wife 24/7

[proud owner]

I was still thinking where is Mr Proud and if he is reading HP65 comments. (Which is fairly good)

And Pooh!!! Here come Mr Standby-FH Guru!

Hey Pal, hows your day?

solli ah, my england not so powderful

someone said he could buy leasehold and keep it for his 2 sons when they turn 21 ..

i just thot after 21 yrs ..what will its value be ? so as good as a 21 yr old FH ??

[jitkiat]

solli ah, my england not so powderful

someone said he could buy leasehold and keep it for his 2 sons when they turn 21 ..

i just thot after 21 yrs ..what will its value be ? so as good as a 21 yr old FH ??

May be you should change your nickname to "FH_proudowner" instead

[proud owner]

May be you should change your nickname to "FH_proudowner" instead

hahah thanks for the suggestion ...

but if i plan to leave property to my children .. i wont buy LH lor .. put money on LH for 15-20 yrs ..god knows what the value will be like by then .. meanwhile i could have used the money on other products that can generate better income ..

i know alot of people will dispute my idea .. just a personal preference .. NO LEASEHOLD for me ... in fact i prefer FH landed ..esp for singapore ..

[cheerful]

hahah thanks for the suggestion ...

but if i plan to leave property to my children .. i wont buy LH lor .. put money on LH for 15-20 yrs ..god knows what the value will be like by then .. meanwhile i could have used the money on other products that can generate better income ..

i know alot of people will dispute my idea .. just a personal preference .. NO LEASEHOLD for me ... in fact i prefer FH landed ..esp for singapore ..

No lah ... for one I support u coz I'll also try to avoid LH. Hence, u got at least one supporter lah ....

Somehow (call me traditional or old-fashioned), I feel that FH makes more sense because if I like the place & stay there for a couple of decades, then later someone sees my place oso like it then wanna buy from me, I guess FH will mean it's easier for tt fella to get a loan from bank rite?

[proud owner]

No lah ... for one I support u coz I'll also try to avoid LH. Hence, u got at least one supporter lah ....

Somehow (call me traditional or old-fashioned), I feel that FH makes more sense because if I like the place & stay there for a couple of decades, then later someone sees my place oso like it then wanna buy from me, I guess FH will mean it's easier for tt fella to get a loan from bank rite?

yes ...

also if one day we become multimillionaires ..and want to donate some land ... to build another ..say "Proud Owner Junior College" ... at least its a FH land right ??

imagine Hwa Chong Jnr College was on a 99yr lease land ? once its lease expires and had to move ..walau Bkt timah no more prime lah ..

[HP65]

solli ah, my england not so powderful

someone said he could buy leasehold and keep it for his 2 sons when they turn 21 ..

i just thot after 21 yrs ..what will its value be ? so as good as a 21 yr old FH ??

I'm also a supporter of FH/999LH properties. Only 99LH I would consider are D1, Sentosa, Keppel Bay area properties.

[proud owner]

I'm also a supporter of FH/999LH properties. Only 99LH I would consider are D1, Sentosa, Keppel Bay area properties.

thank you so now we have 3 FH/999yr supporters ...

by the way ... some rumors going around about the Lim family pertaining to Genting Intl ...

you think that will affect Reflections ??

[miya]

What happens to LH 99 projects that are near their 99 year mark?

Do we lose the apartment entirely?

[HP65]

thank you so now we have 3 FH/999yr supporters ...

by the way ... some rumors going around about the Lim family pertaining to Genting Intl ...

you think that will affect Reflections ??

You're welcome. No idea how it will affect Reflections. The only thing i know that is affected by the Lim family selling their stakes is to cause GTGS to plunge 20% overnight. At the same time, I'm not sure if its related, but my investment in KPLD shares yielded a nice capital profit, excluding the rights given.

There are some stocks I do not buy: Casino, Tobacco and medical related. Don't feel good if I made money from the rise of such counters.

[jitkiat]

You're welcome. No idea how it will affect Reflections. The only thing i know that is affected by the Lim family selling their stakes is to cause GTGS to plunge 20% overnight. At the same time, I'm not sure if its related, but my investment in KPLD shares yielded a nice capital profit, excluding the rights given.

There are some stocks I do not buy: Casino, Tobacco and medical related. Don't feel good if I made money from the rise of such counters.

I salute you. You must be quite a religious person. Just a small correction to GTGS bull run in the last few months ... from 30+ cents to 90+ cents ... and correct back to 70cent

[HP65]

I salute you. You must be quite a religious person. Just a small correction to GTGS bull run in the last few months ... from 30+ cents to 90+ cents ... and correct back to 70cent

No need to salute, just dun believe in vices or wish for any medical crisis to happen.

Actually my point was really about there are other investments out there besides properties that can yield quite good returns. Incidentally, I also bought Cityspring 2 months back due to its attractive dividend yield (13.5% yield). Not expecting any capital appreciation but these 2 days it has already given me a capital gain of 26%. I'm now getting curious if somebody is driving up the px in preparation for rights/ warrants issue.

I'm just glad I loaded myself with properties counters like AG, CAPL & CIT after I missed out on the banking bull run recently. Time to lock-in some of the gains, suspect correction coming.

Anyway, better not OT, too much equities talk.

[jitkiat]

No need to salute, just dun believe in vices or wish for any medical crisis to happen.

Actually my point was really about there are other investments out there besides properties that can yield quite good returns. Incidentally, I also bought Cityspring 2 months back due to its attractive dividend yield (13.5% yield). Not expecting any capital appreciation but these 2 days it has already given me a capital gain of 26%. I'm now getting curious if somebody is driving up the px in preparation for rights/ warrants issue.

I'm just glad I loaded myself with properties counters like AG, CAPL & CIT after I missed out on the banking bull run recently. Time to lock-in some of the gains, suspect correction coming.

Anyway, better not OT, too much equities talk.

I agree. As a professional investor, diversification into different asset classes is important. However, stock market, although has lower transaction cost and higher liquidity, is not for the faint-hearted. It requires much more risk management and discipline on loss cutting. Buying the wrong property at the wrong time, you can still hold & stay, buying the wrong stock like China Aviation Oil, you can lose 90% overnight

[apple3]

solli ah, my england not so powderful

someone said he could buy leasehold and keep it for his 2 sons when they turn 21 ..

i just thot after 21 yrs ..what will its value be ? so as good as a 21 yr old FH ??

Check SLA LH vs FH depreciation chart..

hahahha

[apple3]

I agree. As a professional investor, diversification into different asset classes is important. However, stock market, although has lower transaction cost and higher liquidity, is not for the faint-hearted. It requires much more risk management and discipline on loss cutting. Buying the wrong property at the wrong time, you can still hold & stay, buying the wrong stock like China Aviation Oil, you can lose 90% overnight

Totally agree on this. And to supplement, on both side, buying the right stock like Ford, you can win 90% overnight.

[crease12345]

I agree. As a professional investor, diversification into different asset classes is important. However, stock market, although has lower transaction cost and higher liquidity, is not for the faint-hearted. It requires much more risk management and discipline on loss cutting. Buying the wrong property at the wrong time, you can still hold & stay, buying the wrong stock like China Aviation Oil, you can lose 90% overnight

As a professional investor myself, what you say is misleading. Losing 90% overnight on a stock is, although possible, unlikely. The current financial and credit crisis is really unprecedented.

Also, if your portfolio is truly diversified, individual stock risks should not bother you much.

[new2mondrian]

As a professional investor myself, what you say is misleading. Losing 90% overnight on a stock is, although possible, unlikely. The current financial and credit crisis is really unprecedented.

Also, if your portfolio is truly diversified, individual stock risks should not bother you much.

And to add, if blue chips like UOB, DBS, SPH, Singtel, SGX lose 90% overnight, probably the property market won't be spared by the same amt either.

[new2mondrian]

Actually this forum is a wonderful source of information, opinion and advice. And I just needed some right now. The thing is, my father-in-law is getting on years and it is definitely preferable that he stays near us. Hence he's been thinking about getting a cheap HDB unit near our place, or a studio unit such that we are staying near, but not under the same roof (he values his and our privacy very much himself and does not believe in staying under the same roof).

Given the Woodleigh Close launch won't come cheap, or at least the indicative pricing of their studios do not come cheap, it might just be a better option that we move down to Holland Drive area to stay. Does it make sense to pay $550-$700K for a 4/5 room HDB flat around Holland area, and rent out our existing unit at Parc Mondrian for some side income; or should we simply sell our unit at Parc Mondrian and buy a $1.2M 3-bedder unit around Holland area?

Which is a better option? Any advice/opinion is welcome.