Is it a good time to go bargain hunting?

I'm glad to have an opportunity to work with Straits Time and have a weekly Saturday Column.

With the current cooling measures such as Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR), Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR), the property market has been slow for the last two years. 

Investors and property buyers are bidding their time, hoping and waiting for an easing of the property cooling measures. But there are savvy investors are taking the opportunity to look for bargains given the slow market. So the big question is: How do you find bargain buys?

When a property is prefect, prefect location, fantastic amenities and facilities, the price won’t be prefect. And if the properties is price lower than expected, check thoroughly before you snap it up.

To start off, what is the property tenure? Properties with a 99 year leasehold are usually priced lower than those which are freehold. Other factors to consider are location, accessibility, condition (for those buying existing properties) and also the surroundings. If the unit is affected by noise pollution or comes in shabby condition, these can push down the price. 

Turning flaws into opportunities

In today’s market, short term investment has become impossible due to Seller’s Stamp Duty(SSD). If you sell your property on the first year, you would have to pay 16%(SSD), legal fees and agent fees. this means you need to make at least 25% capital gain before it’s worth selling. 

From the investors perspective, the rental yield of the property is a major consideration. The higher the rental yield, the better. 

Going by figures from Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), properties with 99 year lease have a higher rental yield than freehold properties.

The reason is leasehold properties are usually cheaper than freehold. When tenants look for a place, the property tenure does not matter to them. Those looking to rent are more interested in the rental rate, location and condition of the unit. 

Properties auctions make a good hunting ground for investors looking for a value deal. You can pick up good quality homes at property auctions as the number of residential properties available at auctions has gone up, in part due to owners who cannot afford to keep up with the mortgage payments 

With the market being slow, you may face less competition. But there are requirements buyers have to fulfil. One is that the successful bidding has to pay a 10% of the successful bid price and cannot forfeit. Do your homework and research on properties you are bidding for. 

SRX has a feed of undervalued properties. Get your agent to keep a lookout for these properties and keep you updated. If you have a keen eye for furnishing, you can consider buying a piece of property even if it is in poor condition. Check carefully if its shabby condition is simply a matter of replacing worn out furniture, getting a fresh coat of paint or other issues which can be easily rectified at minimal cost. If problems require extensive renovation and repair work, then drop the property from your shortlist.

If you're buying a property for investments look for projects in areas being developed, especially those in vicinity of upcoming MRT stations. Keep up with the news about these projects under construction and get ready to invest when they are about 2-3 years away from completion. 

Lastly, when it comes to investing your money in a big ticket item like property, make sure to do your homework well and calculate your finances to fully leverage on your cash flow. As US investment guru Peter Lynch says ‘Know what you own and why you own it”

By Alicia Koo 

Burning questions?  Ask me at http://overseascondo.sg/ask-alicia-koo/

The Peak Cambodia

Yes! It's here! The Latest project by Oxley, The Peak together with Shangri La.

It stands tall at a majestic 55 stories high. Clad in bronze it looks so timeless and majestic. Really love the design. As it's integrated with the Shangri-la hotel, it makes The Peak more prestigious. The peak cambodia is very likely to be the next sell out project in Phnom Penh just like The Bridge. I'll be visiting the site this Friday so stay tune for more updates! 

More information can be found here.  

High Park Residences - A new lifestyle

Get ready for an innovative lifestyle at this ground-breaking development which sets the direction for future residential projects.

By SPH Content Studio
June 29, 2015

Home. A place where you feel safe, secure and totally at ease. Where you can relax and be yourself, cook a meal, raise a family, enjoy the company of those you love and forge memories for the future.

And now, you can add varied experiences to the mix as well.

That’s because a new way of living is being pioneered at High Park Residences, a 1,399-unit residential development that goes beyond the usual trappings of an upscale residence. It has the requisite bells and whistles – 118 facilities, to be exact – on top of a high built quality and sophisticated design, but that, as they say, is not all.

Located between Lorong Tanggam, Sengkang West Way and Fernvale Road, this inventive new development is in young but vibrant Sengkang. Surrounded by the area’s comprehensive amenities, solid infrastructure and excellent transport facilities, High Park Residences sits on a spacious 366,167 sq ft of gently tiered land, such that the elevation of the ground floor unit is already some 8 to 14 metres above street level.

It will be made up of 6 towers comprising 1,376 apartment units ranging from studios to 5-bedroom apartments, 10 strata semi-detached, 4 strata bungalows and 9 food and beverage-ready commercial units. The residential towers are generously spaced apart and carefully oriented to offer refreshing views of the lush internal landscape as well as unblocked external views towards the Straits of Johor to the north.

Exclusive High Park Club Access

Everyone has interests they’d love to pursue but never find time to. At High Park Residences, this could very well be a thing of the past. Its High Park Club – a unique club exclusively for residents – offers lifestyle classes free of charge. Through tie-ups with relevant industry professionals, a whole world of experiences opens up. For instance, Wolfgang Violin Studio – whose director is Singapore’s award winning international violinist, Min Lee – will conduct violin lessons for children.

Want to get fit? Try the fitness classes such as aerobics, yoga, kick-boxing and Pilates conducted by leading fitness chain Amore Fitness. How about whipping up a meal for friends and family? Sign up for cooking lessons and pick from baking classes for all age groups or different cuisines.

Alternatively, learn to play tennis or join a swimming or aqua aerobics workout class – all in the safe and convenient confines of High Park Residences.

Space to be creative, to be yourself

At High Park Residences, the individual’s innate creativity is recognised, encouraged and celebrated. For instance, musicians will love the jamming room in the development, where they can unleash their musical talents – and live out their rock star dreams – without fear of disturbing the neighbours.

How about a bit of adventure? Adrenaline-driven folks will be able to try its Flying Fox facility and indulge in their adventurous side, zipping through the air.

Seeking more action? Go for High Park Residences’ pool table, futsal and even boxing ring.

Meanwhile, every other residential development has a pool but only at High Park Residences are such facilities truly exciting. Not only are the multiple pools spread across the development well-harmonised with the landscaping, they also include the longest cascading water body that falls 6 metres down from the top tier 50-metre lap pool to the lagoon pool, as well as a thrilling, 3-metre high swirl and splash water slide – a first for a residential development.

However, if all you want is to sit back and watch a good movie or catch a nail-biting football match on the big screen, then head to one of three indoor movie theatrettes, or the larger outdoor theatrette.

Worry-free F&B and many more

If you don’t feel like cooking but are not in the mood to venture outside of home, then eat “out” at the F&B outlets within the development. Expect a variety of cuisines and a relaxed atmosphere at these dining outlets, which are a welcome relief to hungry stomachs after a long day at work.

Further, parents will find the convenience of having a childcare centre right where they live simply priceless. No more frantic rushing to drop off or pick up your child before or after work, and peace-of-mind knowing that the little one is in safe hands at the childcare centre, which, together with the commercial units, comes with parking lots for the public.

Indeed, there is so much more to life and High Park Residences is leading the way in showing the possibilities.

This, is the future of residential living.

5 Reasons to invest in London

With so many cooling measures and money parked in your bank, you're looking for an investment opportunity. Investing in stocks and bonds seems dangerous. The most stable investment would probably be property. Singapore's getting unaffordable. So the big question is, which country do you park your money in? Watch the video to find out why invest in London?

More information about royal wharf  visit the link.