Ideasmiths

Actually its the SAME money. Our grandparents last time got chance to buy serangoon house, lets say at $1000 to $5000. That time that money is huge. 30 years later, that same money with inflation is our current rate (houses inflate lets say at historically 3% per year). Out next generation their starting pay is $5000, but it's the same amount equivalent to $3000 now. But what we need to watch out for is don't have the thinking that we can sell to someone and 'retire' on that money. By that time most of us are 60s and who is going to come out with $ to pay the COV and downpayment? Also no more loans >60 so who has the $$$ to pay one time. Young people will be okay, because they still can take 30 years loans. Actually we are very lucky. Shengsong is on the left, Shop N save infront, NTUC 2 blocks away, KFC, swimming pool, statdium, community club, MRT, interchange etc. POSB, stanchart, maybank, There is also some shophouses soon, wonder who and what they will sell there

First new home after balloting/walking for 12 + years (north south east west /except sengkang/punggol/jurong never tried). I just very kia su and read up

?? At the HDB counter 3rd floor got the SP Services outlet, activated mine on the spot (1 day). He says service personnel will go see meter tomorrow, before that all HDB charges, after that, it's mine (meter reading)....

Wait...you haven't ROM where got wife? Or she first time chop your salary already? I join the NTUC membership for $8 a month and got the OCBC/NTUC platinium card that comes with a bank account, using this card, can apply to pay the monthly bills on the card which collects linkpoint. Hence when it is time to pay the bill, any other bank account will do. Most people have join account so that if one person goes, the monies can be access by the spouse. So I figured using credit card is more convenient this way as there is a record of the expenses. I also did away with the telephone bill as most people use handphone. You also got TV license, property tax, singapore gas, newspaper, SCV, mio, internet etc

Actually depends on your intention? After going through the ID packages, I kind of regrad certain things. For example, in the begining I think most people want to put $x dollars and have a dream home of our own. You want this and that and so on. However, practicality sinks in along the way and I would have preferred a minimal ID and then do more custom work. If you want good ID as in terms of design, layout, space planning, color matching etc I encountered one good one. If you want 'trustworthy' ID in terms of ISO standard, workmanship, no fuzz etc, my current ID (can come see my place when half done, started yesterday) So what is your expectations? Or got no ideas at all what you want? (Like what we gone through B-)

Er...they are correct....customer service them. If they wanted to service customer, it should be "We pride ourselves in servicing our customers".. So correct company moto

Ya, I was wondering that too, shall big orange create part 2 so new comers not so siong or shall we continue to create history of the longest thread B-) Sos, Welcome to the 35th page.....

What! I got a $1K deposit with them, don't tell me they skip town. call their showroom tel 6285 7805, they should be at 11 Jalan Mesin #05-00 Standard Industrial Building S(368813). If not, man, I will get my visa company to chase back the monies.

Your standard flat should have HDB tiles for the floor and walls at the kitchen, bomb shelter, service yard and both bathrooms. And you are NOT to do any reno work on these tiles for 3 years because HDB will make you sign a document during key collection. This is to save the earth by not wasting material. Doors are all provided too, these you can discard if you don't like them. As for loans, during key collection you sign the lease which will deduct one month of loan repayment upfront because the paperwork will take a while to process (ie you collect keys the flat not yet yours)...about 14 days to 1 month later, the lease contract is issued when CPF is happy that you can pay HDB so they give money to HDB and HDB issue your house contract. Thats when you get back your option money too. At that time, your monthly loan repayment should start (ie slightly later than keys date). One of the reason for this is that to qualify for the CPF loan, your HPS must be approve to cover the loan in case you die, so processing of this insurance by CPF takes awhile when you submit the application during key dates Did you give ALL your CPF monies to HDB or did you give minimum 10% + all necessary cost like stamp fees, HPS etc only?

Oops... Moderator is sharp Change topic.... My ID actually suggested instead of using 600x600 tiles, can do cement flooring and get artist to paint it.

Thanks for the invite Norman, After looking at the trunking option, my wife and me decides not to install any air-con. If really cannot tahan, maybe just one system at the MBR and get everyone to sleep there B-) BTW, Norman mentioned the coupons from NEA, I got one piece if anyone wants to get Daikin from gainGity. Its up to $400 off for Toshiba Inverter sys 3 or 4, and other coupon say FREE DVD Recorder worth S$599 if buy a LG Inverter sys 3 or 4. Both coupons end 10 Sep 2008. If anyone buying from there and want the coupon, let me know. Probably can drop off into your mailbox when I am around there. TIME CAPSULE!!! Anyone meeting the MP today? I got a great idea! Why not we do a time capsule? All new residents can place one item of interest, lets say we find a wall and ask HDB to create a hole for us. 20 years or maybe 50 years later it will be fun to see what is inside. What you guys think? PS: No skeletons please..........

Just out of curosity, How many people think of buying a portable fire extinguisher and first aid kit? Do you think it will be useful?

Wah.... All I wanted to ask is.........Is that the door you wanted to sell away?

Thanks for the info B-) Regreted I paid $1680 to my ID to do the closet...sigh... Anyway, links are okay, as follow, just that somehow your html end tags misplaced. Closetdesign closetrobe SengKwong

Got a call from HDB regarding the 'hinge' issue at main gate. They inform me that the design is such that when it is closed, cannot chisel off and remove the gate. Hence there is not a need to weld the hinge. So they suggest not to trust the contractor that is trying to earn some $.

Wah you didn't read the letter of offer three times over word for word like I did? How you know you not signing to be enlisted and send off to Zambawee as a slave from Singapore? Okie, this is on page 2 of the "Notice to sign the agreement for lease and take possession" letters, take note of the "and". So see paragraph 6....you can sign the above agreeement for lease (ie you lease the HDB flat for 99 years from HDB), HDB can ask you to collect keys later based on the term of 'agreement for lease'. this piece of 'specimen' is in your package 1 during your first appointment. Mine is updated on the spot on appointment 2, see below so I signed on the 4th of July and (see paragraph 4 (1) HDB board shall deliver on or before 4 of January 2009....that means 6 MONTHS of time. This is to their advantage. For you, when they send you a notice to come collect keys, as in 4 (2), you got 1 month interval unless you write back to extend....then extend....then extend. However, if I don't take possesion by then, the other penalties below paragraph 4 is taken... So i would suggest that you send an email to HDB, citing your HDB case number and ask for clarification. They now very good, will call you or email you within a short period of time. you know that we forumers can only provide small help, but the decision makers is still the guy in HDB, so best to ask him for correct information. Hope that helps.

You can go for the 2nd appointment and complete the sale. And move the collection of keys appointment to later. That will solve the HLE problem at least. If your ROM is 'soon'. Write to HDB to ask for case by case extension, giving good black and white that you are going to ROM, just that it is out of this window. HDB should have the flexibility to give you the keys. If not, well, who the heck is the East Coast GRC MPs????

No choice, nothing is safe now. But we are talking in the context of HDB loan interest vs his intention in the first place. For medium term purpose (lets say 10 to 15 years), a good bond fund will may (most likely) beat 2.6% anytime. If in the context for like his retirement fund, then of course other choices better. But since he already now stuck with his investment, a switch to good grade asset class may be better. Worst come to worst, cash out, leave everything in CPF (3.5% and 2.5%) is still better (in my strongest humble opinioin) than capital repayment of his HDB loan. IF he is using a bank loan then thats another story.

Short answer NO! First about accured interest. This date back to the first intention of CPF which is for retirement purposes, so if people didn't buy any HDB/private, the CPF would accumulate at 2.5% interest (minimum). In 1994 - 1997, some people became smart and they 'withdraw' their CPF early by buying/selling/buying/selling properties. For example, A buys $50,000, sell to B at $70,000 ($20,000 CASH is taken out!!! Because A only needs to pay back $50K to CPF that time), B then sells to C at $100,000 (and he pocket $30,000!) and so on and so on.... So to stop this 'speculation' and 'early' artificial withdrawal of CPF monies, when you sell your HDB (irregardless if you buy anything else), you need to put back with interest of CPF+0.1% token (ie 2.6%). Its not a penalty, it's your money at CPF growing at the interest rate it supposed to enjoy (for your retirement). Now about repaying your mortgage loan, ask yourself this simple question a) HDB charges 2.6% interest, CPF gives 3.5% for first $20K, do you win here? Then remaining lets say at 2.5%, comparing lets say $100,000 (2.6% vs 2.5%), your 'insurance' cost is 0.1% or $100 per year. What this means is that the HDB interest is paid for by CPF! And you top up with $100 to enjoy leaving the money out of HDB. b) Because you leave the monies out of HDB, ask your wife, if either of you dies. Would you like to have flat + cash (lets say $100,000) or you want to have flat only (paid up, now no more CPF)? c) If you don't cash out your investment, have you considered swtiching the investment assets to 'safer' stuff like bonds? Anything above 2.6% return pa you can enjoy benefit of b)........DISCLAIMER: not an investment advice, just a concept sharing. I have found that many people have no 'concepts' of financial matters. Many Singaporean are smart, because we all did 20+years of studies. But being smart in one area of knowledge is not equal to smart in another. So sometime we are advised by semi-smart people around us. For example, my mum also adopt the 'pay' less interest thinking when we are buying our Bedok Flat now.....but I know for sure that my 3.5% CPF interest beats HDB interest anytime of the day. so I max out my 90% loan for 30 years. My commitment is lowest, my investment can fund my monthly repayment all the way even if I stop work for 20 years. Compared to one of my neighbour who took another advice of minimum loan of 10 years so that they can 'saved' on interest, this couple commitment is 5x of mine and they didn't have a buffer. You better hope neither of them get retrenched or they don't hit any of the CPF withdrawl limits soon. For those who are keen, read a book called "The richest man in babylon", its a great ancient book of wisdom on money. Just concepts that worked through ages (not one of those hype like Rich dad poor dad).

Hong Tai so ex? Fujistu is $2.3K with some vouchers etc etc. Found at Block 511 neighbourhood stall. Read some reports in this forum that Fujitsu having sale so most shops also $2.3K .....using 410a gas., system 3, inverter I was thinking HARD about installing air-con too. I have never used one before in my home, fans are just fine for me. Except in 2006 the weather so hot until I curse and swear. So I was thinking of asking wife if don't install first. Because when I checked with the sales manager at Expo, the routing for our Bedok 4 room is quite nice. Involving the columns on top of the 3 bedrooms so only minimal drilling. If in living room, then need to drill back into the toilet. So I was thining heck, next time need then install...... The basis of HDB flat is family nucleus....so for most of us Singaporeans a cert is a must. If however you are super rich and powerful like that slim 10 case, then you can even transfer kidney before you ROM, just need to promise first..... I got no answer regards if cannot produce ROM cert.

Short answer is, daddy gets to sleep on the sofa. Because mummy will sleep on the queen size bed with the baby. Most parents (including me and wife) thought buy one of those cots and baby will sleep there for 3 years...wrong....after 5 months, the baby will be so active that when he wakes up, he will try to find his/her way down the bed. This is my cot 1) look at all the vertical space, turn, his hand get caught inside, turn back, crack (yeeee). Didn't happen to mine 2) After 5 months, the baby tries to climb OVER the edge and plonk...of course saleman says can lower the bed and make it a U. But man, my boy tried to climb too and his feet gets caught inside the vertical space again. cry 3) My baby when sleep turns and rotate when he dreams and when he is hot, he rolls to one corner, then to the next. Inside the cot, he will be trapped in no time. 4) So the safest way we found is to box him up. We pushed one of our queen size bed to the corner corner of the room so block with 2 walls, with the headboard making up the 3rd side wall. Put matress vertically on the 2 sides with walls, baby sleep on the safe side, adult sleep on the other exit side. When adult not there, place lots of pillows as obstacle and 2 layers of mattresses on the floor in case baby climb mount everest You will be very surprise how clever the baby is, mine knows how to wake up, slip down the bed, crawl outside to find me. At night, when he wanted to sleep, he will crawl back, struggle up the bed, cozy to one corner and sleep. PS: My baby 1st scan detected enjoying himself inside mummy ....can see his two hand prop behind his neck while he crossed his leg and whistel away? so take lots and lots of photos B-)

You are welcome ....now sign here . When your is out, lets go for

Actually I feel that it is cheaper and better to custom make. My ID Carpentry charge me $1680 for a 6 ft custom blah blah blah. The only good point I see is that it is full height (ie less dust and maintainence work in future). Sigh, my wife rushed into this. I would have preferred to spend lets say $2K to make a really good one, with the drawers, pants, secret compartment, ties rack, etc etc AND 10 years warranty. Anyone done with closetdesign and others and found lets say 6ft one around this price too?

Can, wat time which unit? I most probably will be doing my Dong Tou ceremony, after that got fruits to give out for neighbours to eat B-) Good fortune for all B-)

Dear confuse dad, Congrads B-) Here are the things that you MUST do, or you will regret a) Every ultrasonic scan of your baby, keep a copy, scan it. b) I didn't do the down syndrome scan because wife is young. The chance is 0.000 % something for the normal scan (ie measure the neck or something). KK tried to push a more advance test using blood test that detects 0.00000%. I also didn't take up. Reason 1 is slim chance, reason 2 is what if the test prove positive? Abort? c) Option decides now if you want to save cord blood. Get the package so that the cord blood may save your baby's or future sibling lives. The stem cells can treat a lot of illnesses. Look at MOH statistic children age 1 to 7 exposed more to problem. Around $700 to capture and $250+/year to keep cold. d) Change your way to SUPER SUPER supportive of your wife. You better start coming home early, treat wife well, etc etc. Because if ever post natal depression occurs, you will regret it. Give MAXIMUM feeling of security during and after. e) Don't BUY a baby cot, waste of money. Buy one of those baby 'container' for SGD$99 for infrant to 9 months (I'll post a picture if I see it). When bigger your baby sleeps on the big queen size bed. Lots of danger with baby cot so save the $300+ This 'container' can be FOC, give strong hints to your colleagues because most buy useless baby hampers. Take cash or this 'container' as gift, they will feel good because it's more practical and feels more 'solid' than giving cash vouchers. My son in his baby 'container'....feels very safe for him B-), let us sleep so peacefully. http://picasaweb.google.com/ideasmiths/ZiX...821052855544802 f) Start reading up on producing milk, both you and wife. Get the best pump and learn to PERSIST to produce milk. The investment saves you at least $3,000 dollars alone. In my case, wife didn't persisted ended up I have to fork out $42 per month for milk x 12 months x 10 years. And milk powder is increasing in price!. Producing milk also give mother +30% prevention to post natal depression (ie if she feels she can feed baby, she is not a failure!) g) Get a package. Spend $3K at KK hospital and you get the suite. This saves you tons of money later on in terms of waiting time, comfort etc. Imagine having to wait and wait and wait while doing your checkup. h) You want to know if boy/girl? Start getting all the mum and in-laws together and ask WHO is the final authourity in naming the baby. Optional 1) Buy a good baby stroller. You would want one that you can push bi-directonal, ie baby facing you, facing away. It's very very fun to have the baby facing you type. Note: Good ones most of the time is out of stock!, So you got to buy early. Borrow a used one from your friends/colleagues, buy a water melon and put inside, push it around for a few days, carry it up buses/mrt, push it around the neighbourhood, stairs, slopes etc and you will know what to buy. 2) Get a good milk bottles. Dr Brown is good. Look out for sale and borrow a membership card from others so you can buy cheap. Corlic is VERY VERY painful to watch when your tiny weeny baby cries and cries and vomit out milk. You save cheapo on the initial feeding using cheap bottles, you may regret (IF) your baby has corlic. 3) Start changing some furnitures that is baby accident causes. Sharp rectangluar coffee tables, drawers that slam shut etc. Once baby is there, you may not have time to replace the furniture (and the stuff on/inside it). so try to get those done now. Borrow a baby walker and push it around the house, if it bumps into anything, see if it will cause damage to your virtual baby's head/feet/body.