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For additional housing grant, the household income must not exceed 5K. This page shows different grant amounts for different income ranges. http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10201p.nsf/WP...nt?OpenDocument Hope it helps. P/s: So envious. I can't get any single grant leh.

Yeah good deal! Which floor is it? When did u bought it?

Hehee then you should be able to get the 40K grant.

People around me: 10 COV for 4 room @ Jurong East, June 09, 5th/6th floor People around me: 20 COV for 5 room @ Woodlands, Aug 09, 5th/6th floor People around me: 28 COV for 4 room @ Bukit Panjang, Aug 09, > 8th floor Me: 15K COV for 4 room @ Sembawang, Oct 09, 2nd floor People around me: 35 COV for 4 room @ Sengkang, Dec 09, > 8th floor People around me: 37 COV for 5 room @ Sengkang, Dec 09, > 8th floor People around me: 40K COV for 4 room @ Sembawang, Dec 09, > 8th floor Personally, I feel that my friend who bought the Jurong East unit got the best deal. His unit is just opposite Chinese Garden MRT station!

Does the household 's combined income exceeding 8K?

Your unit is near CBD. The unit's location & the past transaction prices of nearby blocks determine its valuation price much more than its condition. From your viewings, I'm sure the units that have move-in conditions are asking for COVs lor. If you want to save on COV + do an overhaul renov, this unit is a good buy.

All the seller agents told me the same thing as your agent when I called them up. In the end, I decide to engage an agent to represent me. I realise that there's no way to siam the 1% commission unless the seller is selling his unit directly without an agent or we find an agent friend who is willing to represent us for free lol. Similar to your wife's thinking, I think my agent friends need to eat too. I'm quite happy that the govt is thinking of implementing the rule whereby an agent can only represent either seller or buyer, and not both. If represent both parties, there will be conflict of interests. My agent told me to pass her the commission at the 2nd appt. You can be firm and inform your agent that he will be getting the commission at the 2nd appt. I always believe that it's safest to pay in full only after everything is settled nice nice. Well your seller is perhaps paying 1% commission instead of typical 2% for selling because he is also buying his new unit from the same agent (another 1%) ?? Some agents do give discount in this kind of situation. Hehe I don't know how much my seller is paying his agent and don't bother to find out . That's between him and his agent, I respect that. Congrats to your new home in 5 weeks time!! I still need to wait 4 months.

I ever checked with the HDB on this. HDB will not give further extension to the seller. The only case where the deal can fall through is when the seller suddenly becomes a bankrupt. But the seller and buyer can reach a contractual agreement by themselves, e.g. seller pays rent to the buyer in order to stay longer in the house.

For my estate, I see the valuation prices are maintaining but the requested COVs go up by ~20K. A few are asking >40K COV. If many buyers are paying COVs this quarter, the valuation prices for next quarter will jump liao.

Your seller die die must complete 2nd appointment within 8 weeks from 1st appointment. It's HDB regulation.

Usually the unit selection is 2-3months after the results release.

It depends on individual preference. Yeah, I will also rather use the 600K buy a small 2nd-hand condo at suburb instead. If we already have a car, it isn't a big issue to travel to cbd area from suburb.

If one gets 90% loan, 5% is paid with cash and the rest (5%) is paid with cpf. Other banks also claimed to offer 90% loan but it actually depends on case by case assessment. They will look at your income, credit rating etc.. The cash component (5% downpayment + COV + agent commission + renovation cost) is the real headache part.

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BTO projects complete within 4 years. If you are buying resales unit early next year and get a good queue number for Dawson BTO, then you have to take up bank loan and forsake 30K HDB grant for resales. Bank loan means you have to fork out cash for 5% of valuation + COV in cash. Bank is only willing to loan up to 80% of the valuation. The 5% cash downpayment is the reason why most of us will prefer a HDB loan to a bank loan. Eg. Unit is bought at valuation 300K & COV 20K. If u take bank loan, you need to pay 35K in cash (15K + 20K).

14K cov is a good deal. Is it low floor? I realise high floor units ask for sky high COVs.

I was a buyer sourcing for units mths ago. All the seller agents expected me to pay them the 1% commission if I wanted the deal to go through.

Berry, It's better that u call up HDB to check on it. Btw will u be counted as first-timer? 95% of the BTO units are reserved for 1st-timers.

LOL... it reminds me of ERP!

I'll give u guys a call. Thanks.

Guess your house is very well-renovated or near mrt station? I agree that many foreigners are cash-rich. I met some when I was viewing units.

You can refuse to pay the 1% to agent. You will have to do the paperworks all by yourself. But are you familiar with the paperworks?

News today HDB flat value will rise as long as economy grows: MM Lee http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20091213/tap-...my-231650b.html Is Govt trying to tell us that the flat prices will continue to go up for the next few years? Govt already forecast that Spore economy would grow 3-5% next year. More & more couples will likely postpone marriage and kid plans haiz...

I have browsed around neighbourhood shops at Toa Payoh Central, as well as John Little, Robinson, OG, Taka, Metro ... I will recommend John Little and Metro for ready made curtains if you intend to just buy at cheap cheap prices and put up on your own like me. I saw the same range of ready made curtains at Taka and John Little but John Little was selling them about $10 cheaper. Both Taka and John Little were not having sales at that time. There're 20% discounts at John Little & Metro today. 20% Off Storewide at Metro - One Day Only Saturday, 5th Dec 2009 -------- LinkPoints Members Exclusives at John Little Now until Sunday, 6th Dec 2009 LinkPoints Members enjoy additional 20% off storewide + 2X LinkPoints.

The 2nd appt completion will be 5 months (May) from now if u pick the earliest first appt (Mar). Think 5 months should be enough for yr renov.