bepgof

Worth mention here, IRAS got this "owner concession" rebate for property tax, it is "more logically" for owner to stay at one with higher annual valuation (so can enjoy 4% property tax), the other one will lower AV will be at 10% of AV. Examples:(~119sqm) HDB AV=9000, 4%=360, 10%=900 Pte AV=15000, 4%=1500, 10%=6000 You have 2 choices: either 360 + 6000 =6,260 (stay hdb, rent out pte), or 900+1500=2,400(stay pte, rent out hdb). "Wrong" decision costs to pay difference of 6260-2400 = 3860 = $321/per month over property tax issue, don't play play. Anyway, AVs have been revised this year and increased and property tax rate calculation methos also will be changed next yr.

5Yr? (with now's price still can make it within 5yr?) I made full redemption at 6th yr in 1998, thought I'm very tokong, got ppl more tokong than me. Wait till foreign currencies' timed deposit (say 3 month) go to 5% and above then worth consideration. Aus currency too strong now (parties unstable). Aus50k, 3, 12 month = 2.97% & 3.74%, respective. NZ quite low now, can consider, but NZ50k, 3, 12 month = 1.51%, 2.24% respectively. Had put NZ50k for 3months timed deposit before at 8% interest pa. Monthly took back ~ NZ333, just enought for son's school monthly fee! I love UOB, because no transaction fees on this.

Should use as much cpf as possible to redeem hdb first lah, keep cash. Accumulate cpf again then "Go" as timing is right. Some rules of thumb: - Spend only <40% of "disposable income"(cash)on mortgage loan(s). - Use as much as cpf to "tong" the loan(s) with (cash =40% of DI). Of course some "buffer" in OA for JIC. - Best OA still can grow at pace of ~ 10%per month after each monthly instalment. So can plan for "partial redemption" when time comes. - DI amount is subjective(not take-home pay hor). I think MBT definite DI=THP. He "forgets" those milk powder, car instalment, insurance premiums, all taxes, oversea holidays, school text bk/uniform/fees/projects, electricity/water/gas, clothing, comestic/hair cut/harido, eating, parents allowance.... - Anyway, allow at least 10% cash grow per month after all these "costs and wants". Assume combined THP=$5,000. 10% cash + 10% cpf = $1,0000. $1,000 per month x 17 yrs ~ $200K! Not enough right?, then increase to 20%+20% by tighten the belt & biting the bullets lor.

Intention will be changed over time, as like & taste switch. Sofa 3 yrs sian liao, cabinets/wardrobes 3 yr color change, lighting become dimmer, wall color fading away also.....I keep my "tokong" heavy dinning table/set - follow me wherever ever I stay. One painting with many signatures behind also keep.... You should keep that "palletise shoe rack" - if I remember correctly.

Thank you & sorry har bro, this morning, stomach a bit full, cannot digest, sleep late & wake up early the mind also blur blur. Like that got $, should chiong for F/H. Be reminded the gov's land acquisition act also in place leh. My late dad's landed zince roof house kena by this act in ~ 1980.

Where got guy call himself "38"? I think she pretend pretend and put "m" in biodata field. Joe - can be M or F or some shortform leh, right?

Very unlikely I would buy even if I have the $$$: 1. Buyers are spoilt with too many good choice. 2. Privatisation needs to pay money. 3. Take some time to be enbloc, unless got insider news.

Catch no ball on this?? Can't sell nor lease, yet got inflow of $? Can put in plain ?

From posts, roughtly can read 38's mind: She likes "matured", "big & steady", near good schools, anytime can sell for good profit, not so near to ppls with "mental health" problems. Correct?

General strategies & tips: Only after understand and practise these(no limited to these) then can go further height - Good things don't come easy, need to MAKE them come. To make, need to pay(efforts, persistence, prayer, monitoring, correction.....)(intangible exchange tangible) - Things come easy, go also easy. Appreciation = retention. He who appreciate nothing, retents nothing. Appreciation = How one "treats" thing he possessed. - Good things everybody want, only those do homework have it (not necessary have "it", always (my standards) some other things in return). Need to perfect my zooming skills. Sure will PM you some "higher level" tips.

Precised and correct opinions. I read these as general info/forecast.

I PM a forumer(by the name of "loan specialist", see thread under "renovation loan, post #66) who claims to be a May bank employee over this & I'm super interested in this deal, he pm back & "promised" to send me details when he is back to office. More than 10 days already over, not even a single word heard from him.

1. Used pads find on lower floor - never saw except tissue, paper,cigarrette butt... 2. 1st floor found 1 bag of curry mee on their balcony - ?? 3. balcony always receive hair/fingernail, used tissues, etc - ?? 4. car got scratches in the car park - true 5. dog poo poo + shss till grass turn brown and "bald", MC issued bylaw. 6. Dogs barking day & night. Irresponsible residents let unlashed dog run here & there. One near-incident, almost wanted to kick the dog "fly away" when it "charged" toward my daughter for no reason. 7. No traffic rules within carpark, till MC issued bylaw. 8. Lifts' flooring wet during sat/sun - kids swimming and run in/out. Frequent breakdown, Otis, residents commented: worse than cargood lift. 9. Maids caught swimming many times, sat in monthly meeting, open resident handbook, challenged lack of enforcement of stipulated rules. 10. Even, I checked CM's lift breakdown records, OMG, all the blks' lifts like that.... 11. Too many frequent "outsiders" use gym, meeting, then residents need to draw key, recod name, etc.... 12. Resident fight with security guard during midnight till car in/out barrier broke into 2. 13. Pipes burst in underground cp, some cars kena. 14. I shifted big umbralle during bbq, as sky dark dark, kena verbal warning to shift back immediately. Long story on this. Spent $50 to get NEA weather report on 2 stns and challenged MC's chairman, & also MA's senior manager over maintenance issues. many more...

Conclusion: Best to have both. Which first?, how big? where? Type? Don't know it is fortunate or unfortunate, singapore resident kena spoilt with so many choices. I always bear this in mind: As a sinagporean/citizen- giving up rights to own a hdb unit is completely "insance" (especially "subsidised" one). Must hold and have one, whether for own stay or subletting. When one grows & has "excess resources" then can "fight" with PRs/foreigners over the pte pty, whether for gains or for next generation. Yardstick: Rule #1 - Higher living standard pays more, can you now bear to pay more? How more? For a 119sqm hdb vs 119sqm L99 pte full facilities, can save abt $200 over "maintenance fee". Rule #2 - Want 3 bananas in morning, 4 in evening with sweet dream over the night, or, 4 bananas in morning, 3 in evening, get hungry midnight & can't sleep. What'll happen next morning? Comments: - L99 pte indifferent from hdb Normal/BTO/DBSS/EC, except pay more $ for maintenance. - F/H pty has higher chance for enbloc, next generation or next when land become scare. - Landed/ GCB ?? No experience. Late father owned "zince roof" landed home with big land, kena acquired by gov for land redevelopement. Really missed those kampong days.

Got a roof to cover heads still not enough meh = mankind's desires, positively =make thing moved & improved?, negatively = digging grave and fall into oneself. Joe 38??, why choose 38, u seem cleaver le, don't take too hard abt my comments, some are just kidding - just to make forum more lively. You take bridging loans? Like that meaning you are also quite cash-tight. After sometime staying in L99 condo, you'll understand/comprehen/appreciate why I commented not "worth" to pay for the "high" maintenance fee, especially when children no longer use the pools/gmp/bbq/tennis, as frequent as before. They start telling you room not big enough, lift always spoil...You'll sit down starring into sky and start missing those HDB days. When MC sends you letter asking for increase in management & sinking funds, you'll start speaking to neighbours complaining and sit in AGM to cast non-confidence vote. I went through this. After son kena ballotted out(within 1km), I started speaking to principal/VP and chairman of parents alumni, finally secured a seat 7 days before school opens. Amazing thing was principal stepped down and quit when school opens, vice principal also bye bye 3 months later. I went through this. CHIJ tpy has combined both primary & sec together this yr. So better q early, as early as 2 years before intake....also instill kids the "small/big fish in big/small pool" concept to position themselves.

Bro/sis, Aiyo, you are very jalak, say more wrong also more: Wrong #1. Bishan Loft where got 7xxk now for 111sqm, see file below, except one for 770k done in july 2009. http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/570/bishanloft.jpg Wrong #2. 12 year old L99 Oleander Towers better than L99 HDB meh?, sure the maintenance fee is "much BETTER", at least $300 depend on yr share#. You offended those HDB lovers leh. http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7359/oleandertower.jpg Wrong #3. 900k purchasing price, say based on 80% loan eligibility 5% cash = 45K 15% cash/CPF = 135K Stamp(cash first) = 21.6K Total cash = 66.6k, cpf is not money? The remaining 720k loan pay until when? Say 1% interest for 30 year, per month= $2,315 for 30 years, wow lau, expect everybody LOVE to work like cow!? Wrong #4. You thought staying within 1km for phrase 2C got chance for chij? Better go and do voluntary job there first, long Q leh. Anyway, like your spirit to shift house for children.

Need not to be puzzled abt... Your remarks deserved to be shot dead. I'm with the "shooting" camp". Got money say u got money leh, yr $200K kena like $2.00. If one month save 1K, take 200 months = 17 yrsssss to save leh ! You pass your PSLE math test or not!

Bro, care to share one or 2 "myth" mentioned there?

Also side track here a bit: Since talk abt $(wealth management), just to share: My W.M. portfolio: -Endorsement policies (for children, mature when at 21yr), confused do not total worth how much. -Life + ridders policies. Also confused, do not know total worth how much now. -Structured deposit (one only, wife insisted to give $ let "Profession" to "invest" for us and we take the "fruit", or the "skin"?) - Stock market, = "spare money", have channel away substantial amount into pty, due to "Tiger yr" effect. Abt 170k in "stk mkt circulation". - 2 properties. One hdb 5rm (32yr, 80k outstanding), one F/H(1mil), top 2014, 20%+stamp duty paid. - US & NZ foreign currencies timed deposits (quited long ago, lost abt 10K)) - Personal savings Some add on - Up till now, still confused abt those insurances I bought, have been with MIL to AIA HQ in 2008 to surrend her policy(made $), all friends mocked at me. - Worst invewtment was putting abt $72k sgd into USD(USD50k)time deposite, "chopped one limb" off by losing abt sgd 10K (rate kept dropping for ~ a yr)by converting USD to NZ(8% interest), at later date (~a yr)converted back to sgd & put $ into saving acct and "play" the $ myself in stock mkt. Imagine the drop of 7% USD from feb 2010 to sept. - Within 9 months, I earned back the sgd10k, in stk mkt. Average 2K/per month "side income" from stock market. - I strongly suggest forumers: Learn the skill and gain experience while young for "side line". But one thing, make sure the money in stk is "spare money" - simply you decide when to open the "card".

Got lift?

Let us reconigise the facts: 1. After 1st appointment, meaning after all the eligbility check/confirmation...., there is "no u-turn" to "rewind back the process. Not only buyer incur loss, HDB also incour loss if process were to stop. Unless of very super strong valid reson, otherwise the request of "cancellation" would not be allowed. Even at this juncture the owner (seller) pass away, process carries on. 2. I supposed 2 of you have agreed upon completion date (hdb office will ask) and get printed in the hdb doc. Seller can write in & request extension to origin's agreed date, however, the maximum extension is to 8 wk from 1st appointment date, it is written in the otp doc. If due to unforesee circumstances, only HDB can extend beyond 8wk after 1st appointment. I suggest you to write in first to the office-in-charge, NOT to grant request for extemsion from seller, with reasons, before seller writes in. 3. Act before seller acts and yr letter must convince the OIC. 4. Suggest seller to camp at seaside, put up accomendation at bencooleen hoten/hotel 81, or to rent warehouse to put bulky stuff. This is COMPLETELY seller's problem in failing to plan ahead, but want to have their conveniences at your expenses. 5. Insist for CASH only it there were to have some form of compensation for extended stay. No cheque also. Cheque leaves treacibility, you do not what is in seller's mind, after some months they may be "seow" and lodge complaint againt you - if you receive cheque, you will be in trouble.

My guess: low floor (1-5), view so so, may be kena west sun.

Below may appear a bit "difficult to digest" to some, however, this issue has been like something get stuck in my throat especially at this juncture, just to share my view: welcome all opinions. Valuation is done by "Comparable Sales Method" and "valuation responsibilities disclaimer". See below(July 2009): http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/5613/va...reportpage3.jpg http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/8237/va...reportpage6.jpg Meaning that: valuer done valuation and at end of report says that the valuer holds no responsibilities in whatever respects which may induce or lead to a legal action in the subject. = I said you worth only $1 based on "comparable sales method" and what I have said holds no responsibilities to further legal action which may be induced or resulted based on what I've said on your worthiness. However, in actual fact, the "worthiness" I commented on you, decide others' decisions. Is this fair and just? That was why I raised the question of "conspiration" between valuers and policies. How "independent" are these valuers? Personally believed this "market sentiment" plays a role (to what percentage?) in valuation process too. Those stock market investors well understood this. The same sotck, in "cold period", worths 10cent per share, but may worth $1 per share during "hot period". The timimg between 2 periods could be as little as a couple of weeks apart. Why like that? Market forces? A wise investor will always first based information available and decide its "intrinsic value", rather than the "extrinsic value". There are always some "subjective" elements been involved in home valuation process, that was why the "disclaimer" comes in. The prices done in similar vicinity....only provide as "yardstick" or "base", the value of "conditions" of house are always "subjective" and as a layman, I would say, the valuation of "conditions" of house, should not be more than 10% of the total valuation price, in HDB resale (for pte resale, may raise this element, to not more than 40%), COV decides the conditions of house. The "similarities" of houses are difficult to define and can not be compared like an apple to an apple at all. What I could say is the valuers are trying, at their best knowledge, as objective as possible, to decide the value of house, with ALL factors being taken into consideration. Question is who knows?Any channel to know?

Niko, can visit your kitchen after these have been set up?

Need 3 months to work out the "mean" COV. Resale application to complication take abt 4 months. So (9+10+11+12)=2010 , (1+2+3)=2011. Meaning that the mean COV values at reespective areas, will be "meaningful" or "representative" only in end March 2011!. During period from now to march 2011, media sure take opportunities to gain readership by.....