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Read today ST's front page, HDB takes against agent cum owner. He himself a member of Institute of Estate Association, yet foul the rules. Where is the "standard" of agent ! Hope this case aware IEA and quickly come out something positive to make a healthy mkt with "healthy agents". To me, agents = typical salemen. They use their "big mouth" to make a living by: -Say what their customers like to hear -Hiding important facts/disadvantages far far away/hehind from client -Failing to observe rules -Telling lies without eye blinks -Make empty promises -Act blur -Use "sweetener" to hook "toad" -Last but not least, when find client would'nt hook - threatening! What else they can use?

Well done HDB !, Pohs deserved it. A profession in real eastate claimed he does not aware of the rules? Surely, he was desperate, caught off-guard by the tip-off. Salute to the one who gave tip. Please tip off hdb if u come across such to make mkt for fair competition.

Ever asked agent or seller abt seller's next accomodation issue? In progress to buy hdb unit/pte unit?, renting? already got place to stay? VERY IMPORTANT issue to BUYERS. Hope seller already settled his next accomodation, if not u have to wait long, long, long... Get a copy of these from seller's agent asap, you are entitled to, pay him/her photostate fee if he/she asks: 1. Yr $5k receipt. Receipt for valuation report & resale submission fee are negligible. 2. OTP document, see pg 4/10, clause 11. How many "day" agent has filled in- if "90", then "good luck to you". Most seller agents don't explain this buyer. 90 days is the maximum, meaning agent has 90 days to "play with" before submitting the resale application! I have repeated these many times in my postings. Wait for submission(90day), wait for 1st appointment(11 wk), wait for 2nd appointment(8wk), renovation, move in - Merry Christmas and Happy new year. 3. Commission letter, if u have signed. OTP is a very important doc(10 pages only), should be read & undestand with due attention. By right seller should sign first (who gives u an option to exercise) the decision to buy or not. Then u sign, follow by agent as witness signed. Again, most agents will ask the buyer to sign first - it is wrong!!!!! If u are interested I can send u those docs which I've kept over the years, for yr ref only. Drop me a mail from my profile.

Wow, very lengthy paragraph, very "standardised" format, 1st sentence applies to seller noy u/why seller's agent still leave it there? Before answering u , questions: 1. U viewed the unit with your agent or walk in yourself? If with yr agent, just pay your agent. 2. Have u signed the commission agreement with seller's agent? If u have signed and now step back, it would be wrong on you. 3. Have u paid 1K for deposit and 4K for exercising the OTP? If yes, the deal is considered legally bind (actually still subject to 1st appointment) Legal contract = offer + consideration, the "offer" could later become a "counter-offer". Consideration=1K +4K, in this case(if u have done). "Exclusive" means "the one and the only", anyway, I doubted seller has signed exclusive agreement with his agent, "usually" has to pay the agent 2% comm. This does not apply to u. You are legally, absolutely need not to pay seller's agent even a cent, if u have not signed commission agreement with him/her. If you need the valuation report for bankloan purpose, just pay him $180, or you can ask for a seperate valuation to be done and absorb the cost. In Singapore, there is not "legislation/regulation" as to buyer must pay comm to seller's agent in a transaction, this is especially true and practiced in the resale private property transaction. In HDB resale, it is up to buyer whether to pay comm to seller's agent - walking case applied. I guessed, most "walk-in" buyers engaged seller's agent to represent buyer's and therefore pay 1% comm to seller's agent, mostly due to uncertainties of procedures. PM me if you wish, very lengthy to write here. Anyway, just let you know: 1. In 2006, I entered an exclusive agreement with agent to sell my 1st hdb unit, paying 2% comm. I happened to meet the buyer only during 2nd appointment. 2. In 2009, again, I engaged an exclusive agreement with agent to sell away my private prty. Paid 2% comm 3. In 2009, I engaged seller's agent to represent me (walk in for viewing) and paid 1% comm.

Frankly speaking, in HDB resale, I completely found no sense for buyer who "walk-in" and closes the deal, owe seller's agent any amount, not even a cent! Seller agent has to settle the basic paper work and do some coordination in between. Let's do it and make it a norm.! If buyer engages agent to search for home is another story.

No intent to stereo-type any. There was one time viewing a house, seller's agent not attending, he phoned me to look at the valuation report. Asked owner his intended sell price, in returned he asked me to make an offer. Might as well put his house onto ebay, right?

I'm aware of all these agents' tactics. It is good to "open book" with agent in the beginning when selling/buying. Last yr when selling, I immediately signed an exclusively agreement paying 2% comm. I even promised to extend the agreement for another 3 months if unit could not sell within first 3 months. But I requested them (1 young & 1 mentor) not to tell buyers any lies/empty promises/treat buyers differently, I insisted to be around during viewing and could speak to buyers when I wish, etc everything to hold as transparent as possible, I don't care how the agents co-broke.. I gave them 100% access right to operate/open this & that during viewing, The mentor gave me a piece of advise to avoid indian agents far far away, she got vast unpleasant experience dealing with them. Anyone got experience?

KC, appreciate if u can highlight why buyer for private property(resale) needs not to pay comm to agent? The norm has been for howlong, any changes in future?

-Hacking walltile $1.0/psf -Hacking floortile $1.5/psf - Ceramic tile ~ $2.8/psf For a 5-rm hdb, master tiolet, walltile area=230sf floortile area=40sf

Hi how you guys add the hyper link to the post? Whatever hyper link I add, all become "reno.com"???

- Legally maximum 8wk from 1st to 2nd appiontment, anything longer than this will render the OPT doc void. - HDB will usually try their best to have 2nd appointment after 1st appointment within/at end of 6th wk. If buyer & sellers lawyers are from HDB, process will be faster. Lawyers like "black & white", and these "B&W" need to be exchanged hand to both party. That is why all the time spent. - Before/during 1st appointment, get common verbal agreement between 2 parties to fix a date for 2nd appointment, then let the HDB officer know, if agreed, this date will be printed on the paper. - If you(buyer) want earlier day to start renovation, can ask agent to draft a letter( experienced agent has used this letter ) many time!, signed by both parties to receive key earlier., though in eye of Singapore law, this paper is not recognised. REMEBER, reno permit application has to be signed by seller, meaning that "anything wrong" during the reno, seller is held responsible.

Look like yr "good below neighbour" is taking the chance, but quite honest to tell u that the problem existed before your reno. Must be the weight of the "overlaying" material worsening the situation. Download a file names "Rhandboo.pdf" from hdb's web will give you some light to somewhere, but.....likely the TC will ask 2 of u to settle and share 50/50?, 40/60? Good luck Technology was not so good 30 yr ago, Stacks/pipes without "sleeving", when floor slab expands due to weight or mechanical vibration, water goes to external of stack/pipes then to below unit, though you have laid "water proof" material. TC take cares only the Stacks(big one), the smaller one (pipes) maintain by owner.

-illegal modifications/installations like: - any fittings outside windows - corride door fixtures to be "movable" at any time - sanitary pipes any leakage/personal modification - Aircon /sliding/caseman window safety issue.... - hooks on ceilings(corride door) to be removed

Quite surprised no rule announced as to "subletting', especially to those who hold pte pty concurrently. Guess that gov "reserves' this powerful tool till last....

Yah!, 3 yr, might be extended to 5 years if mkt "hot" again. Imagine average 8.1% gains in resale(2009jan - 2009dec). CPI and salary increase where got so fast!

Changes within expectation. Soft approach, mild effects foresee. But..... - 1yr, 2.5yr all changed to 3 yrs. Resale mkt already under supply with "high demand", will this new rule narrows the supply further, or curbs the demand of resale, or "high demand" caused this this group of people? Sure COV will drop, cos only speculators or rich will sell/buy after 1 year/2.5 yr. - HDB loan make easilier(2nd loan), will encourage more people to trade in resale mkt(downsize), especially those "conservative" who know less or "scare" abt bank loans.

Sorry friends, just switched to rich text format. Before this was "standard" txt editor, whatever web addreesses I post, all become renotalk.com, below is the correct one. Good for buyers for resale private property, a lot of info in the report. streetsine

To me, buying/selling a property for stay/away should be a kind of a happy event to/for both party(win-win), only on such basis, would lead you to a peaceful mind/heart after move in/selling. One story to tell. Last yr, while selling my condo unit, I turned away an offer(reach my target price)immediately on the spot made by a middle-aged man who "toured around the unit" less than 2 minutes. He left me with feeling as if he was visiting prostitue. He offerer another higher price some day later - I told his agent that I wouldn't sell him the unit whatever price he offered. I turned away another offer(price hit my target)by an indian PR couple with 1 kid. They made 3 trips. This round my wife did not like to sell to them, I respect her decision. Among some 30 viewers, I spotted one couple with 2 kids were very polite and well mannered. Interestingly, the girl(P5) could tell names of all plants(8) which I planted at balcony's planter. The boy sit on floor, lean against the sofa. No offer was made, instead I asked my exclusive agent to call up their agent to invite them to come over for more understanding....They are christians and sincere, told me their stories....., but could not afford even the lowest price I insisted during the whole selling process. At last, I discounted 20K from lowest price. They just moved in 3 wk ago. They even visited my new home with present before CNY! I like them. I still keep in touch with the seller to my present home. There are now in Australia for 3 months, staying with their son (PR there).

renotalk.com

Need some advice... I'm looking to buy a HDB from a couple.. Need to confirm but I believe court granted divorce proceedings. The problem now is one party is not selling and refuse to let the valuer in.. We are trying to sort that out because no valuation report means bank cannot grant LO.. Which also means that I won't be able to exercise the option... Agent telling me to request the valuation report under my name. Should I get the agent to pay for it first then I reimburse him later? at the same time request to put $1 option to minimize my potential losses? can the courts grant an order to sign the necessary documents if one party is willing to sign? Should I lodge a caveat ? Seems like lotsa trouble for a hdb flat.. Lol in case anyone asking.. Have not seen the place original condition more than 30 years old no valuation done but... Yeah I am interested to buy... Believed you intended to take advantage situation to press price down, if not, why take all these troubles? Just too many uncertainties ahead. If true, divorce already bad, why add "salt" to injury? Anyway, once legalised divorced they must sell within 12 months. Court can't proceed order sales of property with joint account with "one-party" consent, except factors like time expiry, sudden death, bankruptcy, etc. Whoever pay $180 for valuation make no difference to me, just coordinate with the "willing-to-sell" party and let the valuation possible...... Lodge a legal caveat? Against what, on what capacity/ground you or the "willing-to-sell" party have? Ask yourself this: If transaction goes through, the $ "opportunity gains", say $50K from this sale, worths the "troubles"?. Next, my son's tutor encountered seller passed away after 1st appointment - once 1st appontment done, the whole transaction will be done, though any party wants to withdraw or suddenly pass away in the middle of process.

This one generates comprehensive report as well as telling you how much seller has bought the unit at what year, as lomg as u willing to pay $25. Good for those who want to buy private. http://www.renotalk.com/main.html#postalcode-479250-CND

Need to pay him/her for processing resale application submission(3 modes).... When apply must submit stuff like IC/MC/VR..May refer to HDB web's procedures on self-processing. If u use bank loan, must get "letter of offer" from bank, during 1st appointment. Wise to approach bank for loan when 1st appointment day draws near. Usually, the letter valids for 6 months and comes with legal impliction (penalty for cancellation, or no disbursement within 6 month). Now, resale application take time, 1st appt takes 13 wk !Bank will use u for pay slip/IR8A/valuation report/cpf account/current liabilities/loan type.....etc. I almost "kena" last year. CPF concessionary loan procedure not sure. Wait for 1st appointment (pay COV at this point for HDB loan) follow by 2nd appointment(All money exchange hand for bank loan).

What Yoongf put it ,is right. But done is done. Readup the "strata living" file in the web in Yoongf's msg, will give u some light.

Agents are paid not only on help sourcing house, but processing paper work & coordination between buyer/seller as well. Legally, you can don't pay this agent, but to process paper work yourself. Or you can negotiate the 1% comm to certain %, I would say depending much on COV value. My suggestion is, if COV is 1. 5-10k: pay 1% to him/her 2. 15-20K: pay 0.5% to him/her 21K and above, no com 1. Make sure sign the agreed % in paper. 2. Hope you have the OTP with u now, see pg 4/10, clause 11. Put this figure as low as possible to your advantage, 90 days = 3 months is maximum. If this is the case, means, she legally could submit the resale application any day within 90 days. 3. After resale submission application, wait for another 13 wk for allocation for 1st appointment, then wait for another 8 wk for 2nd appointment, die la. Buy a hdb take so long! Condo can transact(exchange hand) within 8-10wk. 4. Actually, seller must sign OTP first, then buyer sign and agent as witness signs. 5. See OTP pg 2/10, clause 3.2. If seller refused to sell at this point. You're entitled to get the money that u have paid, back. Plus compensations, like transport fees, wages loss ,etc. I asked agents to source as well as myself actively look out on internets/newspaper for my "dream home". Found by myself from newspaper, COV 10k, I paid seller's agent 1% to act on my behalf. Till now, we still keep in touch..