Singapore Expats

House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Discuss about where to live, renting a property, tenancy issues, property trend and property investment in Singapore.
Post Reply
User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by JR8 » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 7:57 pm

BBCWatcher wrote:2. Find me any other AAA rated government anywhere in the world paying over 4%, inflation adjusted
Given that risk correlates with reward, how do you think SG manages to be the only AAA-gahment that can offer such a return?
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

Search By



BBCWatcher
Editor
Editor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Sun, 13 Sep 2015 4:43 pm

Re: RE: Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by BBCWatcher » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 8:07 pm

Wd40 wrote:It's not about the returns. It's whether you trust govt/central banks/banks etc to return your money.
It's about both.

So what other AAA rated government is paying above 4%, and with inflation adjustment? Find us another one! That'd be lovely.

Nobody is suggesting to put every bit of your savings in CPF. You can't anyway even if you wanted to. (Well, many people cannot.) But CPF SA funds are damn safe.
This is what happened with a bank in Austria.
That's nice, but that's not a AAA rated government's obligation.
We also know what happened with Cyprus and Greece.
Yes, two countries that are not and never have been AAA rated.
It may not happen with Singapore, but the point is why to risk it, keep your money with another country's govt when you are not even planning to stay there.
You address remaining risk through diversification. But there is nothing rated higher in terms of safety than Singapore government obligations. There is nothing higher than AAA. So if something AAA can't be part of your portfolio because it's too "dangerous," what can? German government bonds paying negative real (and sometimes nominal) rates of return?

BBCWatcher
Editor
Editor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Sun, 13 Sep 2015 4:43 pm

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by BBCWatcher » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 8:12 pm

JR8 wrote:Given that risk correlates with reward, how do you think SG manages to be the only AAA-gahment that can offer such a return?
In fact it's not. There are some AAA governments managing to deliver >4% returns. The only difference is they do it for their employees, i.e. for government workers. Singapore has a large sovereign wealth fund and is quite unusual in extending a government worker-like defined contribution pension system (and yields) to a much broader segment of its population.

But AAA governments don't have to pay ~2% real after-tax returns on even long maturity general debt obligations. Investors, both local and foreign, don't need to be so well rewarded. CPF is a different creation, and there's an annual cap on contributions. So you can get a great deal, but that deal isn't unlimited.

User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by JR8 » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 8:32 pm

BBCWatcher wrote:2. Find me any other AAA rated government anywhere in the world paying over 4%, inflation adjusted
JR8 wrote:Given that risk correlates with reward, how do you think SG manages to be the only AAA-gahment that can offer such a return?
BBCWatcher wrote:In fact it's not. There are some AAA governments managing to deliver >4% returns.
That was quite some U-turn :lol:
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

User avatar
Wd40
Director
Director
Posts: 4591
Joined: Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:53 am
Answers: 1
Location: SIndiapore

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by Wd40 » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:08 pm

Lehman Brothers and AIG were rated as AA and AAA just minutes before their collapse.

Also read another article in which Temasek had refute S&Ps new rules of credit rating that would put it along with Greece and Jamaica.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... ean-credit

Also ratings only talk about the ability or capacity of the obligor to fulfill its financial commitments. It tells nothing about its track record of making new rules overnight to put restrictions on withdrawal. Currently PRs can withdraw their CPF when they give up their PR, but then Malaysians are not allowed to withdraw until 60, unless they don't got back to Malaysia. What if this rule is changed to include all PRs or some other rules which we cannot even think of at this time.

Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

User avatar
Wd40
Director
Director
Posts: 4591
Joined: Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:53 am
Answers: 1
Location: SIndiapore

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by Wd40 » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:08 pm

Lehman Brothers and AIG were rated as AA and AAA just minutes before their collapse.

Also read another article in which Temasek had refute S&Ps new rules of credit rating that would put it along with Greece and Jamaica.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... ean-credit

Also ratings only talk about the ability or capacity of the obligor to fulfill its financial commitments. It tells nothing about its track record of making new rules overnight to put restrictions on withdrawal. Currently PRs can withdraw their CPF when they give up their PR, but then Malaysians are not allowed to withdraw until 60, unless they don't got back to Malaysia. What if this rule is changed to include all PRs or some other rules which we cannot even think of at this time.

Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

User avatar
ecureilx
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 9817
Joined: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 5:18 pm

Re: RE: Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by ecureilx » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:14 pm

Wd40 wrote:, but then Malaysians are not allowed to withdraw until 60, unless they don't got back to Malaysia. What if this rule is changed to include all PRs or some other rules which we cannot even think of at this time.
Malaysians from West Malaysia can withdraw by the age of 50. There are exemption clauses for that.

And that CPF will be held back for others, a-la Malaysians, is a long standing rumour among Sub cons, and is used to discourage other aspiring PR applicants. And is used to promote the 20% be invested back home, I think.

Singapore has more than enough reserves to pay back all Indians' CPF, if they all leave tomorrow, said a banker here.

User avatar
Wd40
Director
Director
Posts: 4591
Joined: Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:53 am
Answers: 1
Location: SIndiapore

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by Wd40 » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:30 pm

ecureilx wrote:
Wd40 wrote:, but then Malaysians are not allowed to withdraw until 60, unless they don't got back to Malaysia. What if this rule is changed to include all PRs or some other rules which we cannot even think of at this time.
Malaysians from West Malaysia can withdraw by the age of 50. There are exemption clauses for that.

And that CPF will be held back for others, a-la Malaysians, is a long standing rumour among Sub cons, and is used to discourage other aspiring PR applicants. And is used to promote the 20% be invested back home, I think.

Singapore has more than enough reserves to pay back all Indians' CPF, if they all leave tomorrow, said a banker here.
It has the reserves no doubt. But you know, it's not about money alone. Things are being made difficult for PRs and Foreigners just to appease the locals. What if there is a brilliant idea by someone. "If Singaporeans are not allowed to withdraw their PF early then why allow PRs" Make the ground equal.
And it's not a rumour that it will happen, it's just that Indians can think through these kind of possibilities.Image


Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

User avatar
ecureilx
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 9817
Joined: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 5:18 pm

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by ecureilx » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:42 pm

Wd40 wrote: And it's not a rumour that it will happen, it's just that Indians can think through these kind of possibilities.Image
The government thinking to those leaving would be, good riddance, here, take your CPF so you don't have any excuse to come backImage

And I know, Indians will conjure up stuff to make motherland seem best :D :D

User avatar
Wd40
Director
Director
Posts: 4591
Joined: Tue, 04 Dec 2012 10:53 am
Answers: 1
Location: SIndiapore

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by Wd40 » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:48 pm

ecureilx wrote:
Wd40 wrote: And it's not a rumour that it will happen, it's just that Indians can think through these kind of possibilities.Image
The government thinking to those leaving would be, good riddance, here, take your CPF so you don't have any excuse to come backImage

And I know, Indians will conjure up stuff to make motherland seem best :D :D
Are you the govt? You have just spoken for them. Image

I am only talking about possibilities and you seem to be sure about what you are saying.

Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40376
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 21
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Wed, 09 Mar 2016 10:56 pm

I've lived here from 2.35 to the USD to 1.15 and back to 1.4 now over the 3.3 decades I've been here. It can go anywhere MAS wants it to go. Not necessarily where the rest of the world anticipates.
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

BBCWatcher
Editor
Editor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Sun, 13 Sep 2015 4:43 pm

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by BBCWatcher » Thu, 10 Mar 2016 1:43 am

Wd40 wrote:Lehman Brothers and AIG were rated as AA and AAA just minutes before their collapse.
Neither one of which is/was a government with the sovereign power to tax. AAA corporate is a completely different (profoundly lower) rating than AAA government. And nobody that I've ever met or read (who isn't paid to say otherwise) ever recommended putting more than a tiny fraction of your total savings in either of those two companies' stocks or bonds -- or in any company's stocks or bonds. Everybody recommends portfolio diversification, unless they're trying to sell something.

If you're trying to argue that CPF SA shouldn't be a part (not all!) of your total retirement savings if you are eligible (or required to) contribute to CPF, I think that's downright crazy.
Last edited by BBCWatcher on Thu, 10 Mar 2016 2:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

BBCWatcher
Editor
Editor
Posts: 1035
Joined: Sun, 13 Sep 2015 4:43 pm

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by BBCWatcher » Thu, 10 Mar 2016 2:02 am

JR8 wrote:That was quite some U-turn :lol:
No. "Find me." I am not a pension program participating employee of a AAA government with an excellent (but employee only) defined contribution pension program. I'd also love to get the special phone call inviting me to buy an IPO at the grossly undervalued private client price. That'd be nice, too. Unfortunately such offers are not available to me or to the general public.

I'm all in favor of better options if they exist, and I'm in favor of portfolio diversification always. So what's the better option for high safety retirement savings?

I'm not persuaded that a hypothetical rule change (can't withdraw at age 33!) would be a problem. CPF SA is not like a current/checking account fully insured by a highly rated government. It's primarily for retirement savings but at least for long duration savings. It's not an account designed to be raided next year to fund the next adventure in citizenship or permanent residence trophy gathering, for example. Never has been, never claimed to be, never will be.

User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by JR8 » Thu, 10 Mar 2016 3:26 am

BBCWatcher wrote: AAA corporate is a completely different (profoundly lower) rating than AAA government.
Interesting way of looking at it. Corporate bonds are [invaiably] valued at yields over the same maturity government bond but the rating assigned already takes into account the issuer risk. So I see no logic in the suggestion that a gahmen AAA is 'completely/profoundly' better rated than a AAA corporate. The ratings are simply bands, and both fall inside it, ergo the risk isn't 'completely/profoundly' different.
Example; look at -> http://www.bondsonline.com/Todays_Marke ... preads.php The average US 5-year AAA corp is last indicated there as trading at 0.53% over the same maturity US Treasury. Hardly profound.
BBCWatcher wrote:And nobody that I've ever met or read (who isn't paid to say otherwise) ever recommended putting more than a tiny fraction of your total savings in either of those two companies' stocks or bonds -- or in any company's stocks or bonds. Everybody recommends portfolio diversification, unless they're trying to sell something.
And people suggest not putting all your savings in one issuers account because of the risk of the issuer losing your money. Yet here you are celebrating how wonderful it is to have all your money c/o one government agency. Of course the implosion of UK pensions (National Insurance, a government agency) couldn't happen in Singapore so all is well, right?

p.s. I've no idea what 'No. "Find me."' means...
'Do it or do not do it: You will regret both' - Kierkegaard

User avatar
Strong Eagle
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 11617
Joined: Sat, 10 Jul 2004 12:13 am
Answers: 9
Location: Off The Red Dot
Contact:

Re: House Prices could drop by a Quarter?

Post by Strong Eagle » Thu, 10 Mar 2016 3:36 am

BBCWatcher wrote:Singapore has a large sovereign wealth fund and is quite unusual in extending a government worker-like defined contribution pension system (and yields) to a much broader segment of its population.
It's actually a two step process. CPF is invested into "Special Singapore Government Securities" and the government guarantees these bonds. In turn the Singapore government takes the SSGS proceeds and invests in GIC and Temasek.

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “Property Talk, Housing & Rental”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests