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Demand for Singapore property during the pandemic

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Pal
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Demand for Singapore property during the pandemic

Post by Pal » Wed, 12 Aug 2020 2:45 pm

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In spite of initial predictions that demand for housing would remain low after the dip in April, sales of new homes, as well as the sale of resale flats and condominium units, rebounded in June. Housing experts have also predicted that while housing prices may dip, they are unlikely to crash like they did after the global financial crisis in 2009. While some property experts are optimistic about the present demand for housing in Singapore, others remain cautious as the growing unemployment, looming recession, and uncertainty of economic recovery suggest that the darker days lie ahead.

On 7 April, Singapore went into lockdown where only essential services were allowed to continue operations as per normal. This ‘circuit breaker’ period led to services such as showroom viewings being suspended, even as foreign buyers were restricted from entering the country in order to view the houses. Economic uncertainty resulting from months dealing with an ongoing pandemic also contributed to more people tightening their purse strings and deferring large purchases in order to ride out the storm.

However, in subsequent weeks, some developers began providing discounts in order to lure back buyers. Virtual showings also became the norm, and people became much more comfortable with virtual tours and online viewings. According to Ismail Gafoor, CEO of real estate agency PropNex, ‘Buyers of new homes became more comfortable with digital viewings and transacting online from April to May, with attractively priced projects and low interest rates likely nudging them to make a purchase.’

Other developers have taken similar measures and have gone online to raise interest in new units by holding virtual tours and online presentations. Such arrangements not only benefited property agents who no longer had to be constrained by their travelling time to the locations of their units, but also benefited prospective buyers. While those working in essential services were allowed to continue working as per normal, others were asked to work from home. Virtual tours could thus be conducted and attended by both parties from the comfort of their homes, at all hours of the day. Even after the end of the circuit breaker, virtual tours and videoconferencing continue to trend, allowing prospective homeowners to fit in more viewings into their day.

Prospective home owners who are concerned about their ability to keep up with their mortgage payments have also been reassured by low interest rates and actions taken by the Monetary Authority of Singapore which have allowed people to defer their loan payments to the end of the year.

Those taking out housing and renovation loans will be able to defer the principal payment, or both principal and interest payments on their loans until 31 December 2020. Though they would have to pay interest on the deferred principal amount, they will not be charged interest on deferred interest payments. For potential property buyers, this measure provides them with additional ease of mind in knowing a temporary loss in income during this period or in the months to come will not be worsened by the need to make housing loan repayments during this period, so long as they are confident in being able to fulfil their financial obligations in the following year.

By Rayne
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PNGMK
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Re: Demand for Singapore property during the pandemic

Post by PNGMK » Wed, 12 Aug 2020 2:48 pm

Lots of people from SEA running here as a safe haven if they can.
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Re: Demand for Singapore property during the pandemic

Post by Max Headroom » Thu, 13 Aug 2020 9:55 am

They'll be able enjoy it for 30 days, upon which they'll have to return to their own country.

Apart from the HNWI-types that can buy their way in, incoming numbers will be negligible for the foreseeable future.

EPs? In this Covid-pocked landscape? Not a chance. PRs? A trickle, at best.

Meanwhile, there's a still a solid overhang to contend with. Not to mention a shrinking economy and an imminent wave of retrenchments. It is the way it is.

I reckon property in the canary will be heading south and it may well accelerate, even after some measures are withdrawn.

Cue reset. After which things will improve. But, clearly, this is going to take years.

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Re: Demand for Singapore property during the pandemic

Post by PNGMK » Thu, 13 Aug 2020 10:32 am

Max Headroom wrote:
Thu, 13 Aug 2020 9:55 am
They'll be able enjoy it for 30 days, upon which they'll have to return to their own country.

Apart from the HNWI-types that can buy their way in, incoming numbers will be negligible for the foreseeable future.

EPs? In this Covid-pocked landscape? Not a chance. PRs? A trickle, at best.

Meanwhile, there's a still a solid overhang to contend with. Not to mention a shrinking economy and an imminent wave of retrenchments. It is the way it is.

I reckon property in the canary will be heading south and it may well accelerate, even after some measures are withdrawn.

Cue reset. After which things will improve. But, clearly, this is going to take years.
There's literally nothing to put your money in now though. Dividends just got cut in half thanks to MAS. Gold is a fools dream. Bonds are dead. Rents are at least something backed by an asset you can finance for almost nothing now. I think we will see the gahmen turn around soon and turn on the taps again.
I not lawyer/teacher/CPA.
You've been arrested? Law Society of Singapore can provide referrals.
You want an International School job? School website or http://www.ISS.edu
Your rugrat needs a School? Avoid for profit schools
You need Tax advice? Ask a CPA
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Re: Demand for Singapore property during the pandemic

Post by Max Headroom » Thu, 13 Aug 2020 10:49 am

Yeah, lots of money sloshing around and nowhere to put it. And I think a lot of peeps will stick their cash into property, just by sheer elimination alone, as well as simply because property, traditionally, has worked for years here.

But rents are already pressured down, even before the real pain has started. I reckon more expats will be leaving than will be coming, in part due to Covid and the miracles of Zoom.

Rents are nice, that's true, but without tenants, no rent eh.

In these unprecedented times, I'm not sure you can discount gold. Bonds are pretty crappy these days, but there's a reason there's still a lot of demand for them; ending up fractionally underwater is still better than most of today's alternatives, given the uncharted QE until infinity waters we're in. Sure beats owning a white elephant, me thinks.

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