|    DEVELOPMENT
    COST CHARGES
 Property Development ChargesMarina South, Sentosa see sharpest increases in rates
 The Government has not made much change to average
    development charge (DC) rates payable for enhancing a site's use. But DC
    rates for the New Downtown/Marina South and Sentosa - where the integrated
    resorts (IRs) with casinos will be located - saw some of the biggest
    increases ranging from 10 to 25 per cent in the latest half-yearly revision. Market watchers see the increases at these
    locations as a move that anticipates rising land values in the two locations
    ahead of the IRs and other infrastructure enhancements. In addition, Marina
    is the location of the mega Business & Financial Centre (BFC) site,
    which drew a bullish top bid a couple of months ago. Property consultants were quick to point out
    yesterday that increases in DC rates at Marina and Sentosa by and large will
    not affect existing developments. The IRs, for instance, are future
    projects. Where existing properties would have been affected
    by a substantial  rise in DC rates - in the prime residential
    districts, for example - the latest increases are generally more muted,
    despite evidence of recent land transactions at higher prices. As well, commercial DC rates in the existing
    financial district - Raffles Place, Shenton Way and Tanjong Pagar - were
    left intact, despite an appreciation in office rentals. 
      
        
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                  | SINGAPORE
                    DEVELOPMENT COSTS |  
                  |   |  |  Some market watchers, such
    as Jones Lang LaSalle's head of research (South Asia) Feng Zhi Wei,
    suggest that the authorities may not wish to upset the recent pick-up in
    property market by jacking up DC rates too soon. Agreeing with this view, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung
    director (investment sales) Tang Wei Leng said: 'In a collective sale, a
    substantial increase in DC rates could cream off a few per cent of a site's
    value, and assuming the owners are not willing to lower their asking price
    and developers reluctant to raise their offer price, this would jam the
    deal. 'Of course, the Chief Valuer could well have
    considered that while there have been cases of land transactions at higher
    prices, these were still not sufficient evidence for increasing the DC rate
    by a similar magnitude for the entire location.' DC rates are specified according to use - for
    example, commercial, non-landed residential, landed residential, industrial
    and hotel - across 118 locations throughout Singapore. The revisions are made by the Ministry of National
    Development in consultation with the Chief Valuer, who takes into account
    current market value in half-yearly reviews. JLL's analysis of the latest DC rates, which take
    effect today, shows that on average, the rate for landed residential use
    rose 0.1 per cent and that for non-landed residential use increased 2.7 per
    cent. The average commercial DC rate was up 1.1 per cent, while that for the
    industrial sector was trimmed 4.5 per cent. Hotel DC rates on average went up 0.4 per cent,
    driven by increases at just four locations - all in the New Downtown/Marina
    South area. The biggest rise of 23.8 per cent was for the area that includes
    the Marina Bayfront IR location. This same location also topped the increases for
    commercial DC rates, with a 25 per cent jump. The next highest increase of
    20.7 per cent for commercial DC was for the area around Marina Bay (where
    the BFC will be built), followed by gains of 14.3 per cent each for two
    other nearby locations that make up the rest of the mass of reclaimed land
    at Marina South. The rate for Sentosa was up 9.5 per cent. Commercial DC
    rates rose in 16 locations, and remained unchanged for the other 102. For non-landed residential use, the top five areas
    in terms of increases were again all in the Marina South/New Downtown
    stretch and Sentosa. The increases ranged from 11.1 to 14.3 per cent. Prime
    districts such as Orange Grove/Fernhill, Cairnhill, Tanglin/Cuscaden and
    Ardmore/Draycott saw gains of 4.2 to 6.3 per cent. Non-landed residential
    rates went up in in 69 areas but remained unchanged in the other 49,
    according to JLL. The landed residential DC was raised in only one
    location - Sentosa. There was no change in the other 117. CB Richard Ellis executive director Soon Su Lin
    said the Sentosa rise reflects prices of hillside bungalow sites sold by
    auction in June at between $382 and $451 per sq foot - higher than the $265
    to $380 psf for sea and waterway bungalow plots sold earlier. The drop in industrial DC rates was expected,
    given the government's overall intent to keep the cost of doing business
    competitive, notes JLL's Ms Feng. Industrial DC rates were trimmed in 115 of
    the 118 locations, with no change in the other three. Heading the falls were
    Mandai/Woodlands (down 5.7 per cent), followed by traditional prime
    industrial spots such as Kallang Bahru/Boon Keng, Kallang Way, Aljunied and
    MacPherson - all with declines of 5.6 per cent. -
    by Kalpana Rashiwala    SINGAPORE
    BUSINESS TIMES    1 Sept 2005Substantial hikes in property DC
    rates likely Consultants expect increases to reflect rising prices of land deals in past
    six months
 Property consultants believe development charge
    (DC) rates will see some of their biggest hikes in five years, especially
    those covering commercial and residential use. They say the latest half-yearly DC rate to be
    announced tomorrow will reflect the rising prices of land transactions in
    the past six months or so. A DC is payable to the state for enhancing a
    site's use. The latest revision will take effect on Sept 1. Generally, consultants expect non-landed
    residential use to see the biggest gains - averaging 5 to 8 per cent -
    compared with a 2.8 per cent rise in the previous revision six months ago. Some are looking at increases of up to 15 per cent
    in prime districts which have seen bullish land deals, compared with an
    appreciation of about 6 to 7 per cent previously. Rates for landed residential use are expected to
    rise by a smaller quantum, but still above the 0.2 per cent average in the
    last revision. Commercial DC rates are forecast to rise by up to
    5 per cent on average, with some of the biggest gains expected in the Marina
    Bay area in the New Downtown, where the July tender for the Business &
    Financial Centre site drew a bullish top bid. Analysts expect DC rates for hotels to increase
    slightly following positive news for tourism after the government decided to
    have two integrated resorts (IRs). But the rate for industrial use will probably
    continue to dip, by up to 2 per cent on the whole, consultants say. The government revises DC rates twice a year, on
    March 1 and Sept 1. The changes are tracked in property circles because they
    reflect values and can affect the breakeven costs of developers seeking to
    redevelop sites. Increases in DC rates can also affect collective sales. The rates are expressed in terms of per square
    metre of gross floor area (GFA) and specified by land use - such as landed
    and non-landed residential, or commercial and industrial - across 118
    locations 'or geographical sectors' in Singapore. The revisions are made by
    the Ministry of National Development in consultation with the Chief Valuer,
    who takes into account current market value. Jones Lang LaSalle's head of research (South Asia)
    Feng Zhi Wei reckons that 'while past transactional evidence remains a key
    consideration for the Chief Valuer to determine the adjustments to the DC
    rates, future plans for specific locations are also taken into consideration
    in some instances'. Colliers' associate director (research and
    consultancy) Tay Huey Ying says: 'Developers' confidence has definitely been
    on a high in the past six months - boosted by numerous government
    announcements such as the development of the two IRs, the July package of
    property measures including relaxation of home financing rules, and the
    better-than-expected Q2 economic performance.' The residential sector in particular has seen
    numerous development sites changing hands at bullish prices. For example,
    the Tang brothers' land at No 27 and No 33 St Thomas Walk was sold this
    month at about $601 per square foot of potential GFA - 22 per cent more than
    a nearby Quelin Gardens plot sold in June last year. Colliers predicts that DC rates for non-landed
    residential use will likely rise by 5 to 8 per cent on average, with the
    prime districts 9, 10 and 11 seeing the biggest gains of 12 to 15 per cent.
    Rates for Sentosa Cove, where residential land deals have been running hot,
    as well as the existing financial district and New Downtown, could also see
    rises of 8-10 per cent, the firm predicts. Locations that should benefit most from their
    proximity to the IRs, like Tanjong Rhu and Telok Blangah, may also see DC
    rates head north. JLL's Ms Feng forecasts an average 5 per cent rise
    in non-landed residential DC rates. 'Investment interest in prime land was
    high in the past six months,' she says. 'Hence, we see more upward potential
    of DC rates for prime districts, including the Ardmore/Draycott, Cairnhill,
    Paterson and Fernhill/Orange Grove locations - all of which have seen recent
    deals at prices exceeding the implied land values based on March 2005 DC
    rates'. As for landed residential use, Colliers predicts
    an average increase of 3 to 5 per cent, with the biggest gains of 8-10 per
    cent in Good Class Bungalow areas and Sentosa Cove. CB Richard Ellis executive director Soon Su Lin
    sees more modest increases of less than 5 per cent for landed and non-landed
    residential DC rates on average, reasoning that recent land deals are, on
    the whole, still within market expectations. As for commercial DC rates, Ms Soon does not
    expect major adjustments except for the New Downtown. The figure for the
    geographical sector that includes the BFC may rise about 10 per cent,
    'reflecting the general enhancement in land values in the Marina Bay area,
    which will see new infrastructure projects over the next 10 years', she
    says. Cushman and Wakefield managing director Donald Han
    also sees a 5 per cent average appreciation in commercial rates, supported
    by the recovery in office rentals and the BFC top bid. - By
    Kalpana Rashiwala     SINGAPORE BUSINESS TIMES    
    30 Aug 2005  POLICY
    
     'If you look at the entire package, it has potential to stimulate demand for
    a whole range of housing types - from entry level, to upmarket homes for
    foreigners.'
 Among the measures which Mr Mah announced was a
    new option to the Economic Development Board's (EDB's) Global Investors
    Programme which allows private residential properties to make up to 50 per
    cent of a minimum $2 million investment sum requirement for foreigners to be
    considered for permanent resident status. Much of the initial flurry of marketing activity
    is expected to focus on entry-level, low-priced private housing
    developments. This is because such projects appeal to young, first-time
    private home buyers who in the past had the greatest difficulty in meeting
    the cash downpayment and who now therefore stand to benefit the most from
    the halving in the downpayment. - BUSINESS
    TIMES   21 July 2005 Re-tuning
    property policies The following is the speech delivered in
    Parliament yesterday by Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan on
    policy changes affecting the property market Over the past few years, the Government has
    implemented several key policy changes related to the property market. These
    included adjustments to the CPF Ordinary Account contribution rates and cash
    downpayment requirements, and limiting the amount of bank financing for the
    purchase of private residential properties. We also capped the amount of CPF
    that could be withdrawn to purchase properties using bank loans. Such re-tuning of policies from time to time is
    necessary to ensure their continued relevance to broader social and economic
    objectives. These objectives include enhancing Singapore's cost
    competitiveness, ensuring retirement adequacy for an ageing population, and
    maintaining a healthy financial sector. These changes in CPF policies,
    mortgage financing rules, and policies relating to home ownership affect the
    property market, in one way or another. As such, we need to ensure that the
    rules set will foster the free and undistorted functioning of the property
    market. It is in our interest to ensure that the property market is stable
    and consistent with economic fundamentals, as it affects home ownership,
    asset values, retirement savings and the health of the banking sector. So far, the various CPF, home ownership and
    mortgage rules have been introduced at different times to fulfil various
    objectives. Hitherto, we have not comprehensively reviewed all of them
    together. We have thus decided to do a holistic review of various
    property-related policies, and implement them as a package. This way, we can
    provide stakeholders in the market with a complete picture, and ensure that
    the measures are consistent with one another. The review has covered three major areas, namely
    caps on bank financing for residential properties; 
      limits on the use of CPF for property
        purchases; and
      restrictions on foreign ownership of lands and
        properties. Let me stress that the purpose of the changes is
    neither to boost nor depress the property market. Rather, the review is to
    improve structural rules in the above areas to improve the functioning of
    the property market, and to better achieve broader economic and social
    objectives in today's context. Some of the measures introduced will have a
    positive effect on the property market, while others may have a dampening
    effect. The net effect will depend on many factors, many of which are beyond
    these measures. We believe that with prudent and realistic decisions, the
    market will find a new equilibrium that will be based on economic
    fundamentals. I will now proceed to elaborate on the measures that will be
    put in place in the next few months. Details of these policy measures will
    be provided by the respective Government agencies separately. Mortgage and financing policies Raise LTV limit for housing loans from 80 per
    cent to 90 per cent: The first of these measures is the raising of the
    Loan-to-Value (LTV) limit for housing loans. MAS introduced the 80 per cent
    LTV limit for bank-originated housing loans in 1996, together with the
    Government's package of measures to cool the private property market. The 80
    per cent LTV limit was intended not only to counter the market overheating
    at the time, but to ensure sound bank lending practices across property
    market cycles. The 20 per cent payment by borrowers provided a buffer for
    banks in the event of a property downturn. This was particularly important
    as bank loans at the time ranked second behind borrowers' own CPF claims on
    mortgaged properties. In 2002, the priority of claims over properties
    was changed so that banks now held the first charge for the property ahead
    of CPF. It has been three years since, and the market has had sufficient
    time to adjust to this change. Currently, over two-thirds of banks'
    outstanding housing loans are secured by first claims over properties. MAS
    is now ready to increase the housing financing limit to 90 per cent of the
    property value. The remaining 10 per cent which the purchaser has
    to pay will continue to deter over-borrowing by purchasers and minimise
    potential losses by banks arising from borrower default. However, to
    mitigate the increased risk that banks will take, MAS will require banks to
    hold more capital against housing loans which exceed 80 per cent of the
    property value. MAS will also expect banks to apply rigorous internal credit
    evaluation criteria before extending high LTV loans. In some countries, mortgage insurance is available
    to insure lenders against the risks of high LTV loans. MAS is prepared
    in-principle to consider mortgage insurance as an alternative to the capital
    charge to mitigate the risks of high LTV loans. However, mortgage insurance
    is not yet available in Singapore. MAS will be studying its viability here
    and how best to regulate mortgage insurers. HDB will similarly raise the loan limit for its
    flat buyers from 80 per cent to 90 per cent. The actual loans to be granted
    will be subject to the banks' and HDB's credit assessment and mortgage
    financing policies.
     Limit minimum cash payment required for
    residential properties at 5 per cent: Another revision to the housing
    loan rules in 2002 was the reduction of the cash payment for private
    residential properties to 10 per cent of its value, down from 20 per cent
    previously. The Government will now lower the cash payment for private
    residential properties from 10 per cent to 5 per cent. This means that a purchaser who is granted a 90
    per cent loan for his housing unit can pay his remaining 10 per cent through
    a combination of at least 5 per cent of the property value in cash, and the
    remaining with CPF. For HDB flats financed with bank loans, the payment to
    be paid in cash is currently 4 per cent and is slated to increase gradually
    to 10 per cent in 2008. In line with the reduction in the cash payment for
    private residential properties to 5 per cent, the Government will adjust the
    cash requirement for HDB flats financed with bank loans to 5 per cent,
    instead of to 10 cent as initially planned. The raising of the LTV limit
    will take immediate effect and apply to all properties purchased from today.
    The 5 per cent cash requirement for private properties will take immediate
    effect, while that for HDB flats will apply to flats purchased from 1 Jan
    2006. These changes will give consumers a wider choice of financing options
    when purchasing a property. However, I urge property buyers to continue to
    exercise prudence in their home purchase and financing decisions, and ensure
    that they can comfortably afford the expenses. Central Provident Fund policies
     The CPF Board will streamline its policies to
    increase flexibility for the use of CPF savings to purchase property, while
    ensuring that adequate sums are put aside for retirement needs.
     Reduce Minimum Lease Period (MLP) for use of
    CPF savings: The first policy change is to allow the use of CPF savings
    to purchase private residential properties with shorter leases. Currently,
    CPF members are allowed to use their CPF savings to purchase private
    residential properties only if these properties have remaining leases of at
    least 60 years. This is to ensure that the lease can last the average life
    expectancy of buyers. This policy intent is still valid, but older
    members can also meet this objective when they choose to buy properties with
    shorter leases. The Government has therefore decided to allow CPF members to
    use their CPF savings to purchase private residential properties with
    remaining leases of 30 to 60 years. CPF withdrawal limits for the purchase
    of such properties will be pegged to the age of the purchaser and the
    remaining lease of the property. CPF will provide further details shortly.
    This policy change will take immediate effect.
     Allow non-related members to jointly purchase
    private residential properties using CPF savings: The second change
    pertains to the purchase of private residential properties by non-related
    members. Currently, CPFB does not allow non-related CPF members to use their
    CPF savings to jointly purchase private residential properties. However, non-related singles have been allowed to
    use their CPF savings to jointly purchase HDB flats. To align the treatment
    of private residential properties with HDB flats, the Government has decided
    to allow non-related singles to use their CPF savings to jointly purchase
    private residential properties. This policy, which will take immediate effect, is
    expected to benefit singles who have been hitherto constrained by CPF
    regulations to share purchases of private residential properties.
     Simplify the Available Housing Withdrawal Limit
    (AHWL): The third change to CPF policies is to simplify the Available
    Housing Withdrawal Limit (AHWL). The AHWL limits the amount of CPF savings
    that CPF members can withdraw for housing purchases. Currently, for CPF members below 55 years of age,
    the AHWL is set at either 80 per cent of the gross CPF savings in the
    Ordinary Account and Special Account in excess of the prevailing Minimum
    Sum, or the available Ordinary Account balance after setting aside the
    Minimum Sum cash component, whichever is lower. However, the current AHWL is
    complex and difficult for members to understand. Therefore, CPF Board has simplified the
    requirement to set the AHWL only to the available OA balance after setting
    aside the Minimum Sum cash component. This will raise the AHWL for a small
    number of CPF members. This policy change will take immediate effect.
    Government's plans to reduce the CPF withdrawal limit for housing
    expenditure to 120 per cent of the property's valuation limit by 2008 will
    remain unchanged.
     Transfer Medisave Account (MA) overflows to
    Special Account (SA) or Retirement Account (RA) instead of to Ordinary
    Account (OA): Currently, Medisave Account (MA) contributions in excess
    of the Medisave Contribution Ceiling, or 'MA overflows', are automatically
    transferred to CPF members' Ordinary Accounts (OA), whose funds can be used
    for property purchases and other investments. To improve retirement adequacy for CPF members,
    the Government has decided to transfer MA overflows into the Special Account
    (SA) for members aged below 55 and into the Retirement Account (RA) for
    members aged 55 and above. The interest rate for the SA and RA is higher
    than that for the OA. This will benefit members and better ensure adequate
    retirement savings for members. However, as savings in the SA and RA cannot be
    used for property purchases, the measure could affect a small number of
    members who currently rely on their MA overflows to finance their mortgages
    in properties. CPF Board will allow existing mortgagors who have difficulty
    servicing their loans arising from this measure to use their MA overflows to
    do so upon appeal, subject to conditions. This change will require the CPF
    Act to be amended and the effective date is set as July 1, 2006.
     Impose restrictions on the use of CPF savings
    for multiple property purchases: The CPFB has also reviewed its policy
    on the use of CPF savings to purchase multiple properties. Currently, CPF
    members can use their CPF savings to purchase more than one property. To ensure that retirement needs are not
    compromised, the Government has decided that only the CPF savings in the OA
    in excess of the Minimum Sum cash component can be used for the purchase of
    2nd and subsequent properties. Members with inadequate Minimum Sum cash
    amounts will be allowed to use their CPF funds for the purchase of 2nd and
    subsequent properties if they undertake to sell their existing property
    within 6 months from the purchase of the second property. For the second and
    subsequent properties, the amount of CPF savings that can be used for their
    purchase is capped at 100 per cent of the valuation limit of the property.
    This measure will take effect on July 1, 2006.
     Phase out the Non-Residential Properties Scheme
    (NRPS): The final change to CPF policies pertains to CPFB's
    Non-Residential Properties Scheme (NRPS). Currently, the NRPS allows CPF
    members to invest their CPF savings in non-residential properties such as
    office space, shops, factories and warehouses. Since members who wish to invest their CPF savings
    in properties can now do so by investing in property funds instead of
    physical properties, the Government has decided to phase out the NRPS by
    July 1, 2006. Existing NRPS users will be allowed to continue to use their
    CPF savings to pay their mortgage installments for non-residential
    properties. CPF Board will release the details of the above
    six changes to CPF policies shortly. Foreign purchases and ownership of residential
    properties
     Allow investment in private residential
    properties to qualify for PR status under EDB's Global Investor Programme
    (GIP): Currently, under the Global Investor Programme (GIP) administered
    by the Economic Development Board (EDB), foreigners can be considered for
    Permanent Resident (PR) status if they invest a certain minimum sum in
    business set-ups and/or other investment vehicles such as venture capital
    funds, foundations or trusts that focus on economic development. Private residential properties, which had been
    allowed under the GIP, were removed from the list of allowable investment
    instruments under the scheme in 1996. The Government has now decided to
    re-allow investment in private residential properties. Under a new option to the current GIP, a foreigner
    can now be considered for PR status if he invests at least $2 million in
    business set-ups, other investment vehicles such as venture capital funds,
    foundations or trusts, and/or private residential properties. Up to 50 per
    cent of the investment can be in private residential properties, subject to
    foreign ownership restrictions under the Residential Property Act (RPA).
    This additional option will complement our efforts to attract and anchor
    foreign talent in Singapore. This policy change will take immediate effect.
     Foreign ownership of residential properties
    under the RPA: Under the Residential Property Act (RPA), foreigners can
    buy restricted properties only with approval. Restricted properties are
    landed properties as well as apartments in non-condominium developments of
    less than six levels. The Government has reviewed the RPA rules and has
    decided to fine-tune the RPA rules in three aspects. First, with immediate effect, foreigners can
    purchase apartments in non-condominium developments of less than six levels
    without the need to obtain prior approval. For landed properties, prior
    approval is still needed if foreigners wish to buy. Landed properties is a
    special class of residential property that Singaporeans aspire to own, and
    should remain restricted. The second change, concerns the exemption granted
    to some foreign companies from applying for a Qualifying Certificate (QC)
    when they purchase residential land for development. Under the RPA, foreign
    companies are required to apply for a QC. To obtain the QC, they must provide a Bankers'
    Guarantee for 50 per cent of the purchase price of the land and commit to
    complete the development in three to four years. The purpose of these
    requirements is to ensure that foreign companies do not hoard land or
    purchase land for speculation. Currently, a small group of foreign companies are
    exempted from these QC requirements. To level the playing field, the
    Government has decided to revoke the exemption status of currently-exempted
    foreign companies and subject all foreign companies to the QC requirements,
    with immediate effect. The existing land stock held by currently-exempted
    foreign companies will be given grandfather rights. The third change concerns the requirements
    attached to the grant of a QC. We recognise that the QC requirements impose
    costs on businesses. To lower these costs, the Government has decided to
    reduce the required Banker's Guarantee from 50 per cent to 10 per cent of
    the land price. In addition, to allow foreign developers some flexibility to
    ride out unexpected changes in market conditions, the period allowed for
    completing developments is extended from the current three to four years, to
    six years. The Ministry of Law will release further information on these
    changes and their implementation dates separately. Conclusion
     To reiterate, the proposed policy changes are not
    intended to steer the property market in any direction. Some of the changes
    will have a positive effect on the property market, while others may have a
    dampening effect. The overall impact of these measures on the market may be
    positive or negative, but that is not the purpose of our review. Rather the changes must be seen in their totality,
    as a package that will enable the property market to work better, and to
    find its own equilibrium based on firm economic fundamentals. Some changes are refinements of rules put in place
    in earlier reviews. Others are to remove provisions or controls no longer
    relevant, or to introduce new opportunities. Where necessary, we have put in
    place adequate, but not excessive, safeguards. We will continue to review our rules and policies
    from time to time, and to change them if conditions change or unexpected
    situations arise. But I believe that these new policies, which lay the
    foundation for us to achieve longer term objectives, will be relevant
    through the ups and downs of the property cycle.  
    - 20 July 2005    BUSINESS
    TIMES Property package gets thumbs up Consultants, developers, analysts unanimous in saying it's positive for
    housing market
 National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan took
    pains to stress yesterday that the package of measures he announced on the
    property market is meant neither to boost nor depress the market. But property consultants, developers and analysts
    unanimously agree it will be positive for the residential sector, which has
    been languishing for most of the past eight years. The measures announced yesterday - the most
    important of which is an increase in the housing loan quantum and an
    accompanying reduction in the cash downpayment - are seen as boosting
    demand, especially for big Housing and Development Board flats and the
    entry-level/upgrader segment of the private sector. Yesterday's package is also expected to fuel an
    increase in private home purchases by foreigners. And hopes of a mini property boom are running high
    in some quarters, although key factors that will likely prevent prices from
    suddenly surging yet are worries about affordability and job security,
    especially in the upgrader segment. Still, the increase in the loan quantum from 80 to
    90 per cent of property value could see improved demand for HDB flats and
    private homes. And in the private market, the accompanying halving of the
    cash downpayment to just 5 per cent - with immediate effect - is expected to
    boost demand in the entry-level segment. 'Looking at the past, each time there have been
    changes in policy on financing of property, it has had a direct impact on
    demand and consequently property prices,' said DTZ Debenham Tie Leung
    executive director Ong Choon Fah. 'We should see more visitors to showflats
    and more people willing to commit. Prices should go up when demand picks up
    sufficiently.' Knight Frank executive director Peter Ow predicts
    a 10 per cent increase in private home sales for the whole of this year and
    a price increase of at least 5 per cent for the next six months. Many
    developers are hoping the increase will be much more. Other demand-boosting measures announced yesterday
    include allowing two unrelated singles to use their CPF savings to jointly
    buy private homes, and a rule change that allows foreigners to buy
    apartments in projects of less than six storeys that do not have condo
    status. 'This could encourage foreigners to buy properties with potential
    for collective sale. Many of these properties are low-rise apartment
    developments,' said Knight Frank managing director Tan Tiong Cheng. Developers also got another long-standing wish
    granted yesterday, when Minister Mah announced a new option under the
    Economic Development Board's Global Investors Programme to allow private
    residential properties to make up to 50 per cent of a minimum $2 million
    investment sum requirement for foreigners to be considered for permanent
    resident status. However, foreigners will still need to get prior
    approval if they wish to buy landed property. 'Landed properties are a
    special class of residential property that Singaporeans aspire to own, and
    should remain restricted,' Mr Mah said. There are also a range of measures involving the
    use of Central Provident Fund savings. Most notable is that CPF savings may
    be used to buy private homes with remaining leases of 30 to 59 years,
    compared with the current minimum 60-year threshold. DTZ's Mrs Ong described
    this as a 'good move because we should not unduly penalise our assets with
    leases approaching 60 years'. 'That is when they usually see a significant
    drop in value because of a lack of financing options,' she added. CB Richard Ellis director (residential) Joseph Tan
    said: 'We might see house hunters looking at older leasehold developments or
    HUDC flats in choice estates without the traditional financial and
    psychological barriers.' Property consultants found very little that could
    be dampening for the real estate market in yesterday's package, except
    perhaps for the move to transfer CPF Medisave Account overflows into the
    Special Account for those below 55 and into the Retirement Account for those
    aged 55 and above. The latter two accounts pay higher interest and
    this will benefit CPF members and better ensure adequate retirement savings
    for members. But with the end of Medisave Account overflows into the
    Ordinary Account, where funds can be used for property purchases, the change
    could also mean less funds for real estate purchases. Still market watchers like Knight Frank's Mr Tan
    said: 'That's not such a bad thing. What may seem negative are actually
    necessary safeguards, for example, to protect the nest egg of people
    reaching retirement age. Frankly, I don't see anything really negative for
    the property market in this package. It's all positive.' - 
    by Kalpana Rashiwala    BUSINESS
    TIMES   20 July 2005 Singapore eases Financing RulesSingapore eased restrictions on property financing and foreign home
    ownership Tuesday in a move that analysts say would boost the city-state's
    fragile property market.
 Singapore Minister of National Development Mah Bow
    Tan told parliament that buyers would be allowed to borrow more from banks
    and use more of their pension funds to finance property purchases. He also said the government has decided to make it
    easier for foreigners to buy private homes. In Singapore, 93 percent of the
    population owns a home - the highest ownership level in Asia. The eagerly anticipated announcement, which will
    take effect immediately, gave a boost to property-related stocks on the
    Singapore stock exchange. Virtually all property stocks soared to multi-year
    highs. The property index jumped 8.4 percent - its biggest rise since
    December 2001 - to its highest level in more than five years. The broader market rose 2 percent, its biggest
    single-day jump since May 2004, to close at its highest level since January
    2000. Bank stocks, such as DBS Group Holdings and
    Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp, also gained on investor hopes of rising demand
    for home loans. Singapore real-estate prices are about 36 percent
    down from 1996 peaks and analysts say the new measures will spur a property
    sector recovery that has lagged other cities in Asia. ``It opens the window
    for those at the margins who couldn't afford to buy property before. It just
    depends on whether banks will take the risk or not,'' said GK Goh Economist
    Song Seng Wun. Under the new regulations, property buyers will be
    able to borrow up to 90 percent of the total purchase price instead of the
    previous 80 percent. The bank lending limit was introduced in 1996,
    just before the Asian financial crisis, as part of a raft of measures
    designed to cool an overheating property market. Mah also said the central bank would study how to
    make mortgage insurance available in Singapore to protect banks against
    losses arising from loan defaults. Under the new rules, buyers will also be able to
    use pension funds to buy private properties with 30 to 60 year leases.
    Previously, buyers could tap their mandatory pension savings to finance
    properties that had at least 60 years until the assets reverted to the
    holder of lease. ``This will give buyers a wider choice of
    financing options when purchasing properties,'' Mah said. Singapore is also easing restrictions on foreign
    home ownership, allowing foreigners to buy apartments in buildings with less
    than six floors. But foreigners will still need approval to buy
    landed property. Analysts also said investor confidence remained the key
    factor for the trade-dependent country as it was facing an uncertain export
    outlook. ``The question remains whether this move will make
    borrowers any more comfortable than they were before, given the jobs
    situation and the general lack of confidence among consumers,'' said Daiwa
    Institute of Research analyst David Lum. Over 80 percent of the 4.5 million Singaporeans
    live in public flats purchased from the state housing agency.  
    - REUTERS   20 July 2005  A
    crippling blow for property owners
    Policy of upping plot ratios only on
    empty land changes rules of game
 
    2003 March 4 :  Last
    Friday Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, a medical doctor and hospital administrator
    turned politician, made an announcement that drove a stake through the heart
    of the property market. And he did it with a smile.
     Speaking at the launch of the draft west
    region Master Plan, part of a blueprint for Singapore's future physical
    development, he said the government will raise plot ratios for residential
    land near 'public transport nodes'. But this will be done selectively and
    only land currently empty will benefit from the higher plot ratios, which
    allow for more intensive development. This is to 'enable areas that have
    already been built-up to be left intact, so that the estate's established
    character can be retained', he said. Dr Balakrishnan, the No 2 man at the
    National Development Ministry, is an accomplished debater. Perhaps his
    audience was lulled by his voice. Perhaps they were more concerned with the
    government's Budget announcement on the same day. Whatever the reason, few
    realised that he had quietly changed the most fundamental rule of the
    property market. Property is 'location, location,
    location'. More than anything else, location decides the value of a
    property. With the right location, a shop will get more customers, a hotel
    more guests, a condominium a better class of tenants and a factory more
    willing workers. Get it wrong, and nothing else - be it design, facilities,
    or other factors - will be enough to compensate for the disadvantage. This may no longer be true in Singapore.
    In his soft, even voice, Dr Balakrishnan in effect disclosed that location
    will no longer be the main criterion for value, because properties in the
    same area may not be treated in exactly the same manner anymore. Take the policy on plot ratio. It used to
    be that a higher plot ratio benefits all properties within a prescribed
    area. Now the windfall only goes to empty land, and a block of condos may
    stand between two vacant lots and still be denied the higher plot ratio
    given to its neighbours. Private property owners are certain to be
    upset. They will also point out that it is the government that will benefit
    most from the change as almost all vacant land in Singapore is owned by the
    state. Markets thrive on certainty and
    transparency and the new policy Dr Balakrishnan unveiled has robbed the
    property market of both. The market is no longer certain, as the
    rule change will result in different parties benefiting differently. And it is not transparent because no one
    knows how the new rule on empty land has come about. Previous bad call One guess in the property market is that
    the Urban Redevelopment Authority, author of the Master Plan, may have
    misjudged badly when it last raised plot ratios in the mid-1990s. Those inclined to this view cite various
    examples as evidence. Higher plots ratios were given in URA's design guide
    plans, but were disallowed when owners tried to put them into practice. There is also a strange policy that
    allowed high-rise redevelopments in the central, crowded areas, thus causing
    more congestion, but not in outlying areas where high-rise developments
    would do less harm. And, of course, by limiting the higher
    plot ratios this time round to owners of empty land, it is hard to avoid the
    conclusion that the beneficiary will be mostly the government. So what next for a property market that
    is no longer as certain and transparent? The answer is simple. Like all
    markets that have lost their direction, it is likely to soon see the
    departure of investors. In Singapore, most property owners are
    stuck with their properties and cannot leave. But the fortunate ones who can
    may soon pull up stakes and put their money in greener pastures. After all, what's the point of
    investing in a market where you might wake up one morning and find yourself
    disadvantaged by a new set of rules? - by Lee 
    Han Shih   SINGAPORE BUSINESS TIMES    4
    March 2003 
    
       
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