HDB reviewing income ceiling for purchase of 2-room flats in non-mature estates
By Olivia Siong
POSTED: 08 Jul 2013 9:47 PM
National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the Housing and Development Board is reviewing the income ceiling for the purchase of two-room flats in non-mature estates.
SINGAPORE: National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said the Housing and Development Board is reviewing the income ceiling for the purchase of two-room flats in non-mature estates.
He said this in a written parliamentary reply on Monday to Nominated MP Mary Liew, who asked if there were plans to review the monthly household income ceiling of S$2,000 for such flats.
This is in light of the national effort to improve wages for the lower-income group, and to improve the take-up rate.
Mr Khaw said the HDB reviews its policies regularly and added this review will be finalised soon.
Last year, the HDB raised the monthly household income ceiling for the purchase of two-room flats in mature estates from S$2,000 to S$5,000.
Mr Khaw said while the demand for new two-room flats may be lower initially at Build-To-Order sales launches, take-up rates tend to improve as the flats near completion.
This is because the flats cater partly to those who are looking to rightsize and move from their existing unit to a smaller flat.
Mr Khaw pointed out these people are looking for nearly-completed or completed units which they can move into quickly.
For example, the take-up rate for two-room flats in Fernvale Crest increased from 48 per cent at its June 2009 launch, to 97 per cent after its completion this year.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Students from local universities temper salary expectations
Students from local universities temper salary expectations
By Saifulbahri Ismail
POSTED: 10 Jul 2013 6:11 PM
University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
SINGAPORE: University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
Meanwhile, engineering students maintained their expected monthly salary at S$3,354.
The survey polled more than 6,000 students from Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University.
Universum said the lower expectations could be due to the tight labour market, as well as concerns over the viability and ease of finding a good first job upon graduation.
Students also continue to rank foreign companies more favourably as an ideal place to work.
The survey showed foreign employers have the edge over local companies in areas like training and development. However, private home-grown companies have better friendly work environment than their foreign counterparts.
Joakim Strom, managing director of Universum, said: "We will see more local companies (in the list) going forward because the local companies tend to start offering similar things as the foreign companies, such as international career opportunities and training.
"And I think the local companies are picking up very fast in terms of what they should offer to students in their career and development."
- AFP/ac
- wong chee tat :)
By Saifulbahri Ismail
POSTED: 10 Jul 2013 6:11 PM
University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
SINGAPORE: University students are better managing their expectations on the salary of their first job. An online survey by talent company Universum showed that business students expect an average monthly salary of about S$3,300 -- that is a reduction of eight per cent from 2012.
Meanwhile, engineering students maintained their expected monthly salary at S$3,354.
The survey polled more than 6,000 students from Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore and Singapore Management University.
Universum said the lower expectations could be due to the tight labour market, as well as concerns over the viability and ease of finding a good first job upon graduation.
Students also continue to rank foreign companies more favourably as an ideal place to work.
The survey showed foreign employers have the edge over local companies in areas like training and development. However, private home-grown companies have better friendly work environment than their foreign counterparts.
Joakim Strom, managing director of Universum, said: "We will see more local companies (in the list) going forward because the local companies tend to start offering similar things as the foreign companies, such as international career opportunities and training.
"And I think the local companies are picking up very fast in terms of what they should offer to students in their career and development."
- AFP/ac
- wong chee tat :)
No Visa transactions for ComfortDelGro cabs from July 15
No Visa transactions for ComfortDelGro cabs from July 15
POSTED: 10 Jul 2013 9:16 AM
From July 15, commuters will no longer be able to use their Visa cards to pay for rides in ComfortDelGro taxis.
SINGAPORE: From July 15, commuters will no longer be able to use their Visa cards to pay for rides in ComfortDelGro taxis.
In an email to its cabbies, the taxi operator said it was informed by Visa that it can no longer charge an administrative fee.
Those who use credit and debit cards now pay 10 per cent extra, excluding goods and services tax. This, however, is a breach of contract terms, said Visa, which issued an ultimatum to Singapore's largest taxi operator to stop the surcharge, saying it would pull out otherwise.
ComfortDelGro told its cabbies that the fee is needed to invest in and maintain payment terminals and systems, as well as to pay bank fees and telco charges. The fee is also meant as compensation for drivers before they receive bank payments on the next working day.
The operator said it will replace the fleet's cashless window decal in the coming weeks and a placard will be issued to inform passengers of the changes. Visa had previously said only one per cent of rides in the operator's taxis are paid for with its cards.
-TODAY/fa
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 10 Jul 2013 9:16 AM
From July 15, commuters will no longer be able to use their Visa cards to pay for rides in ComfortDelGro taxis.
SINGAPORE: From July 15, commuters will no longer be able to use their Visa cards to pay for rides in ComfortDelGro taxis.
In an email to its cabbies, the taxi operator said it was informed by Visa that it can no longer charge an administrative fee.
Those who use credit and debit cards now pay 10 per cent extra, excluding goods and services tax. This, however, is a breach of contract terms, said Visa, which issued an ultimatum to Singapore's largest taxi operator to stop the surcharge, saying it would pull out otherwise.
ComfortDelGro told its cabbies that the fee is needed to invest in and maintain payment terminals and systems, as well as to pay bank fees and telco charges. The fee is also meant as compensation for drivers before they receive bank payments on the next working day.
The operator said it will replace the fleet's cashless window decal in the coming weeks and a placard will be issued to inform passengers of the changes. Visa had previously said only one per cent of rides in the operator's taxis are paid for with its cards.
-TODAY/fa
- wong chee tat :)
Shane Todd's family remains convinced he was murdered
Shane Todd's family remains convinced he was murdered
POSTED: 09 Jul 2013 11:41 PM
In an email to Channel NewsAsia from his mother Mary Todd on Tuesday, the family argued that the police and coroner in Singapore did not consider or investigate anything other than suicide as a possible cause of death.
SINGAPORE: The family of Dr Shane Todd remains convinced that the US researcher was murdered.
In an email to Channel NewsAsia from his mother Mary Todd on Tuesday, they argued that the police and coroner in Singapore did not consider or investigate anything other than suicide as a possible cause of death.
This comes just one day after Singapore's state coroner concluded that Dr Todd had committed suicide.
Dr Todd was found hanged in his Chinatown apartment last June.
His parents believe that he was murdered because of sensitive research during his work at Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics.
The coroner's inquiry into his death was conducted in May.
During the 10-day inquiry, police said they did not see signs of any foul play at Dr Todd's apartment.
The inquiry also heard that he had accessed suicide-related websites and had been diagnosed with depression.
The family attended the coroner's inquiry but walked out of it midway through the proceedings.
In Tuesday's email, the family said this was because they felt the outcome had been pre-determined.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
POSTED: 09 Jul 2013 11:41 PM
In an email to Channel NewsAsia from his mother Mary Todd on Tuesday, the family argued that the police and coroner in Singapore did not consider or investigate anything other than suicide as a possible cause of death.
SINGAPORE: The family of Dr Shane Todd remains convinced that the US researcher was murdered.
In an email to Channel NewsAsia from his mother Mary Todd on Tuesday, they argued that the police and coroner in Singapore did not consider or investigate anything other than suicide as a possible cause of death.
This comes just one day after Singapore's state coroner concluded that Dr Todd had committed suicide.
Dr Todd was found hanged in his Chinatown apartment last June.
His parents believe that he was murdered because of sensitive research during his work at Singapore's Institute of Microelectronics.
The coroner's inquiry into his death was conducted in May.
During the 10-day inquiry, police said they did not see signs of any foul play at Dr Todd's apartment.
The inquiry also heard that he had accessed suicide-related websites and had been diagnosed with depression.
The family attended the coroner's inquiry but walked out of it midway through the proceedings.
In Tuesday's email, the family said this was because they felt the outcome had been pre-determined.
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Number of resale flats with COVs exceeding S$100,000 falls 20% on-quarter
Number of resale flats with COVs exceeding S$100,000 falls 20% on-quarter
By Lip Kwok Wai
POSTED: 09 Jul 2013 10:03 PM
With the drop in resale flat transactions, the number of units with high Cash-over-Valuations (COVs) has fallen too.
SINGAPORE: With the drop in resale flat transactions, the number of units with high Cash-over-Valuations (COVs) has fallen too.
According to data from the Singapore Real Estate Exchange, in the first quarter of 2013, there were 56 flats with COVs exceeding S$100,000.
The figure dropped some 20 per cent to 44 in the second quarter.
In the first quarter, the top five towns with most flats commanding COV values exceeding S$100,000 were Bishan, Toa Payoh, Geylang, Tampines and Ang Mo Kio.
In the second quarter, Bishan and Toa Payoh still emerged tops, followed by Pasir Ris, Hougang and Bukit Merah.
Analysts felt that flats in Bishan and Toa Payoh are popular so it is not surprising that buyers are still willing to pay higher prices.
Flats in Pasir Ris and Hougang could command high COVs, perhaps because they are near the MRT stations, have larger floor areas or have had appealing renovations.
Analysts also pointed out that with the Housing and Development Board launching more Built-to-Order flats, the resale market has cooled.
Median COV values have dropped from S$33,000 in the first quarter to S$28,000 in the second quarter.
In the next six months, they could drop further.
Chris Koh, director of Chris International, said: "I won't be surprised if it will be in the range of S$15,000 for median COV, which to me, is a good level, because that would mean that we are looking at maybe COVs of sometimes S$10,000 for flats that are not in very prime locations and are not renovated, for example, versus some that may be slightly higher than $15,000."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
By Lip Kwok Wai
POSTED: 09 Jul 2013 10:03 PM
With the drop in resale flat transactions, the number of units with high Cash-over-Valuations (COVs) has fallen too.
SINGAPORE: With the drop in resale flat transactions, the number of units with high Cash-over-Valuations (COVs) has fallen too.
According to data from the Singapore Real Estate Exchange, in the first quarter of 2013, there were 56 flats with COVs exceeding S$100,000.
The figure dropped some 20 per cent to 44 in the second quarter.
In the first quarter, the top five towns with most flats commanding COV values exceeding S$100,000 were Bishan, Toa Payoh, Geylang, Tampines and Ang Mo Kio.
In the second quarter, Bishan and Toa Payoh still emerged tops, followed by Pasir Ris, Hougang and Bukit Merah.
Analysts felt that flats in Bishan and Toa Payoh are popular so it is not surprising that buyers are still willing to pay higher prices.
Flats in Pasir Ris and Hougang could command high COVs, perhaps because they are near the MRT stations, have larger floor areas or have had appealing renovations.
Analysts also pointed out that with the Housing and Development Board launching more Built-to-Order flats, the resale market has cooled.
Median COV values have dropped from S$33,000 in the first quarter to S$28,000 in the second quarter.
In the next six months, they could drop further.
Chris Koh, director of Chris International, said: "I won't be surprised if it will be in the range of S$15,000 for median COV, which to me, is a good level, because that would mean that we are looking at maybe COVs of sometimes S$10,000 for flats that are not in very prime locations and are not renovated, for example, versus some that may be slightly higher than $15,000."
- CNA/xq
- wong chee tat :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)