swataction

true, the noise from the track is really irritating cos' my friend stay just next to khatib mrt station. the beep beep door closing sound is irritating. lolz.. but if the station is underground then no problem, just like those NEL line, all are underground.. so no noise or whatsoever.

some good news for those who have been shopping around for flat, bigger flats a better buy compared to smaller flats.. negative COV Some COVs turn negative A few flats sold under valuation by Esther Ng 05:55 AM Apr 24, 2010SINGAPORE - Rising cash-over-valuations (COV) have been the gripe of home-hunters, but some have gotten lucky in Queenstown. Between January and March, the median COV for executive flats there was a negative $6,000, meaning a buyer paid below valuation - a far cry from the $50,000 median COV for the same flat type in the same area, in the preceding quarter. But the first-quarter median COV for executive flats in Toa Payoh was a staggering $63,500. This was the highest COV sum in the Housing and Development Board's list released on Friday, which broke down flat prices for the first quarter. In all three instances, HDB noted, the figures should not be taken as representative as there were fewer than 20 resale transactions in those towns for those flat types. Indeed, overall, the median COV for the first three months of the year stabilised at $25,000 after a marginal increase of just $1,000 - compared to the fourth quarter of last year which saw the COV double. And the HDB's resale price index rose more slowly as well, by 2.8 per cent, as the number of resale transactions slipped 5 per cent - in large part, some analysts noted, due to the huge cash-out-of-pocket sums being demanded by sellers. Generally, resale flats in Bishan attracted the highest median COV of $32,000, followed by those in Punggol ($31,000) and Marine Parade, Central and Sengkang ($30,000). The COV rose for three-, four- and five-room flat types in Kallang/Whampoa, where a five-room unit which previously drew a $16,600 COV now commanded $40,000. The trend was similar in Clementi. "It could be that market is playing catch-up and that that people have bought flats in anticipation of the Circle Line," said Ngee Ann Polytechnic real estate lecturer Nicholas Mak. In general, "COVs are still going up but at a much slower pace and they might be starting to reach a ceiling", he noted. But prices overall would continue to rise as "the valuation of resale flats will also rise". For those short on cash, Woodlands, Pasir Ris and Geylang were their best bets, with the median COV ranging from $20,000 to $22,000. To meet demand, HDB said it plans to launch about 12,300 new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats by September, with 1,100 to be offered next month in Yishun and Jurong West. In addition, a Punggol executive condominium site on the Government's Reserve List will be put up for tender early next month.

for people who plans to buy flats now, got some good news for you.. some bigger flats in queenstown i.e. executive or 5rm are selling below valuation.. so u can come here to poll that you got ur flat at -ve COV. saw the news todayonline. there is a growing demand for smaller flats i.e. 3rm & 4rm due to smaller family, hence demand for bigger flats dropped, especially 5rm. in sengkang, u can get a executive flat at a more ulu place close to the same price of a 4rm flat with better location. so its not true in some way that public housing has become unaffordable to the masses and buyers are forced to paid high COV. well u can still get units under COV if you dun mind the location. Some COVs turn negative A few flats sold under valuation by Esther Ng 05:55 AM Apr 24, 2010SINGAPORE - Rising cash-over-valuations (COV) have been the gripe of home-hunters, but some have gotten lucky in Queenstown. Between January and March, the median COV for executive flats there was a negative $6,000, meaning a buyer paid below valuation - a far cry from the $50,000 median COV for the same flat type in the same area, in the preceding quarter. But the first-quarter median COV for executive flats in Toa Payoh was a staggering $63,500. This was the highest COV sum in the Housing and Development Board's list released on Friday, which broke down flat prices for the first quarter. In all three instances, HDB noted, the figures should not be taken as representative as there were fewer than 20 resale transactions in those towns for those flat types. Indeed, overall, the median COV for the first three months of the year stabilised at $25,000 after a marginal increase of just $1,000 - compared to the fourth quarter of last year which saw the COV double. And the HDB's resale price index rose more slowly as well, by 2.8 per cent, as the number of resale transactions slipped 5 per cent - in large part, some analysts noted, due to the huge cash-out-of-pocket sums being demanded by sellers. Generally, resale flats in Bishan attracted the highest median COV of $32,000, followed by those in Punggol ($31,000) and Marine Parade, Central and Sengkang ($30,000). The COV rose for three-, four- and five-room flat types in Kallang/Whampoa, where a five-room unit which previously drew a $16,600 COV now commanded $40,000. The trend was similar in Clementi. "It could be that market is playing catch-up and that that people have bought flats in anticipation of the Circle Line," said Ngee Ann Polytechnic real estate lecturer Nicholas Mak. In general, "COVs are still going up but at a much slower pace and they might be starting to reach a ceiling", he noted. But prices overall would continue to rise as "the valuation of resale flats will also rise". For those short on cash, Woodlands, Pasir Ris and Geylang were their best bets, with the median COV ranging from $20,000 to $22,000. To meet demand, HDB said it plans to launch about 12,300 new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats by September, with 1,100 to be offered next month in Yishun and Jurong West. In addition, a Punggol executive condominium site on the Government's Reserve List will be put up for tender early next month.

yes i think for upgrader, the chance is slimer as priority is given to 1st timer.. i personally still feel that walk-in selection is still fairer.. if u really like the location & unit, u queue or put in your best effort to get it instead of balloting and leave it to the element of luck.. i have friends who tried umpteen times balloting but always end up with big no.. hence no chance.. while some who gotten the good no, they opted out last min depriving those who genuinely wan to buy..

i bought mine during the walk-in selection period in end 07, Q overnite outside tpy hdb hub to get a good no, 20+. very fast process.. once selected, within 3mth gotten the keys liao. managed to select a high flr unit @ Aspella, next to buangkok mrt station, gotten a gd price i guess.. 200K but BTO owners got ard 150-170K i think. i think now still got some balance flats left, low floor & only for malay/indians i think, selling ard 295-300K. but no regrets as it is really convenient w public trans next to u though both my wife & i drive.

i got my 4rm flat @ 27, next to buangkok mrt station. 50% paid i love it n dun intend to sell away even i m going to buy a 2nd property. cant find another new hdb project so near to mrt station.

my previous flat is 500m from sengkang mrt station and i considered it fairly near. now, my new flat is just next to the station approx. 50m from the buangkok mrt station, 24hr kopitiam, 24hr supermarket & amenities is just below the flat... now i dun even have to be scared of raining and get drenched walking to mrt station. i think when come to buying flat, interior decor shd not be taken into consideration as all these r sunk cost and will depreciate over time.. so wat if the previous owner spent 50k reno, if u dun like the design.. it dun worth a single cent and worse still.. if u wan to re-design.. all the hacking and reinstatement cost will cost a bomb. so i rather pay a premium for the location instead of reno.. end of the day, it really depend if u like the location and can afford the housing.. no point have a huge liability for 30yrs.