Junkay

Ho ho I sense the bubble will soon burst. It will be a buyers market then! I remember very clearly 6 months before the property market went crazy a seller was willing to pay me 8k to take over his unit within walkin distance to MRT! Imagine that! But he already committed to another flat so he had to sell it fast. If he had waited just a bit longer, people would have paid at least 20k COV for his flat.

I think I just found out a solution to my predicament ... I hope it works. I never did mention that I didnt take a grant for my first flat. So based on the financial plan on HDB website, it would be included in my CPF when I buy a second resale. Can that be used as the initial 10% payment, stamp duties etc?

I really cant grasp the 40k above and some even pay 100k above. Is that flat so valuable? I know most are from the en bloc private side... but for someone earning less than 8k a month, how to afford a 40k ang bao? Just ranting lah.. 100k can do a lot of things like good reno, a degree, probably support the kid till secondary school.... go batam and live for quite a number of years...

Apple freak : Strange that you should mention excess. I wrote to the HDB asking what does their online sales calculation mean when it says excess paid in cash. I thought if the flat was sold above COV then you get cash? Are u saying that if i bought the flat at lets say 200k and valuation now is about 220k and i sell at 220k. once sold I pay off the existing mortage loan the excess is paid to me in cash? please let it be so good please let it be so good...... Hello88 : Your situation is quite cheem. Didnt quite understand the part about "we area office to clear the loan". So when you bought your second flat you had to top up with cash? Or there was enough left in the CPF to pay the duties etc. I am just lucky that I parked money into investment and used just enough to cover the duties involved in my first flat. eeyoreddon : EC is HDB right? Cannot make them pay some penalty? you are incurring cost everyday they are late! HDB is H E L L's Death Bed! Looks like there isnt a way out of this except to pray for lottery again! Sigh This just came in fresh from HDB Qn: I intend to buy a new flat from HDB in a few years time and would like to know certain regulations involved. In order for me to afford putting down the mandatory 10% down payment, I need to sell my existing flat first. Is there a way that I can buy the new flat and sell my flat concurrently but only start payment when the money from the selling is in? You need to sell your existing flat within 6 months from taking possession of the flat you are buying. Contra Facility for buying a flat from HDB One of the eligibility conditions to request for Contra Facility for buying a flat from HDB is that you must be eligible to obtain a concessionary loan from HDB. This is because the Contra Facility (to buy a flat from HDB) will require a temporary mortgage loan to be granted before the resale completion of the existing flat. Hence, if not eligible for a concessionary interest rate loan from HDB, then will not be eligible to apply for the Contra Facility. Applicants who are not eligible for the HDB's concessionary interest rate loan, and need to approach the banks/financial institutions to apply for a loan to finance the new flat, are also not eligible to apply for the Contra Facility. For information on the Contra Facility, you can use this link: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10201p.nsf/WP...Menu=Procedures Qn: Is there a similar method for resale too? I pay the new resale only with the sale of my existing flat. Is it something called contra? Enhanced Contra Facility (ECF) The ECF allows an owner who is selling the existing HDB flat ('Flat A') to use CPF refunds and the cash proceeds from selling the existing flat to finance the purchase of a resale flat ('Flat B'). This is provided that the buyer for Flat A and seller for Flat B have not applied for such facility for their respective flats and the contra party is not getting a housing loan from the bank or financial institution to finance the purchase of Flat B. The contra parties must not be an undischarged bankrupt or have any bankruptcy proceedings commenced. If private solicitors (lawyers) have to be engaged, we will not be able to process the applications under ECF. To apply for the ECF, you need to submit both the applications for sale and purchase of flat together. All parties must agree to apply and comply with the terms and conditions of the ECF and have to sign the ECF Application form. Both resale applications have to be processed and completed at the same time. For more information on the ECF, you can use this link: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10201p.nsf/WP...ty?OpenDocument

anyone knows roughly when this COV will end. 5 years? I dont know how u all do it paying 40k COV. Must pay in cash right?

I think you have to send your application to the HDB officer first before you can commence the hacking works. Normally the IDs will do it for you. The officer needs to confirm that the wall will not affect structure so that you can hack it. in my case i dont recall paying anything extra.

So when would the money from the first flat come in? Would the loan amount change once the sale money comes in? I am just afraid that I might not have enough to settle the second flat's fees like depsit stamp duties etc before the sales proceeds come in. What did you all do? hello88 : Yikes! Hopefully that doesnt happen to me. My hope is to sell to newly weds and singles.

Apple freak : Thanks for the info. You are always one of the fastest to reply to anything. You hitting mosquito ah? As with the COV part, I am actually counting on the design to ask for more COV! ahahah

I pretty much guess this has been discussed plenty times but I just wish to hear from more people with fresh tactics, and the second part is about valuation. Resale market Firstly, what is the method to sell your flat and buy another one at the same time? How do we plan so that we wont get stuck with no house and buyers pushing for you to get out so that they can do reno. Or there must be a period when you have to rent a place for sometime while you wait for your new resale flat to finish reno. Or you can buy then sell? Direct HDB Is it also true that if you buy a flat from HDB, you can move in to the new flat first and when the selling of your previous flat's transaction completes, start payment for the flat. (New flat meaning the BTOs and also the repurchased flats) Secondly, there are many versions of this. I knocked down one wall of my 3 room flat to expand my living room. So now there is one huge master and one living/dining. Would the valuation be stated as a 2 room or a 3 room? Would the valuation fall because I revamped the whole place? (when I mean revamped, I mean totally) Thank you everyone! I hope some industry players can also vet the infomation about HDB regulation.

What is the biggest EM around. I saw once a flat released by HDB very unique with some sort of family area on the second floor in Sin Ming Avenue 186sqm but labelled as EM.

My apologies its http://kuali.com and I just went to www.recipezaar.com its there. Maybe you typed zarr instead of zaar? Cheers

I think my wife is like your hubby. If she has to cook I prefer not to be around cos I get irritated. She says I have a Ramsay character. I am a wash and go person so I wont clog up the sink with dishes at the end of the session. cheers all this is my fav website for asian cooking www.thekuali.com and for western www.recipezaar.com bear in mind their temp is in F so must convert to C.

YES do not microwave water! It might form a cup of SUPERHEATED water whereby the molecules are full of energy but are kept in place. But once you move it, it would form a fountian of boiling water. Search you tube for it, I am sure you can find a video on it.

thank you all for the interesting feedback and suggestions. I think from what I read, that neo garden thing sounds quite affordable but i just dont know the quality of food going in. And eating out, every coffe shop sells the same thing. But there is this kopitiam near bukit batok MRT, sells herbal chicken (1/2 chicken) for only $5. My wife and I have trouble finishing it. And yeah cooking is tiring and cleaning isnt that fun. But cook more and soon you will device your own planning schedule. Luckily I leave in a 3 rm. And I think all those have this open concept kitchen will kick themselves in the arse sooner or later, once they start to cook. hahaha Hmmmm. I think I will be cooking this tonight. Chicken breast $2.50, slice into bite size pieces, add sliced ginger, sesame oil to coat pieces, soya sauce to taste, rice wine, 1/3 cup water, top ****ake mushroom. Steam 15 mins. Try it, very soothing. Chicken rice from the heart. you can add herbs if you want, custom made herbal chicken to your liking. Yes I digress to recipes again. Sorry. Just wondering, are all of you ladies? Am I the only guy here talking about cooking? Thanks again for your input. Kinda got a feel of what to do already.

didnt you guys ever watch friends with the episode of the guy upstairs making too much noise? They took brooms and started hitting the ceiling. Fact is if they are active at night means in the day time they are sleeping. Get my drift? I also have a seal living upstairs. But sometimes I think I could be an elephant to the neighbour below. Sometimes we just dont know the nuisance that we caused and all it takes is a GENTLE tone. if it doesnt work, then the parang will come out.

As the topic says, the new releases at punggol BTO has got 4rm flats with balconies at the master man.. nice... BUT wah lau cannot do the same for upgrading meh, instead of putting a stupid expensive sign that says Hillgrove gardens, can supply me with a balcony or not. But coming back... wah...swee ah.

Ooo i cook egg with chinese sausage.... good with plain porridge... Applefreak thanks for the info ...good stuff...BUT before I digress into a cooking show...lets see if anyone else got other fantastic ideas or feedback on dining in or dining out.

thanks for the advice. But eating out on the average will cost you between 8 to 10 dollars a meal including beverages. A home cooked meal cost more than that? Anyone monitors their food expenditure? Thanks applefreak, thats what i do sometimes, soup with everything good, potatoes, carrots, pork ribs, sze chuan vegetables, beans...etc... yeah i plan my meals as to whatever is on sale on that day. yesterday had tom yam prawn (10pcs) soup, 2 kurau fish fillet and kang kong for about 7 dollars. But still wanna find out can tighten further or not. As with dividing the portions i only do that to chicken wings, defrost and divide.

Its a joke as food cooked by vendors usually high in fat and msg. Thanks for replying though. Anyone else that cooks in? Trying to find ways to plan grocery/food shopping for 2.

If you are like me, in our 30s ,married,no kids (at the moment), planning for everything in the future... please take some time to give an unwise person aka me some cool tips on how to stretch that FREAKIN dollar (wooooooozaaaaaaaaaaaa). First my back ground Company : Was a stat board, turned corporate 2 years ago. Nature of job : they called it technical executive i call it lab tech Duration : 8 1/2 years Starting pay : 1600 Current pay 3000/mth nett with 13 month and fluctuating PBs Take home : 2400 Out going : 1.2k compulsory to settle reno loan, insurance and bills so left about 1.2k Annual pay : 43k Education : Diploma I wish to upgrade to a degree. Need to get an edu loan (24k max) pte uni so no subsidy. Thinking of changing jobs to up the pay to pay the loan. Should I? What are your considerations to change jobs considering my position. Anyone knows how Keppel treats its staff? (FMO side) Should I change my job if I can get at least 3.5k/month gross? Should I get a deffered paying edu loan ? pay once the degree ends? But monthly still must pay a nominal some when the course starts. Its a long situation just want to be clear. And thanks in advance if you reply.

Newly weds! Which is more economical for 2? To cook urself or to eat out? How much do you spend on groceries and/or food monthly? For those who are cooking themselves, care to share some tips how u minimize waste? For those who eat out, tell me your weight problems (if you have).

I have those too. But mine is laminated flooring on a platform. I too freaked out when I saw them, but as termites go, they are called white ants and yes with two distinct body parts. They dont look like termites to me. Did you eat something and drop bits onto the floor?Try getting a termite bait first. If not then try ant bait.

I agree, its better to submit your own meter readings, I did it once and the payment was reduced by $20 there so. The following months I didnt submit it went up to 90 plus again. Mine is 3rm with 2 pax, aircon, LCD TV, i cook by gas cylinder which saves a lot of money. The last tank lasted me close to 8 months and I cook quite a bit. I heard from a little bird that SP gives out huge bonuses, how do you think they managed to do that?

MagMag First of all Well done and congrats on the completion. Secondly WEST SIDE RULES!! Just wanna ask you something that I cant figure it out, the windows in the living room just outside the guest bedroom there is a black piece thats covering the windows, what is that? curtains? Is it for a better cinema experience? And also, your wet kitchen uses laminates also? I am sure many would agree this is one of the best reno we have seen in over a year, or i have. Cheers man I am utterly jealous and envious.

Looks very nice GOT POOL and TERRACE ... one of my dream houses. Pity the maid. So much to clean up.