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Hi

Firstly is there any location requirement for your next property? Because BTO and especially new EC are limited in supply or location. The new ECs currently still available for sale in market are at Tengah, Bukit Batok West, Yishun and Tampines.

For method 2 & 4, once you go to private property, you need to wait out 30 months after selling the EC or private property, before you are eligible to apply for BTO again. So typically this method is not really very feasible since it involves a minimum 5 year rental (rent 30 months + 3 year construction period). The rent expense will offset the capital gains.

Applying for new EC depends on the type of unit size you need. A typical 3 bedroom is approx $1.5mil, and downpayment plus buyer stamp duty is approx $348k, which you may need to stretch your finances a bit. For the Yishun EC, the 3 bed pricing is friendlier from $1.3mil so maybe can explore this.

If the BTO exercises have the location you want, encourage you to apply and see if you are able to get a good unit. Suggest to go for Standard series since the MOP for resale is only a 5 year period, instead of 10 years. BTO usually enjoy capital gains at point of resale, but it may not be as high as new EC.

Hope the above clarifies. I am well-versed with HDB and private property transactions, having helped more than 100 homeowners transit smoothly with their housing plans. Please reach out to me at 97432395  for a more in-depth discussion :)

May I have more info on your requirements so as to make better recommendations? Thanks and looking forward to chat more

Warm Regards,

Ivan Ng Realtor
ERA Senior Marketing Director
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-- HDB Yishun BTO 5-RM Sellers, Private Property Upgraders Mr. & Mrs. Koh --

I would like to express my appreciation to Ivan Ng for his excellent work. Ivan is a dedicated, client-focused, patient and sincere agent. Throughout the whole process of selling and looking for our next property, he has always acted very professionally that makes my wife and I feel at ease and assured. Ivan is not a pushy and hard sales agent. Ivan listens and understands our needs and carefully guided us through. We are fortunate to have Ivan as our agent. Thank you Ivan.

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We would like to thank you for ensuring a smooth and well-explained process throughout the whole selling and buying of our property. We got to know you thru Property Guru, where we are scouting for condo around West area. We remember that we are quite tight in our budget in purchasing the condo unit,but you are still very willingly explaining and calculating our financial liabilities. You are always having your smiles whenever we met for discussion.

We appreciated your process of selling and buying of our property are very systematically and well executed, from financial calculation to the purchase procedure of our new house. We are always being updated thru our group chat during the engagement of your service.

We would never expect such a smooth sailing experience of selling and buying of property. Your professionalism in work will defini Read More

Good morning Kenny,

Actually there's no absolute right or wrong in your plans.

I feel that you should build your wealth as much as possible now when you are still young and retire comfortably.

Do bear in mind that loan amount reduces as you grow older so you should take action asap.

Be it EC or condo, buy within means as you are the sole breadwinner at the moment. I dont wish you to be financial stressed with the next step.

Do take note that based on current regulation, you need to sell off either EC or condo first and observe 30 months waiting period before you can apply for BTO or new EC.

As of now my wife's and my retirement plan is to keep shifting house to grow my wealth and retire in a HDB so we will have a comfortable retirement sum.

Best regards,

YT Tan
Property Kaki
You dream. I create. We make it happen!

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Graduate
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Hi, this depends greatly on your lifestyle needs. Firstly, BTO now are usually 5years or 10years MOP, with quite a number of the prime area ones with 10 years MOP.

Secondly, it is not that easy to ballot until a unit at BTO, so the timeline will be more stretched out.

Thirdly, making the decision to upgrade to a EC or private will mean higher monthly mortgages, which will affect your lifestyle to a certain extend.

All these factors are important to consider when making your decision.

Hi, hopefully you managed to get your doubt or query answered. If so, then congrats! Hopefully you are doing well now.

If you are currently or planning to find a property agent, I can assist.

If you are interested in prices of houses in your neighbourhood, you may visit this website to find out more or contact me.

https://www.era.com.sg/R064892F

If you are currently planning to go on a property journey selling/buying/renting/investing, I can be of assistance. Do feel free to reach out to me for more queries and assistance.

Landon Chew
97 39 60 40
landonchew@email.com Read More

Hi,

I would be most glad to assist you further and pls feel free to let me know if you need any assistance. Have a good day ahead. By the way, if your budget allows, it would be advisable to go for at least a new EC for maximum capital appreciation.

Regards
Aaron Chong
 9730 8455 
aaronchong2774@yahoo.com.sg Read More

Dear sir,

Option in upgrading to an EC will not be wrong in terms of return of investment, however, the key consideration is always the monthly commitments financially to sustain your lifestyle and etc.

There is no outright best advise or solution, given that job prospects for different households are different, the lifestyle are different, and the future planning for retirement are also different. 1 thing for sure is that any option you are considering, there will always be other form of concerns resulting in further dilema.

——

I have been in the real estate business since 2009, with more than 14 years of experience serving the Singapore real estate market.

I am very active in the residential segment of Singapore real estate market, having transacted hundreds of deals from HDBs to private condominiums and landed properties in Singapore, and have handled many unique cases in sales and purchases as well as rental deals.

Over the years, I have also established a network reaching out to more than 15,900 expatriates, bringing my market presence to both in and outside of Singapore. This has created an additional exposure when I manage my client's portfolios, on top of the conventional on and offline platforms, where other estate agents are relying on. This has allowed me to consistently convert leads into results.

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Hi Sir,

In my opinion, you are in a good position to upgrade because you are relatively young and in a comfortable financial position.

Upgrading to a new BTO or EC are the best options moving forward but between the 2, I would recommend upgrading to a new EC because in the long run, you will be able to enjoy a higher capital appreciation as compared to a BTO. At the same time, it is also an upgrade to your lifestyle.

When you are older, you can then choose to downsize to a resale HDB flat. New BTO is not so practical because of the wait out period. By then, you would be able to fully pay off your HDB and have some buffer sums for retirement.

Please feel free to contact me so that I can explain to you further!:)

Regards,
Nick Tan
(M) +65 96 44 48 54
B.Eng(Chemical)(Hons)(NUS) / Cert-in-REA
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Nick is THE absolute best agent, guide to navigating the property market in Singapore. From selling to buying, he manages to get the absolute highest when selling and negotiators to the absolute lowest when purchasing. (So double win for me!). In fact, I bought my new home at the absolute lowest transaction across all the transacting homes. Most agents would just give vanilla advice, he puts scrutiny into every potential choice we were making by advising potential gains, rental yields, back up plans. I think we went through a whole list of more than 20 + before narrowing down to a few high potential properties! Super responsive to our questions and handheld us through the process and even answered questions in the middle of the night. Would absolutely recommend working with Nick for anyone looking to buy, sell or just advice!
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Nick was introduced to me by a friend who learned that my previous property agent wasn’t meeting my expectations. During our first phone call, Nick quickly grasped my concerns and provided a detailed financial plan the next day. Since switching to Nick, selling my house has been much more relaxed. His virtual tour and informative fact sheet eliminated the need for my family and me to be constantly present for viewings by unsuitable buyers.
Nick was invaluable in purchasing my next property. He sourced units within my budget and analysed price trends of condo projects I was interested in. With Nick’s assistance, the buying process was seamless, and he expertly coordinated the sale of my current unit with the purchase of the next. Kudos to Nick for his outstanding service and advice!
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During Nick’s presentation to us, he showed confidence and resourcefulness. He showed us his various methods of reaching out to potential buyers instead of just relying on Propertyguru. He also saw the potential of our home to sell at our projected price. Where other agents deem impossible to achieve, he did his analysis and deems it reasonable and achievable. Nick proves trustworthy. From time to time, Nick will update us on the progress and on any viewing. He will filter buyers who could not meet our asking price and provide update and advice on the offers. We are grateful that he helps us to negotiate for a good price for our home. In summary, Nick is dedicated, resourceful, trustworthy and willing to take challenges.
Sunny Ng (Seller) April 2024

Selling our house was a pretty stressful ordeal, as we have already committed to buying our new home and hence have a timeline to meet. Losing a substantial deposit and worse still, not getting our dream home caused many sleepless nights as we are nearing our deadline. I am very glad we have decided to switch to Nick and seek his help after the dismal performance of our first agent. Not only is Nick very pati Read More

Dear Sir/ Madam,

My opinion- Apply EC + Wait & Stay Till 55 Years Old and Then Downgrade to 2nd Timer BTO

Pros:
ECs are a good middle ground between HDB flats and private condos. They offer more space and better facilities than HDBs but are cheaper than condos.

You can live in the EC until you retire (around 55 years old) and then downgrade to a smaller, more affordable second-timer HDB flat.
ECs can be sold on the open market after 5 years, giving you flexibility if your circumstances change.

Cons:
ECs are more expensive than BTOs, so you’ll need to ensure you have enough cash/CPF to cover the downpayment and monthly installments.
If you plan to downgrade to a second-timer HDB flat after 55, you’ll need to consider the potential increase in HDB prices over the next decade.
Suitable For:
If you want a balance between affordability and comfort, and are comfortable living in an EC for the next 12 years before downsizing.

I would be most glad to assist you further and pls feel free to let me know if you need any assistance.

Wishing you a fantastic day ahead.

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Your Partner in Real Estate Success! Read More

Good day to you,

At the age of 43, you're in a unique position to strategically plan your housing journey. Applying for a Build-To-Order (BTO) flat, moving in, and fulfilling the Minimum Occupancy Period (MOP) will likely take around 8 to 15 years, depending on the option you select. It appears you currently do not have children, which may impact your housing choices. Many of your potential paths lead to downsizing to a smaller unit, which can enhance your cash flow for retirement—except for one option where you are upgrading to an Executive Condominium (EC).

It's important to note that Options #2 and #4 may present some challenges under current regulations. Privatized ECs are categorized as private property. If you decide to sell an EC at age 55 or older, you'll have the opportunity to downsize to a resale HDB unit that is no larger than a 4-room flat without the need for a waiting period. However, this flexibility does not extend to second-time BTO applicants.

I would recommend reconsidering Option #3, as it could create challenges in securing a loan as you age, potentially leaving you cash-strapped during a time when having liquidity is essential.

By clearly defining your retirement objectives, you can create a more robust and effective plan. If you’re interested in exploring your options further, I’d be more than happy to assist you in your planning process.

Navigate Property Decisions with Confidence

With over 15 years of experience in Singapore's residential property sales and purchase (S&P) cases, I understand the complexities involved in the process. I aim to guide you every step of the way with clear communication, ensuring that all parties are legally represented and protected.

I offer in-depth knowledge in:
Ø Estate Planning and Distribution: Planning for the future can feel daunting. Let’s work together to create a smooth, transparent process that brings peace of mind.
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Schedule a Free Consultation Today! Let's discuss how I can assist you in your property journey. For more informative insights, follow our short video here: https://www.youtube.com/@YourSGHomeCompass-MLnU.

Regards
Mike Lim
 96929209 
R026708F
m52i@yahoo.com
ERA Read More

Hi, appreciate your sharing. If able to stretch and go for EC will be better option, able to check with banker base on your current situation and work out for you the plan.
Looking forward to assist you at 9696 4398  or email me at stewartlim96964398@gmail.com

Cheers
Stewart-PropNex (Senior Associate Division Director) Read More

Hi Do contact me at 97970200  to understand more and discuss.

Mark, your RIGHT choice
Propnex Read More

PERSONAL OPINION: BTO (Standard) or EC, depending on your timeline and financial comfort. BTO offers affordability and first-timer benefits, while EC provides better facilities and long-term value.
As the saying goes, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." Start planning today to secure your ideal home for the future!

WhatsApp me at: ABLE Toh (65) 9856-9255  or through this link.:https://wa.me/6598569255
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(4B)✅ ✅ ✅ I am okays NOT TO be the Sole Exclusive Agent , but the “ Open Listing “, additional pair of hands to help you bring the matching buyer / tenant . “ May the Hardworking + Lucky agent close the Deal !!, ( Whether it’s me or another agent ,✅✅✅ I will still be HAPPY FOR THE OWNER !! ✅✅My advantage is : I myself , have a Small Team of Agents who will work together with me to cast a wider Marketing Nets to Reach Your Goal !!!
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