Alvin Lock

Alvin Lock

Alvin has enjoyed extensive success with more than 11 years of experience and track record in Retail and Private Banking. His core expertise encompasses a full spectrum of wealth management services including Investment Advisory, Portfolio Management and Financing, Margin Trading, Legacy Planning, and Property Loans.

Starting the Year Right: Smart Mortgage Planning for 2024

As we step into 2024, navigating the landscape of mortgage planning in Singapore is more crucial than ever. With the global economy witnessing significant shifts, understanding these changes and their impact on mortgage rates is vital for anyone looking to secure a home loan or refinance their property.  Understanding 2024 Mortgage Rate Trends The mortgage rate environment in Singapore this year is influenced heavily by global economic policies and market conditions. A key trend is the transition from SIBOR (Singapore

Decoupling – What And How It Can Help You Buy A Second Property

Following the increase in Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD) April 2023, Singaporeans must pay 20% ABSD if they intend to purchase a second property. Hence, would you be interested to find out how you can still purchase a second property without incurring ABSD? With more than 10 years of experience under his belt, Alvin Lock has worked with the most prestigious local and international financial institutions in Singapore. His expertise lies in retail and private banking space, including investment advisory,

Floating rates for mortgage loans are increasing significantly, should we still choose it?

When it comes to mortgage loans, we have a lot of financing options. But the question is: Which one is the best for us? The answer depends on several factors, including the type of loan we want and how long we plan to hold onto it. With 11 years of experience under his belt, Alvin Lock has worked with the most prestigious local and international financial institutions in Singapore. His expertise lies in retail and private banking space, including investment

Protecting Your Property: Home Fire Prevention & Safety Tips We All Need to Know

The truth is, many of us think we know what we’d do in the event of a blaze — but actually don’t. As a homeowner, there is never a bad time to review fire prevention and safety tips with your loved ones. This is especially so when the frequency of fire-related incidents seems to be on the rise, as evident from recent news reports such as ‘Help, my house is on fire’: What you need to do when you see

Your Cheat Sheet to November 2021 HDB BTOs

As we approach the end of the year, the final Build-To-Order (BTO) launch has also approached. If you have not managed to ballot for a unit in the past launches, here’s your chance! The highly anticipated November BTO Launch will feature 8 sites. The launch includes a central location, Rochor, alongside mature estates like Kallang/Whampoa. If you’re still pondering, this article will give you a quick rundown of the main pros and cons of each site. Rochor (Central) This is

5 Reasons Why Good Class Bungalow (GCB) at Cluny Hill Fetched Record Price

In 2018, Sebastian Soh bought a Good Class Bungalow (GCB) at 2 Cluny Hill to build his family’s dream home. What he did not expect was to sell the freehold bungalow in 2021 at a record-breaking price of $63.7 million or $4,291 per square foot (psf) surpassing the $4,005 psf record set in March this year. Curious about why the local tech entrepreneur was willing to pay a hefty premium for the bungalow amidst the economic recession? This article delves

Why is there such strong demand for BTO flats in Telok Blangah and Tengah?

“Do you want to…BTO?” The surreal rite of passage for most Singaporeans. To some, just a casual journey to Toa Payoh might seem like an ordinary day with your partner. Suddenly, there you stand with your key in your hand, unsure of the life ahead but certain that you are going to make this home. So where would you choose to build your life? This 2021, HDB’s BTO launch encompasses a diverse offering including mature and non-mature estates. Many resources

5 new areas in Singapore for your next home

Singapore as we know is always striving to become a beautiful livable city. We often see buildings in mid-construction and these sites are not a rare sight at all. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the city-state, new residential towns are emerging, slowly but surely. In this article, we will look at 5 areas in Singapore undergoing rapid development. The reason for this? Spotting good locations early gives us more options We can buy homes there at a cheaper

How would a low Interest rate environment affect you?

The Covid-19 situation has changed much of how the world functions. As we head into 2021 and beyond, governments all over the world have initiated policies to ensure that their economies do not crash. Interest rates are one of the many ingredients required to regulate the economy. In this article, we shall discuss about interest rates and how interest rates affect the property sector in Singapore. Hard Truths of Interest Rate Interest rate is the fee that is paid by

Battle of the BTOs: November 2020 Launch (Part 1)

The demand for BTOs in 2020 has been fierce, to say the least, with the August BTO launches being oversubscribed within a day of a one-week launch period. The potential delays for the completion of BTO launches due to Covid-19, as announced by HDB, have not shaken the demand. With over 38,500 applicants for 7,862 BTO flats, it is likely we will see the same level of competition for the November BTO launches. That being said, let us take an