Colin Lim

Colin began his career as an engineer with a manufacturing firm. After honing his analytical skills, he moved into finance where, during his time with two major foreign banks, he worked as a mortgage banker and a relationship manager that specialised in wealth management. He currently oversees a team of mortgage advisors and has helped homeowners finance more than a total of SGD$1 billion worth of property.

The One-Way Ticket: 4 Non-Negotiable Checks Before Refinancing Your HDB Loan to a Bank

Bank loan interest rates are currently looking attractive, sometimes around 1% lower than the HDB’s concessionary rate. It’s a tempting picture: switch now, save money immediately. But here is the cold, hard truth: Refinancing from an HDB loan to a bank loan is a one-way, irreversible decision. The Ministry of National Development (MND) has already clarified this during the 2022 rate hike stress: homeowners who switched out and regretted it were rejected when they appealed to switch back. Once you

Colin Lim December 5, 2025

Don’t Sell Your Home for Retirement. This Is How to Make It Pay You

The thought of selling the family home to fund retirement is one of the toughest decisions any parent has to face. This isn’t just a house; it’s the place where your kids grew up, where every scratch on the floor and dent on the wall holds a memory. So, when the time comes to retire, you’re faced with a brutal choice. You can stay put, but you’ll have to rely on a monthly allowance from your children. Or you can

Colin Lim November 21, 2025

Don’t Get Caught: The Hidden Rules of Using CPF for Your Home

Let’s talk about a common misconception. You’ve got your eye on a resale HDB or condo, and you’re mentally calculating how much CPF you’ll be using. You assume your ordinary account will just… cover it all, until the end of time. That’s a mistake that can seriously screw up your retirement plans. Your CPF is not a bottomless pit for your home loan. The government has put two major limits in place to protect you from over-leveraging and over-paying. And

Colin Lim October 23, 2025

Million-Dollar HDBs Are The New Normal. Here’s How To Use This To Your Advantage

The talk of million-dollar HDBs is everywhere, and the latest data from the second quarter of 2025 has just amplified the conversation. A new record of 415 public housing units sold for S$1 million or more, marking a significant 75.8% jump from the same time last year. This trend, following 21 consecutive quarters of price growth, is more than just a headline—it’s a clear signal of a market shift that savvy HDB owners and property investors need to understand. This

Colin Lim September 11, 2025

Green Mortgages Explained: Benefits and Features

Sustainable living has been gaining prevalence in Singapore in recent years and it is driven by initiatives such as the Singapore Green Plan 2030 which works towards a greener and more livable future. With this, green mortgages have emerged as a sustainable option for environmentally conscious homebuyers. This guide will break down in simple terms what green mortgages are, their eligibility and features, and if it is the right choice for you! Introduction to Green Mortgages and Their Environmental Benefits

Colin Lim April 29, 2025

8 Ways to Spot a Lousy Mortgage Broker

Moving into a new home is one of the most transformative stages in many of our lives. It is the manifestation of countless sacrifices, multiple viewings, negotiations, discussions with family members and a step forward in our journey. You have worked so hard to get there, surely you deserve a break? But no. Nothing truly prepares you for the less glamorous, often under-whelming and exhausting stage ahead. No, it is not having to pack and unpack your entire life in

Colin Lim October 30, 2024

August 2024 Property Cooling Measures: What You Need to Know

With the new property cooling measures rolled out on 19 August 2024, there’s a lot to unpack, especially for those of you looking to buy your first home. In this article, we’ll dive into how these changes, including the tightened Loan-to-Value (LTV) limits and the increased Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) for both new and resale flats, could impact you as a first-time home buyer. What’s New: Singapore’s August 2024 Property Cooling Measures Tightened HDB Loan Limit Increase in Enhanced

Colin Lim September 4, 2024

How You Should Use Your CPF To Pay For Your Home Loan

One of the most common mistakes is the lack of understanding on how you can maximise the usage of your CPF accounts to repay your home loans. We want to share an insight on how you can have a comfortable retirement plan while maximising your CPF savings to repay your home loan. With his expertise as a mortgage banker and relationship manager specializing in wealth management in two major foreign banks, Colin Lim has helped homeowners finance more than SGD$1

Colin Lim April 19, 2024

Budget 2023: All You Need To Know To Maximize Your HDB Housing Grants

Budget 2023 has announced a series of higher housing grants to better support you and your family in purchasing your first home. This article summarizes all the available grants that you can consider when purchasing a HDB resale flat. Higher Housing Grants for First-Timers Families purchasing resale flats 1.CPF Housing Grant (Families) For first-timer families buying a 2-room to 4-room resale flat, maximum housing grant is increased from $50,000 to $80,000. Buying a 5-room or larger resale flat, the maximum

Colin Lim December 6, 2023

Understanding The Basics of Financing Your Home Loan

Thinking of purchasing your first home? Purchasing a property is a significant financial decision. It is important to plan your finances and budget before commencing your property search. Understanding the foundations of getting a mortgage can help you move through the process of financing your home loan with confidence, making decisions that are well-informed and setting yourself up for a successful home purchase. There are several ways to finance your home: cash and CPF (Ordinary Account) savings, housing loan and

Colin Lim October 25, 2023