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.

Budget 2023: Property Outlook In View Of The Increase In Buyer’s Stamp Duty

With effect from 15 February 2023, the Government announced in as part of Budget 2023 that Buyer’s Stamp Duty for both higher-value residential and non-residential properties will be increased. This measure reflects the government’s commitment to ensure affordable housing by enhancing the progressivity of the Buyer’s Stamp Duty regime. Additionally, the revised Buyer’s Stamp Duty regime is estimated to garner an additional $500 million in revenue per year, though the exact revenue will be dependent on the property market. Buyer’s

Colin Lim April 28, 2023

Guide to Achieving the Singaporean Dream: Purchasing Your First HDB Resale Flat

Whether you’re a newly wedded couple who isn’t keen to wait for your BTO, a retiree couple or a single individual looking for your first home, the HDB resale market has a variety of housing options to offer you. Purchasing properties involves complex paperwork and some hidden costs. So, here’s a complete guide for your HDB resale journey. 1. Understanding the timeline Here’s a quick rundown of the key periods to purchase your resale HDB. As shown, it should take

Colin Lim October 26, 2022

Interest Rates are going up, should you choose Fixed or Floating Rates for your Mortgage Loan?

The Federal Reserve has increased interest rates for the first time since 2018 and laid out an aggressive plan to push borrowing costs to restrictive levels in the coming year, a pivot from battling the coronavirus pandemic to countering the risks of excessive inflation and the war in Ukraine. The U.S. central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee has also announced that it will officially begin the process of increasing interest rates! So, if you’re thinking of buying a home or

Colin Lim March 23, 2022

How much should I borrow for my property?

Choosing a suitable and affordable mortgage loan is crucial in the process of buying a property. After all, it would impact up to 30 years of your life and could end up being a financial burden if not managed well. Yet, many overlook its importance amidst the flurry of hunting for the perfect property and numerous legal procedures to adhere to. Here are some guidelines when deciding on how much to borrow. Down payment A key consideration for most is

Colin Lim March 9, 2022

Would the Property Cooling Measures in 2021 Affect You?

Following the announcement of cooling measures for the property market, the shares of many property firms have fallen. But is there really a cause for concern for buyers like you? Or are the cooling measures likely to just have a short-term impact on our property market? This article dissects the 3 main cooling measures that would affect you and predicts who it would have the heaviest impact on. 1. Hike in Additional Buyer Stamp Duty (ABSD) rates If you are

Colin Lim December 17, 2021

All good things come to an end: Singapore’s first private leasehold returned

There is a common phrase that reverberates throughout many Singaporeans, “unless you actually own a freehold estate, you are always a lessee to the government”. By legal definitions, this statement is unfounded given that one does actually hold both equitable and legal interests in the land for the entire duration of the lease, be it 60 years, 99 years or 999 years. On legal papers, it is recognized that the purchase of the property is the actual owner. However, when

Colin Lim October 27, 2021

Why and how has flexible working spaces risen to popularity?

In the new era of technology, many trends have changed alongside popular trends. In turn, these have led to a never-ending evolution of various industries. In the case of real estate, one of the prominent trends seen today is co-working and the rise in demand for flexible working spaces. Given the low budget and need for flexibility, such spaces have been popular among start-ups and freelancers for their shared amenities, open plan designs and adaptable spaces. While Covid-19 has brought

Colin Lim September 22, 2021

Are New Condominium Launches a better investment option?

“Confirm will appreciate one (sic)” and “Buy Condo from developer confirm make money (sic)” are what on-site property agents or that busybody relative of yours would claim when hard selling the idea to you of purchasing a brand new condominium unit from the developer during a show flat viewing. A decision not made any easier with stunning and intricately built artist’s impression project models standing right before you, beckoning for you to take part in a dream lifestyle promised with

Colin Lim November 25, 2020

Asian property magnet: What makes Singapore look so attractive as a hub for property investments?

A bird’s eye view of Singapore might just resemble a snapshot of our distant Asian neighbor, Hong Kong. Both characterized by high-rise metallic-bodied office towers and high-density living, Singapore and Hong Kong stand on the leaderboard of having some of the world’s most expensive real estate. Preserving its global title as being the most expensive city, Bloomberg reports indicate that a whopping $1.2 million would only get you an average home in Hong Kong, with Singapore being a close runner-up.

Colin Lim October 16, 2020

Unique HDB Houses

With most of the Singapore population living in HDB flats, it will be interesting to know the different types of flats around are not just your usual Build to Orders (BTOs). Additionally, if you are hunting for a roof over your head, these hidden gems could be possible alternatives. Here are 4 unique HDB housing types that exist but often go unnoticed: 1. HDB Terrace Flats These are not your typical terraces or semi-Ds, we are talking about landed public

Colin Lim September 25, 2020