Buying a home is a tedious process. Buying a resale home is even more so. From hunting for a good unit in a good location, to settling all the paperwork involved, there are tons of things you need to take care of. But none of these really matter if the resale house you are ready to buy is just not worth what you are paying for. So, how do we know if the house is really worth the bucks? As
Ever been curious about how others handle their mortgages? Or who secures them? If your answer is yes, then Redbrick is here to help answer your questions! We’ve condensed some of the insights obtained from mortgages we’ve transacted during the first half of this year, in order to give you a glimpse into the goings-on within the local mortgage market. __ 1. Mortgage preferences Fixed deposit mortgages hold the lion’s share at 74.5%. Pegging interest rates to a bank’s fixed
OCBC recently introduced a brand-new home loan package to the market, known as the OCBC Home Rate (OHR). This rate package was released to replace both the existing board rate and fixed deposit rate loan packages. Apart from the rates which are currently offered in the market – mainly, the fixed rate, board rate, fixed deposit and SIBOR rate, homeowners will now have another option to consider whether they are signing up for a new home loan or refinancing their
Perhaps you might have heard of the term ‘GCBs’, but you merely brushed it off as just another type of property. However, you must know this – GCBs, or Good Class Bungalows, is the most prestigious segment of landed property in Singapore. These are houses for the ultra-rich; the ones who can afford to spend about S$20 million to buy and live in one. In a nutshell, GCB ownership encapsulates the measure of your wealth. As such, we are sure
The City in England’s West Midlands that is not at all Middling Birmingham is an economic powerhouse that is poised for even bigger growth. The city offers investors – whether in property, finance, or businesses – huge potential. And it’s all thanks to a far-sighted blueprint drawn up in 2011. Mr Bean’s iconic Mini car, the steam engine, and gas lighting; these three seemingly dissimilar things share something in common – they all have roots in Birmingham. The city in
When you’re living in a country as hot and humid as Singapore, it’s not unusual to constantly be looking for methods to keep cool. Those of us who hold a deskbound job are usually confined within an air-conditioned environment during the day, which makes it more bearable. But on the weekends, and for some of us who work from home, having the AC on all day is not necessarily the most cost-efficient method. The next best alternative to keep cool
Singapore has just retained, for better or worse, its title of the World’s Most Expensive City for Expats for 4 consecutive years by the EIU (Economic Intelligence Unit) in 2017. However, the high costs can be said to be, in a way, justifiable. The high standards of living which permeate through everyday life in Singapore and the availability of top jobs and companies setting base here are all factors which have resulted in an ever-increasing influx of expatriates relocating to
When it comes to buying and renovating a new home, many of us hardly place any emphasis when it comes to our toilets. Traditionally, most of us opt for the practical way; the bare necessities are sufficient for us. But there’s been a rising trend of home owners who choose to indulge heavily when it comes to the bathroom. Similar to kitchens, bathrooms can also have wet and dry areas. Usually separated by a glass door, the toilet and sink
Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) is currently offering an additional welcome gift for all new Priority clients. This offer is valid for all sign ups who do not have any existing accounts or credit cards with them. Depending on the amount that you deposit with them, you would be entitled to up to $3,000 in cash, that will be credited into your accounts. The following is a detailed breakdown of the reward: Amount deposited (S$) Account Credit (S$) $200,000 – $799,999
Given the comparatively high home prices in Singapore, it is understandable that many Singaporeans have, over the years, turned their heads to investing overseas. Nevertheless, buying a property in Singapore can be very overwhelming; let alone buying it in a foreign country like Malaysia. Back in 2016, I bought my first property in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru, and it was after the Malaysian government introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of six percent. I viewed 5 properties before I