Pay the full sum for a $2 million dollar property within 10 weeks? Or have the payment deferred and pay within 3 years? Most buyers would be enticed by the latter option. And developers have been dangling that carrot to move their unsold stock.
But now the authorities may have caught on to their game and have issued a circular to banks last week stipulating that the amounts deferred are to be taken into account when computing the final amount a buyer can loan from the banks. This may impact some buyers, especially those who may not have sufficient cash upfront and who may need the time to move monies around in order to make the full payment.
Deferred payment schemes are offered by developers of some completed residential properties such as OUE Twin Peaks whereby buyers are allowed to move into their new home upon exercising the option to purchase and paying a down payment, allowing them to the period of 1 to 3 years to make the full payment. With the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) most recent specifications, any benefits will have to be taken into account prior to loan calculation.
Under the deferred payment scheme, the amount deferred needs to be deducted from the final purchase price before the loan ratio is applied, thus diminishing the amount the borrower can ultimately loan and raising the upfront down payment.
On top of that, rental guarantee scheme is also under MAS’ scrutiny as these are also considered benefits to the buyer. Under such schemes, properties such as Hilltops apartments on Cairnhill, developers offer guaranteed rental returns for a specific time period.
