HDB flat prices rose 50 per cent between 2009 and 2013. With the property curbs in the last 3 years, prices have fallen 10 per cent. The government are considering the decline moderate and have mentioned that it is not yet time to completely reverse the process and policies despite recent figures showing a stabilisation of resale flat prices and a rise in sales volume.
Photo: HDB flat in Yishun
The most effective cooling measures thus far have been the 2013 implementation of the mortgage servicing ratio limit. The loan amount home buyers were able to take to service a HDB flat loan was capped at 30 per cent of their gross income. On top of that, there was a 60 per cent Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) which was also introduced in 2013 to prevent borrowers from over stretching themselves with the number and amount of loans payments.
Industry experts are mostly in agreement about a sudden and drastic switch in policies which back backfire on the industry and property market. But some have felt that certain measures such as the ABSD (additional buyers’ stamp duty) could be lifted in phases to encourage property investment. The current rule requires foreign property buyers to pay an additional 15 per cent of the price of a property here while Singaporeans have to do the same but at 7 and 10 per cent for second and third subsequent properties.
The new National Development Minister Lawrence Wong has however mentioned that adjustments may be possible, depending on global and local economic situations.
