[Consolidated] TS' threads on property and insurance agents

[Roid Rage]

if caught selling without owning the product, license should be disqualified and ban for 5 years before attempting to take the exam again

you all say this one good idea not?

i thought this is a very common practice? agents buy policies to get commission and awards.

 

[Dinoboyboy]

agree but exception should be given to yang female agents between the age of 21-50...

 

[buttbERry]

this ts anyhow again

 

[Vinda99]

So those kkj agents need to buy insolens for cervical cancer before they can sell?

Hmm.

 

[s-ghost]

property agents tio shoot in ST forum page​

Forum: Singapore’s public housing market needs a reality check​

Four years ago, I wrote about public housing affordability as a first-time buyer (A battle between prudence and emotion in buying HDB home, Dec 28, 2021).

Now, at the precipice of my flat’s Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), I am bewildered. A property portal estimates I could make $200,000 in capital gains. Even older flats have appreciated beyond inflation, despite imminent lease decay. A deluge of fliers from property agents urging home owners to upgrade may explain why.

The Government’s efforts to boost housing supply and temper prices are commendable. But beyond supply and demand, exuberant price expectations fuelled by property agents are distorting the market.

In the 1980s, my in-laws purchased a flat in Tampines for $100,000. Over time, they upgraded to private property, with most of their home ownership journey funded by capital appreciation. Today, they live mortgage-free in a condominium in East Coast _ a testament to the outsize capital gains once possible in the housing market.

But Singapore has already transited to a First World nation, and we are unlikely to see an encore performance of the economic conditions that allowed for such windfalls. Yet, property agents continue to pander to our intrinsic desire to profit from public housing.

This is partly systemic. Property agents benefit from higher prices and more transactions. Their incentives are misaligned with sustainable home ownership, yet guard rails remain weak.

Agents now go door-to-door in Build-To-Order (BTO) estates reaching MOP, pitching dreams of windfall profit. They feed the belief that housing prices can only go up, dismissive of ageing demographics, falling birth rates and economic uncertainty. They argue that limited land supply and the Government’s cooling measures guarantee resilience. They peddle a narrative that property is a haven, a wealth generator and a status symbol.


This culture worries me. I have seen peers overextend themselves chasing property dreams. One pooled family savings just to show proof of funds for a larger loan. His mortgage now consumes 60 per cent of household income. Irrational exuberance has trumped financial prudence.

We should stop sensationalising million-dollar HDB transactions and crack down on irresponsible advertising by agents who promise cash-over-valuation deals or encourage buyers to over-leverage. Such measures, alongside the new HDB Resale Flat Listing service, can promote greater transparency, lower middleman costs, and empower Singaporeans to make financially sound housing decisions.

While we cannot undo the commodification of public housing, we can curtail those who stoke unsustainable expectations. We should not wait for the next boom-bust cycle for housing prices to normalise. A soft landing requires decisive action now – before optimism turns into a crisis.

Elgenia Wong Tien Min

 

[laksamaihum]

strong mandate liao, if hdb resales don’t hit minimally 1mil by 2030 then how we going to plan for retirement? best time to switch industry to property agent confirm huat ah

 

[mynickname]

I would think someone with a masters in economics have more sense than this.

 

[begintoend]

when its property
sinkie has no complains about rising value
They keep wanting it to go up

agents and sellers are both egging each other on the next best high price

but you raise their kopi-o by 10c
BANKAI

 

[Shion]

SG has lost its way when it comes to public housing

 

[mynickname]

This culture worries me. I have seen peers overextend themselves chasing property dreams. One pooled family savings just to show proof of funds for a larger loan. His mortgage now consumes 60 per cent of household income. Irrational exuberance has trumped financial prudence.

Whats wrong with that?

 

[xdivider]

whats wrong with making more money..........

on the side note i want hdb to hit few mil to finance my overseas retirement........

 

[Water Bottle]

LOL... Home owners自己要卖这样的价钱的... 有没有人拿枪逼着他...

Now everyone is the world Sg properties is buey toh one...

 

[Hot_Dog]

They can ask chiu ai mai. Chiu can also donch want huan ma. Ownself want blame who?

 

[kensk76]

willing buyer and seller...how come blame the middle men? It is like blaming KFC for selling you the fried chicken which made you unhealthy.

 

[plmokn]

getting more and more ex

 

[zamowk]

we have only new shitizen to blame...plus the gate opener pui

 

[DulanMax]

Who did Elgenia vote for?

 

[archie7]

property agents more into earning higher commission from selling higher prices

 

[twodragon]

it just screws the young buyers.

Anyways sg median age is 42.8 eh? Next GE will be 42.8 plus 4 or 5. So it will be which party can maintain my HDB price and secure my retirement.

Let the young ones suffer with mortgages. People like my parents who benefitted from HDB rising price obviously happy since they gg retire and hdb worth million.

Still can tell me govt got help young ppl buy subsidising more than last time. But pls la, last time 1 father can feed whole family (wife + 2 kids).

Now leh? Unless high flying jod, else also need 2 ppl to feed

Is okay, just welcome new shitizens and make the young ones suffer.

 

[Corba2001]

Elections over, TS start bashing again.

Go check HDB resale portal, ask a direct HDB owner sell you at depreciating price lo

Say already no middle man, why need to ask for sky high prices

Tell us when it works TS