《联合早报》Mar 24, 2008
勿洛蓄水池路有13座组屋获得建屋发展局的批准，将在电梯翻新计划（Lift Upgrading Programme）下受惠。
这些组屋是勿洛蓄水池路第614至616、619、620，以及622至629座组屋。
东北区市长再诺昨早在友诺士市镇日与居民对话时宣布这个消息，也表示会向建屋局要求让其他未获批准进行电梯翻新的组屋有机会进行翻新。他同时也宣布，勿洛蓄水池周围地带目前正展开翻新工程，以增添更多休闲设施，包括预期在接下来的一两个月完成的龙舟屋（Dragonboat House）。
再诺也是外交部高级政务部长，他表示，经过国家公园局批准建造的龙舟屋将让热爱水上活动的居民有机会使用这个新设施，并主张举办居民委员会会际常年比赛，甚至在阿裕尼集选区进行区际比赛。
不少居民参与了友诺士市镇日（Eunos Town Day）的居民对话，并向再诺、政府机构代表及基层领袖发问。
其中一名居民杨宝光问，勿洛蓄水池路第631与632座组屋是否也能获得电梯翻新？
他从阿裕尼市镇理事会代表得到的回应是，电梯翻新会先在高层组屋推出，由于第631与632座组屋算是矮层组屋，因此还没被选为电梯翻新计划中的组屋。
杨宝光接受记者的访问时说，大家都是住在政府组屋，看见住高层组屋的居民能享有电梯翻新带来的方便，而因为自己住矮层组屋就无法享有同样的方便，很不公平，况且母亲年事已高，没有电梯很不方便。
对此，再诺受访时说，目前该区有超过90%的组屋已完成电梯翻新或被批准进行电梯翻新，其余的都是因建筑结构的关系，因此还未被批准进行电梯翻新。
多层停车场假日仍收费
另一名居民蔡克成则说，他住家的多层停车场靠近教堂，尽管地处偏远，占用率又不到40%，但星期天与公共假日仍然收费，与政府鼓励子女探望父母和亲戚朋友互相探望的政策不符，使他感到不解。
再诺回应表示，这是他首次遇到这样的情况，因为建屋局为了响应政府的这个政策，已停止在星期天与公共假日在公共停车场收费，除非停车场靠近购物中心或巴刹。不过，他将写信向建屋局询问，而建屋局的代表也表示会通知有关部门。
今年的友诺士市镇日以“重温昔日甘榜生活”（The Good Old Kampong Days）为主题，让友诺士的居民们齐聚一堂，而居民对话也提供居民向政府官员反馈的管道。
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
确保买卖双方了解交易程序 经纪处理组屋交易 须交转售核对清单
《联合早报》Mar 25, 2008
组屋转售交易新措施 有效减少买卖纠纷
建屋发展局将强制房屋经纪在组屋转售交易前，分别向买主和卖主解释转售程序和条例，并签名保证没有虚报资料，以确保买卖双方是在清楚这些程序和条例下进行交易。
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建屋局规定，从5月1日起，所有组屋转售经纪在处理转售交易时必须提交一份核对清单，确保他们已向买卖双方清楚解释清单上所列明的交易程序和贷款条例。
清单要求房屋经纪确保卖方知道在售屋时必须清偿抵押借款，并将购屋时所动用的公积金退回公积金户头。如果打算另购组屋，他必须在售屋前取得建屋局或银行贷款。如有组屋翻新费用未缴，他也必须在转售交易完成前还清。
至于购屋的部分，经纪必须让买方知道是否合资格申请公积金房屋津贴。他必须确保所申请的转售组屋不超出种族比例顶限。买主有14天的时间考虑是否购屋，但行使这项选择权后，买卖双方达成的协议将具有法律约束力。
房屋经纪必须在递交转售申请时呈上这份清单。经纪和买卖双方都必须在清单上签名，以保证没有虚报资料。虚报资料者可判监禁最长三年，或罚款，或两者兼施。自行处理组屋买卖者无需填写清单，但建屋局建议他们在买卖组屋前了解转售程序和条例。
清单有四种官方语文版本，方便经纪向不谙英语者解释，但他们只须交上英文版本。
我国每年平均有3万宗组屋转售交易，其中92%是通过房屋经纪进行。建屋局发言人说，公众希望房屋经纪在处理组屋转售交易时提醒客户需注意的事项。此外，新入行的经纪可能对转售程序和条例了解不深，核对清单对他们很有帮助。
消费者协会去年接获约1113起对房地产经纪和业者的投诉，比前年的991来得多。今年首三个月则有229起相关投诉。消协发言人说，这些投诉涵盖私宅及组屋买卖，并以组屋买卖占大多数。
“新措施对减少纠纷很有用”
受访的房地产业者表示，新措施对减少买卖双方及房屋经纪之间的纠纷很有用。
ERA助理副总裁林东荣说：“新条例将使整个交易程序更透明，这不仅对消费者有利，房屋经纪也多了额外的保障，因为他们可证明已向买卖双方解释所有的转售程序。”
Dennis Wee董事许家荣也认为，核对清单非常详尽，几乎把整个交易程序都列得清清楚楚，可减少买卖双方及房屋经纪之间的纠纷。
博纳集团总裁伊斯迈说，一些消费者可能不清楚公共住屋的多项条例和政策，清单会列出买主的权益及贷款事项，也强调任何的套现（Cash-back）手法都是违法的。他认为，许多经纪目前都遵守职业操守，告知买卖双方所拥有的权益，不过也有一些经纪隐瞒实情。
房地产经纪学会曾接获公众投诉房地产经纪不够专业，服务水平欠佳，双方在佣金方面僵持不下。
该会财政陈翠锦认为，建屋局的核对清单肯定是好的，不过实施成效则有待观察。
她说，以目前的“选择购买”（Option to Purchase）文件为例，房屋经纪可能会告诉消费者他们对买卖程序了如指掌，让他们放心签署文件。他们可能因信任经纪而签署文件，事后出问题时就怪经纪当时没有解释清楚。她认为，这样的情况也可能在签署核对清单时出现。
“所以，即使有了核对清单，买卖双方还是有责任了解整个交易程序后才签名，避免以后节外生枝。”
组屋转售交易新措施 有效减少买卖纠纷
建屋发展局将强制房屋经纪在组屋转售交易前，分别向买主和卖主解释转售程序和条例，并签名保证没有虚报资料，以确保买卖双方是在清楚这些程序和条例下进行交易。
+Logo.jpg)
建屋局规定，从5月1日起，所有组屋转售经纪在处理转售交易时必须提交一份核对清单，确保他们已向买卖双方清楚解释清单上所列明的交易程序和贷款条例。 清单要求房屋经纪确保卖方知道在售屋时必须清偿抵押借款，并将购屋时所动用的公积金退回公积金户头。如果打算另购组屋，他必须在售屋前取得建屋局或银行贷款。如有组屋翻新费用未缴，他也必须在转售交易完成前还清。
至于购屋的部分，经纪必须让买方知道是否合资格申请公积金房屋津贴。他必须确保所申请的转售组屋不超出种族比例顶限。买主有14天的时间考虑是否购屋，但行使这项选择权后，买卖双方达成的协议将具有法律约束力。
房屋经纪必须在递交转售申请时呈上这份清单。经纪和买卖双方都必须在清单上签名，以保证没有虚报资料。虚报资料者可判监禁最长三年，或罚款，或两者兼施。自行处理组屋买卖者无需填写清单，但建屋局建议他们在买卖组屋前了解转售程序和条例。
清单有四种官方语文版本，方便经纪向不谙英语者解释，但他们只须交上英文版本。
我国每年平均有3万宗组屋转售交易，其中92%是通过房屋经纪进行。建屋局发言人说，公众希望房屋经纪在处理组屋转售交易时提醒客户需注意的事项。此外，新入行的经纪可能对转售程序和条例了解不深，核对清单对他们很有帮助。
消费者协会去年接获约1113起对房地产经纪和业者的投诉，比前年的991来得多。今年首三个月则有229起相关投诉。消协发言人说，这些投诉涵盖私宅及组屋买卖，并以组屋买卖占大多数。
“新措施对减少纠纷很有用”
受访的房地产业者表示，新措施对减少买卖双方及房屋经纪之间的纠纷很有用。
ERA助理副总裁林东荣说：“新条例将使整个交易程序更透明，这不仅对消费者有利，房屋经纪也多了额外的保障，因为他们可证明已向买卖双方解释所有的转售程序。”
Dennis Wee董事许家荣也认为，核对清单非常详尽，几乎把整个交易程序都列得清清楚楚，可减少买卖双方及房屋经纪之间的纠纷。
博纳集团总裁伊斯迈说，一些消费者可能不清楚公共住屋的多项条例和政策，清单会列出买主的权益及贷款事项，也强调任何的套现（Cash-back）手法都是违法的。他认为，许多经纪目前都遵守职业操守，告知买卖双方所拥有的权益，不过也有一些经纪隐瞒实情。
房地产经纪学会曾接获公众投诉房地产经纪不够专业，服务水平欠佳，双方在佣金方面僵持不下。
该会财政陈翠锦认为，建屋局的核对清单肯定是好的，不过实施成效则有待观察。
她说，以目前的“选择购买”（Option to Purchase）文件为例，房屋经纪可能会告诉消费者他们对买卖程序了如指掌，让他们放心签署文件。他们可能因信任经纪而签署文件，事后出问题时就怪经纪当时没有解释清楚。她认为，这样的情况也可能在签署核对清单时出现。
“所以，即使有了核对清单，买卖双方还是有责任了解整个交易程序后才签名，避免以后节外生枝。”
US Crisis Deepens As Home Owners Turn To Short-Term Loans
Source : The Straits Times, March 25, 2008
Such 'payday loans' come with high interest rates, piling on the debts
CLEVELAND (OHIO) - AS HUNDREDS of thousands of American home owners fall behind on their mortgage payments, more are turning to short-term loans with sky- high interest rates to get by.
While hard figures are hard to come by, evidence from non-profit credit and mortgage counsellors suggests that the number of people using these so-called 'payday loans' is growing. This is a negative sign for economic recovery as the United States housing crisis deepens.
'We're hearing from around the country that many folks are buried deep in payday loan debts as well as struggling with their mortgage payments,' said Mr Uriah King, a policy associate at the Centre for Responsible Lending.
A payday loan is typically for a few hundred dollars, with a term of two weeks, and an interest rate as high as 800 per cent. The average borrower ends up paying back US$793 for a US$325 loan, according to the centre.
The centre also estimates that these lenders issued more than US$28 billion (S$38.9 billion) in loans in 2005. This was the latest available figure.
In the Union Miles district of Cleveland, which has been hit hard by the crisis, all the regular banks have been replaced by payday lenders.
'When distressed home owners come to us, it usually takes a while before we find out if they have payday loans because they don't mention it at first,' said Ms Lindsey Sacher, the community relations coordinator at non-profit East Side Organising Project, which works to refinance US sub-prime mortgage borrowers on the verge of default or foreclosure. 'But by the time they come to us for help, they have nothing left.'
On top of the steep cost, payday loans have an even darker side, Ms Sacher noted. 'We also have to contend with the fact that payday lenders are very aggressive when it comes to getting paid.'
Mr Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, an umbrella group representing some 600 non-profit agencies in Ohio, said the state is home to some 1,650 payday loan lenders. This is more than all of Ohio's fast food franchises put together.
'That's saying something, as the people of Ohio really like their fast food,' Mr Faith said. 'But payday loans are insidious because people get trapped in a cycle of debt.'
Mr Robert Frank, an economics professor at Cornell University, equates payday loans with 'handing a suicidal person a noose'.
'These loans lead to more bankruptcies and wipe out people's savings, which is bad for the economy,' he said.
'This is a problem that has been caused by deregulation' of the US financial sector in the 1990s. - REUTERS
Such 'payday loans' come with high interest rates, piling on the debts
CLEVELAND (OHIO) - AS HUNDREDS of thousands of American home owners fall behind on their mortgage payments, more are turning to short-term loans with sky- high interest rates to get by.
While hard figures are hard to come by, evidence from non-profit credit and mortgage counsellors suggests that the number of people using these so-called 'payday loans' is growing. This is a negative sign for economic recovery as the United States housing crisis deepens.
'We're hearing from around the country that many folks are buried deep in payday loan debts as well as struggling with their mortgage payments,' said Mr Uriah King, a policy associate at the Centre for Responsible Lending.
A payday loan is typically for a few hundred dollars, with a term of two weeks, and an interest rate as high as 800 per cent. The average borrower ends up paying back US$793 for a US$325 loan, according to the centre.
The centre also estimates that these lenders issued more than US$28 billion (S$38.9 billion) in loans in 2005. This was the latest available figure.
In the Union Miles district of Cleveland, which has been hit hard by the crisis, all the regular banks have been replaced by payday lenders.
'When distressed home owners come to us, it usually takes a while before we find out if they have payday loans because they don't mention it at first,' said Ms Lindsey Sacher, the community relations coordinator at non-profit East Side Organising Project, which works to refinance US sub-prime mortgage borrowers on the verge of default or foreclosure. 'But by the time they come to us for help, they have nothing left.'
On top of the steep cost, payday loans have an even darker side, Ms Sacher noted. 'We also have to contend with the fact that payday lenders are very aggressive when it comes to getting paid.'
Mr Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, an umbrella group representing some 600 non-profit agencies in Ohio, said the state is home to some 1,650 payday loan lenders. This is more than all of Ohio's fast food franchises put together.
'That's saying something, as the people of Ohio really like their fast food,' Mr Faith said. 'But payday loans are insidious because people get trapped in a cycle of debt.'
Mr Robert Frank, an economics professor at Cornell University, equates payday loans with 'handing a suicidal person a noose'.
'These loans lead to more bankruptcies and wipe out people's savings, which is bad for the economy,' he said.
'This is a problem that has been caused by deregulation' of the US financial sector in the 1990s. - REUTERS
HDB Imposes Checklists On Resale Flats
Source : The Business Times, March 25, 2008
THE Housing and Development Board will introduce mandatory checklists for housing agents handling resale flat transactions from May 1 - a move welcomed by industry players.
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The checklists cover key policies and procedures that housing agents will need to advise resale flat buyers and sellers on before they commit to a transaction, HDB said yesterday.
'This is part of HDB's ongoing efforts to ensure that buyers and sellers are aware of the relevant HDB purchase and financing policies when buying/selling an HDB flat,' it said.
The move comes after a new scam involving HDB flats surfaced recently. Under the scam, a seller and buyer together report a falsely low sale price to HDB.
The buyer then pays the difference between the actual and declared price to the seller in cash, which means the seller has more cash in hand - rather than having any leftover money go back into his CPF account. To sweeten the deal, the seller usually gives the buyer a discount on the market value of the flat.
Under HDB's new initiative, housing agents will have to submit a completed resale checklist to HDB with a resale application. Resale applications that do not comply with this requirement will be rejected and there will be 'serious penalties' for false declarations.
Housing agents engaged by both sellers and buyers will have to go through a resale checklist with clients before an option to purchase (OTP) is granted or exercised.
Buyers and sellers who do not engage the services of housing agents need not submit a checklist.
PropNex, which says it has more than 40 per cent of the public housing resale market, welcomed HDB's move.
Public housing has many policies and financing requirements that many may not be familiar with, said PropNex chief executive Mohamed Ismail.
Most buyers tend not to read the important notes attached to OTP, he said.
The new resale checklist for housing agents engaged by buyers, for example, will ensure that buyers are aware of their rights as well as of financing matters. It will also highlight to them the fact that any form of cashback arrangement, such as over or under declaration, is punishable by law.
Similarly, the checklist for sellers' housing agents will ensure prospective sellers understand the various eligibility rules.
Mr Ismail said that while many agents already educate potential buyers and sellers, some may not, leaving them in the dark.
'This initiative should lead to greater transparency for buyers and sellers, and ensure a consistently high level of professionalism amongst the agents,' he said.
THE Housing and Development Board will introduce mandatory checklists for housing agents handling resale flat transactions from May 1 - a move welcomed by industry players.
+Logo.jpg)
The checklists cover key policies and procedures that housing agents will need to advise resale flat buyers and sellers on before they commit to a transaction, HDB said yesterday.'This is part of HDB's ongoing efforts to ensure that buyers and sellers are aware of the relevant HDB purchase and financing policies when buying/selling an HDB flat,' it said.
The move comes after a new scam involving HDB flats surfaced recently. Under the scam, a seller and buyer together report a falsely low sale price to HDB.
The buyer then pays the difference between the actual and declared price to the seller in cash, which means the seller has more cash in hand - rather than having any leftover money go back into his CPF account. To sweeten the deal, the seller usually gives the buyer a discount on the market value of the flat.
Under HDB's new initiative, housing agents will have to submit a completed resale checklist to HDB with a resale application. Resale applications that do not comply with this requirement will be rejected and there will be 'serious penalties' for false declarations.
Housing agents engaged by both sellers and buyers will have to go through a resale checklist with clients before an option to purchase (OTP) is granted or exercised.
Buyers and sellers who do not engage the services of housing agents need not submit a checklist.
PropNex, which says it has more than 40 per cent of the public housing resale market, welcomed HDB's move.
Public housing has many policies and financing requirements that many may not be familiar with, said PropNex chief executive Mohamed Ismail.
Most buyers tend not to read the important notes attached to OTP, he said.
The new resale checklist for housing agents engaged by buyers, for example, will ensure that buyers are aware of their rights as well as of financing matters. It will also highlight to them the fact that any form of cashback arrangement, such as over or under declaration, is punishable by law.
Similarly, the checklist for sellers' housing agents will ensure prospective sellers understand the various eligibility rules.
Mr Ismail said that while many agents already educate potential buyers and sellers, some may not, leaving them in the dark.
'This initiative should lead to greater transparency for buyers and sellers, and ensure a consistently high level of professionalism amongst the agents,' he said.
Home, Retail, Office Rental Growth To Ease
Source : The Business Times, March 25, 2008
Housing rentals to rise 5-15% year-on-year in 2008: Knight Frank
PRIVATE housing rents are expected to grow at a slower pace this year than last year, Knight Frank said in a report yesterday.
The property consultancy firm expects a year-on-year rise of 5-15 per cent in 2008 - after a massive 40 per cent year-on-year increase in 2007.
Knight Frank's estimates are based on the resistance of tenants and companies to even higher rents, and the limited availability of places at foreign schools for children of expatriates.
'Due to the fact that foreign schools are full and there are long waiting lists faced by children of foreign families who relocated here, housing demand from new foreign family tenants is projected to decrease,' Knight Frank said.
'On top of this, foreign tenants as well as corporate HR (departments) have readjusted housing allowances this year, which constricts rental demand according to their budgets.'
Despite this, a demand-supply imbalance could still result in rental rises until a supply of new units is felt significantly from 2009.
About 8,400 new private homes will be completed this year. But the number will expand dramatically in the three years from 2009 to 2011, with an estimated 16,000 to 17,000 units completed each year.
This could put downward pressure on rents, Knight Frank said.
The same holds true for the retail sector. Knight Frank predicts that landlords could face stronger resistance from retailers to rising rents in the later part of 2008 as more space comes on stream.
'Rents are forecast to maintain at their current level only until early 2008,' it said. 'Faced with a larger supply in the pipeline in the second half of 2008, island-wide prime retail rents are projected to appreciate by a relatively modest 5-10 per cent for entire 2008, compared to 22.1 per cent growth in 2007.'
Knight Frank also said growth in office rents and capital values in 2008 and 2009 will likely to be more moderate than in 2007. Office rents are forecast to rise 10-20 per cent year on year, while capital values are expected to increase 10-15 per cent year on year.
Housing rentals to rise 5-15% year-on-year in 2008: Knight Frank
PRIVATE housing rents are expected to grow at a slower pace this year than last year, Knight Frank said in a report yesterday.
The property consultancy firm expects a year-on-year rise of 5-15 per cent in 2008 - after a massive 40 per cent year-on-year increase in 2007.
Knight Frank's estimates are based on the resistance of tenants and companies to even higher rents, and the limited availability of places at foreign schools for children of expatriates.
'Due to the fact that foreign schools are full and there are long waiting lists faced by children of foreign families who relocated here, housing demand from new foreign family tenants is projected to decrease,' Knight Frank said.
'On top of this, foreign tenants as well as corporate HR (departments) have readjusted housing allowances this year, which constricts rental demand according to their budgets.'
Despite this, a demand-supply imbalance could still result in rental rises until a supply of new units is felt significantly from 2009.
About 8,400 new private homes will be completed this year. But the number will expand dramatically in the three years from 2009 to 2011, with an estimated 16,000 to 17,000 units completed each year.
This could put downward pressure on rents, Knight Frank said.
The same holds true for the retail sector. Knight Frank predicts that landlords could face stronger resistance from retailers to rising rents in the later part of 2008 as more space comes on stream.
'Rents are forecast to maintain at their current level only until early 2008,' it said. 'Faced with a larger supply in the pipeline in the second half of 2008, island-wide prime retail rents are projected to appreciate by a relatively modest 5-10 per cent for entire 2008, compared to 22.1 per cent growth in 2007.'
Knight Frank also said growth in office rents and capital values in 2008 and 2009 will likely to be more moderate than in 2007. Office rents are forecast to rise 10-20 per cent year on year, while capital values are expected to increase 10-15 per cent year on year.
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