sent by my ex colleague who stays just in front of the plot!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
No longer grassland!
Took pics off a forum
Updates on our little plot of land
Last taken 3 Jan 2012!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
FINALLY JUL BTO
After exceeding the SK units by almost 1.5X we were kinda disheartened...
We were only given two chances for JUL BTO which we did not understand why..
We called them up and emailed them but they always mentioned that they will check for us..
So we did not think much about our selection date till the weekend before.
Anyway, on the date of selection..
We were pleasantly surprised that there's still high units left~
Though not our first choice but its our best choice out of the available units left.
AND finally
We finally gotten our lovenest
right in SENGKANG
after trying from jan onwards..
this marks our 6th time?
And we have placed the option to purchase..
Estimated waiting time: 4th quarter of 2014
from friends' estimation, might be 1-0.5 yr early so it might be 3rd or 4th quarter of 2013
Saturday, July 23, 2011
JUL BTO
Now that the government has combined two month's launches into one.
More choices to choose BUT less chances for us
they wanted to prevent repetition but it meant the "hot" places will get really high application rates! the rest will be..surplus?
we are tryin for Jul FERNVALE RIVERBOW if possible.
Not the one near the MRT as that project will be beside a HOSPITAL AND a PETROL KIOSK.
SK is around 3X oversubscribed.. hope the near HDB measures will benefit us.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Fengshui and your main entrance
front door or it could be your front gate if you're living in landed homes. So it's not only about price or the amount of cash-over-valuation you should consider when buying a new place. If you want to maximize your prosperity, pay attention to these feng shui tips.
The following is an article contributed by House of Feng Shui.
One must always take care of the main entrance to his home as he would for his mouth to his body.
The source of misfortunes often originates from the mouth. The food we take and the words we use often result in irreversible consequences.
It is said that the success of the home thus lies in the order of the main entrance, its direction, orientation, location and its composition.
Good class homes are usually oriented to the North-South plane. When choosing a home, one should look out for inauspicious factors that may adversely affect the occupants at home.
Avoid homes with main entrances at the end of a road or cul-de-sac and watch out for pointed structures directly pointing to the main door such as a flag post, lamp post or a structural pointed roof.
Avoid living next to petrol stations, police stations, hospitals and places of worships. Besides the obvious dangers, places like these harbor negative energies due to the outpouring of problems arising from visitors which can prove too strong for everyday life.
Do not hang a mirror at the main door for this may confuse the energies vital to the home. A picture of a mountain there symbolizes obstacles before you leave home while pictures of flowers such as peonies may attract the wrong sort of attraction for the roving eye of the occupants.
Main entrances with a thoroughfare to another door or windows at the end of the home are better off screened with a divider to slow down the gushing energies form the origin.
Main entrances looking from inside out, with structures such as lights or trees on the left favors males while those with taller and more concentrated accents on the right favor females and strengthen the ladies of the house.
Depending on the location and direction of the main entrance, the flying star of the year can determine the success and afflictions of the occupants.
The following is an article contributed by House of Feng Shui.
One must always take care of the main entrance to his home as he would for his mouth to his body.
The source of misfortunes often originates from the mouth. The food we take and the words we use often result in irreversible consequences.
It is said that the success of the home thus lies in the order of the main entrance, its direction, orientation, location and its composition.
Good class homes are usually oriented to the North-South plane. When choosing a home, one should look out for inauspicious factors that may adversely affect the occupants at home.
Avoid homes with main entrances at the end of a road or cul-de-sac and watch out for pointed structures directly pointing to the main door such as a flag post, lamp post or a structural pointed roof.
Avoid living next to petrol stations, police stations, hospitals and places of worships. Besides the obvious dangers, places like these harbor negative energies due to the outpouring of problems arising from visitors which can prove too strong for everyday life.
Do not hang a mirror at the main door for this may confuse the energies vital to the home. A picture of a mountain there symbolizes obstacles before you leave home while pictures of flowers such as peonies may attract the wrong sort of attraction for the roving eye of the occupants.
Main entrances with a thoroughfare to another door or windows at the end of the home are better off screened with a divider to slow down the gushing energies form the origin.
Main entrances looking from inside out, with structures such as lights or trees on the left favors males while those with taller and more concentrated accents on the right favor females and strengthen the ladies of the house.
Depending on the location and direction of the main entrance, the flying star of the year can determine the success and afflictions of the occupants.
Monday, June 27, 2011
JUL BTOs
Government decided to COMBINE JUN AND JUL ARGH!!!
it meant less choices for us.
I guess they wanted to reduce the issue of multi applications..
BUT NO CHOICE MAH!
Up till now also cannot get unit zzz
we should be aiming SK.. again
choices for JUL
it meant less choices for us.
I guess they wanted to reduce the issue of multi applications..
BUT NO CHOICE MAH!
Up till now also cannot get unit zzz
we should be aiming SK.. again
choices for JUL
Friday, June 17, 2011
Know Our Customers
http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/know-our-customers/
The first rule of good customer service is to know our customers: Who are they? What are their needs?
In my first BTO launch last month, nearly 14,000 Singaporeans applied for 4,000 units. I asked HDB for their profile. There were many details, but some key points are tabulated below:
May 2011 BTO Launch - Profile of flat applicants
A “first-timer” refers to an applicant who has never bought an HDB flat directly from HDB, nor taken a CPF Housing Grant.
A “second-timer” refers to one who has previously bought an HDB flat directly from HDB or taken a CPF Housing Grant.
We try to give greater priority to first-timers.
I made the following observations.
First, 65% of the applicants were first-timers.
Second, 55% of the applicants were making their first BTO attempt (35% first-timers, 20% second-timers).
Third, 35% of the applicants were first-timers and making their first BTO attempt.
Fourth, among the first-timers, more than half applied under HDB’s Fiancé-Fiancée Scheme. Their median age was 27. As for the other first-timers (i.e. those already married), their median age was 34. There is therefore justification to revise the HDB income ceiling, given the rising age of applicants.
Fifth, about 40% of first-timers applied under the Married Child Priority Scheme, to live near their parents. This is an aspiration, which we must be mindful of. However, meeting it will not be easy, as mature estates have limited scope for further BTO development. But we will try to squeeze out as many as possible.
Sixth, 45% of the applicants were making their repeat BTO attempts. In the previous quarter, the corresponding figure was 60%. I take some comfort that the situation seems to be improving. But we have much work to do still.
Seventh, 14% of the applicants had applied for three or more previous BTO exercises in the last one year. Of these, a third had the chance to select a flat but did not do so for their own reasons. I am, however, conscious of the frustrations and anxiety of those who did not have a chance to select at all. I am ramping up BTO launches to try to ease this problem. Meanwhile, my advice is that they try less mature estates to improve on their odds.
HDB is now processing the applications. 4,000 will be successful and we must analyse the profile of the successful applicants, after the exercise is complete. I am sure the analysis will provide further insights.
The first rule of good customer service is to know our customers: Who are they? What are their needs?
In my first BTO launch last month, nearly 14,000 Singaporeans applied for 4,000 units. I asked HDB for their profile. There were many details, but some key points are tabulated below:
May 2011 BTO Launch - Profile of flat applicants
A “first-timer” refers to an applicant who has never bought an HDB flat directly from HDB, nor taken a CPF Housing Grant.
A “second-timer” refers to one who has previously bought an HDB flat directly from HDB or taken a CPF Housing Grant.
We try to give greater priority to first-timers.
I made the following observations.
First, 65% of the applicants were first-timers.
Second, 55% of the applicants were making their first BTO attempt (35% first-timers, 20% second-timers).
Third, 35% of the applicants were first-timers and making their first BTO attempt.
Fourth, among the first-timers, more than half applied under HDB’s Fiancé-Fiancée Scheme. Their median age was 27. As for the other first-timers (i.e. those already married), their median age was 34. There is therefore justification to revise the HDB income ceiling, given the rising age of applicants.
Fifth, about 40% of first-timers applied under the Married Child Priority Scheme, to live near their parents. This is an aspiration, which we must be mindful of. However, meeting it will not be easy, as mature estates have limited scope for further BTO development. But we will try to squeeze out as many as possible.
Sixth, 45% of the applicants were making their repeat BTO attempts. In the previous quarter, the corresponding figure was 60%. I take some comfort that the situation seems to be improving. But we have much work to do still.
Seventh, 14% of the applicants had applied for three or more previous BTO exercises in the last one year. Of these, a third had the chance to select a flat but did not do so for their own reasons. I am, however, conscious of the frustrations and anxiety of those who did not have a chance to select at all. I am ramping up BTO launches to try to ease this problem. Meanwhile, my advice is that they try less mature estates to improve on their odds.
HDB is now processing the applications. 4,000 will be successful and we must analyse the profile of the successful applicants, after the exercise is complete. I am sure the analysis will provide further insights.
Friday, June 10, 2011
MAY'11 RESULT
"We refer to your application to buy a 4-room flat at Tampines in the May 2011 Build-To-Order Exercise.
We have conducted the computer ballot and your queue position is beyond three times the flat supply. We regret to inform you that you have been unsuccessful in your application."
SIAN TO THE MAX ARGH!!!
5th FAILURE
We have conducted the computer ballot and your queue position is beyond three times the flat supply. We regret to inform you that you have been unsuccessful in your application."
SIAN TO THE MAX ARGH!!!
5th FAILURE
Friday, June 3, 2011
1,000 more flats set to be offered
EVEN as the latest offer of 3,957 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats drew to a close on Thursday, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced yet another infusion to ramp up supply.
He has asked the Housing Board to look into releasing 1,000 unsold units from earlier sale exercises later this year.
Just last week, he raised the total number of flats on offer this year from 22,000 to 25,000, in a bid to help more young couples own homes as soon as possible.
With the 1,000 now set to be added from the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, Singaporeans are looking at a total of 26,000 units to choose from for the whole of this year.
In his latest blog posting titled Within Expectation, Mr Khaw noted that application rates for the latest BTO were 'good and within expectation'.
The six BTO projects, which will be built only after eligible buyers register sufficient interest, are located across four towns - Pasir Ris, Punggol West, Tampines and Woodlands
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_675698.html
He has asked the Housing Board to look into releasing 1,000 unsold units from earlier sale exercises later this year.
Just last week, he raised the total number of flats on offer this year from 22,000 to 25,000, in a bid to help more young couples own homes as soon as possible.
With the 1,000 now set to be added from the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, Singaporeans are looking at a total of 26,000 units to choose from for the whole of this year.
In his latest blog posting titled Within Expectation, Mr Khaw noted that application rates for the latest BTO were 'good and within expectation'.
The six BTO projects, which will be built only after eligible buyers register sufficient interest, are located across four towns - Pasir Ris, Punggol West, Tampines and Woodlands
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_675698.html
Thursday, June 2, 2011
May'11
Number of Applications Received as at 02 June 2011
AND TAMPINES GREENLEAF has only 384 4-room units!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
More But Not All
My earlier comment that I have asked HDB to consider putting up some BTOs in mature estates next year was well received, judging by media reports.
However, ST reported a young couple living in Tanjong Pagar saying that they welcomed the news and were looking forward to a BTO in Tanjong Pagar. I must add that while I have asked HDB to put up more BTOs in mature estates, it will not be possible for many mature estates to benefit from this development, certainly not in the short term.
This is because most of the matured estates are substantially built up, and there is limited land for public housing.
HDB is still studying the details, but preliminarily, they told me that a couple of mature estates such as Kallang/Whampoa and Tampines could benefit from BTO launches next year. We will do our best to meet young couples’ aspiration to be able to continue to live near their parents. But unfortunately, we will not be able to do so in every mature estate.
Tanjong Pagar is fully built up and a BTO there is unlikely. I hope the young couple would seriously consider other options, especially those in the non-mature estates.
http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/more-but-not-all/
However, ST reported a young couple living in Tanjong Pagar saying that they welcomed the news and were looking forward to a BTO in Tanjong Pagar. I must add that while I have asked HDB to put up more BTOs in mature estates, it will not be possible for many mature estates to benefit from this development, certainly not in the short term.
This is because most of the matured estates are substantially built up, and there is limited land for public housing.
HDB is still studying the details, but preliminarily, they told me that a couple of mature estates such as Kallang/Whampoa and Tampines could benefit from BTO launches next year. We will do our best to meet young couples’ aspiration to be able to continue to live near their parents. But unfortunately, we will not be able to do so in every mature estate.
Tanjong Pagar is fully built up and a BTO there is unlikely. I hope the young couple would seriously consider other options, especially those in the non-mature estates.
http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/more-but-not-all/
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
MAY'11
We have just applied for TAMPINES GREENLEAF.
WISH US LUCK
AGAIN.
AFter failing for 3 times, I am kinda weary and losing enthusiasm
WISH US LUCK
AGAIN.
AFter failing for 3 times, I am kinda weary and losing enthusiasm
Build more BTO flats in mature estates: Khaw
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_674414.html
IN HIS third blog posting in five days, new Minister of National Development Khaw Boon Wan has asked the HDB to look into building more Build-To-Order (BTO) flats in mature estates.
Titled Making A Calculated Move, Mr Khaw acknowledged that his Ministry had been reluctant to launch BTO projects in mature estates for fears that its popularity 'would attract high subscription rates, further alarming the market.'
'While this is a valid concern, I believe that Singaporeans will understand that mature estates will always attract very high subscription. We should not be daunted by such a prospect, but should instead try to meet the aspirations of many young couples wanting to set up nests near their parents,' Mr Khaw wrote.
But even though the Minister pointed out that HDB doubles the balloting chances of such couples under the Married Child Priority Scheme, he advised young couples to look to get a HDB unit in newer estates, so as to 'better their chances of getting a flat.'
Mr Khaw's blog comes after the current BTO launch that saw about 8,000 applications for 4,000 new units so far, the highest demand coming for flats in Tampines, a matured estate.
To read more of Minister Khaw's latest blog post, go here: http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/making-a-calculated-move/
IN HIS third blog posting in five days, new Minister of National Development Khaw Boon Wan has asked the HDB to look into building more Build-To-Order (BTO) flats in mature estates.
Titled Making A Calculated Move, Mr Khaw acknowledged that his Ministry had been reluctant to launch BTO projects in mature estates for fears that its popularity 'would attract high subscription rates, further alarming the market.'
'While this is a valid concern, I believe that Singaporeans will understand that mature estates will always attract very high subscription. We should not be daunted by such a prospect, but should instead try to meet the aspirations of many young couples wanting to set up nests near their parents,' Mr Khaw wrote.
But even though the Minister pointed out that HDB doubles the balloting chances of such couples under the Married Child Priority Scheme, he advised young couples to look to get a HDB unit in newer estates, so as to 'better their chances of getting a flat.'
Mr Khaw's blog comes after the current BTO launch that saw about 8,000 applications for 4,000 new units so far, the highest demand coming for flats in Tampines, a matured estate.
To read more of Minister Khaw's latest blog post, go here: http://mndsingapore.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/making-a-calculated-move/
Debating
We Were debating between PASIR RIS COSTA RIS VS TAMPINES GREENLEAF
In the end, Greenleaf won.
Due to TAmpines Town being more "prosperous" and with MORE facilities. NO DOUBT, Tampines will be MORE crowded than Pasir Ris but the facilities will come in useful.
Price is similar but Greenleaf is at a quieter location as compared to Costa Ris which is sandwiched between MRT LINE AND EXPRESSWAY
Tampines Greenleaf is still walkable distance away from MRT.
That is one important factor.
Will find time to go down actual site soon.
The MAIN PROBLEM, TAMPINES IS OVERSUBSCRIBED By MANY TIMES MORE.
*******
Some comparisons that I've made.
In the end, Greenleaf won.
Due to TAmpines Town being more "prosperous" and with MORE facilities. NO DOUBT, Tampines will be MORE crowded than Pasir Ris but the facilities will come in useful.
Price is similar but Greenleaf is at a quieter location as compared to Costa Ris which is sandwiched between MRT LINE AND EXPRESSWAY
Tampines Greenleaf is still walkable distance away from MRT.
That is one important factor.
Will find time to go down actual site soon.
The MAIN PROBLEM, TAMPINES IS OVERSUBSCRIBED By MANY TIMES MORE.
*******
Some comparisons that I've made.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
MAY'11 BTO
We Gotten 200% for APRIL BTO..
Even though we were given a selection date, there's not much hope in getting a unit, thus we have to start balloting for MAY first..
*********
Even though we were given a selection date, there's not much hope in getting a unit, thus we have to start balloting for MAY first..
*********
http://www101.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu05p.nsf/0/11MAYBTO_page/$file/11MAYBTO_about0.htm?open&ft=bto
Pasir Ris
Golden Lily
(Standard Contract)
Pasir Ris
Costa Ris
(Standard Contract)
Punggol West
Punggol Parcvista
(Standard contract)
Tampines
Tampines GreenWood
(Standard contract)
Tampines
Tampines GreenLeaf
(Standard contract)
Tampines Tampines GreenWood/ Tampines GreenLeaf
(Standard contract)
Tampines GreenLeaf
(Standard contract)
Woodlands Woodlands Peak
(Standard contract)
***************
Thursday, May 5, 2011
MAY AND JUNE SITES
MAY 2011
next aim (PR) cause near MRT
JUN 2011
the other will be Bukit Panjang which we are not interested in
from HDB website
*************
we have 3 chances for APRIL BTO..
wish us all the best again!
next aim (PR) cause near MRT
JUN 2011
the other will be Bukit Panjang which we are not interested in
from HDB website
*************
we have 3 chances for APRIL BTO..
wish us all the best again!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
APRIL'11 BTO
and so, dear and I applied for SK in APRIL.
- Higher chances to get one (2.5X oversubscribed compared to 7X for waterway)
- More affordable (we want to make sure we can afford our home in the immediate future not banking on future earnings)
- More accessible and nearer to MRT/LRT (from map seems nearer)
**************
Dear's colleague is aiming for WATERWAY TERRACE II 5room 0.o
ambitious ah.. but dear and I decided that it's better to be safe than sorry.. in affordability that is
Friday, April 15, 2011
Calculating Finance
just did a little calculation on HDB wesbite for a 300K Loan repayable in 30yrs with 2.6% interest, montly contribution will be $1.2K/mth
From CPF allocation, OA which is used to pay for HDB loan will be 23% of wage that means.. to support $1.2K/mth, gross combined pay should be around $5.2K/mth
so dear and I must earn >$5K combined to get decent flat
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Result for March BTO
and we did not even have a Queue Number..
we exceeded 3X the number of flats available.. SIGH.
second time and it was worse than Feb's result.
NEXT, we should be aiming for PUNGGOL in APRIL.
now waiting for the BTO application exercise to be open.
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