New rules to encourage prudent home buying

A loophole in the private property market has been plugged to make sure buyers do not end up committing to new homes they cannot afford. The move is aimed at encouraging financial prudence amid Singapore's worst recession and rising job losses.

Starting yesterday, developers will no longer be able to extend the time period for a prospective buyer's option to purchase (OTP) a residential unit on their own.

Under a standard OTP, new home buyers get around three weeks in which they reserve their rights to purchase a property in return for a booking fee. If they fail to exercise the option to purchase at the end of three weeks, they risk forfeiting 25 per cent of their booking fees - or 1.25 per cent of the total home price - analysts said.

Some developers have been continually reissuing OTPs to prospective buyers for months without forfeiting any portion of the booking fees while the buyers try to secure finances.

Under the new guidelines, developers can no longer reissue an OTP to the same buyer for the same unit for 12 months after the earlier OTP expires. They also have to inform buyers of this condition upfront.

"The need for greater financial discipline in making property purchase decisions is especially pertinent given the current economic situation, where workers are facing uncertainties in the labour market. Purchasers should commit to a property purchase when they are ready to exercise the OTP within the validity period," Ms Ling Hui Lin, Controller of Housing at Urban Redevelopment Authority, said in yesterday's circular.

Singapore

Property taxes for most homes to rise in 2024; Govt to give one-off rebate

Nov 30, 2023

Related Stories

Sengkang condo resident's doormat removed for 'encroachment'

29 HDB resale flats sold for at least $1 million last month

HDB to ramp up supply of BTO flats, with demand up by 70%

LENGTHEN

The URA observed "there have been instances where the OTP is reissued multiple times to the same purchaser(s) for the same unit, which lengthens the option period significantly".

Ms Tricia Song, head of research at Colliers International, said: "This will probably instil greater financial discipline to home buyers in property buying decisions with the following messaging - do your sums first before you commit - if you are not able to get a loan or pay for it in three weeks, you probably should not agree to buy it now."

For genuine buyers who can prove they can sell their existing home within 12 weeks, the Controller of Housing is prepared to consider extending the three-week option validity period to 12 weeks, Mr Karamjit Singh, chief executive of Showsuite Consultancy, said, an increase from the eight weeks previously given.

URA said the new guidelines do not apply retrospectively to OTPs issued before yesterday.

Mr Singh believes the new rules will not likely be a major dampener for the new homes market, especially in the mass-market segment.

He pointed to last weekend's launch of Penrose condominium by Hong Leong Holdings. Of its 566 units, 341 were sold as of Sunday.

"Hong Leong practised a strict 'no-reissue' policy. This means all the buyers would be required to exercise their options within three weeks of being served the sale and purchase agreements," he said.