PERFECT HOMES MAGAZINE - Issue 13 Issue 13 | Page 286

Singapore The Land of the Lion is Biting Back for Todays Bargain Hunters! A fter five years of price gains, the Singapore housing market seemed to have finally hit rock bottom, during the housing boom of 2013, prices soared to a record high of 40%, spurred on by low interest rates and demand from foreign buyers. As prices peaked, the government capped borrowers’ total debt repayments at 60% of their income, making it harder for Singaporeans to refinance loans, and placed additional taxes on home purchases by foreigners and levies on property sales. These measures cooled the market: Thus Singapore’s home prices fell 4% in 2014, the first year-on-year decline since 2008, and 12.6% for the 1Q of 2015 but with this year marking the 50th anniversary of Independence and an election year to boot could 2015 be the ideal time for savvy property investors who are willing to grab a bargain and sit on it while the markets balance themselves out? 286 THE ESSENTIAL COSTA DEL SOL WEBSITE - www.simplymedia-group.com