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Showing posts with the label Housing

UOB Overseas Property Loan for Thailand

Source But catch is must be condo and must be Bangkok or some selected areas, probably rural areas is out. Can borrow up to 70% though. Wonder if places like Chiang Mai or Phuket can or not, Bangkok air so polluted I cannot take it. Anyone use this loan before? Want to share your experience?
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Bought Two IKEA Thyge Desks

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One for $139, bought 2 with delivery $35 total $313. It's a sturdy desk, not shaky and easy to assemble, everything needed to assemble is already in the package, only need a hammer. The leg part a bit tricky, to loosen need to twist anti-clockwise, to secure is clockwise, but after securing have to ensure all four legs are same height, good thing there is a length guide on the legs. And also it's better to secure it with the table top on the ground and the legs pointing up, otherwise difficult to get all four legs to be same height, I had trouble with the first one but finally realised that if I try to secure with the legs downwards, the alignment will run.
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My HDB Lease Expiry Date

Recently HDB flat lease keep coming up in the news, so now I'm wondering when my lease will expire. The lease start date for my flat is 01 Jan 1967. So 1967 + 99 is 2066, which mean that from 01 Jan 2066 HDB can take back my flat, which also mean the last day that I can stay is until 31 Dec 2065. In 2065 I would be 82 years old, wonder if I can live so long, my wife would be 79 years old. By then my daughter will probably have her own family, she would be 50 years old.
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Apply BTO Before MOP

I have colleague, family and even some comments from this blog suggesting a possibility of applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flat before fulfilling the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of 5 years, but based on what I interpreted from the HDB website some time back this doesn't seem to be the case, but I don't think so many people are suggesting it for no reason, so I decided to drop HDB an email to clarify. The following is their response: " Eligibility to buy an HDB flat Dear Sir   Thank you for your email of 19 May 2018. 2  You may wish to know that if you are living in the current resale flat bought on the open market (without CPF Housing Grant) you can submit a flat application for a project which has a Delivery Possession Date (DPD) on or after the 5 year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) for your resale flat. For example, if the MOP for your resale flat ends in Mar 2022, you can apply for flat with a DPD on or after Mar 2022. 3  However, if your current resale flat boug
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My HDB Flat Left with 48 Years Lease

Recently I read an online article about the lease of older HDB flats, the current minister for national development Mr. Lawrence Wong mentioned the following: He said the oldest Housing Board flat today is around 50 years , and that the majority have more than 60 years remaining on their leases. He stressed that lease extension is not an immediate issue and "we still have time to do this work". Then I decided to check the remaining lease on my HDB flat, the lease started in 1967, so 2018 - 1967 is 51 years old, ok this number is around what he mentioned, then 99 - 51 is 48 years remaining, this second number is quite far from what he mentioned. So if he can get the first number so close, how come second number so far apart? I don't know man, 60 - 48 is like 12 years, maybe he didn't think 12 is a very big number, but when one factor in the 99 years lease, 12 is actually 12.12% of 99, so it's not a very small number to neglect. Anyway obviously resale price
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Next Year Must Use Cash to Service Housing Loan

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Just received this letter today, it says that after Mar 2019 I have to use cash to pay for my housing loan. This is one bad thing about buying house with less than 60 years lease but still ok la since the monthly payment is $721 so not that bad. Good thing is less money come out from CPF, why it is good is because CPF interest is the best and guaranteed, there is no other place you can realistically get what CPF is paying out. Anyway just nice next year May my current flat will meet the MOP so I can apply for a new one, still thinking apply where, BTO or balance flat, thinking of getting a big one, location sucks never mind, I see places like CCK 5-room so cheap so quite tempting. In SG really no such thing as location good or bad, it's so small that getting anywhere is not far at all plus delivery services are so convenient nowadays you can just order anything online, even groceries also can send to home.
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Dirty Mop Water Drip On Baby Clothes

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According to wife this is not the first time but today I see for myself wah these people really horrible man, I thought the sensible way is to wash the mop clean before taking out to dry, this family is take out the dirty mop to dry, look at all that black/brown stains, don't they ever wash that mop at all? Anyway I went upstairs with the dirty clothes, knocked on the door several times and called out but nobody answered, I think someone at home but don't want to answer, never mind, I complain to HDB.
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Father Fixed My Kitchen Cabinet Door for $50

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I told my father about the quote I got, he was shocked, he told me not to get other people to do it, end up he repaired my kitchen door for just $50, also comes with a free number lock (my house door number lock broken) and a couple cans of beer. Following is the quote if you are curious, there are two parts, $650 is just to fix the kitchen cabinet door, $800 is to replace the table top. Bloody hell, $650 just for a cabinet door. My father came at around 11am, finished around 2pm, 3 hours work 1 person do, actually I wanted to give him $200 but he don't want, only took $50.
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Handyman Came to My House

Previously mentioned that my kitchen is ugly, I booked an appointment with singaporehandyman.com, they never confirm but came anyway, think their office cock up. So this morning two guys suddenly appeared, both were very polite and professional. In less than 15 minutes they did the measurements, took photos, I asked for two quotes, one is to replace the whole table top and the sink but the whole middle piece of wood also have to remove. Another option is to just replace the sink and the broken door and put silicone to the leaks. Just to highlight that have to pay $25 for the site measurement, but later can refund if I accept their quotation. Monday they send me the quotes then see how.
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Kitchen So Ugly!

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After 3 years+, things start to fall apart, see the wall so ugly, the water leaking, the cabinet door also broken. Now looking for someone to help me fix, went to IKEA end up they use external contractor to do these stuff, they only sell the products, install or dismantle they outsource, pricing also not cheap, dismantle 4-7 feet cabinet $250, longer more expensive. If you interested you can ask them for a price list, they have a list of how much they charge, they don't make it openly available, but can ask for a copy. Just ask for onsite measurement, or dismantle charge. Anyway who got good company to recommend let me know, thanks. If can just fix the cabinet door and replace sink good enough, but if cannot repair have to change whole cabinet also can, just need to change bottom. Actually I prefer those integrated type of sink, no need to worry about the silicone wear off and leak water. Behind also leaking, so those type behind raised up is better. This one done by my fathe
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New Bed is Here

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Just 3 rolls, can pack until so compact. The old ti lam and mattress wife put below. I lie on top really comfortable, definitely feels better than ti lam, really looking forward to first sleep on new bed.
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Bought New Mattress at IKEA

My lower left back keeps hurting, think it is from the cheap ti lam, now I never kena the super jia lat back pain but always have this pain at left area all the time. The last major back pain was in Feb 2016 , ti lam works to solve the major back pain but cause long-lasting pain, sigh. Or maybe the ti lam too cheap, too soft, can actually feel my backbone touching the floor. So since I got my bonus, instead of spending it on a laptop which I don't really need, might as well get a proper mattress, ended up deciding to check out IKEA since it is near my home. Before going I did some research on mattress, seems like latex is the best but it is more expensive. Note that there are different types of latex, natural is the best and most expensive. There are also synthetic and blended latex, I think these could be cheaper options. But online some people say synthetic can get very warm. There's also foam or spring mattresses, spring confirm out, reason is because kids like to jump
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Increase of Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC)

Mine is 2-room HDB flat. 1st Jun 2017 going to increase from $28.50 to $29.50. 1st Jun 2018 increase to $30.50. Overall just $2, can't do much these days.
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This Month Utilities Bill $13.17

This month government give $65 rebate, shiok!
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Bought NORRÅKER Sideboard (White Birch) from IKEA for $299

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Product link. I hand-carry and took taxi home so no delivery charge. It's packed in two long flat boxes, the shorter one can fit into the boot of the taxi together with our pram, but the longer one cannot so good thing the taxi uncle don't mind that we put behind at the passenger seat, so my wife and baby cramp behind and I sat in front, just nice. It was easy to assemble, no drilling required, just need a big cross screwdriver and the rest comes together with the package. I like this table, fit just nice and very stable, solid purchase.
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Toilet Got Stuck

My toilet was stuck for about a week, the water took some time to drain unlike previously after flush it immediately drained, I guess something got stuck inside. I bought a large pump for $8.50, also bought a bottle of drain cleaner solution for $5, tried both doesn't work, ended up making it worse. So I ordered a toilet auger at Amazon, it's a Cobra 3 feet toilet auger, $12.95 USD, shipping cost is $41.91, total $54.86 USD. It could be cheaper but I want it fast so I choose priority shipping so it was much more expensive. Then yesterday my wife managed to unclog the thing with a smaller hand pump, wtf, I wasted $13.50 for those two useless things. So I tried to cancel my Amazon order, good thing is they haven't ship so cancelling is very straightforward, just cancel and they emailed me to inform that cancellation successful, no charge made to my credit card since they haven't ship the thing. I'm not too sure what happen if they already ship, anyway good t
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Replaced My Bathroom Basin Tap

These few weeks I noticed that the tap was dripping, not a lot to make any difference to my utility bill but it is very annoying. So today I went and bought a $30 tap and tried replacing by myself. I had only a big spanner and I thought it was sufficient but ended up that the angle was very awkward and I can't get in to loosen the tap, so I went and google and found that there is a tool call Basin Wrench, one piece only $7, went back to the same shop to buy. So with the new tool, it was so much easier to loosen the tap, the tool can be used to loosen the hose and the other side can be used to loosen the tap, very useful 2-in-1 tool. The shop which sold me the tap offered to replace for me but I declined, I guess it's not going to be cheap, after trying it out myself it's actually very easy to do, just need the right tool and all can be done in less than 15 minutes.
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U-Save Rebate for Jan 2016 and Apr 2016

This month our utilities bill was $86.27, after the $65 rebate, it is now $20.37, very helpful, this is one good thing about owning a 2-room flat, but now thinking of getting a larger flat, maybe a 3-room, at least my daughter can have her own room but must wait until MOP. April still getting one more $65.
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Next Year No Property Tax

I received a letter from IRAS saying that due to the annual value of my home being $6000, I don't have to pay property tax for 01 Jan 2016 to 31 Dec 2016, that's one good thing about having small home lol.
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Selling House before MOP

I still have 3 years and 5 months before my 2-room flat reach the MOP, anyway yesterday I checked with HDB whether they have any scheme for me to sell my flat early, at valuation or slightly below also ok, they say have to submit appeal to higher level but they don't think it is possible since my reason is not that strong. My reason given to them is now that I have a baby daughter, I would like to upgrade so as to let her have her own room, I also think reason not that strong but no harm asking. The officer also advised me to take the Top-Up Grant of $15,000, I say don't want la, later have to pay $15,000 for resale levy. So no choice just wait for MOP lor, but that time when I bought my 2-room I also never expected to have baby because wife have heart condition, but who knows our miracle baby was born, all the doctors we seen before would advise us to terminate the pregnancy, only this NUH cardio willing to see through the pregnancy with my wife on Warfarin, so I am very t
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Long-Term Visit Pass - Plus (LTVP-PLUS)

http://www.ica.gov.sg/news_details.aspx?nid=12665 Good news for those of us who cannot get PR for our beloved spouse, because the Singapore government has come up with a enhanced long-term visit pass called LTVP-PLUS or LTVP+. I'll sum up the key points in the FAQ provided by ICA so you don't have to go through one big page. Do let me know if I missed out anything or correction is required by dropping a comment. GENERAL LTVP+ will be in effect from 01 Apr 2012. LTVP+ holders will enjoy extended duration of residency, public healthcare subsidies and easier access to employment. No separate application required for LTVP+; an application for LTVP will automatically include your spouse for LTVP+, if eligible. LTVP applications submitted from 01 Feb 2012 will automatically be considered for LTVP+. The first approved LTVP+ will grant 3 years residency and subsequent renewal will be 5 years. Current holders of LTVP will be considered for LTVP+ on next renewal. If holde
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How to Marry a Thai in Singapore

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You should refer to here -  https://www.rom.gov.sg/reg_info/rom_marriage.asp Please spend some time to go through and understand the information on that section (legal provision, other information, filing of notice, solemnization and etc), if your still not sure, feel free to drop a comment here or you can use their FAQ . The ROM website did a really good job of putting together the information that you need in a well-organized manner. I've done it once and I think the guide is very easy to follow. The only hiccup I've had with my marriage is during the  Appointment for verification & Statutory Declaration where both of us were required to read out a wall of text and my wife had difficulty getting past the first few lines and the counter guy got fed up and told my wife to stop. Definitely my oversight as I didn't arrange for an interpreter beforehand but luckily, there was a licensed interpreter at the scene and we managed to get her to do the interpretation fo
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Commission Calculator for DBS Vickers SG Stocks

Made this little tool to help me calculate the costs of buying or selling a stock, just enter number of shares and price and it will show both buy and sell costs at the same time. Can even choose by cash upfront, online or phone and it will calculate using respective rates. Cash Upfront ONLINE By Phone Shares: Price: Value: Commission: Clearing Fee:
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