A shift in political stance has affected the property market. Image courtesy of Thinkstock.

By Sheena Chua

It is an eventful time for the property market as the impact of multiple rounds of cooling measures, among other major policy shifts, starts to show.

Last December's property cooling measures are said to be among the harshest. They include an additional 10 per cent buyer's stamp duty exacted on foreigners purchasing any local residential properties. Corporate entities were also subject to the stamp duty.

These changes could have stemmed from a strident political shift. After the history-making General Elections last year, during which the ruling People's Action Party received the lowest number of votes since Singapore's independence, it seems the government is focusing on remedying the qualms of Singaporeans.

Just recently, The Straits Times quoted Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Chua Hak Bin's observation that since the watershed elections, Singapore has been moving towards a model that emphasises productivity-led growth and inclusiveness, as opposed to the

The additional buyers' stamp duty may be the straw that breaks the camel's back in Singapore's property market. (AFP photo)

By Mr. Propwise

As 2011 comes to an end (how time flies!), we polish our crystal ball, take stock of the key takeaways from some of our previous articles, and try and peer into 2012 to see what the new year will bring for the Singapore property market.

Worrying trends in 2011

In a previous article Worrying Trends in the Singapore Property Market I highlighted four disturbing trends in the Singapore market:

1. HDB prices are rising faster than private property prices
2. Private home buyers are in a cautious mood, especially in the high end segment
3. Developers are turning cautious too
4. Investors are going into industrial and commercial properties

I think these trends are signalling that we are near a turning point in the property bull market. The insiders are turning cautious while the "man on the street" average investors are still rushing in. Middle income families are rushing to buy high-priced HDB flats and mass market residential properties and small-time investors are snapping up

The rise of the new money class means opportunities for heartland properties, says a feng shui master. (PropertyGuru photo)

By Carmen Pang (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

There is a Chinese proverb that says a day's plan starts with the early morning and a year's plan begins with spring. With both 2012 and the year of the dragon fast approaching, now is the opportune time for homeowners and home buyers to look ahead and gain some feng shui insight into the property market and plan their property strategy for the upcoming year.

"The Singapore property market is highly affected by the global economy and the momentum created by the bad energy in 2011 will not stop until mid-2012," declares Yun Long Zi, a sixth-generation feng shui master.

"In general, the market will be depressive. That said, there is also an imbalance in the qi, which means there will be volatility," he predicts.

In addition to the imbalance, Yun says the Singapore property market will also be heavily influenced in the near future by the so-called "new money" class.

"Those with new money will not buy in the super expensive locations because

By Romesh Navaratnarajah (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

The top story dominating the news this past week has not been the shirtless guys promoting Abercrombie & Fitch, but the frequent MRT disruptions that affected thousands of commuters, leaving many stranded and angry. It even forced the emergency evacuation of people trapped in the trains.

The breakdowns were so serious that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has called for a full inquiry to investigate the matter.

Whatever the outcome, it does raise the question about whether living next to an MRT station is such an advantage.

After all, homes located nearby are more expensive. According to property agents, HDB flats cost S$10,000 to S$15,000 (5 to 15 percent) more if they are close to an MRT station. As for private homes, it ranges from about S$20,000 to S$50,000 more.

Apart from the higher price tag, there's also the railway noise from the comings and goings of trains that have affected residents living close to MRT viaducts for years.

By Romesh Navaratnarajah (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

Foreign buyers continue to purchase high-end homes in Singapore's prime central districts. In the first 11 months of 2011, they contributed to 28.7 percent of home transactions in the Core Central Region (CCR).

A CBRE analysis of caveats data by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) also indicated that foreigners accounted for 20.2 percent of home purchases in the Rest of Central Region (RCR) and 14.4 percent in the Outside Central Region (OCR).

Joseph Tan, CBRE's Executive Director for Residential, said: "These numbers show that foreign buyers are more active in the CCR and RCR where the luxury and prime properties are located."

For example, of the 39 caveats lodged for Rivergate condo in Robertson Quay, 22 caveats (56.4 percent) were lodged by foreigners. Similarly, foreign buyers showed strong interest in CapitaLand's d'Leedon condo development in District 10. Of the 209 caveats lodged in 2011, 64 (30.6 percent) were attributed

Include some nice accessories to give your bathroom that sleek and trendy. (Photos courtesy of Interior Affairs)

by Interior Affairs (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

Everyone wants a stylish and trendy home without having to spend too much. More often than not, most renovation budgets allow for only a portion of your home to be refurbished and the bathroom is usually the last on the list of priorities.

For those who are tired of the state of their bathrooms and wish to upgrade its design without the extra hassle and cost of a full-force renovation, below are five easy-to-follow steps for any household.

With these tips, you can have a small sanctuary with little touches that reflect your personality and style. Whether you're a minimalist who likes clean and sleek designs or if you prefer bright quirky designs and unique shapes, there are options for everyone.

1. Accessorise and make your shower experience more enjoyable

Add a touch of colour or quirky utensils to add more spice to your bathroom. (Photos courtesy of Interior Affairs)

Accessories make a noticeable and significant difference to any home space. If you fancy fresh and vibrant spaces, add a little splash of colour with some eye-catching

Despite a 'triple-whammy', expats are not expected to make an exodus out of Singapore. (Photo courtesy of PropertyGuru)

By Andrew Batt (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

Singapore is becoming a less attractive destination for expatriates, if a headline in one of Tuesday's British broadsheet newspapers is anything to go by.

Mentioning the "triple whammy" of the foreign property buying tax, the scrapping of the scheme which allowed graduates from overseas universities to stay in Singapore for a year to look for work, and the fact the city state has now overtaken Hong Kong (for the first time in ten years) in a 'most expensive place to stay' report by ECA International, the article suggested expatriates will be shunning the city state.

But while Singapore is now the sixth costliest city in Asia (Tokyo tops the list and Hong Kong has dropped to a lowly ninth place); its rise in these reports has been matched by rises in Quality of Living surveys. Singapore was ranked eighth in Asia and 25th overall in Mercer's 2011 Quality of Living survey, ahead of Tokyo, Hong Kong, and regional "rivals" Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and

A property is viewed as a necessity for Singaporeans. (Photo courtesy of PropertyGuru)

by Romesh Navaratnarajah (courtesy of PropertyGuru)

Reactions to the government's announcement of an additional 10 per cent stamp duty for foreigners buying private homes have been mixed, with most consumers welcoming it, while property insiders calling it harsh and unnecessary.

With private property price growth moderating to around three per cent since January's cooling measures and home sales dropping by about 20 percent between Q2 and Q3 2011, it's fair to ask whether these measures are necessary now.

Most people that I've spoken to welcome it as they see property as a necessity for all Singaporeans, just like job security. Many say that buyers have become greedy, using property as a speculative instrument. Certain individuals have even used foreigners as the bogeyman, saying cash rich overseas buyers have run prices up to unattainable levels.

While an additional 10 per cent tax hike might seem a lot for the average joe, the general consensus among many