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Showing posts from 2022

HK: 128sf - If you think 420sf is a tight squeeze in SG, think again!

Tuen Mun Town Centre T Plus | Find Property | Midland Realty You are looking at all 128sf of it - one of HK's tiniest apartment.

Shoebox space optimisation ideas (420sf)

 

HK: Can we live with less?

" According to guidelines by the Japanese government – a country confronting micro-living challenges as much as Hong Kong, if not more – a person should be able to live comfortably in at least 25 sq m (269 sq ft) of residential space, although the ideal is 430 sq ft." https://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/3202272/hong-kongs-light-public-housing-scheme-has-room-improvement

HK InnoVale shoeboxes

 

Shoeboxes continue to be relevant

https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/why-shoebox-units-continue-be-popular " Despite these criticisms, shoebox units still play a necessary role in the residential market, although sales transactions for shoebox units account for only 7% to 11% of all sales transactions of condominiums in Singapore from 2012 to 2022."

CM again? Shoebox apartments how?

The latest set of cooling measures are targeted at the enbloc rich and we'll heeled downgraders buying into the resale HDB market. The trigger is likely the million dollar HDBs increasingly transacted. Tons of blogs and posts have touched on the measures in detail, so I will not repeat ad nauseum. But then we ask, what is the impact, if any, on shoebox owners and hunters? Popularity of smaller units may increase as a result of tighter LTV because buyer budget dropped by 5%. Perhaps now for some of us, shoebox condo and apartment units become the only viable choice due to the lower TDSR and higher loan interest reference point. Given the likelihood of interest rates breaching 4% soon it pays to be prudent and not over commit. As long as property value is preserved there is always room for upgrade in the future. For those who are downgrading, perhaps also a good opportunity to Marie kondo stuff away so smaller spaces are still liveable.