A single buyer walked in ready to purchase private. Profile fits, budget's there, the deal looks clean. Then one question changed everything: are you engaged? Turns out her fiancé has an HDB that hasn't cleared MOP — and now they can't keep both. The problem was never the product. It was the package around it. In this episode of The Resale Room, Harvey Chia is joined by co-hosts Teng Tan and Viv Yeow to unpack the property pitfalls that catch out buyers and sellers who don't know what they don't know. Not hypotheticals — real cases from the team's own recent deals. The panel works through the traps that hide in plain sight: the engaged buyer who has to give up one home or the other, the unapproved staircase that stalled a deal at inspection, and the road line reserve that quietly eats into a landed home's value. Harvey breaks down why he still bought a house with a road line in front — and how working the numbers backwards made it good value anyway. Teng shares how the 15-month wait-out rule collided with a client's Malaysia property to sink an HDB purchase. And the team gets into why HDB asks so many questions while private buyers get no checklist at all. The throughline: most people only ask whether a property will make money. They forget that getting to that decision carries a stack of rules, timelines and consequences they've never had to think about. What you don't know rarely stops the deal outright — it just makes it painful. The fix is having someone in your corner who's seen enough case studies to spot the pitfall before you're standing in it. This isn't a podcast of knowledge. It's a podcast of deal-making. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests. The discussion is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While the insights shared are based on personal perspectives and experiences, they should not be taken as professional or financial advice. A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A
A couple bought a large 4-bedder in one of Singapore's top profit-making projects back in 2019. They paid around $2.2M. Today it's worth about $3.5M — and they never touched their CPF. So now they can afford up to $5.5M for their next move. The question they walked in with: what do we buy next? In this episode of The Resale Room, Harvey Chia is joined by co-hosts Viv Yeow and Teng Tan for a real case study, not a hypothetical. At $5.5M, do you go for a large-format condo or a landed home? One property, or split it into two? And how much of the decision should be about the money versus how you actually want to live in the place? The panel works through the real trade-offs: why Harvey leans landed at this age and budget, why a big-quantum condo is harder to pick than it looks, and how the newer buyer thinks differently from the traditional one. Teng argues the strategic long-game case — buy landed now, hold it as an option, and work backwards from the end state. Viv makes the lifestyle case for space, facilities and a home you'd actually enjoy. And Harvey lays out the hard truths of en bloc: freehold over leasehold, why you need 80% to agree, and why you should never buy on en bloc potential alone. The throughline: with a windfall from an unprecedented 2019–2026 window, the next move is the one that matters. It's less about buying more to make more, and more about form, duration and the life stage you're buying for. There's no one right answer — only the parameters that fit you. This isn't a podcast of knowledge. It's a podcast of deal-making. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests. The discussion is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While the insights shared are based on personal perspectives and experiences, they should not be taken as professional or financial advice. A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A --------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro: A Real $5.5 Million Case Study 1:23 The Numbers: $3.5M Sale, $1.4M Cash, No CPF Used 2:06 The Question: Landed or Large-Format Condo? 2:56 Harvey's Case for Landed at $5.5M 3:25 Why the Right Big Condo Is Hard to Pick 4:31 Viv's Take: Space, Facilities and En Bloc Hopes 5:37 Landed for the Cleaning? The Real Reasons People Buy 6:04 If It's Not Your Final Home, Buy Landed 6:44 Do People Actually Use Condo Facilities? 8:02 Who's Buying Landed Now: The New Breed of Buyer 9:55 Why $4M+ Condos Are a Harder Sell 11:36 Harvey's En Bloc Playbook: Freehold Over Leasehold 13:23 Would You Buy a Condo for En Bloc Potential? 15:39 The 80% Problem: Why En Bloc Is So Hard 17:07 What Do You Actually Want to Achieve? 19:29 Why Landed Owners Rarely Sell Within 10 Years 21:27 It's About Living in the Home, Not Just the Profit 23:30 The 2019–2026 Window and the Next Big Decision 25:30 One Property or Two? The Prudent Play 27:41 How Teng Really Thinks: Old Man Mind, Young Runway 29:14 Final Takes: There's No One Right Answer --------------------------------------------- A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A CONTACT US FOR MORE PROPERTY REVIEWS & STRATEGIES ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ Buyers & Sellers: https://whatsform.com/byc-pj ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAY CONNECTED WITH US 📸 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok: @propertyroundtable
You've made a few rounds in property, maybe sold a unit or two, taken some profit off the table in stocks — and now you're sitting on $3 million in cash. What do you actually do with it? In this episode of The Resale Room, Harvey Chia is joined by co-hosts Viv Yeow and Teng Tan for a roundtable on a dilemma that's far more common than most people think. Not a hypothetical — the exact situation clients walk in with after they've done well. One solid $3M property, or two smaller plays? One name or two? Residential for the size and the self-stay, or an investment structured for the exit? And where do commercial, industrial and HDB shophouses fit once ABSD reshapes the whole equation? The panel walks through the real permutations: the all-in case for one strong $3M home in a central, flexible location; the dual-track play of a leveraged new launch alongside a more conservative buy for own use; and why more buyers are looking past residential entirely — collecting rent from industrial, navigating ABSD with commercial, and eyeing HDB shophouses as a hybrid income play. Harvey lays out his own two rules: one purchase leveraged while rates stay low, the second under-leveraged and paid down in cash so the downside is always covered. The throughline: with ABSD, it's no longer how many properties you own — it's how much good square footage you own in a single purchase. There's no one right answer, only the parameters that fit you. This isn't a podcast of knowledge. It's a podcast of deal-making. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests. The discussion is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While the insights shared are based on personal perspectives and experiences, they should not be taken as professional or financial advice. A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A 🎧 LISTEN ON THE GO Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033UBNtfWriplfZ7hK1IWy?si=f2c1dd2db0484a5f Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id6794035786 RSS: https://rss.com/podcasts/property-roundtable Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests. The discussion is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While the insights shared are based on personal perspectives and experiences, they should not be taken as professional or financial advice. A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A CONTACT US FOR MORE PROPERTY REVIEWS & STRATEGIES ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ Buyers & Sellers: https://whatsform.com/byc-pj ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- STAY CONNECTED WITH US 📸 Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok: @propertyroundtable HARVEY CHIA
Is $5 million really the new entry price for landed property in Singapore? In this solo episode, Harvey unpacks what that number actually means on the ground and why it's become the figure everyone keeps quoting. Harvey breaks down why landed prices are really rising, and it comes down to one thing: seller expectations. As land values across the island climb, sellers benchmark against government land sales, district markers, and neighbouring transactions, and buyers willing to match those expectations are what forms the market. But $5 million doesn't buy the same house everywhere. The same budget gets you a very different product depending on whether you're in an entry-level district or a prime one, and whether you're buying more house or more land. Harvey walks through the difference between land value and house value, why buying land is both an emotive and a technical decision, and why his own preference leans toward a bigger plot for the exit strategies it opens up. He also tackles a question most buyers don't ask: can a $5 million house actually be a bad buy? The answer is yes, and it usually comes down to paying a premium for a cosmetic reno dressed up to look like a full rebuild. This isn't a podcast of knowledge. It's a podcast of deal-making. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are for general informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, investment, or property advice. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a licensed professional before making any property decision. Brought to you under SRI Pte Ltd (Agency Registration Number: L3010738A).
Two years into living in the landed home he rebuilt, Harvey Chia shares the three things he wishes he'd done differently. Not tips and tricks this time. The real regrets, with the real numbers on what it would have cost to get them right. The channel has always covered what to spend on after you buy a landed home. This episode flips it: what Harvey actually skipped, why he skipped it, and how his lifestyle changed enough to make him wish he hadn't. Regret one is solar panels. He walks through the real economics: a 15–20 kWp system at current EMA benchmarks, roughly a five-year payback, and the twist that changed everything. After crossing over to an electric vehicle and charging at home for a fraction of what petrol cost him, the solar savings suddenly justify themselves. Regret two is the smart home he decided wasn't necessary, and why the peace of mind of leaving the house on one tap turns out to be worth the outlay. Regret three is the one almost nobody talks about: an exterior lighting scheme that lets a well-designed home present at its best after dark, not just in daylight. The throughline: the advice we give is real, because your lifestyle can change faster than you expect. Build for the home you'll grow into, not just the one you move into. This isn't a podcast of knowledge. It's a podcast of deal-making. ---------------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro: Three Regrets, Two Years In 0:53 Regret 1: Skipping Solar Panels 1:13 What a Landed Solar System Actually Costs 2:29 The Lifestyle That Made Solar Feel Unnecessary 3:03 The EV Twist: Charging at Home Changed the Maths 4:32 How the Petrol Savings Justify Solar on Their Own 6:16 Regret 2: Not Doing a Smart Home 6:45 Why It Felt Skippable During the Build 7:03 The Peace-of-Mind Case for Smart Home 9:21 What Solar Plus Smart Home Costs Together 10:20 Regret 3: The Exterior Lighting Scheme 11:57 Why the Advice We Give Is Real12:59 Over to You: Share Your Own Regrets ---------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests. The discussion is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While the insights shared are based on personal perspectives and experiences, they should not be taken as professional or financial advice. A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A
For the first time in seven years, HDB resale prices have fallen for two straight quarters — while private home prices keep climbing. In this episode of The Resale Room, Harvey Chia is joined by his co-hosts to unpack what's really happening beneath the headline. The panel walks through 20 years of HDB price data — a run-up, seven flat years, then a post-COVID surge now cooling on a wave of incoming supply. Quintino shares his own EM story: bought in 2018 for around $600K, sold above a million, and why timing and rarity beat the market. They dig into the real drivers of the slowdown — new BTO, Plus and Prime flats pulling first-timers away, the 15-month wait-out rule, tighter LTV limits, and a flood of MOP flats hitting resale through 2028. Also covered: whether private is genuinely more defensible than HDB, why million-dollar flats keep breaking records, and the BTO trap most buyers underestimate — long construction waits, MOP periods up to 10 years, and clawback of up to 20% on Prime flats. The throughline: the one resource you can't replicate is time. Featuring Harvey Chia, Viv Yeow, Teng Tan and Quintino Cassano Lee. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro: HDB Resale Falls, Private Rises 0:54 20 Years of HDB Price Data (2006–2026) 1:36 Quintino's EM Story: $600K to Over $1M 4:35 Why the HDB Market Is Slowing 6:00 BTO, the 15-Month Rule & Tighter LTV 7:59 If You Could Rewind: HDB or Private? 13:15 The Incoming Supply Wave (BTO + MOP to 2028) 16:30 Sellers vs Buyers: Who's Really Competing 17:30 Policy Shifts: 15-Month Rule & Singles at 30 18:46 Why Million-Dollar Flats Keep Breaking Records 21:20 Is Private More Defensible Than HDB? 23:51 The BTO Caution: MOP & Clawback Explained 27:39 What Matters Most for Younger Buyers 31:53 Time: The Resource You Can't Replicate 35:22 Renovation Costs & Outro SUBSCRIBE to OUR YOUTUBE Channel: @propertyroundtable #SingaporeProperty #PropertyRoundTable #ResaleCondo
The Landed market went up 2.2% in the first half of 2026, down slightly from 2.6% a year earlier. Slower growth, but still growth. So what's the story beneath the number? In this episode of the PRT Landed Series, Harvey Chia gives his personal take on the first-half 2026 Landed Property Market review, drawing on his experience as both a realtor transacting landed and a landed homeowner. He argues the market has shifted from a phase of sharp, exuberant growth into one of consolidation. Prices are still climbing, but buyers now have more time to consider, and they are more educated and deliberate than they used to be. Harvey breaks down the transaction composition across terrace, semi-detached and detached homes, including a notable rise in detached transactions (122 versus 97 a year earlier). He unpacks the shift up the quantum ladder, where sub-5 million deals fell from 58% to 47% while the 5 to 10 million band rose from 33% to 42%, and above-10 million transactions grew too. His read: the hurdle to enter the landed market has risen, not simply the value of the homes. He closes on why the buyer profile progressing from HDB or condo into landed has held steady, what that says about Singaporeans' long-term belief in the segment, and how improving transport connectivity is opening up landed pockets that weren't viable before. This isn't a podcast of knowledge. It's a podcast of conviction, backed by the data. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro: Landed Series, 1H2026 Review 0:35 The Report Card: 2.2% Growth 1:20 Resilience in a Tough Macro Environment 2:48 Why Buyers Are More Educated Now 3:34 Transaction Mix: Terrace, Semi-D, Detached 4:13 Detached Jump: 122 vs 97 Homes 4:44 Volume Holds Steady Year on Year 5:14 The Buyer Profile Progression Into Landed 7:14 Why Singaporeans Believe in Landed 7:40 Climbing the Quantum Ladder: 5 to 10 Million 9:57 What Rising Quantums Mean for Buyers 10:26 Consolidation: Selling Two to Buy One 11:45 Transport Growth Unlocks New Landed Pockets 12:46 The Data Behind the Conviction 13:30 The Highest Quantum: 64.9 Million on Nassim Road 13:50 Outro: Navigating the Landed Scene Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the host. The discussion is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While the insights shared are based on personal perspectives and experiences, they should not be taken as professional or financial advice. A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A
New launch, new mini series. Welcome to Beat The Launch Crowd, where the PRT panel doesn't just help you get in on a launch. They help you plan the exit. This episode tackles the mega launch everyone in the market is talking about: Thomson Reserve, the ~1,200-unit development on the former Thomson View en bloc site, expected to launch around October. The team unpacks why Thomson pulls buyers so reliably. Top primary schools within 1km, a Thomson-East Coast Line MRT at the doorstep, the food and retail stretch, Thomson Plaza and Junction 8 nearby, and MacRitchie and Lower Peirce on the fringe. They also share early sneak peeks: a Classic and Luxury collection split, three distinct zones, and over 80 facilities that only a mega development can justify. Then the panel runs its signature test. Not "should you buy it," but "would we buy it?" The discussion moves through the exit story, why mega projects step up pricing through sheer transaction volume, and how JadeScape (with a strong record of profitable resale transactions) works as a comparison for a project of this scale. Harvey pushes back on the hype, weighs Lentor Gardens as an alternative, and flags Faber Garden nearby as a longer-shot en bloc play. The throughline: buyers search by name, agents market the story, and the safest bet is the one the whole market ends up selling for you. This isn't a podcast of knowledge. It's a podcast of deal-making. ---------------------------------------- CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro: Beat The Launch Crowd 0:38 Why Everyone's Talking About Thomson Reserve 1:08 From Thomson View En Bloc to Launch 2:18 What Makes Thomson So Attractive 4:04 The 1km School Effect4:45 Views, MRT & The Secret Sauce 5:42 Sneak Peek: Classic vs Luxury Collection 6:42 80+ Facilities & Reputable Developers 7:43 One Shot: Thomson Reserve or Lentor Gardens? 8:58 The Panel Weighs In: Resale Potential 11:01 The School Catchment Factor 11:57 Buy How You Sell: The Exit Play 12:49 Faber Garden & The En Bloc Long Shot 15:36 Would You Actually Buy It? 17:14 Safety & The Search-By-Name Effect 18:16 More Units, More Competition to Sell? 19:47 JadeScape: The Profitable Comparison 20:19 What Agents Actually Buy For Themselves 23:19 Search By Name: The Marketing Does Itself24:30 Outro: Deal-Making Over Projects ---------------------------------------- Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests. The discussion is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. While the insights shared are based on personal perspectives and experiences, they should not be taken as professional or financial advice. A team from SRI Pte Ltd Agency Registration Number: L3010738A
Resale condo listings are sitting on the market almost twice as long as they were three years ago. In the first episode of The Resale Room, Harvey Chia is joined by three new co-hosts to unpack why — and what sellers and buyers can actually do about it. The panel breaks down the 15-month rule and its effect on private downgraders, why the whole 2026 market feels slower across HDB, condo and landed, and the hardest conversation an agent has to have with a seller: your unit isn't moving because it's priced wrong. Also covered: whether PropertyGuru alone is still enough, AI walkthrough videos versus physical staging, seasonality and the June lull, and why a listing that sits too long makes every competing unit look like a bargain. Featuring Harvey Chia, Viv Yeow, Teng Tan and Quintino Cassano Lee. CHAPTERS 0:00 Cold Open: Priced Wrong 0:16 Welcome & Meet the New Cast 0:50 The Straits Times Headline 1:30 Why HDB Resale Slowed: The 15-Month Rule 2:10 Is the Whole Market Slower? 2:50 45 Days to 81 Days: The Data 4:00 Inside the 81-Day Window 4:40 What Agents Actually Do for Sellers 5:35 AI Videos, Social Media and Staging 8:50 The Hardest Conversation: You're Priced Too High 10:30 Are Things Picking Up? 11:50 Landed, HDB and New Launch Compared 13:05 Seasonality and Post-COVID Buyer Habits 14:30 North Shore vs Park Place: Why One Sold 15:50 The Three Factors That Decide Everything 16:15 Why Nobody Wants to Offer First 18:15 Ten Maisonettes, Zero Offers 19:40 A Podcast of Deal-Making 20:30 Will the Market Recover? Final Takes 23:00 Outro and How to Reach Us SUBSCRIBE to OUR YOUTUBE Channel: @propertyroundtable #SingaporeProperty #PropertyRoundTable #ResaleCondo