Firsthand Takes On: Housing is a new series by Mothership, diving into the topic of housing in Singapore with in-depth articles and videos.
We’ll explore the uniquely Singaporean housing system by experiencing it for ourselves, gathering expert opinions, and hearing the perspectives of young Singaporeans, to present the points of view that matter, firsthand.
If you’re Singaporean, you’re probably familiar with the "BTO Proposal". Call it pragmatic and/or unromantic, it comes from the fact that most singles don’t have many options if they want to move out before marriage.
Will this remain the case in future, even with more Singaporeans delaying marriage, or even eschewing it entirely?
In the first part of our miniseries, our writer explored renting in Singapore and suggests that it is no longer just an expat’s problem. Diving deeper into the world of renting, this video explores if Singapore and Singaporeans would benefit from rent regulation.
Next, sociologist Chua Beng Huat explains how the recent debate over the affordability of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats may point to something underlying at the root of the HDB housing system — ownership is tied up with retirement adequacy — in his commentary: Understanding the rise of HDB prices and its implications.
We spoke to Singaporeans planning to live in the new town in the west, and heard about their optimism for Tengah to be "a better Punggol of the west" despite it being undeveloped when they applied for flats there.
We then broke down the difficult trade-offs young couples face when buying a house in Singapore for the first time in our video explainer: Why even S'pore's world-renowned public housing still can't make everyone happy.
For Singaporeans looking to find a good deal in the housing market, we explored the realities of buying a house next to a cemetery. Do these homes offer better prices due to their unwanted status? Or will their resale value be significantly undermined by what lies underground close by?
Stay tuned as we release more content under the series over the next few weeks.
Top image via Unsplash