What period of the year can one expect to get wind in Singapore? The surface wind conditions over Singapore depend on the monsoon. The Northeast Monsoon which prevails over the period December to March experiences a high percentage (about 32 percent) of winds from the NNE direction. Winds from the NNE can exceed 8 m/sec, the strongest during the year. During the Southwest Monsoon, winds are less vigorous than during the Northeast Monsoon and the most frequently occurring winds are from the south and south-east, although southwesterlies are also fairly well represented. During the inter-monsoon periods, winds, especially during April and May, are weak and are more evenly distributed over all compass directions. During the October/November inter-monsoon period, winds are weakest from the south-east quadrant. An important feature of the weather in Singapore during the Southeast Monsoon is the squalls, locally known as "Sumatras". Please refer to ScienceNet Question 1823.

Step into my tiny dollhouse
By Fiona Chan
As a little girl, the one toy I really really wanted was a dollhouse.
Sure, I had plenty of other things to play with. I made my Care Bears kiss each other, paraded around my Strawberry Shortcake handbag and meticulously dressed up all my Barbie dolls.
I also dressed up my He-Man action figures - in the name of gender equality - although it was hard to find outfits to complement Skeletor's skin tone.
But every time I passed a toy store, I would peer longingly at the dollhouses, scrupulously built to scale, within.
I would admire the pocket-sized funiture, the real lights that switched on and off, and the tiny curtains on the tiny windows.
I'd marvel at the teeny dolls that came with the houses, imagining how I would make them walk through the diminutive doors, greet their doll families and toddle away to be tucked into their midget beds.
Long after I put away Barbie and He-Man, I still lingered at the dollhouse sections in toy stores, trying to persuade myself that it was a good idea to spend hundreds of dollars on a useless frivolity.
Then, last month, I got my wish. I came into possession of my very own dollhouse in the form of my new 700 sq ft apartment.
Okay, before I go on, I had better state all the necessary qualifiers in case angry readers come and burn down my block.
I know that 700 sq ft - which is about the size of a three-room HDB flat - is better than nothing. Loads of people in Singapore live happily in such spaces, or even smaller ones. In fact I'm lucky to have my own place at all, given that there are homeless people in war-torn countries eating tree bark to survive.
Now that that's done with, can I please say how tiny 700 sq ft really is?
I should explain that mine is one of those newfangled apartments that has a huge balcony taking up a good 100 sq ft of space. That doesn't leave much room to put furniture that isn't waterproof.
The apartment is also a two-bedroom unit, which means each bedroom is about as big as a bed. It's what property agents like to call 'veeerrry cosy'.
My bathroom - singular - is so small that the sink has to be placed outside, because after putting in the toilet and the shower cubicle, there's no space left for it.
Then there's the living room, which can accommodate only a sofa that is 1.8m long. There are maybe 10 sofas being sold in all of Singapore that are 1.8m long.
Yes, I exaggerate. But last week, I visited the showroom of a local sofa retailer in my umpteenth attempt to find a couch.
Standing in the store, dwarfed by sofas that looked about the size of my master bedroom, I timidly asked the salesman if they had anything smaller to offer.
No, he said politely, all their sofas were at least 2m long. But I could try their other outlet which sold furniture that was more - here he paused delicately, looking for a word for play-sized - 'funky'.
It was the same scenario at most other shops I went to. They would have, at most, one model that could fit my living room, and it would usually be fairly ugly.
The sofa hunt became so frustrating that I realised there may be a reason so many furniture shops here have yoga-like names: Air. Space. Om. Ohmm.
Eventually we had to custom-make a two-seater. I won't bore you with the details, but it's become clear that we can entertain at most two guests in our apartment at any one time.
I bring all this up not to complain about my claustrophobia or even to recommend that furniture shops downsize their products.
It is to warn others who may, like me, have bought their dream apartment off a floor plan and don't really know how big - or small - a few hundred sq ft really is.
This is potentially a, well, large problem because over the last few years, developers have been selling a growing number of shoebox-sized apartments. The smallest on record is just over 300 sq ft, which means you could fit eight or nine of them in a single tennis court.
While the units cost a tidy amount per sq ft, the total price is very palatable, which is why there are buyers aplenty. But there's a reason these tiny units are termed 'Mickey Mouse homes' - and it's not because you can swing a cat in them.
Tiny flats are already the norm in other space-starved cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and New York, and perhaps it's a matter of time before Singapore follows suit.
But until then, there is something to be said for being able to walk from one end of your bedroom to the other without having to climb over the bed.
So if I had my way, I would leave the miniature furniture where they belong - in the real dollhouses.

'Shoebox' units may wilt under URA's gaze
By KALPANA RASHIWALA
The new breed of 'shoebox' private apartments may have caught the imagination, but don't expect them to invade the housing landscape. Some may not even get the planning authority's approval, going forward, if recent decisions are any guide.
Earlier this month, Singapore saw its smallest ever apartment unit - at 258 square feet - being put on the market at the Suites@Guillemard project. While this made headlines, BT understands that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) recently turned down some applications involving apartments below 28 square metres (or about 300 sq ft).
Related link:» Step into my tiny dollhouse
Apart from the size, the layout of the proposed micro units may also have been a factor. For instance, if an apartment does not adequately provide for a kitchen, it may resemble a hotel room rather than a residential development.
When contacted, URA said that it does not stipulate that private housing units should be of a minimum size or that a development should have a certain mix of unit sizes. However, it said: 'We have observed that some developers have been building smaller apartment units.
'URA will continue to monitor private housing development trends and ensure that our planning guidelines stay relevant in providing a quality living environment for our residents.'
The market has seen a surge in transactions of shoebox units, generally defined as below 500 sq ft, this year. BT understands that one issue that the authorities are grappling with is whether there is a real need for such apartments.
Since February, developers have found it easy to sell smallish apartments as their lumpsum unit price is affordable to a bigger pool of buyers.
This has also made it easier for speculators to jump on the bandwagon. Hence, the concern is that shoebox units fuel property speculation.
Another issue is whether buyers who buy such micro units off-plan realise what they are in for.
Ho Bee Investment chairman and CEO Chua Thian Poh said: 'When you buy a 200-300 sq ft unit off-plan, you may not realise how small it is. But when you see the finished product, you'll know how cramped it is. It's not very liveable. I would rather stay in Housing Board flats. The size is much bigger, and the price quantum is not too far off.'
If 'normal' tenants like expatriates, foreign students and Singaporean yuppies do not wish to live in such small units, shoebox unit owners may push their properties to those who prefer shorter-term usage, including those in 'hourly-rate businesses', as one analyst put it.
DTZ executive director (consulting) Ong Choon Fah said that there could be a potential supply-demand mismatch if the trend of 'mickey mouse' apartments picks up.
'We could have a situation where there are a lot of apartments but not the type that people would want to live in.'
Some argue that it is too early to rule out leasing interest for such units from single expats on small housing budgets.
However, Ho Bee executive director Ong Chong Hua said: 'Those who do shoebox apartments will tell you there's a rental market for such units. But if I'm a single expat, assuming I want to live in this kind of shoebox apartment development, then I must also consider the profile of the people who'll be my neighbours. I think it is only natural to assume they'll not be the normal neighbours you would expect in a typical housing development.'
Apart from 'shoebox' units, other smallish units have surfaced since February. These include two-bedders starting from about 750 sq ft and three bedders from around 900 sq ft.
Developers can try to push for a higher per square foot selling price by having smaller units so long as the overall lumpsum quantum does not cross the typical HDB upgrader's budget, which could be $1 million.
DTZ's Mrs Ong also said that the trend of shoebox apartments could also have a social impact, as seen in Hong Kong. 'People have breakfast, lunch and dinner outside, and spend most of their time out of their homes as they don't wish to be cooped up within four walls. But this may not be conducive to developing family life, which Singapore is trying to promote.'
Real Estate Developers Association of Singapore CEO Steven Choo said that 'it is not inconceivable that, in future, 200-300 sq ft apartments could become popular in Singapore as already seen in Central London where 40 per cent of all households are single-person households'.
'There are districts populated with studio apartments catering to lawyers, financial industry professionals and students,' he added.
However, CBRE executive director (residential) Joseph Tan said that since most of Singapore's population live in HDB flats, the size of public housing units set the base.
'Unlike London and Hong Kong where people may not have much choice but to squeeze into a shoebox unit, in Singapore people have the option of buying or renting a HDB flat.'
Agreeing, ERA associate director Eugene Lim noted that even an expat on a small housing budget can rent an HDB flat on the open market.
'Of course, there won't be any swimming pool or gym, whereas a resident of even a shoebox unit in a private apartment development or condo would be entitled to enjoy these facilities,' he added.

THE book, Men in White, is supposed to be an objective history of the struggle within the People's Action Party, but I found it baffling to be given quite a prominent mention in it. What have I got to do with the political struggle described in Men In White?I cannot understand why it could not have been done with due care to a person's reputation. On page 441, (which describes why lawyer Francis Seow was asked to resign as Solicitor-General in 1971), it says: 'But in 1971, after a Police raid on his woman friend's apartment, he used his influence and friendship with the then Director of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, Yoong Siew Wah, to have four officers who had conducted the raid sacked. The Attorney General Tan Boon Teik intervened to reinstate the four officers. Seow was allowed to resign rather than have his actions investigated because of his track record in the legal service. Yoong was also asked to quit.'If the authors had checked with me, I would have told them that the CPIB was duty-bound to investigate any formal complaint made by any complainant. In Mr Seow's case, he made a formal complaint and CPIB carried out investigations of the four detectives concerned. The investigation papers were sent to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, who made the decision to dismiss the detectives. There was never any question that I was asked to quit. You may care to check with the Internal Security Department (ISD) that I was appointed its director after my CPIB stint.Do you think that a little note of correction in your newspaper is in order to preserve my reputation?Yoong Siew WahEDITOR'S NOTE: The authors thank Mr Yoong for the feedback. What they wrote in the book was based on newspaper reports in 1986, which said that he had been boarded out as a result of the incident with Mr Seow. They apologise for not getting back to Mr Yoong to verify the reports and will do a correction in the next reprint of the book

Was told to just send in whatever document and if unemployed, to declare a SD. They will look at the combine income of both my S.O. and me(zero) and will base on the 40% of combine gross basic monthly income(does not include any OT) to calculate the maximum HDB loan. If the maximum HDB loan does not cover the total required for the payment, the remaining amount will have to be paid by other means. by cash/CPF, commercial bank loans, borrow, rob, steal.. If unable to make the payment, one will have 3 other options. 1) write in a letter to sales side to appeal for a delay in application for HDB loan. 2) write in a letter to sales side to appeal for a delay in key collection. (the above 2 is limited to the time where the last in the Queue. which is only about a few months max.) 3) In event that one still can't make the payment. One will have to withdraw from the application as one is unable to fulfill the "agreement to buy" contract signed in 2004. This "agreement to buy" does not guaranty that one will be able to get the unit. When ask if there are any other options, was told there isn't. when ask again, they just keep quiet. They give the cold feeling that if you are poor, sorry, we are doing a business, please go out. Tried calling to the sales side(our manager in charge) was told the appeal for delay won't give much time. was told to find other means to get the money. And again, same thing in event that one is unable to raise money to fulfill the contract. failure to fulfill contract equals to contract being void = withdraw. When ask that currently I don't have a job, doesn't mean that I will never get a job. and even if I have a job now. it does not mean that I will still have a job tomorrow. But was told that they can't see the future and can only based on today's status. sigh....

WITH the three-day holiday coming this weekend, you may be thinking of taking a trip. Should you buy travel insurance? If so, which offers the best value for money?

TEXT & ILLUSTRATION: LARRY HAVERKAMP & MAROO
I've done some research to help you decide.
Who sells travel insurance? Do you really need it?
All the major insurers sell travel insurance including NTUC Income, GE Life, AIA, AXA, HSBC and Tokio Marine.
Like other insurance, it involves the same pooling concept: A group can absorb an unexpected loss more easily than an individual. It is worthwhile.
Who offers the best deal?
In the Asean region, the clear-cut winner is NTUC Income's Classic Plan.
Asean includes the big three destinations: Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. It also includes Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos.
The seven-day cost is $30 for adults and $7.50 for children under 21 years of age. It is about 25 per cent less than competitors.
Outside of Asean, NTUC Income has raised its premiums from 1 Jul.
Its seven-day charge for 'worldwide' destinations is $61 for adults and $15.25 for children. It is double the Asean rates but in line with what its competitors charge.
One possibility is that higher worldwide rates reflect the 'ability to pay' of wealthy persons who can afford longer trips.
The expenses and risks for that insurance would not seem to justify the much higher premiums.
It means worldwide travel insurance is probably over-priced compared to Asean, which is a bargain.
What are the major items covered?
NTUC Income's Classic Plan covers medical expenses up to $250,000. It includes treatment for the H1N1 virus if contracted abroad.
Other big payments are for death, permanent disability and emergency evacuation due to accidents overseas.
Keep in mind that you may already be covered under your medical or personal accident insurance. It so, the travel insurance is less necessary.
What other claims are allowed?
You can claim up to $3,000 for loss of travel documents, $250 for loss of money and $100 for emergency phone call charges.
If you rent a car and have an accident, NTUC Income's Classic Plan will pay for the auto insurance excess (deductible) up to $500.
The policy also covers you under some highly publicised but low probability events like a terrorist attack or riots. Claims limits are $150,000 for adults and $25,000 for children.
Small but useful benefits are trip cancellation should you fall ill and up to $100 for an overbooked flight or a missed connection.
The policy will also reimburse lost baggage up to $3,000. That includes up to $500 for any one item except for a laptop computer, for which you can claim up to $1,000.
You may also claim $200 for each six-hour period of delay in receiving your baggage up to a cap of $1,000.
What are the restrictions on travel insurance?
NTUC Income's Classic Plan has the usual exclusions such as war, pre-existing illness, suicide, pregnancy and childbirth-related claims.
Generally, you must buy your policy before leaving Singapore.
It doesn't cover overseas travel to seek medical treatment.
Participation in dangerous sports is also excluded but can be added by a special extension (rider). For example, motorcycling and underwater activity can be added by paying an additional 25 per cent for each.
Are group discounts available?
Yes. NTUC Income offers them even for small groups such as a family.
The discount is 10 per cent for 3 persons and 15 per cent for 4 to 20 persons. There are further discounts for larger groups.
NTUC Income has a 24-hour hotline (9646 2663), which allows you to activate the insurance any time before your trip. Its website is www.income.com.sg.
The company says that 90 per cent of its policies are activated online or over the phone.
How much for a seven-day trip?
Asean region (NTUC Income): $30Asia region (all insurers): $40 to $48Worldwide (all insurers): $59 to $72
Asean refers to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Cambodia and Laos.

Tip 4: Qualifying child relief
QCR is $4,000 per child, which is double last year's relief. For handicapped children, it is $5,500.
Either parent may claim the full amount or it may be split between both parents.
Tip 5: Working mother child relief
For first, second and subsequent children, the relief is 15, 20 and 25 per cent of a working mother's wages. Maximum claim allowable QCR/HCR + WMCR is capped at $50,000 per child (i.e. Cumulative WMCR percentages are capped at 100% of mother's earned income).
Both this and the QCR (tip 4) can be claimed for Singaporean children up to 16 years old, or above age 16 if a full-time student with income less than $2,000 in 2008, excluding scholarships

I am very worry for many of you here. You all are simply NOT doing sufficient research and plannings on the housing loan. If you think bank loans will stay put at sub 3% for the duration of your loans, you may be in for a shocker of your lifetime. For some 20 years now, rate been on a declining trends, BUT post Sub-Prime crisis, various assets-based securitisation not longer sell, businesses are forced to cut back on leverage, and resort more and more to cash calls from shareholders (see all the Right Issues on SGX) and bank borrowings. even now, some reits and shipping trusts are having much difficulties refinancing their CMBS (commercial mortgage backed securities),
eg. see Saizen reit still trying to refinance its Shintoku CMBS, by selling down some of the properties within the package
eg. Capitaland needed yet more monies (even after the recent cash calls),
but ofcourse with Richard Hu (our former finance minister as Chairman),
Capland been fantastic at packaging it very convincinglg as IPO of CMA for growth opportunities,
bottomline is: even Capitaland also NO LONGER able to securitise its completed Malls thru CMT or CRCT at viable pricings.
that's why it now gotta IPO CMA and in process likely to playout holders of CMT and CRCT.
Current low rates are artificial, the results of gahmens trying to prevent a WW2 Great Depression,
but once economic recovery are on a firmer footings, governments the world over will withdraw credit easing ,
(last week, Australia central bank already raise rate, expect more to follow over next 12 months.)
Banks on their part will also be required to hold higher reserves, so costs of funding can only go up. - go digout KohBoonHwee's comment at DBS, and also Spore MAS statement recently. So dun expect bank mortgage rates at sub 2% to stay, the killers are those floating rate !!! be prepared to seeing your mortgage rate rising ever higher, probably over the next 3, 5 ,7 , 10 years. ==> imagine rates at 3% or 5% above whatever floating rate now !!!!, Can you still manage ??

Many of you may call me bluff - coz never heard of such thing within your lifetime yet.
and becoz so many think this is unthinkable - that's why when it come(inflationary era), it will be even more deadly.
Gold already blow thru us$1000 per oz, my dear people, and gunning higher.
us$ going for banana notes in the years ahead.
Young man and women - I'm really worry for some of you
- esp. if you dun qualify for HDB Concession Loan and gotta go for floating packages from the Banks

Putting off refinancing your mortgage could be a big mistake.

TNP Illustration: SIMON ANG
Last week, Mrs Money and I refinanced ours.
We used to live in an HDB flat and enjoyed HDB's 2.6 per cent interest. It is still the best loan deal in town.
If you have one, don't switch to a bank loan and don't even think about paying it off early.
That's because if you pay using your CPF, you are using money that earns 2.5 to 3.5 per cent interest to pay a loan that costs only 2.6 per cent. It's a bad move.
After 10 years in our beloved HDB flat, we moved to an executive condo. It is in a narrow niche between HDB and private property. Since we no longer qualify for an HDB loan, we now have to deal with the banks.
Ours had been charging us 3.5 per cent interest. Last month, the one-year lock-in ended and the bank sent a letter saying they were increasing our home loan rate to 3.75 per cent.
Whoa. I told Mrs Money: 'Something's not right here. Falling interest rates mean banks lower our fixed deposit rate. But they raise our home loan rate!'
INTEREST RATE FOR SUCKERS
I later found out 3.75 per cent is a 'sucker's' interest rate. It is for people who are told to pay more, so they do. They don't argue. They don't fight back. They don't refinance.
I called all the banks and got another surprise. They charge a lot less than the 3.75 per cent our bank was charging us.
The best deals are 'pegged rates'. They peg the interest to a benchmark like the Singapore inter-bank offer rate (Sibor) or the swap-offer rate (Sor). These rates are low and published daily in Business Times.
A typical pegged rate is the three-month Sor plus 1 per cent. Sor is now 1.35 per cent so you would pay 1.35 + 1 = 2.35 per cent per year.
I informed our bank that we would be moving our home loan to a bank charging us only 2.35 per cent.
Our bank suddenly became very friendly and offered us the same good deal.
Like magic, our home loan rate was cut almost by half, from 3.75 per cent to 2.35 per cent. Without my asking, the bank also waived its $500 loan conversion fee.
As we were leaving, I asked a throw away question: 'By the way, is that your lowest rate?'
The banker hesitated, then said: 'Actually, our lowest rate is not the 2.35 per cent you are paying. It is 2 per cent (Sor + 0.65 per cent). But it only applies to new customers. Sorry.'
I explained that I could go to another bank where I would be considered a new customer and entitled to their special rate. Our bank executive said: 'Oh... well... that's not necessary.' Then he gave us the lower home loan rate of 2 per cent.
TWO LESSONS
For me, a big lesson learnt has been that banks deal with thousands of customers. Customers, however, talk to just a few banks. It is no contest.
The banks have developed tactics that we cannot begin to match.
On the other hand, consumers are not powerless. It helps to know that other banks are hungry for our business. Competition makes the contest a bit fairer.
The second lesson is that life is unfair. It favours the rich. The lowest rates - 2 per cent - are reserved for private home loans.
For HDB flats, bank borrowers pay more. Variable rate loans start at 3.5 per cent.
Shop around and you can negotiate down to 3 per cent. With a two or three year lock-in, you can get an even lower interest rate, but not as low as for private property.

A second advantage is that a loan unlocks the cash in your home. It could come in handy, especially if we don't have the anticipated V-shaped recovery.
One more thing: Switching from an HDB loan to a bank loan looks smart on the surface, but I advise against it. If interest rates rise, bank interest rates will rise faster than HDB rates.
HDB also has a heart. It won't repossess your flat if you miss a few monthly payments. Banks are likely to do so.

Good indicator
US unemployment is a good indicator of the worldwide economy. It now sits at 9.8 per cent compared to 3.3 per cent in Singapore. We'll be out of the woods when the US unemployment rate drops below 6 per cent, but it won't be soon.
In the meantime, (i) keep your job, (ii) don't take big risks and (iii) don't lock up your money in investments that you can't touch for 20 years.
The golden rule is 'stay liquid'. You might need the cash.

Prices would come down again as they may have risen. Long-term investment doesn't mean buying high and hold it there as prices fall, but equipping yourself with the skills to enter and exit systematically, making a profit if possible and minimizing a loss if necessary, but always being able to preserve your capital, which is like your blood!

Alvin Phang blogging workshop is really a big big scam!!! I read this from this guy who attended Alvin Phang's blogging workshop in Malaysia, and turned out to be a real big scam.I went to Alvin Phang's preview in Singapore before, and he said that he is not a bullshit and really confirm to others that his blogging workshop can really make money on the internet. He even show his family photo's showing his father was in an accident and part of his father's skull was removed for repair and his father was in coma in hospital for quite sometime. Alvin Phang said that because of his family burden, he need to be an millionaire in order to support his family. I was really touched and a lot of the people there were touched too and all went up to him and talked to him about his blogging workshop and etc.A number of them signed up, but I was still thinking and decided to ask in sammyboy forums for some advice. Nobody in sammyboy forums went for Alvin Phang workshop so I wanted to play safe, I waited. And finally someone in Malaysia said this Alvin Phang blogging workshop is a scam.I really dont know why? Why all these scammers need to bring up their families sad stories to try to con others? Why? I went to Edmund Ng Singapore SEO and Internet preview, and this Edmund Ng also talk about his sad stories of his life and family, and made everyone who attended this Edmund Ng's preview felt touched and decided to take his courses too. Why all these scammers use such an unethical tactics? Why? Does it really brings good karma to the scammers who uses families and life sad stories to con others hard earned money into their pockets? After all these incidents, I do not believe all the cock and bullshit sad stories of families and suffering people anymore.Look at Sun Ho, pastor of City Harvest Church, also said wanted to use singing to save souls in China. But in the end went to USA and did anyone see her latest MTV? So is it really saving souls, or making money or what? I think only God knows.Look at Ming Yi monk, also when on TV he does all the dangerous stunts and cried on TV and asked audiences to support the poor people and in the end he uses the donations to buy properties and horses and lend it to his 'boyfriend' or 'friend' to buy a luxury car.And if the cases of using genuine families sad stories to get others to help in their bad financial conditions, I think we as human beings, we should help them. But those that uses the so called families sad stories to con others their hard earned money, I think all these scammers they should deserved to go to hell!!!So far I know of scammers now are Edmund Ng Singapore SEO expert, Alvin Phang blogger, Ewen Chia, Jo Han Mok, Stuart Tan, Clemen Chiang, and I think the next to join in the conman group might be Adam Khoo.

Freshly married DINO (Dual Incomes, No kids), all their plannings and efforts finally paying off, they moved into their brand new, well renovated flat. A few years later, became SITK (Single Income, Two kids), ...coz she quit job to look after young ones. then unplan event strike, hubby die suddenly!, over-nite became NITM (No Income, Three Mouths-to-feed). among her major regrets ? did not plan for contingency, thus taking only minimum loan and opting for short repayment period, thus exhausting most of their CPF/Cash savings in the process. Have they instead max-up on their housing loan and stretch the repayment period, HPS(Home Protection Scheme) will have pay off rest of housing loan upon his demise, and there could have been a couple hundred thousands more left, to support surviving members of family. She manage to get a job, but with two young kids, still Money No Enough, unlike with private property, - you cannot re-mortgage your HDB flat left with a small residual loan, for a larger loan, - you also cannot pledged a fully paidup flat for a fresh loan so she finally sold it, downgrade to smaller flat, choosing this time to max-up on both loan quantum and repayment period, inorder to have a higher buffer level of savings reserve, just in case kenna retrench, and overnite family again became NITM again (No Income, Three-mouths-to-feed). (above is a real life case) Morale of story: ========== For majority of Sporeans, the HDB flat is their single biggest asset, but most spend much more times planning on renovations and what appliances to buy for their new homes few gave much thoughts on how to finance their flat purchase, most simply take "lazy" approach:- "just deduct from CPF for monthly payments" - until kingdom come! fullstop. But how you plan to handle the financings, may have great impact on your family's livelihood for many more years to come. what happen if lose job and no more income ? (so better have more reserves in place) what happen if one, or sole breadwinner drops dead ? What happen when CPF dries up in year-X ? still able to fund monthly mortgage payment with CASH ? if you forsee future contingency, then it may allow allow you more time, and to take remedial actions much sooner eg. not spending a bomb to renovate like a palace, if already have little savings, or maybe even planning to sublet out a room or two, and make it self-fundings to some extent (ofcourse pls dun do anything illegal) Bottom-line ======== If you qualify for HDB Concession Loan (which had interest pegged at 0.1% above CPF Ordinary Account rate), and if you intend to stay in your flat for many more years to come, ==> then GENERALLY, it's better to go for maximum loan quantum available, and stretch to maximum repayment period (unless, you know of some very good reasons, why in your situation, you are better off not to)

The HDB Concession Loan - you are allow to take ONLY TWO such loans within your lifetime
arguably, the terms are about the best you ever find around, for a longterm housing loan.

Ofcourse also MAKE SURE your have adequate HPS cover, especially if you have a young family depending on you.