Singapore Housing and the $2 million sweet spot
As a follow up to Wealth Fallacy of Singapore Property written in January.
We had a slew of new rules, the latest being the Total Debt Servicing Ratio to cap at 60% while discounting variable income.
Rough maths.
GDP per capita was USD 60,688 in 2011. Probably the 3rd highest in the world.
| GDP PER CAPITA | |
| US | 48,112.00 |
| CANADA | 40,420.00 |
| MEXICO | 16,588.00 |
| BRAZIL | 11,640.00 |
| ARGENTINA | 17,554.00 |
| GERMANY | 39,456.00 |
| UK | 35,598.00 |
| FRANCE | 35,247.00 |
| ITALY | 32,672.00 |
| SPAIN | 32,087.00 |
| SWITZERLAND | 51,227.00 |
| NORWAY | 60,392.00 |
| LUXEMBOURG | 88,797.00 |
| KUWAIT | 54,283.00 |
| JAPAN | 33,668.00 |
| CHINA | 8,400.00 |
| S KOREA | 29,834.00 |
| SINGAPORE | 60,688.00 |
| AUSTRALIA | 41,974.00 |
| HONG KONG | 50,551.00 |
I am assuming that Singaporeans earn that amount of money even though our median household income is SGD 7,570 in 2012 per resident employed household i.e. including PRs.
Dual household income of USD 130k, leveraged at 80% and assuming a loan service interest rate of 3% (conservatively) will allow a 24 year mortgage on a magic number of SGD 2 million on a property.
Using the median household income of SGD 7,570, we can have a decent mortgage on a SGD 1.2 million property. That should translate to living space of 900 to 1,200 sq ft ($1,000-1,300 psf).
GDP Per Capita
This GDP per capita business bugs me because it assumes that everyone gets to share the GDP which is not accurate (corporate and govt surplus does not belong to us). It also factors in the GINI ratio ie. income inequality aspect and Singapore, at between 0.43-0.45 is on the high side for a developing country (US is at 0.38 after adjusting for taxes).
Singapore is probably higher because it includes the large expatriate community and the higher incomes that they draw.
Wage Hikes
Singapore is working hard to increase wages in the past months. These tend to apply to the lower echelons of the wage ladder and is unlikely to impact the the overall GDP per capita which is already one of the highest in the world.
Unless you tell me that Singapore wages have room to go up much further, I say 2 million looks like the sweet spot and it is here to stay.
Housing Supply
Some reports suggest that 35,000-40,000 new units to be completed in 2013 and 2014. 22,000 new homes are expected to be built in 2014 and the supply to surge in 2015 onwards.
By 2030 and the 6.9 million, we should have more than enough supply to fit the additional 400,000 families ? Not counting the expected exodus to Iskandar.
Again, 2 million looks like the sweet spot.
GDP
The chart below shows the exponential growth in Singapore’s GDP since the late 90’s which is matched equally by the URA Residential Property Index.
Some IMF report suggests that GDP per capita will increase to 77,000 by the year 2018. That is a growth of 25%.
Interestingly, that is also close to what a 1% rise in interest rate will impact on a 25 year mortgage on its loan value.
So back to the magic number – SGD 2 million for the common man.
Related Articles :
Singapore Property Loans Ruling – Rushing For the Taper Deadline (tradehaven.me)
interesting observation but there could be a flaw
is there a private way to discuss this issue with you?
Hi,
Of course there are flaws. This is just a tongue in cheek post meant to elicit critical responses.
Email : tradehaven@gmail.com
Best Rgds
I arrived at that number too when I did a rough estimate.
You must be buying property !!