Ku - Real estate riches : understanding Singapore’s property market in a volatile economy

Real Estate Riches is a very well researched, direct and straight-forward piece of work, unlike any other book out there right now on the same topic, with detailed facts and figures that give a thorough explanation of the Singapore residential real estate market.

For both the average investor, who currently is not able to access all the relevant information and usually swayed by herd-instincts or skewed information provided by some real estate agents or the media, as well as sophisticated investors, this book provides excellent data as well as raises relevant issues that one should consider before making an investment.

Amidst all the noise in the Singapore real estate market, Swee Yong has done an excellent job in putting all the pertinent issues and relevant data together in one book for investors to easily understand the Singapore residential real estate market and make important real estate investment decisions.

Kishore K J Buxani, Founder & CEO, Buxani Group,

a Singapore-based private real estate investment group

I did not know Swee Yong from a bar of soap but when I first met him in early 2006 at the Shangri-La Hotel, I felt that this man was someone of substance in the industry. He knows his stuff and was willing to put his head on the chopping board when required to. I soon called him the S$4,000 psf Man when he singlehandedly called for properties in the Orchard Road vicinity to cost $4,500 psf! Many thought that he was deranged but eventually had to eat humble pie. A great book that will benefit many starving property hunters and buyers!

Galen K K Tan, Senior Vice President, EFG Bank AG

Swee Yongs articles are always insightful. He is not afraid to express contrarian views, but not for the sake of being different. True to his scientific training, he values research, facts and figures so as to improve knowledge and understanding. That is why his views are often sought by journalists as they are well researched and thought through.

Debra Soon, Managing Director, Channel NewsAsia.

Singapores residential real estate has undergone massive transformation over the last five years, along with the economy. At the macro-level, we have global liquidity gravitating to the East. At the micro-level, we have the integrated resorts (IRs), the high-end residential segment that is now a global product commanding international prices, as well as en bloc fever, shoebox apartments and government cooling measures. Among the various practitioners I know, I have always enjoyed listening to Swee Yong, his thought processes, analysis and insights. In this book, he has successfully put together the moving parts and dynamics of the paradigm shift in Singapores property market.

Jimmy Koh, Head of Research and Investor Relations,

United Overseas Bank Singapore

Swee Yongs spot-on analyses of Singapores property market and his ability to pin-point interesting trends has been invaluable to me, a journalist who covers the real estate market here. Im sure even casual readers will find his commentaries useful. For example, Swee Yong was one of the first analysts to sound the warning bell about the potential over-supply of private homes over the next few years something that most who dabble in Singapores property market will no doubt find interesting.

Uma Shankari, Correspondent, The Business Times

Swee Yongs style and approach of persuading his audience about his market outlook is really suitable for high net worth families. In this book, he provides all of us with his views on product selection, not only in terms of what we should invest, but more importantly, what we should avoid. This is important for portfolio planning and rationalisation what to divest and what to invest especially for private banking clients.

Kees Stoute, Managing Director, EFG Bank Singapore

Swee Yong is one of the most astute analysts of the real estate market in Singapore that I have come across. He was spot on, for example, in predicting record highs for Singapore home prices in the mid-2000s. In his first book, Swee Yong presents well-articulated arguments which offer insights even to seasoned real estate professionals.

Lai Yeu Huan, CFA, real estate analyst and fund manager

Ku Swee Yong is one of the more experienced and regular commentators in the real estate scene in Singapore. As a conveyancing lawyer with interest in property trends, I have found his analysis and commentaries most interesting and insightful. For example, in the early days of Sentosa Cove when there were no shortage of sceptics, he was one of those who strongly believed in the investment potential of properties there. I am confident that many would-be property investors will benefit from this book.

Joann Ting, Managing Director, Joann Ting LLC

Swee Yong is a straightforward property agent and consultant who has represented my familys needs in sourcing for properties. In this book, he gives the same unbiased opinions as he had given to us in the past few years. His insights are of great value to our decision making because he supports his opinions with rational, logical arguments backed with data and numbers. Few agents and consultants can do that.

Dr Rosemary Tan, CEO, Veredus Laboratories Pte Ltd

This publication is relatively easy reading about the realm of buying, selling and/or investing in property with an introduction to the new measures unveiled by the government of Singapore. In a nutshell, its a straightforward guide to understanding the Singapore property market and highlights some of the general concerns of the investors and the invested.... I am sure many will find this an enlightening and enjoyable read.

Tito Isaac, Managing Partner, Tito Isaac & Co LLP

Swee Yong had represented me in a real estate auction and acted professionally. He exercised original thinking, for example the article comparing 99-year and freehold properties. Interesting read.

Dr Foong Chan Keong, a medical doctor in private practice

REAL
ESTATE
RICHES

Understanding
Singapores property
market in a volatile
economy

KU SWEE YONG

2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Private Limited
Reprinted 2011, 2012

The publisher wishes to thank Mr Chew Hung Kai and Dr Adrian Tan Yong Kuan for contributing the many photographs in this book.

Cover design by Benson Tan / Cover image by Sergey Ilin/123RF.com

Published by Marshall Cavendish Business

An imprint of Marshall Cavendish International

1 New Industrial Road, Singapore 536196

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