对于一般国外投资者而言，简单的说他们只有两种投资选择， 那就是全岛范围的私人公寓和圣淘沙的有地住宅。 而外国人不能购买的房子包括了建屋局组屋 （HDB）， 闲置的住宅用地， 有地住宅， 根据该规划方案不属于审批性公寓楼，且在地基建设中的有地房产。

然而计划买房的另一个需要探讨的问题又来了， 那就是外国人在新加坡买房子需要准备多少首付呢？外国人在新加坡申请银行房贷的最高额度为75%， 打个比方银行贷款75%， 那么就要付首付25%。除了首付之外，外国人在新加坡买房还需要支付20%的印花税。

那么在新加坡买房申请贷款会不会很麻烦呢？ 需要提交什么文件呢？ 银行通常要求客户提交的文件包括：-

1. 身份证/护照正本和副本
2. 收入证明 （最近3个月工资单以及银行结单）
3. 最新所得税评估
4. 房屋预售合同
5. 购买合同
6. 住房贷款申请表 （填写完整并签字）

The post 外国人在新加坡买房 first appeared on Best Mortgage Singapore.

若一对夫妻想在新加坡购买政府组屋， 则必须两人都持有永久居民证至少3年，便可以在公开市场上购买二手组屋，并且在购买组屋后的半年内将国外的私人房地产转售给他人（不能在国外持有任何房产）。有些夫妻在购买房屋前会考虑到若将来有了孩子，或者经济条件再好一些的话，可能会想换大间一点的屋子，那么现在到底该不该买呢？ 其实只要在购买后住满5年便可以再将屋子转售。 还有一点需要特别注意的条例就是，在购买房屋后， 该房屋只能用来居住， 不能整间出租！ 这一点非常重要！

另外， 相信大家还抱着一个疑问，那就是PR能不能以母女，母子，父女，父子关系购买政府组屋呢？ 答案是可以的， 但前提是必须两者都获得PR超过3年， 并且孩子已年满21岁。 除此之外， 有些未婚的PR年轻人会想与自己的兄弟姐妹联名购买二手组屋，其实是可以尝试申请，但必须要有足够的理由才有可能会获准以兄弟姐妹的关系购买。 这是为了避免未来双方在婚后以另一半的名义再购买屋子并逃税的问题。

The post PR在新加坡购买政府组屋的条件 first appeared on Best Mortgage Singapore.

若您还在为了不知道该选择固定利率还是浮动利率而发愁， 那么希望您看到的这篇文章能帮助您解决烦恼。 固定利率顾名思义就是固定了是跟着那被定下的利率不会跟着市场利率变动而改变， 而浮动利率则会跟着市场的利率变动而跟着上升或下滑。

固定利率的好处与坏处

一般性格较为保守的人都会选择固定利率， 原因是它比较稳定， 顾客不需要担心市场利率上升时需要偿还给银行的款项会跟着上升， 反而只需要固定每个月偿还一开始订下的月供款项即可。 这也能方便顾客计算出偿还的款项内有总共有多少是本金， 多少是利息。当然， 固定利率也有相对的坏处， 那就是当市场利率下滑时， 相比之下您所需支付的款项就会比浮动利率来得高。 第二点， 银行所推出的固定利率配套会比浮动利率来得高，原因为了保障自己在市场利率上升时不会亏损太多。

浮动利率的好处与坏处

一般上能接受风险的人都会选择浮动利率， 原因是它一开始会比固定利率来得更低一些。 有些人则会常关注时事新闻， 他们看准了某些时事的发生或许有机会影响到市场的利率下滑， 所以这个时候他们会选择浮动利率，当市场利率下滑时， 顾客所需支付的款项变相对较低。 若市场利率因经济动荡而持续低迷， 那么顾客所需偿还的款项变比一开始预测需偿还的款项来得更低， 这还能为顾客省下了部分利息。 当然， 浮动利率的坏处就是我们无法准确的预测市场利率在未来会上升还是下滑， 所以说浮动利率较为不稳定。 当市场利率上升时， 顾客所需支付的款项变会跟着上升。 这使顾客无法准确的预算出所需支付的利息总数为多少。

The post 固定利率和浮动利率的好处与坏处 first appeared on Best Mortgage Singapore.

恭喜您选定了您的梦想家园！但选定并未结束，除非您非常非常富有，否则您将需要申请房屋贷款。现在，让我们来了解如何选择适合您的房屋贷款配套吧！ 首先，您需要先知道市场上有哪项房屋贷款能供您选择。在新加坡，您可选择政府组屋优惠贷款（HDB Loan）或者向金融机构申请贷款（bank loan）

政府组屋优惠贷款与银行贷款之间的差别

与名字一样，政府组屋优惠贷款只适与购买政府组屋的人。您必须符合某些条件才能拿到政府组屋优惠贷款。至少一位买家需是新加坡公民并且平均家庭月入不超过$12,000。 政府组屋优惠贷款适合于较少流动现金的买家，这是因为若拿到此项贷款，您只需付较少的头期款（买价的10%），然而银行贷款则需付较高的头期款（买价的25%）。您可选择使用现金或公积金的普通户口（CPF Ordinary Account）来支付政府组屋优惠贷款的头期款。至于银行贷款的25%头期款，您需付5%的现金，而剩下的20%可选择使用现金或公积金。 另一项区别点在于LTV（Loan-To-Value Limit），它代表您能贷款的最高值。政府组屋优惠贷款最高能贷款产业价值的90%，剩余的10%可选择付现金或是用公积金付款。然而银行贷款最高只能贷款产业价值的75%。 这也表明政府组屋优惠贷款倾向于需付更高的利息。它的利息被钉在比公积金普通户口的利息高于0.1%，正是2.6%，而这个巴仙率也以保持了好几年。

不同的银行贷款配套 银行贷款适用于政府组屋以及私人产业。以下有四种不同配套的房屋贷款，分别为：固定利率（fixed rate），浮动利率（floating rate），定期存款挂钩利率（fixed deposit linked rate），现行利率（board rate）

固定利率房屋贷款配套的利息是固定性的，并且固定一段时间，通常为1-2年。由于利息是固定性的，所以此配套较为稳定，并且不必担心每月还的款项会有浮动。然而，此配套的利息较高，原因为银行需要承担市场利率上升至高于银行所定的利率的风险。

浮动利率的利息被钉为SIBOR（Singapore Interbank Offer Rate）或SOR(Swap Offer Rate). SIBOR的算法是以1M SIBOR或3M SIBOR为钉与加上另外的利率。此利率较为易变因它的变动取决于银行定的钉。比如，若您的配套为1-month SIBOR，利率将每月更动。SIBOR和SOR都是公开性的，因此较为透明化，顾客不需担心被银行收取不合理的利息。

定期存款挂钩率的利息与银行的定期存款利息钉为一起。与浮动利率比较，此利率更不易变。 另一项需作为考虑的因素为银行全权控制与决定定期存款的利率，然而银行却控制不了SIBOR的利率。这表示您所付的利息更动取决于银行，并且无外界干涉/检查。然而，银行不会随意增加利率，因为这表示他们也需要付更多利息给定期存款的顾客。

现行利率的利率全权由银行决定。银行倾向于每一季更换一次利率，比SIBOR和SOR更为不易变些。然而，此利率有些陈旧/被废弃，因为此利率不那么透明化，而利息也较为高。此利率不公开给群众，因此银行可以随时更换利息，无需透过外界检查/查问。

哪项选择更为适合您呢？ 政府组屋优惠贷款较适合工作经验尚浅的年轻夫妇/情侣，因为您可以贷款更高的款项并付较少的头期款。至于银行贷款，固定利率较适合规避风险的顾客，若担心要冒利息增长的风险，可选择此配套。然而，若您可承受变动，按长远来看，浮动利率配套或许能帮助您剩下更多钱。

The post 政府组屋优惠贷款与银行贷款的差别 first appeared on Best Mortgage Singapore.

However, in a time when we experience such convenience, making the choice of the right credit card becomes a much harder task. Not every credit card is the best option you can get. To make the most of your credit card, you need to ensure that you choose the right credit card. There are three things you need to look out for when choosing a credit card.

3 Things To Look Out For When Choosing A Credit Card

1. Cashback, Air Miles, Rewards

It is almost inevitable that you need to spend to get your necessities. So, why not make the best of your spending on necessities and exchange them for some perks by paying through your credit card?

Credit card providers offer a few types of perks: Cashback, air miles and rewards. The concept of cashback is simple. For every dollar that you spend via your credit card, you will get a percentage cash rebate from your credit card provider. The cashback percentage ranges from 5% to 10%. Air miles points can also be earned from spending. For every dollar you spend, your credit card provider will gift you some air miles. These air miles can be accumulated and used to exchanged for air tickets.

Apart from cashback and air miles, credit card can also help you earn rewards. Credit card rewards usually vary from provider to provider. For example, Citibank SMRT card lets you earn SMRT$ for cash rebate or vouchers for all your transport payments. You also do not have to pay the convenience fee charge for EZ-Reload Auto Top-up transactions.

To find the best-in-class credit card for cashback, air miles and rewards, you can use Moneyline’s comparison tool to compare credit card benefit across different credit card provider here.

2. Fees That You May Be Charged (Annual, Balance Transfer, Late Payment)

To cover the basic costs of their card business, banks do charge credit card holders some fees. Annual, cash advance and late payment fees are some of the common fees that most credit card providers charge.

Annual Fee

Annual fee is an annual membership fee for the use of the credit card and the supplementary card. Some credit card providers do waive away this fee if you make a few purchases on the card. There are also some credit card providers like DBS which offers waiver on annual fee in your first few years with them.

Cash Advance Fee

Credit card has the function of allowing you to withdraw cash from the ATM or over the bank counter. This is known as cash advance service. For each time you withdraw cash using the cash advance service, you will be charged 3% to 6% of the amount taken, subjected to a minimum amount. The cash advance fee is on top of the amount advanced.

Late Payment Fee

As the name suggests, the fee is imposed whenever you are late in making the minimum monthly payment by the payment due date.

Less cost translates to more value for you as a credit card holder. Finding the credit card provider that charges you the least fees will help you minimise your cost of ownership of using your credit card and thus, allows you to derive more value out of your credit card. Trying to find the best value for money card? Try Moneyline’s comparison tool.

3. How Your Credit Card Interest Is Calculated

Apart from the perks that come with credit cards, you also need to look out for the potential costs of credit cards. One of the most “deadly” cost of credit card is the interest rate. For banks, interest rate on your credit card is the bulk of their earnings from issuing cards. While banks do make some money from getting you to spend and charging you some fees, the earnings from fees is still much smaller than their earnings from interest rate.

In Singapore, the annual effective interest rate of credit card is in the range of 22% to 26% p.a., depending on your provider and type of credit card. This means that if you only choose to clear the minimum sum every month, you will incur the full 20+% of interest rate p.a.

Most consumers are unaware of how interest rates on your credit card is calculated by the banks. The total interest amount payable can be calculated using the following formula:

Total Credit Card Interest Payable = Balance x Daily Periodic Rate x Number of Days in a Billing Cycle OR Unsettled payment x (Annual Percentage Rate/365) x Number of days in a billing cycle

As a general rule of thumb, the higher the credit card interest rate, the less attractive the credit card is regardless of the types of benefits it can offer. However, there is one caveat. If you can pay off your monthly credit card bills on time, then credit card interest is less of a concern for you.

The post 3 Things To Look Out For When Choosing A Credit Card first appeared on Best Mortgage Singapore.

Credit is prevalent in our everyday lives nowadays. It is hard to find anyone without a credit facility these days, be it credit card, motor vehicle or mortgage loan. In the year of 2017 alone, over 1.4 million new credit applications were made. (Consumer Credit Index)

However, do you know 9 out of 10 credit applicants have not seen their credit report before?

It is important to start understanding and knowing what is in your credit report as most lenders will check your credit file to assess your credit worthiness prior to making a decision. Having a good credit plays a huge part in helping you to achieve the many milestones in life such as starting a business, owning your dream car or home. Some employers may conduct an employee credit health check on your credit report during the job application process. Thus it’s critical to make payments on time, all the time and make payment in full, always.

Your credit report is a record of your credit payment history compiled from banks and major financial institutions. Credit Bureau Singapore (CBS) supplements it with publicly available information such as bankruptcy data from the Insolvency and Public Trustee’s Office (IPTO).  The report will also indicate your credit score. A good credit score and credit repayment history will make it easier for you to obtain credit and qualify for loans.

So What Information is Displayed in Your Credit Report?

• Summary of your personal credit facilities, aggregate credit limits and indication of identity theft
• Account Status History– display of all the credit accounts you have with banks and financial institutions who are CBS members
• Previous Enquiries– shows a list of various lenders that have searched on your information and your own searches of yourself
• Default Records– reflects lenders who uploaded a default in a credit account, the product type, loan amount defaulted, outstanding balances and repayment status
• Bankruptcy Proceedings– information on the original order date and discharge date by IPTO
• Debt Repayment Scheme (DRS)– a voluntary and debtor-driven scheme by IPTO to assist debtors in repaying their debts over a fixed period of time
• Narratives– indicates involvement in Debt Management Programme (DMP) with Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS) and any amendments made to the information in the report
• Credit Score – a numerical expression based on the past payment history of credit or loan accounts to determine one’s creditworthiness
• Aggregate Outstanding Balances – outstanding balances are computed based on the amounts outstanding under your credit cards or other credit facilities

Not all of your information with the banks and lenders will be collected. Personal data like your income, telephone number, deposit amount and full address are excluded and are not displayed in your credit file.

How Long Does Information Remain on a Credit Report?

It is also important to be aware of the length of period where your information will be displayed on your credit report.

For example, a default record will remain on your report for 3 years from date of settlement of the debt. Hence it is very important to keep a consistent good payment behavior as any bad mark left on the report will not be able to be erased off overnight.

Start knowing what the lenders know about you today by obtaining a copy your credit report from CBStoday at $6.42 per copy. Don’t leave your credit reputation to chance and be in the know of your credit file!

The post How To Check Your Credit Score With Banks first appeared on Best Mortgage Singapore.

According to our research, there are (surprisingly) some savings account that offer generous interest rate. The only caveat? You need to fulfil some simple criteria like depositing your salary with them or meeting a minimum savings balance. We term these savings account as high-interest savings account and here’s our quick guide to high-interest savings account in Singapore.

1. DBS Multiplier

For the first S$50,000 in your DBS multiplier account, you get to enjoy up to 3.50% interest rate on your savings balance.

Source: DBS

There are two criteria that you need to fulfil: Credit your salary and make transactions in at least one of the four categories (debit/credit card spending, home loan instalment, insurance with DBS/POSB or investments with DBS/POSB).

The amount of interest you can receive on your savings balance is dependent on the total dollar amount of transactions you make with DBS.

Source: DBS

2. OCBC 360

If you have a higher savings account balance, OCBC might be a better option for you. OCBC’s 360 allows you to earn higher interest rate on the first S$70,000 in your savings balance.

There are four categories where you can earn additional interest: Salary, payment, spending and wealth. By fulfilling each category, it will allow you to earn additional interest rate.

Furthermore, OCBC is currently having a promotion where you can earn an additional 1% interest rate by keeping your account balance higher than the previous month’s balance.

Source: OCBC

3. UOB One

Among the three local banks, UOB One’s high interest savings account is the only one that offers varying interest rate for different tiers of savings. The more balance you have in your savings account, the higher amount of interest you can earn if you spend at least S$500 on your UOB One card. If you credit your salary or pay three bills via GIRO, you will earn an additional 0.5%-1.33% interest rate per annum.

Source: UOB

4. Maybank iSavvy Plus

Maybank’s iSavvy Plus account works in a similar manner as a time deposit. However, it offers slightly higher flexibility by allowing you to withdraw whenever you want. Compared to DBS, OCBC and UOB, Maybank doesn’t offer as much interest rate. However, this also means that it comes with no criterion. By simply saving your money with Maybank, you are entitled to earn higher than normal interest rate. If you keep your continue to increase your balance for six consecutive months, you get to enjoy bonus interest rate.

Source: Maybank

5. Standard Chartered Bonus$aver

Standard Chartered Bank’s Bonus$aver offers additional interest rate on the first $100,000 by fulfilling either a spending, salary crediting, investing/insuring or bill payment criteria.

Source: Standard Chartered Bank

The two most “attainable” criteria are the spending and salary crediting criteria. By spending a minimum of $500 on your credit card, you will be able to earn 0.88% interest rate. Another 1% interest rate can be earned if you credit your salary with Standard Chartered Bank’s Bonus$aver account. The only caveat is that your monthly salary needs to exceed $3,000.

6. Bank of China SmartSaver

Bank of China SmartSaver is a savings plan for Bank of China Multi-Currency Savings account holders. Bank of China offers up to 3.55% p.a. on the first S$60,000 of your account balance if you perform either of these three actions: Card spending, salary crediting or payment.

Source: Bank of China

If you spend at least $500 a month using your Bank of China debit/credit card, you will be able to earn 0.80% bonus interest rate. The bonus interest rate will be doubled if you spend at least $1,500 a month. Salary crediting of at least $2,000 a month into your Bank of China SmartSaver will earn you an additional 0.80% interest rate. This is further raised to 1.20% if your salary is at least $6,000. Similar to UOB One, paying 3 bills via GIRO or Bank of China’s ibanking payment function of at least $30 will allow you to enjoy another 0.35% bonus interest rate on your savings.

Open Your High Interest Savings Account Today!

So, what are you still waiting for? Simply get online and sign up for one of the six high interest savings account today!

The post Quick Guide To High-Interest Savings Account In Singapore first appeared on Best Mortgage Singapore.