PropertyBT

Get insights on latest developments and hot button issues in HDB housing. Will super-tall HDB blocks offer good homes? Are we heading to S$1 million BTO flats and S$2 million HDB resale flats? Learn about how having a 10-year minimum occupation period may impact housing mobility and whether young people here are on track to own their own homes. Leslie Yee is in conversation with NUS’ Prof Si...

Get insights on what is driving home buyers to buy pricey condos despite mounting economic uncertainties. In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with PropNex’s CEO Kelvin Fong. What is driving buyers in the new sale and resale private housing markets? Will Singaporeans continue to aspire for private homes? Learn about how AI is impacting real estate agents. Also, approaching on...

Get to grips with how technology can disrupt the house hunting journey to the benefit of consumers. In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with realsmart.sg ’s co-founder Tan Zhi Long. Why venture into the proptech space? Can housing transactions get more frictionless? Learn about how the Singapore housing market compares with that of the San Francisco Bay Area. Also, will tech...

Examine the state of play with Chinese consumers, retailers, mall owners and tourists. Host Leslie Yee chats with seasoned China hand Cecilia Tan, former CEO of the manager of Sassuer Reit. Are things looking up for China’s troubled housing market? What are the prospects for physical retail spaces in China? Are there opportunities for Singapore players in the Chinese real estate market? Also...

Examine the investment landscape today and understand the risk-reward of various property investment types. In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with veteran investor Gabriel Yap of GCP Global. Amid low interest rates, we do a deep dive into the investment merits of shares in property groups and units in real estate investment trusts. We also see what overseas real estate opportuni...

Examine the state of play and outlook in private housing, office property and retail spaces. In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with Realion’s head honcho Desmond Sim. We look at what to consider when choosing whether to invest in private homes, office property or retail spaces. Also, get frank views on whether new retail entrepreneurs are fairly treated by landlords. And s...

What will 2026 hold for HDB resale flats, new condos, resale condos and landed homes? In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with Ismail Gafoor of PropNex. We explore the demand drivers for the housing market as well as key risks. We look at the priorities of home buyers. Also, get valuable tips on buying homes and building a career in real estate from PropNex’s charismatic co-...

Singapore’s skyline is growing fast — but how green are the buildings we live, work and play in?  This week on PropertyBT, senior correspondent Leslie Yee sits down with Schneider Electric’s Jackson Seng to unpack the real value of green buildings, from energy savings and tenant wellbeing to rental premiums and the risk of stranded assets.  They explore whether retrofit...

By the 2030s, nearly 300 of Singapore’s earliest HDB blocks will enter the final 30 years of their 99-year leases.  In this episode of PropertyBT, Leslie Yee unpacks the government’s proposed Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (Vers): what it could mean for homeowners, the potential challenges of the scheme and the risk of lease decay.  Synopsis: Hosted by senior correspond...

What ails retail, F&B and nightlife in Singapore?  In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with Knight Frank Singapore’s retail head Ethan Hsu. We explore the challenges facing F&B operators, Orchard Road and nightlife players as well as the threats posed by online shopping and retail offerings in Johor Bahru. What is the outlook for various segments of retail and l...

Can state properties become vibrant spaces that create economic and societal value?  In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with Singapore Land Authority’s Carrie Wong. We explore the challenges of managing black-and-white bungalows. We see how the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) is different from private sector landlords. We also look at success stories in transforming sta...

What should be done with rogue agents, inactive agents and big agencies dominating the market?  In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with Prof Sing Tien Foo to explore ideas like regulating sales commission rates and eliminating the role of agents in selling HDB resale flats.  We discuss the responsibility of agencies for the actions of agents, whether inactive agents sho...

Why are Singaporeans so smitten with shiny new condos? In this episode of PropertyBT, host Leslie Yee chats with GuocoLand’s Dora Chng to unpack what’s driving the demand—from MRT-connected launches to forest-fringed retreats. We explore why the Lentor area is so hot right now, why buyers are paying a premium for that “brand new” feel, and how green living and flex ro...

Half-way into 2025, Singapore has a new government, and the world has a new trade war. Should we be bracing for another downturn for Singapore’s commercial properties? But don’t panic just yet, things may not be as bad as they seem. In this episode, Senior correspondent Leslie Yee gets insights from Cushman & Wakefield’s Wong Xian Yang on the surprising resilience of Singapor...

What does it take to grow a real estate empire in Singapore? In this episode, Leslie Yee hears from Rachel Teo, director of Daniel Teo group of companies, about carving her own path in Singapore’s real estate industry. From growing up visiting sites, to building the investment platform Fraxtor, to the future of senior housing in Singapore, Rachel gives us an honest peek into the workings int...

When you apply for a mortgage, the bank will hire a property valuer to evaluate the property. Have you ever wondered how the valuer arrives at their final number? And is that number really objective? In this episode, senior correspondent Leslie Yee gets insights from KengChiam Tan, executive director and head, valuation and advisory services at Colliers International. They unpack the complexities...

Million-dollar HDB flats are now a regular occurrence. Why are home prices in Singapore getting more and more expensive? Is housing still within reach for young Singaporeans today? In this episode of PropertyBT, Senior correspondent Leslie Yee gets insights from ERA Singapore’s Eugene Lim on housing affordability in Singapore. From BTOs to private homes, they explain whether home prices are...

Will HDB resale flats hit two million dollars this year? Is it time to invest in property in Johor? Will the government raise the income ceiling for Build-to-Order flats?  From the 2025 budget to the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, the Year of the Snake promises a lot of opportunities for the Singapore property market. In this episode, senior correspondent Leslie Yee sits down with Ism...

Singapore has many property agents. Some may give the industry a bad name with their hard-sell tactics. In this episode, senior correspondent Leslie Yee sits down with Justin Quek, CEO of OrangeTee & Tie to discuss the relevance of property agents, what can be done to raise the professionalism of agents, and whether technology will render agents redundant in future. Synopsis: Hosted by senior...

Singapore’s Reits have had a tough couple of years. Despite the challenging environment, recently, CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), Singapore’s biggest Reit, made a major bet to acquire 50 per cent of the iconic Ion Orchard mall. In this episode, senior correspondent Leslie Yee sits down with Tony Tan, CEO of CICT’s manager to discuss the trust's strategy to capture the luxury retail...

The post-Covid pandemic days when private home rentals skyrocketed are behind us. Does bargaining power in the private homes leasing market now largely reside with tenants? Should a tenant enter a lease with a longer duration? How do landlords cope in this tougher environment? Are residential property yields attractive? Senior correspondent Leslie Yee gets insights from Savills’ Alan Cheong. Synop...

There’s a new framework in town for HDB projects. Starting in October, new BTO flats will either be Standard, Plus or Prime. New Plus and Prime flats will be in attractive locations and have higher subsidies, but they also come with tighter resale conditions, including a ten-year minimum occupation period, and a ban on rentals. What does this mean for BTO buyers? Are the new Plus and Prime flats w...

If you’ve been a fan of the podcasts Mark to Market, Wealth BT and Property BT - they are moving to a new listing!  BT Correspondents! Look for episodes every Tuesday from October! All the insights and analysis in market trends, property, wealth and soon mobility too. Powered by The Business Times journalism of Genevieve Cua, Leslie Yee, Ben Paul and Derryn Wong. Because great reads SHOULD be hear...

What is driving the HDB resale market’s strong performance? Why pay over a million dollars for a coveted resale flat? Will resale prices correct? Should the BTO eligibility criteria be expanded so some locals are not pushed to buying resale units? Senior correspondent Leslie Yee gets insights from Orange Tee’s Christine Sun. Synopsis: Hosted by senior correspondent Leslie Yee, PropertyBT from The...

Are there too many agents in town? Are sales commission rates for homes too high? Is the market dominance of big agencies worrying? Do agents provide a valuable service? Senior correspondent Leslie Yee gets insights from National University of Singapore’s Prof Sing Tien Foo. Synopsis: Hosted by senior correspondent Leslie Yee, PropertyBT from The Business Times shares insights on all things Singap...