There was a letter from a certain Mr Zhuang Li-Hao that was published in the Straits Times forum page yesterday. Mr Zhuang felt that existing policies curb transaction volumes, but are by themselves inflationary. This is why prices continue to rise despite the various rounds of cooling measures.
He suggested two ways to modify current housing policies to create more stable housing prices and demand:
1. Replace Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) and Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) with a capital gain tax
Mr Zhuang feels that both ABSD and SSD deter speculators, but directly increase the costs of ownership and transaction. And in a rising housing market, buyers and sellers will hold on to their positions. Sellers in particular, will build the ABSD and SDD into selling prices. As such, the number of transactions drop as prices increase.
He proposed to replace ABSD and SSD with a capital gain tax of 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% respectively
in the first four years. In this way, the cost of ownership remains the same. Speculators
have no incentive to buy and sell since all profits are taxed, especially in
the first year, while genuine buyers and sellers are not punished.
2. Replace the Cash Over Valuation (COV) with Cash Over HDB
Price
The COV component for resale flats creates a volatile and
unstable system as valuation is based on the last transaction. In a rising
market, every transaction increases valuation by the COV amount.
Mr Zhuang proposed to replace COV with cash over HDB price. The prices of flats that HDB sold
to first owners are fixed. The new component will force buyers to fund the
difference between the selling and original prices with cash or CPF savings,
and not with loans. He felt that thus will immediately create a stable pricing system.
A couple of thoughts came to our minds after reading the
article:
- The wife and I have bought and sold 3 different properties over the course of 6 years, prior to our current home. We only owned those properties for less than 2 years each BUT we were staying in all the property concerned during the period of ownership. So does that still make us a speculator as opposed to genuine buyer and seller?
- While we understand the (real) reason why our Government will prefer alternative form of measures to cool the market rather than imposing capital gain tax, is the later really a more effective measure to stabilize housing prices and demand? The proposal by Mr Zhuang is likely to kill the sub-sale market instantly and reduce activities in the resale market somewhat. But if it is indeed true that the current high prices are due to exceptional strong demand for mass-market homes from genuine upgraders with primarily HDB addresses, even the change-over to a capital gain tax will have a muted effect on buying interests.
- And speaking of COV and escalating HDB resale prices, the wife and I (wife in particular) believe that the whole purpose of subsidized public housing is to ensure that every Singaporean has a roof over their heads and to fulfill their aspirations of home ownership. It is not meant to be a mechanism for people to make (indecent) amount of money out of. We feel that one of the primary reason why prices for mass-market homes are being "chased up" to the current levels is because of the money that potential HDB upgraders can make out of selling their flats these days. As such, the Cash Over HDB Price proposal is an interesting proposition. The public housing market should be "controlled" for both the new and resale markets. You can have all the free market mechanism you want in the private housing sector.
The above are just our humble opinions as always. We love to
hear what you think.
Have a great week ahead!
5 comments:
Being an Economic student many moons ago... capital gains tax is a very sharp sword that kills everything on its way from speculative appetite to free trade.
This is Pre-Coffee, so if it offends, I sincerely apologize.
2 things may occur -- both resulting in a worser economy for Singapore & the typical Singaporean on the street will be left poorer, not richer.
1st scenario that may happen:
Mr Zhuang's suggestion will crash the sub-sale of Singapore property market & kill free trade 100% & instantly.
Foreign money will exit Singapore & go to other parts of South East Asia where there is no capital tax gains on property.
Local investors will not invest in local properties, causing current properties to have paper loss.
Buyers will be able to buy properties CHEAPER (when sellers can not hold on any more) but when they try to sell it, the same will occur to them; houses might become like cars --- depreciating assets.
Everyone may just rent. There is no sense of belonging anymore in Singapore. No home ownership, no root, no loyalty to the nation. No more Singaporean dream.
2nd Scenario that might also happen:
Mr Zhuang's suggestion will result in more expensive housing.
Some speculators will not sell within 4 years to avoid capital gains tax. Then after the 4th year, they will jerk up the pricing to reflect their projected earnings over 4 years. Guess who will suffer ? The buyers, of course. But they will still buy because when they sell, they benefit as well.
If the speculators do sell within the 4th year, there will still be price hike as the speculators will calculate into the selling price their would be gains or loss & pass it all to the buyers to bear. The price increase cycle will continues, but on a accelerating speed.
This will result in more expensive housing across.
- The rich who has strong holding power will become richer.
- The poor can only rent.
- The middle class? They may die servicing the loans & pass this burden to their children & grandchildren as housing becomes like a Japan housing situation.
Then it will truly be multi-generation living in its true sense as it would really require 3 generations to service such a huge housing loan.
Any wise government will not resort to capital gains tax on property without very careful calculation.
Okie, coffee time!
Can't believe that some people are so myopic and naive when it comes to world economy & policies! They should really read up books, travel the world more before making such "Noddynomics" comments!
Btw I'm referring to Mr Zhuang Li Hao's letter to the forum.
NOddy has to travel in his little red car :)
Just came across this post 2 years after original post.
Interesting points from all sides. Let's look at a scenario:
You purchased an apartment for 800,000. Within a year, the value of the property rose to 850,000. Should you decide to sell
1. Under current ABSD + SSD scheme: you do 1 of 2 things:
(a) You sell at 850,000, and pay 16% of selling price = 136,000 in duties.
Selling price = 850,000
Net proceeds = 714,000
Net loss = 86,000
(b) You further raise the selling price (hopefully you can sell) to 928,000 so you don't make a loss
Selling price = 928,000
Duties = 128,000
Net proceeds = 800,000
(c) You keep the apartment, since you can't sell that high, and are not willing to settle for loss.
2. Under the capital gains tax scenario, since you pay 100% on gains, you would sell at 800,000.
Capital gains tax = 0
Selling price = 800,000
Net proceeds = 800,000
So tell me how the declining capital gains tax crash the market, and increase housing prices again? The dooms day scenario would only happen if the capital gains tax is perpetual.
Imagine for a moment under current scheme you bought the apartment. Something unexpected happens (lost job, accident) and you are forced to sell. You sell at a loss for a quick sale. The government takes another 16% from the sale proceeds away... Think about that
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