Golf membership

This is the latest golf club membership compiled by the straits times. All should be true except Jurong Country Club which should be quite worthless now that the high speed rail will be in Jurong East.

Somerset Puteri Harbour in Iskandar

Somerset Puteri Harbour is finally ready. They are renting out the first floor only as far as I know. These are their staffs at the front desk.  The public can already start booking on Somerset's official website or any other travel websites.

The so called shop area seems to be walled up. Hope they will be removed or these could simply become a vacant walkway without any life.

The harbor facing units and again pretty much all walled up on the first floor.

Let's see how it looks when it is fully ready.

Golf membership in Singapore

Golf membership has fallen significantly over the past years according to an article compiled by the straits times. This is good news for avid golfers. This is really cheap as compared to years ago during its heydays. Jurong Country Club is now only $43k and this is one of the few in Singapore with night golf.

However, with so many choices in the region especially across the causeway, golf membership seems to be really less appealing. Golfers also likes varieties (even if you likes chicken rice you wouldn't want to eat every day right?) but of course some may still want the prestige of owning a local golf membership. With such low prices, not sure if they are really prestigious anymore with the exception of Sentosa, SICC and TMCC of course.

Where do you stand?

This is the latest figures by salary.sg. It shows the top 10th percent earning an average of $28,688 while the lowest 10th percent eating on $1,711. This is a big income disparity. This should be accurate as the numbers where taken from the Singapore Department of statistics. 

Well, now you know. Are you happy or ignorance is bliss?

Singapore Dollar Strengthens

Interesting compilation of the change in the value of the regional currencies for this year. This is due to the soaring US dollar and plunging oil prices. Japan is the worst that loses 11.3% since january. It is at a level not seen since 25 years ago so it is the best time to visit japan. Ringit is also at its worst since 1998. Looks to be a good time to buy or invest in these countries except US.

The top foreign investor in Aussie commerce property

Who do you think is the top foreign investor in Australia's commercial real estate market? If you think it is the Chinese, you are wrong. It is Singapore, according to CBRE report. Singapore invested A$5.3 billion or 28 percent. Germany account for 14 per cent, United states at 13% and China at 9 per cent.

Property price of Singapore Vs Hong Kong

If you think Singapore property prices have caught up with Hong Kong, you are wrong. Looks like Singapore property prices are still lower especially on the luxury segment according to the latest Savills report. For the suburbs, it could be very close. Well, not an official report but just derived that from chit chats with my Hong Kong friends.

Billionaires in Asia

Where do you think has the most number of billionaires in Asia? If you think China or Singapore, you are wrong. It is Hong Kong. Hong Kong has more than 2.5 times number of billionaires than Singapore and 2.2 times that of China. 

Income Level in Singapore

This is what i have always been waiting for, the average income in Singapore published by the Straits Times. As suspected, the income level in Singapore is really high. We might have one of the highest earning middle class at $8,378. I suppose this is only considering single income. If you consider dual income per family, then it is even higher. So which percentile are you at?

Downward trend for COE

If you are planning to change your aging car or to buy your dream car, hold your horses! This is because more COEs will be available when more cars are disgregistered. This is because cars bought between 2004 and 2008 are reaching end of their 10 year lifespan. This is the period where the most number of COEs were available back then. Trend will continue until 2018. It may dip below $60,000 by next year and $45,000 in the next 3 years. This is according to the transport management expert Park Byung Joon. Well, let's see if he's right.

UN Human Development Index (HDI)

This is rather amazing. Singapore is the highest ranking in Asia and even on top of Hong Kong, Korea and Japan. The Human Development Report is about 'Sustaining Human Progress: Reducing Vulnerability and Building Resilience'. In simple english, it is about how each countries have progressed in human-centred development. 

Singapore ($72k) is way ahead of its neighbours like Indonesia (108), Malaysia (62), Philippines (117), Thailand (89), and even China (91). Is this $72k realistic or exagerated? Well, it equals to about $6k or S$7,380 per month. A lot of graduates would have easily reach this income level in their late twenties or early thirties. Just need to look around your friends and colleagues or yourself.

So what is the make up of this ranking? Income is one of the components. Gross National Income (GNI) is only behind Qatar ($119k), Kuwait ($85k), Liechtenstein ($87k) but lagging way behind in other components like life expectancy and schooling. Looking at the progress of Singapore, it is likely this ranking will only go up.

Which insurance company covers act of war and terrorism?

Mirror mirror on the wall, which insurance company covers you during act of war? 

There's an excellent article by the Straits Times covering this and the best appears to be Prudential. They cover not just act of war but also terrorism.

NTUC travel insurances covers terrorism but not act of war and any travel against MFA travel advisory. This is not too good as you will have to check before you travel for MFA travel advisory which is troublesome. If you need to go there for work sometimes, you will be going at your own risk. Their life policies does cover terrorism but not act of war.

Great Eastern also covers terrorism but not act of war. However, it is limited to SGD100,000 per person plus a list of terror exclusion. Looks like one's rotten luck is not punished by terrorism but also by the insurance company as well.

AIA travel insurance is the worst as it doesn't cover either act of war or terrorism. Their life policies does cover act of war and terrorism.

ACE travel insurance covers terrorism but not act of war.

Well, still not too late to know for anyone folks considering picking up a life policy. It is really important to know as it is often not our choice how we die and we would want our dependents and loved ones to be covered should the unfortunate happens. With such exclusion, then it is meaningless to be covered by those insurance companies.

Singapore Inflation hits 2.7% in May

Our inflation is now at 2.7% primarily due to the COE. With bank interest rate so low, looks like our money is devaluing all the time unless you can find an investment that yields more than 2.7%. 

Singapore unhappy with their salary

I read with interest the yahoo finance article that says 83% of Singapore are unhappy with their salary. Only 31% can afford basic needs and some luxuries. Only 4% is comfortable with their salary. If the statistic is correct, this is really alarming and worrying. The ruling party needs to really sit up, take notice as well as action. Or it won't spell good news for them in the next election. Why is 83% of the population unhappy with their salary? Is that because of the high cost of living? Singaporean average wage is $4998 last year and even such salary is not enough for Singapore. This is really sad. This situation may be worst for the younger generations of Singaporean as the cost of housing has shot up dramatically as compared to their salary. Let's hope we get it right to really have inclusive growth.

Highest-yielding stocks

I am a fan of high dividend stocks as compared to unit trusts. One gives you dividends and the other you have to pay them for 'service charge'. If the property stocks are more volatile then you should choose the Telco stocks. Telco services has become so much a necessity that most people will be willing to cut down on other spendings than their telecommunications bills.

Hong Kong has the most expensive rental for high end apartment

At least Singapore does not top the most expensive rental list despite being the most expensive city. That's some relief for our government :)

Singapore the costliest city in the world

If you are wondering why things are getting more expensive, wonder no more.  It's official, Singapore is the costliest city in the world. We certainly rise really fast in terms of cost but did your salary rise as fast to beat the inflation? Oops.. touched a raw nerve i think...

Good Dividend Stocks

Looking for high dividends stocks in Singapore? These are the ones. I find that high dividends stocks especially blue chips are better investment than unit trusts. They do not have sales charges or expenses and they gives you good stable returns. I am just waiting for the right time to sell of all my unit trusts. The fund managers guesses are as good as you and mine so why should i pay for those charges for them to 'guess'. 

Want to buy a golf membership?

Thinking of buying a golf membership? Here's what you should know. Read this very useful article from the papers not too long ago.

Singapore to be Asia's most competitive City in 2025?

For a moment I thought this ranking is among cities globally but when it is only Asia, it doesn't seem too impressive after all. 2025 is about 12 years away. 12 years is a long time. I thought Singapore is already the most competitive city in Asia?

However, what is impressive is that Singapore will be the 3rd most competitive city in 2025.