S4EP9: The Downgrader's Dilemma: Singapore's 15-Month HDB Question

In September 2022, Singapore introduced a drastic "cooling measure" to tame a boiling HDB resale market: a mandatory 15-month wait-out period for private property owners wanting to buy a resale flat. The goal was simple: curb soaring prices and level the playing field for first-time buyers. But did it work? And at what cost?This episode dives deep into the data to reveal a policy of two halves. We explore its initial success in slowing price growth, followed by an inevitable rebound as pent-up demand was unleashed. We also uncover the significant unintended consequences—the costly "rental limbo," logistical nightmares for families, and the particular burden placed on seniors whose plans for multi-generational living were thrown into disarray.   With the housing market now showing signs of stabilizing and a wave of new supply on the horizon, we ask the critical question: has this temporary measure outlived its usefulness? Join us as we unpack the arguments for its repeal and deliver the final verdict on one of Singapore's most debated housing policies.