please give us assurance that the eligibility age of 55 will not be raised. Please give us assurance on how it is made more convenient to downgrade. There are many questions:
1. A 3-room flat is currently worth $300,000. Is downgrading to a studio apartment feasible after meeting MS?
2. What if prices decline?
3. BTO takes many years. Can we have ready supply of studio apartments instead?
4. What is the projected supply and demand of studio apartments in the next 5 years *?
5. Can applicants be guaranteed a unit?
6. Can HDB buy back the old flat directly from the downgrader as it is not easy to find a buyer to do contra?
7. Can applicants book their units before 55 so that they can get the keys at 55?
* Please factor in 12 years of Minimum Sum increases, changes to CPF Withdrawal Age, current changes to Lease Buyback and Right-sizing options.
OK. Downgrade to studio apartments is also entitled to $20k cash bonus. But all my questions still remains, especially if the eligible age will be kept at 55 in years to come, especially the few years wait for the BTO flat to be ready which means the monetisation/cash bonus starts closer to 60 rather than 55. 3-room flat owners have an extra worry because their flats prices are worth only $300,000 and may fall.