The Robertson Opus

09/06/2026

Singapore households’ net wealth up, but also taking on more debt such as home loans

SINGAPORE – Households here are better off than a year ago, with net worth rising 6.7 per cent, but are also taking on debt at a faster pace. Household liabilities grew by 8.2 per cent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest household balance sheet released by the Department of Statistics (SingStat). This marked the 10th straight quarter in which household borrowing has picked up pace.

Still, SingStat figures indicate that the debt situation remains broadly stable for now. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

07/06/2026

Land for 4,745 private homes supplied in H2 2026 GLS confirmed list, including Jurong Lake District white site

The Ministry of National Development (MND) will release land on the confirmed list for about 4,745 private housing units in the second half of the year. This is 3.7 per cent higher than the 4,575 units’ land supply in the first half. The government will sustain a high level of supply of land for private residential units on the confirmed list in H2 2026 to “cater to the resilient demand for private housing and keep the property market stable and sustainable”, MND said on Wednesday (Jun 3).

The Town Hall Link site will be launched for tender in July to advance the development of the Jurong Lake District Read more at The Business Times.

07/06/2026

Singapore’s real wages rise at faster rate of 4% in 2025 amid easing inflation, even as nominal wage growth slows: MOM

Real wage growth in the Republic rose at a faster pace of 4 per cent in 2025, compared with 3.2 per cent in the year before, amid favourable business conditions and easing inflation, data from the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) showed on Thursday (May 28). This was even as nominal wage growth eased to 4.9 per cent, down from 5.6 per cent in 2024, stated the ministry’s latest wage practices report.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/singapores-real-wages-rise-faster-rate-4-2025-amid-easing-inflation-even-nominal-wage-growth-slows

07/06/2026

Investors turn to logistics, industrial, urban residential opportunities in Southeast Asia: Aprea

Supply-chain diversification and digital infrastructure buildout are redirecting capital flows in real estate markets across Southeast Asia. Investors are gravitating towards high-growth sectors such as logistics, industrial assets, housing and hospitality, with Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines emerging as beneficiaries of manufacturing expansion, tourism recovery and digital infrastructure investment. That is according to a May 25 trend report by the Asia Pacific Real Assets Association (Aprea), citing industry participants including consultants and developers.

Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines among property bright spots as supply chain shifts and digitalisation reshape capital flows.

07/06/2026

Singapore maintains 2026 growth forecast at 2-4% despite rising downside risks from Iran war

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) kept its 2026 full-year gross domestic product growth forecast range at 2 to 4 per cent, even as it marked that “downside risks have risen significantly as a result of the US-Israel-Iran conflict”. This is in view of the Singapore economy’s better-than-expected performance in the first quarter, the ministry said on Monday (May 25) morning. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said at its April monetary policy review that an update to the earlier GDP forecast of 2 to 4 per cent would be provided in May.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/economy-policy/singapore-maintains-2026-growth-forecast-2-4-despite-rising-downside-risks-iran-war

07/06/2026

Ban on land sales, new launches for developers that deliver ‘defect-ridden’ projects

Developers that deliver “defect-ridden” housing projects or commit serious safety breaches may now be barred from participating in future residential land tenders or selling new homes for up to five years. According to a circular issued by the Ministry of National Development, Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Building and Construction Authority on Friday (May 22), these tougher measures were introduced to provide greater protection for homebuyers and deter “severe errant developer behaviour”.

The measures are aimed at strengthening homebuyer protection and deterring ‘severe errant developer behaviour’ Read more at The Business Times.

07/06/2026

Singapore private home leasing rebounds 4% q-o-q in 1Q2026, but sentiment remains cautious: Savills

Private residential leasing activity in Singapore picked up in 1Q2026, with rental transactions rising 4% q-o-q to 20,862 contracts, according to Savills Singapore’s latest residential leasing report. However, the consultancy noted that the increase in headline activity contrasted with relatively subdued conditions on the ground, as market sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing economic uncertainty.

More tenants are accepting higher renewal rents while opting for shorter leases amid concerns over economic uncertainty and job security.

07/06/2026

Developers sell 1,548 new homes in April, chalking up the highest sales in six months

Developers sold 1,548 private homes, excluding executive condominiums (ECs), in April, up 129 per cent year on year and reaching the highest monthly level in six months. April sales were up 19.1 per cent from the 1,300 units sold in March, data released by the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Friday (May 15) showed. Leonard Tay, head of research at Knight Frank Singapore, said that primary sales activity in the private residential market “continues to chug along unflinchingly, as Singapore residents continue to throng showflats for new homes”.

The Outside Central Region accounts for 87.7% of condo and private apartment deals last month Read more at The Business Times.

13/05/2026

Apac commercial real estate momentum still intact, Singapore among standout markets: MSCI

The recovery in the Asia Pacific (Apac) commercial real estate market that began in the middle of last year has continued gaining momentum this year, says US-based data and analytics firm MSCI. Data in its latest Asia Pacific Capital Trends report show that real estate transaction volume rose 22% y-o-y in 1Q2026 to hit US$51.1 billion ($65 billion). The region also saw the sales of individual assets climb 17% y-o-y across the same period, while cross-border investment surged 64% y-o-y to US$18.2 billion.

Singapore posted US$7.9 billion in 1Q2026 deal volume, unseating Tokyo as Apac's most active metro for the first time since 2021, says MSCI.

08/05/2026

New EC rules to cool prices: MOP doubled to curb flipping, no more deferred payments and more units for first-timers

The government has tightened rules for Singapore’s executive condominium (EC) market amid heated demand, with measures aimed at improving affordability and curbing “flipping” on resale. Prices of new ECs, first introduced in 1995 as a more affordable public-private hybrid housing type, have risen sharply in the last few years, along with land bids. Sellers have pocketed significant gains on resale as demand builds against a limited stock of new supply, with units often doubling in price when they are sold after a required five-year minimum occupation period (MOP).

Land bids, new launch sales expected to slow with first-timer priority raised to 90% of units, extended to 2 years Read more at The Business Times.