Recieving Cash in mailbox Every Month

Most people probably dread opening up their mailbox because they know that only bills await them. However, I am probably one of a few people who actually enjoys opening my mailbox to check for mail. The reason? I receive monthly cheques in my mail so I am always excited to open them up and add it together with other dividends that might have been directly credited into my bank account.

Those of you who have been following my blog over the years probably know that I am a dividends kind of investor. My timing into stocks are quite bad. But dividends have always been my kind of thing. I like the certainty of investing into businesses that provide shareholders with cash in their pockets. Over the years, I have lost count of the dividends I have received.

My favourite kind of dividends are those that are paid regularly. Some of my holdings even pay monthly dividends. That is amazing from my point of view. In short, I have been able to supplement my very average salary with passive income without actually moonlighting.

Foreign holdings in U.S. Etfs and monthly dividend stocks are those cheques which end up in my mailbox. And it is always nice to reach home at the end of a long hard day at work to find a cheque or sometimes piles of cheques in my mailbox. Trust me, the feeling is quite surreal when you get the first cheque but after sometime, it still feels awesome!

Just this month alone, I have received 3 cheques. And the month isn't over yet :)

Dividends for April 2014

Finally took time to compile the cheques that have been coming in through my mailbox and calculated the dividends received for the month of April 2014.

Received a total of S$237.

This comprises dividends from Armour Residential REIT, Gamco Global Gold, Linn Energy and a host of other unit trusts like FAHY, Schroder, John Hancock.

The interests from my bank account (DBS multiplier) also contributed quite a fair bit and I have set up the OCBC 360 account for a similar purpose since it offers higher interest rates compared to a normal savings account.

Engineers Surely Can Relate to This - The Expert (Short Comedy Sketch)


A very funny short clip on what happens when an engineer is put in a room with a group of people who don't seem to be making any sense.  I am sure everyone can relate to this video at some level - especially engineers.

OCBC 360 Account Offers Incredible Interest Rates of over 3%

Recently, I posted about opening a DBS multiplier account that offered interest rates of over 2% depending on your cashflow with the bank.

It now seems that OCBC has up the competition by offering a similar account that offers interest rates up to 3.05% . OCBC 360 account seems attractive as the bonus interest rates are also much more achievable.

To get the bonus interest rates, I will just need to credit my salary, carry out 3 bill payments, and charge $400 to an OCBC credit card. Each of the above gives a bonus interest of 1%. Together with the base interest of 0.05%, it adds up to 3.05%.

I think the offer from OCBC seems to be too good to be missed. Opening my account with them definitely.

Dividends for March 2014

Haven't had much time to blog lately.  Have been busy with work.  Everything has been same old same old.  Nothing much has changed and I have been feeling pretty contented lately with everything that I have been blessed immensely with.  Good job, health, family, etc, etc.

Anyway, I just managed to consolidate the dividends/interests/etc received for March 2014.

The total amount is around $360.  Not too bad but I guess it can always be higher if I had been a little more disciplined with my savings and investing.

Perhaps it is time to take a fundamental re-look at all my expenditure and savings and to see if I am channelling my savings in the best manner into my various investments.

Dividends for February 2014

Finally got down to compiling my dividends received for the month of February 2014.

Total dividends received was $255.75.

The dividends came from a total of 8 different "sources".  This includes stocks, unit trusts as well as the DBS multiplier account that I had signed up for.

I am glad that I have managed to diversify my sources of dividends.  However, the amount is still quite low as compared to my targets.  It looks like I have to start saving a lot more.

Hilarious George Bush Bloopers!



Some funny bloopers from Ex U.S. President George Bush.  Don't really blame him though.  One can only imagine how hard it is to string words together when facing a large crowd or the cameras.

Holidays and Travel Insurance

The first two months of 2014 are already past.  And it seems like the school March holidays are almost here again.  How fast a term flies!  Most people are probably gearing up for short holidays here and there before the June holidays.

However, the haze is back in Indonesia and Malaysia.  Who knows when it might hit Singapore (another good reason to start planning a holiday especially if the haze situation worsens).  Most people are avoiding Bangkok due to the ongoing political unrest there.  So that leaves quite few options for those who just want a short getaway.

On a related note, I realised that I have been very inconsistent in the purchasing of travel insurance.  There are times when I purchase travel insurance when I go for holidays and there are also times when I do not.

So I would like to hear your thoughts:

  • Given the current situation (haze, political unrest, etc) in neighbouring countries, where is good place to go travelling (not too far away from Singapore)?
  • Do you usually buy travel insurance?  If so which is the best plan around?

His Hand Doesn't Even Move


His hands move so fast that you can't even see him draw the dotted lines.

Instant vapor - Boiling water freezes instantly in Siberia

Check this out. Boiling water freezes instantly when thrown out in the cold. Please don't try this at home....

Why I Bought and Sold Coca-Cola (KO)

I bought Coca-cola (KO) at a low price of $37.21 during the recent market downturn. That was before the results were announced on 18 Feb.

The share price went up slightly thereafter. Even with the news of the tie-up with Green Mountain coffee, the share price did not move much. Considering that I was sitting on some paper gains, I decided to cash out. Thankfully, I did so before the results were announced. This is probably one of those rare occasions where my timing of the market worked.

The results released on 18 Feb was probably met with some concern as the share price dropped quite a bit to close back at near the price that I had earlier bought it.  Investors are probably fearing that 1% to 2% global volume growth will become the new norm for Coca-cola.  The fact that some states in the United States are thinking about implementing soda taxes doesn't help either.

Disclaimer:  Not vested currently.  But looking to buy if the stock dips any further.

Why I signed up for the DBS Multiplier Account

I recently signed up for the DBS multiplier account because of the higher interest rates that were offered compared to a normal savings account.

The process of opening the account was fuss free as everything was done online through internet banking.

Basically, the account offers a higher interest rate depending on the cashflow of that account. The cashflow is limited to a few items (e.g. salary), and various tiers of higher interest is offered if the cashflow exceeds different levels.

Considering that I had spare cash in another account, it made sense to just open the account and earn a higher interest rate for the time being. Besides, the interest is paid monthly!

President Obama at the White House Correspondents Dinner 2013

Apologies. Realised that the previous upload of the video did not load correctly and only showed a link. Uploading it again for all to view.


 

Bank Promotional Offers for Higher Interest Rates

OCBC is having a Chinese New Year promotion where they are offering interest rates of up to 1.8% per annum or even up to 2% per annum (Premier Banking customers only).  The first offer is called the OCBC Bonus + Savings Account and the second offer is called the Premier Dividend + Savings Account.  The effective interest rate works out to be 0.9% p.a. and 1.00% p.a. respectively.  That is not too bad considering that a normal savings account usually offers much lower interest rates.  Of course, terms and conditions apply (e.g. fresh funds, etc).  But anyone interested ought to check it out.

At the same time, POSB is also offering an account to earn up to 2.014% interest per annum with a POSB eMSA 2014 account.  This requires one to set up a regular monthly savings plan (from $1000 to $3000) into the eMSA account in order to enjoy the higher interest rates.

I have not signed up for any of these accounts but think it might be worth checking it out.  Think the promotions might be ending soon.  So those who are interested ought to check it out really soon. Caveat emptor.

On the other hand, if you are not interested in all this, you might just be interested to read my previous post why it might make sense to top up your cpf account.

Funniest Obama video Yet! Both sides will laugh

President Obama shows his funny side during a memorial dinner that was held sometime during his first presidential campaign. From watching this video, I can see why he won and became president. Not only is he funny, he is also very witty. Enjoy the video!



Why Topping Up Your CPF Might Actually Make Sense

Topping up one's CPF might actually make sense. I am talking about the act of actually making voluntary contributions over and above what you are ordinarily required to contribute either as an employed person or self-employed person. Here are some reasons why it might just be worthwhile.

1. You get tax breaks

Okay, this might not be a big deal to most people. But one actually gets a certain amount of tax relief (capped at a certain limit each year). So if your income is just slightly over a certain tax bracket, it might actually be worthwhile to make a voluntary top-up to pay less in income taxes. Yeah, it is nothing exciting. But if you have spare cash lying around, it might be something worth considering.

2. Higher Returns

For those who are not too savvy with investments, the CPF accounts might actually provide a higher interest than your normal savings account. Yes, some banks are now offering promotional interest rates of slightly above 2% but that is still lower than the 2.5% and 4% interest rate for the Ordinary.Account and Special/Medisave Account respectively. In addition, the first $60,000 in your CPF earns an additional 1% interest. So do the math and it might actually be attractive compared to the paltry interest rates of a normal bank account. Of course, there is no guarantee that the rates will stay that way since these might be subject to changes in the future.

Considering that some people might not be confident of getting a 2.5% or 4% returns on their investment, it might be worth allocating some of that to top up one's account.

Of course, there are some drawbacks in making voluntary contributions. Firstly, the money is locked up until you are allowed to withdraw your money at a certain age. So you need to be very certain that you will not need this money till retirement. Secondly, if you are topping up under the minimum sum scheme, it means you cannot get apply for future exemptions. All these disclaimers can be found on the CPF website.

I know this post is likely to draw some controversy since most people will never think about making voluntary contributions to their CPF. For others though, it might just be one idea that might make their retirement planning a whole lot easier.

Disclaimer: This post is not an investment advice. The author neither encourages or discourages his readers to make top ups to their accounts.

Chinese Scientist Joe Wong Makes Americans Laugh at Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner

This is a really funny video of Joe Wong who cracks up the crowd at the RTCA dinner that was broadcasted on C-SPAN channel in the United States a few years back.  I still find it pretty funny. Love his deadpan face when he tells his jokes.  Think I have watched the video at least 5 times now.  Just sharing it with all to chase the Monday blues away. Enjoy!

 

Krisflyer American Express Credit Card

Recently applied for the Krisflyer Ascend American Express credit card.  The main reason I signed up for it was because of the additional 5,000 bonus Krisflyer miles that first time applicants would enjoy. It is given when one makes a first charge to the card.

In addition, one gets to enjoy bonus krisflyer miles in the first 3 months of usage.  Of course, one thing to note is that the annual fee is waived for the first year.  It is $256.80.  The first two supplementary card fees are also waived.

The earn rate is 1 Krisflyer mile for every S$1.20 spent.  It is not a lot.  But the bonus miles do help.

Anyone cares to share the best way to earn Krisflyer points or airmiles?

Disclaimer:  Credit cards are meant to be used responsibly.  This article serves as a sharing piece. The reader is advised to check up on the relevant facts and figures for themselves. 


Tisdale Merlot - Cheap and Good?

Bought a bottle of Tisdale Merlot and drank it over the week.  The Californian wine was on offer at Cold Storage and was selling at slightly less than $14.  So I grabbed it without hesitating though I know that those in the U.S. can probably get their hands on this Merlot for probably less than US$10.

Overall, I think the wine is a good everyday table wine.  Taste of spices and some berry taste.  It isn't particularly sweet but it is overall a good value wine for under $15.  Seriously, I am no sommelier, so any wine under $15 is probably a steal for me.

Cold Storage is having some offers right now.  So I bought another few bottles to try.  Looks like I will have lots of wine to drink over the next few weeks.

In vino veritas.

More Money, Less Stress

Lately, I have taken a more laid back approach to my investing.  I have been focused on funds/ETFs that give dividends and have taken the approach of just buying regular amounts each month.  There is less impetus to check the stock market, so very much less stress involved.  Some of these funds also give monthly dividends and thus, I get the benefit of having some passive income.  In short, more money and less stress.

This is just a short post to let everyone know that I am fine.  I hope to go back to regular posting soon. This blog is still marching its way slowly towards 600,000 pageviews without me doing anything.

Life is simple.  I eat 3 meals a day.  Enjoy my time at home.  Been reading.  Sleeping early and waking up early.  I feel totally blessed.  Savouring each moment of the day.

Two words in my mind:  Blessed and Passion.

I feel so blessed to be where I am, living the life that I want to.  All the comforts that I enjoy today were probably not around 100 years ago.  In fact, these comforts are not available to many people in different parts of the world today.  So I do feel supremely and amazingly blessed with everything that I have.  A bed to sleep in, food to eat, water to drink and a beautiful/peaceful country to live in.  Our generation in Singapore is perhaps so blessed that we forget to give thanks for it.

Passion.  What is my passion?  This is the thought that has been bugging me.  Can I live off my passion?

One Question That Will Change Your Life


If there is one question that can change your life, it will probably be whether you are passionate about whatever you are doing in life.  Steve Jobs sums it up real nicely in this short video.  People who succeed are those who are passionate in what they are doing.  Why else would they be able to keep doing things at their peak level on a sustained basis?  And therein lies the secret of success.

As he also sums up nicely in this quote:

"For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something..almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important.  Remembering that you are going to dies is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

For the past few days, I have been asking myself what am I really passionate about in life.  And I think I have drilled it down to three things : Travelling, reading and writing.

Travelling because this is the activity that makes me feel alive.  My sense are keener and more aware of my surroundings.  I feel excited about every single sight and sound that I experience.  It is only during my travels that I truly feel alive and living.

Reading because through reading, I get to experience the viewpoints of others.  I get lost in their world.  I learn from the experience of others.  I share their joy, mistakes, pain, etc.  Things that I will never have been able to experience for myself.

Writing because it is the only creative expression of myself.  I am not talented musically or with any other kind of handicraft.  Yet, I have always viewed myself as someone who likes to create things.  And writing is something that I enjoy doing.  It allows me to consolidate my thoughts, reflect on my innermost fears and desires.  And to express them into words concretises whatever I am thinking. 

Use Your Brains!



Dividends for July 2013

Received 4 cheques in the mailbox for this month.

Cheque #1 = $13.03
Cheque #2 = $50.59
Cheque #3 = $87.54
Cheque #4 = $69.07

All the cheques were from U.S. stocks that I own.  Have not been keeping a good record of all the dividends that I have been receiving each month so thought that I should just log this down before I forget.

Overall, my portfolio has changed quite a bit. Many of the higher yielding stocks that I bought have had bad news lately which has affected the value of my portfolio.  At the same time, I am fortunate to have exited quite a fair bit of my stocks during their recent highs.  So there is quite a bit of free cash left to invest.

Financially, I will like to think that I am progressing fine.  There are surpluses each month to invest/save and that is sufficient.  Have been spending more time reading, reflecting and living each day to the fullest.  Life is too short to worry about tomorrows.

Hopefully all readers had a very good long weekend.  It was a well deserved break for me too.

Card Trick That Fools Penn and Teller

Penn and Teller are great magicians.  So when a card trick leaves them stunned or mystified, you can be certain that it is a really good trick.  See how this magician leaves both of them puzzled in the Penn and Teller show.

How do you think this trick was done?


Cut In Half Magic Trick

This is the cut in half prank done by a magician.  See how he scares everyone.  Believe that the first one who invented this trick was David Copperfield.  But I could be wrong.  Anyone knows how this trick is done?  It is actually quite simple.  The person is basically in a sitting position and the clothes are specially made.  At least that is what I think.


Caboki - Amazing Hair Loss Concealer Video. "Grow" Hair in Seconds

Wow.  I must admit that this is the first time I have seen such a product.  This is a hair loss concealer powder.  It does not stop hair loss or promote hair growth.  What it does is conceal hair loss.  It is akin to mascara except that it is used on the head.  So one needs to have some hair left for this to work. Watching the video, I must say that I am pretty impressed at the results.  This looks like an effective hair loss concealer especially for those with balding spots.




Babies Trained in the Art of Escaping

Check out this video of babies that are escaping from their cribs, etc.  Really enjoyable to watch.

Jeff Gundlach on Japan, Apple and Bubbles

Jeffrey Gundlach, the new "bond king", shares with Reuters some wealth strategies and gives his take on Japan, Apple and bubbles.

Marina Bay Sands Wedding

Marina Bay Sands is huge.  Especially their convention centre where all the ballrooms are located.  It is no wonder that many people have been having their weddings at Marina Bay Sands.  Well, it seems that based on their wedding package, there are various options for a Chinese wedding banquet.  The prices don't come cheap though and start from $1088+ per table to $1388+ per table (depending on the choice of dishes).

So if you are attending a wedding dinner there, you know the "market rate" to give.  Simply divide the price by 10 and don't forget that the price does not include service charge and GST.

In terms of location, I think Marina Bay Sands is great.  Ample parking spaces and also easily accessible by MRT. Complimentary parking tickets are usually given out.

The view is also stunning though it is not observable from the ballrooms itself. One will have to walk out to see the view.  Furthermore, people can sneak out for a short break or even to go shopping if they want to!

Food-wise, I will rate it as above average.  The food is good but I won't say that it is spectacular or anything.  It is of a reasonable standards.

The service is average or even below average.  Nowadays, it is really difficult to find good service in Singapore.

Treat Hair Loss with Onion?

Okay, I was searching the internet about natural treatments for hair loss when I came across this short video that claims one can use onions to treat hair loss.  I wonder whether anyone has ever tried this before.  Won't you stink if you rub onion on your scalp.  Not for the faint hearted definitely.




Another video here also shows a DIY hair loss treatment using onions too. If anyone ever tries this and it works, do let all of us know.  I am sure those of us who are balding or losing hair will gladly give it a shot.


Dog Gets Shot By Police


A dog gets shot by the police after it tries to protect its owner.  Disturbing footages if you are a dog owner.  

Dividends for May 2013

Phew!  It has been some time since I last wrote.  Was too busy and just could not find the time to sit down and pen anything.

Anyway, dividends received in the month of May 2013 wasn't too bad.  This was helped by monthly dividend stocks in my holdings such as Armour Residential REIT (ARR) and GAMCO Global Gold and Natural Resources Trust (GGN).  I also received payout from BDCL (a ETN that pays quarterly dividends).  The amounts I received is probably close to $200.  I am not keeping good records and I might have bank in some cheques that were actually sent to me much earlier in April.

From Singapore shares, I have also collected dividends to a neat tune of $500 exactly.  Cool and not bad for a month.

I also bought into Fidelity Asian High Yield Fund through DBS.  It is a unit trust that pays out monthly dividends and I can choose to receive the dividends or reinvest it.  Received around $7 from this unit trust.

That's all for now.

And guess what?  This blog has garnered more than half a million views.  Cool eh?


Avoiding Credit Card Fraud


Using a credit card gives you the opportunity to build your credit profile and increase your purchasing power. While credit cards definitely have some advantages over other methods of payment, they are sometimes susceptible to fraud. If you become the victim of credit card fraud, it can be a particularly frustrating experience. Here are a few things to consider about credit card fraud and how to avoid it.

How it Works

It doesn't take much for someone to try to take advantage of you through credit card fraud. All a thief needs is the information off of your credit card, and then they can start making purchases online.

Another version of credit card fraud occurs when someone gets your personal information and then opens a credit card account in your name. At that point, then the individual can use the new credit card that they get from the credit card provider to make purchases.

Avoiding Fraud

One of the nice things about many
Singapore credit cards is that they have anti-fraud features. If someone uses your card to make a fraudulent purchase, then you can call the credit card company and notify them. Many of these cards will simply take off the charge and you won't be responsible for it.

You also have to be careful where you use your card. Never give it to anyone to take out of your sight, such as at a restaurant. You also need to look carefully at any ATM that you put your card into. Some scam artists use a technique called skimming to scan your credit card information once it goes into the ATM. Make sure that there haven't been any modifications to the slot.

Also, you should never email your credit card information to anyone who asks for it. Use a secure order form only.

Check Your Credit Report


If you are concerned with the possibility of someone opening a credit card in your name, it's a good idea to check your credit report regularly. When you get your credit report, you can see what accounts you have open in your name. If anyone has opened an account in your name, you'll be able to see it on your credit report.

How to Avoid the Problem

If you are interested in avoiding this problem altogether, you need to safeguard your information at all times. Don't throw your credit card statements or personal records out in the trash without shredding them. If you are getting your credit card out to make a purchase, make sure that you keep it covered at all times so that no one will be able to see the information off of it or your PIN.

Considerations

Although credit card fraud is definitely a big problem in the world today, you can minimize the chances of any damage by taking a few simple steps. If you take the time to keep your information safe, you'll be at a much lower likelihood of risk in the future. When choosing a credit card, you should also make sure that you pick one that has a zero liability for fraud policy. This way, you can ensure that you're never paying for fraud out of your own pocket.

Is Gold and Silver Still a Buy?

Earlier in February this year, I wrote a short post on whether it was the end of the gold bull run.  Of course, I couldn't say for certain that the bull run in gold was going to end.  After all, there are renowned investors out there who were still bullish in gold for the long term.  I wrote a more balanced post on some reasons to buy gold or silver.  After all, investing in gold is something that most serious investors will consider doing as part of their asset allocation.

For those who have been monitoring the gold and silver spot prices, you should be aware that gold and silver prices dropped drastically in yesterday's trading.  Gold ETFs like SPDR Gold (Ticker: GLD) fell by almost 10% in a single day with hedge funds rumoured to have started the huge sell off.  Well, a correction was more or less expected since billionaire Jim Rogers (who now lives in Singapore) said that a correction was due. In fact, Jim Rogers believes that gold prices will head towards US$1200/oz. He will probably start buying at that level.

But is this more than a correction?  Because it seems that we are now in a bear market for gold and silver.  Worries about inflation in the United States with all the money printing through the quantitative easing programs seems to be unfounded.  Inflation remains low to this day.  And besides, the stock market has been roaring on for quite a few months.  So investors in gold and silver have probably missed out on the bull run in the stock market and are taking the opportunity to liquidate their holdings since the supposed dollar crisis/crash has failed to occur.  Many traders probably closed their positions too especially if they bought at the highs of US$1800-$1900/oz.

Is gold and silver still a buy?  It probably is.  But one will probably have to wait for the right price.  And also be reminded that unlike stocks, gold and silver do not provide any form of cash flow or dividends.  It is almost simply a store of value and a hedge against hyperinflation or "catastrophic" events.  Could this be the reason why Warren Buffet is negative on gold?





Bought Nam Cheong Again

I previously did a trade on Nam Cheong and made some small gains.  Lately, I have entered into another position into Nam Cheong since I think that the stock has potentially more upside.  My entry price is at $0.25.  Nam Cheong has also announced dividends of $0.005 per share.  OCBC has a fair value estimate of $0.30 for this stock but I think I will probably sell it if it rises by 10%.  That sets my own rget price of Nam Cheong at around $0.275 to $0.28.

Vested interest.  Please do your own due diligence.

Random Thoughts

These are all random thoughts that I have been having the past few days.  The first is really about my investing philosophy.  I slowly come to realise that after reading so many books on investing, I am not really certain which school of thought I belong to.

Are markets efficient or are they inefficient?  Should I just do index investing as suggested by gurus like Bogle or is it possible that one can actually find good stocks like Warren Buffett.  And that is also about finding good stocks beyond what is considered luck or statistically insignificant results.  But if you invest in the market index, then during the bear markets, it will also mean that you perform as badly as the entire stock market.  And that by itself is a scary thought.

Another area is capital appreciation or dividends.  Should I work towards building up a greater sum of capital first before going into dividend investing? Really mixed thoughts about this.  For every attempt at capital appreciation, one is almost certain to introduce risks and possible losses to capital.

Is the bull market here to stay or is there going to be a coming collapse?

Will gold and silver continue to shine?

Will Greece still be in the Euro?

Will the US dollar continue to depreciate?

Is the US stock market rally justified by fundamentals?  Or is it just another bubble?

When will the China bubble collapse?

Random thoughts in my head with no answers....

Do You Know What Are Home Loan Consultancy Sites?


By Property Buyer

If you are seeking some information about home loan consultancy sites,  then you are looking at the  right article. Home loan consultancy sites can be really helpful if you are thinking about taking a mortgage in some critical stage of your life.

Working procedures of online home loan consultancy in Singapore:


1. What do mortgage consultants do? 


Home loan consultants work by providing the requirements and information about the home loan packages offered by different banks in the country. They act like a medium between you and the financial institution which will provide your home loan.

In the beginning, they will take your overall details and assess  your financial profile to suggest the most suitable home loan as they are knowledgeable  about all the different Singapore home loans available. 

Home loan consultants provide this free service as they are paid a percentage of the loan amount from the bank itself.

The banks in Singapore maintain this relationship with home loan consultants because they get to save on sales staff.

2. Different online home loan packages

Some of the home loan consultancy sites offer you different comparison tools to compare the home loan packages from different banks , or the same bank. I have a great exemplary site which can provide you this service apart from the usual mortgage advisory services.

The home loan comparison system at iCompareLoan.com perform that in 4 easy steps only. Before that, you need to provide some important information such as:
  • Quantum
  • Duration
  • Type (fixed or floating rate)

Based on this information, the system will display you the available home loans.


The whole process is illustrated in figure 1 and figure 2 as follows:
Figure 1: Step 1 of Loan Comparison System
Source: www.iCompareLoan.com/new_loan












Figure 2: Step 4 of Loan Comparison System

Source: www.iCompareLoan.com/new_loan

3. Desired reports for your home loan

A home loan report shows  the comparative information about the different Singapore home loans formalities and requirements for different banks of Singapore. These reports are provided by a few home loan consultancy sites like iCompareLoan.com , which offers a loan analysis system. This service is almost free or given for a small fee and it is the most advanced in Singapore. This analytical system can generate very helpful reports by comparing many  home loan packages. In these reports there are included various information such as interest cost savings from refinancing or new loans, building-under-construction loans, amortization tables, and so on.

You can see the log-in page in Figure 3:

Figure 3:  Loan Analysis System

Source: www.iCompareLoan.com/consultant/




Benefits of home loan consultancy sites:

1. Save time and effort

How can home loan consultancy sites make life different for you?  The answer is that they can save you valuable time and effort. In Singapore  there are over 16 banks that can provide a mortgage. Together they have almost 50 types of loan packages to offer. Now, if you are thinking about inquiring each and every home loan package then you have to visit each bank website. But, more often than, you will not be able to find the most basic information about the loan on these sites. Not even the interest rates or the lock-in period.

Rather these sites will direct you to their bank officers for further details ; thus you have to speak with over 10 officers to find the most suitable mortgage. In this case, home loan consultancy sites can help you sift through all the packages and compare their features in easy-to-read tables.

Through the free DIY loan comparison tools, provided by consultancy sites as well as by iCompareloan.com , you can generate tables comparing the main features of various loan packages. This can be achieved with only a few simple steps saving you plenty of  time and effort.

For more comprehensive advice you can contact the mortgage consultants as the loan packages and their features can change ever so often.

For a borrower it can be difficult to be constantly aware of all the changes. A mortgage consultant, on the hand, is well aware of all the changes as it is his job.   

2. Unbiased loan advice

Before you decide to take a mortgage from any bank you need unbiased advice about the offers of different banks. This information can only be provided by mortgage consultants as they are not beholden to any single bank. On the other hand, if you seek  advice from a  bank officer he will try to convince you about the merits of the loans offered by his bank.  He  also cannot provide you with information about other banks' loans.
So, the best advisors are the mortgage consultants who know enough to provide information.

3. Extra assistance

Home loan consultants not only can provide you with information about the various different loans, but they can even assist to make an application for your desired mortgage. They are happy to assist you in putting in order the required documents for the loan application. As the paperwork can take up a lot of time so your loan application can be delayed too.

When the loan amount is over $2 million, mortgage consultants can even negotiate a good interest rate during the approval process.

About Property Buyer
http://www.PropertyBuyer.com.sg/mortgage
We are a research-focused Singapore mortgage consultancy which helps you compare Singapore home loans either for new loans or refinancing. We use loan reports from Singapore's best loan analysis system (exclusive to us) at http://www.icompareloan.com/consultant/ to serve our customers.
Our services are completely FREE to you as the banks pay us a referral fee upon loan disbursement.
SMS: (65) 9782 8606
Email: loans@PropertyBuyer.com.sg

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Simply Bread Breakfast

Breakfast was at Simply Bread again.  It was a rather relaxing day with little appointments to keep up with so there was time for a nice and slow meal.  Tucked away between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, the location is perfect.  Not too far flung yet secluded enough and away from the crowds. A respite from your usual shopping malls.

The crowd is a mixture of Caucasians and Singaporeans (or Asians).  Everybody seems to be ordering 2 Eggs but that is not what I ordered.  French Toast with Ham Steaks is on my mind.

Their french toast is not your typical thin sliced bread soaked in egg mixture.  It is something I haven't tried elsewhere.

The ham steaks are as always - GOOD.  Comfort food at its best.  Thick slices of honey baked ham with some honey drizzled over it.  Well, that set me back by ten dollars and cents thirty-five (GST not included).  But whose counting?

And the meal was made complete with the usual cup of coffee and milk.  =)





Aston Martin V12 Vantage

Top Gear tests drives the Aston Martin V12 Vantage.  It goes from 0 to 60 miles in 4 seconds.  While it looks like the V8 Vantage, it is really a lot more powerful.

 

Dividends and Passive Income for Jan and Feb 2013

I have been keeping a very bad record of my dividends/passive income.  But here it is so that I do not forget:

Jan 2013:  $111.80
Feb 2013:  $287.46

Main contributors were from Armour Residential REIT (ARR), GAMCO Gold and Natural Resources Trust (GGN), and Starhill Global REIT.

I have also liquidated quite a few of my stocks.  On the back of STI hitting its 5 year high, I have sold off all my holdings in Ascott REIT, Saizen REIT, LMIR, Thakral, Nam Cheong and Citigroup.

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