Country: Singapore (English)
Don’t Get Haunted – 5 Dos & Don’ts During Hungry Ghost Month – dev_website
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The Southeast Asian Chinese are pretty superstitious. From avoiding the number “4” (which sounds like the Chinese word for “death”) and lauding the number “8” (a homophone of the Chinese word for “prosper”), to a host of other things they have to look out for during different festive seasons or observances, they tend to adhere to these practices even if they don’t quite buy or understand them.
Especially when it comes to the Lunar Seventh Month, better known as the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival. That’s when their level of superstition skyrockets to a mildly paranoid level.
During Hungry Ghost Month, it is believed the gates of the underworld open to release all the spirits of the dead, much like a holiday month for them, where they are free to roam the earth. Unlike Halloween though, celebrated with trick-or-treats, the Hungry Ghost Festival is regarded with much reverence —and a healthy dose of fear — as they observe some eerie superstitions to avoid offending or crossing paths with wandering spirits.
Below, we go through a few property-related superstitions homeowners may want to look out for during this period.
1. Do take in your laundry before the sun sets
It is ill-advised to hang your laundry out overnight to dry during this period. There are several superstitions tied to this. One belief is that smoke from burnt offerings may cling to your laundry, causing it to smell of incense, which may attract wandering spirits. Another is that damp clothing attracts spirits to “try on” your clothes and “follow” you into the house.
Both ideas are equally spine-chilling but, logically speaking, it is rare for anyone to hang their laundry out overnight, given that our unpredictable weather is prone to sudden showers and storms in the middle of the night. Morning dew is also counter-effective in drying your clothes and may give them a “dank” stench from the moisture.
If you have the habit of hanging out laundry overnight due to an overly hectic work schedule, you may want to invest in a good dryer or switch out your washer for a washer-cum-dryer if space constraints are an issue. Now you can luxuriate in the joy of always having freshly laundered clothes that are properly dried.
2. Do hold off the renovations
Legend has it that you will anger resting spirits with the noise created through home renovation during this month. Other beliefs include renovation processes going awry, or workers inexplicably getting injured in the process of carrying out renovation works.
Home renovations during Hungry Ghost Month can still be carried out, but you may want to keep a strict schedule and have all reno works end well before sunset.
This also helps you avoid angering your resting neighbours, which could go a long way in ensuring you are welcome in your new neighbourhood. Besides, general renovations in HDB flats are only permitted to occur from Monday to Saturday, between 9 am and 6 pm.
Read Also: How to Renovate Your Resale HDB Flat: Timeline and Procedure
3. Don’t leave your door open at night
While we don’t personally know anyone who does this despite Singapore being one of the safest countries to live in, we’d still like to remind all our beloved homeowners to keep their main doors closed and locked at night. Besides wandering spirits, an open door is an invitation for crime and ill intentions and does not bode well in Feng Shui either as it allows yin energy — which is the strongest at night — to enter your home.
If you have the habit of forgetting to shut your main door or to lock in, consider getting a door with an auto-close and auto-lock function. A cheaper option, instead of replacing your entire door, would be to install a self-closing door hinge and install a digital lock that automatically bolts your door when it is fully closed so you never have to worry about intruders, human or spectral.
4. Don’t move into a new home
Moving into a new home during Hungry Ghost Month comes with the eerie belief that you may find yourself with unwanted housemates — and we’re not talking about pests for which you can call in an exterminator. There are several ways to circumvent this.
While the most obvious method is to simply wait out the Hungry Ghost Month and move in after, there are also “cheat codes”, such as doing a “false move-in” before the Chinese Seventh Month begins.
You could get your contractor or designer to quickly complete the main bedroom, or at least have it in a relatively livable condition and stay one night in it before the Seventh Month. You could also cook a pot of rice in your kitchen as a declaration that you have “officially moved in”, so when you do actually take up residence during the Seventh Month post-renovations, it is taken that you have been living in the house all along.
5. Do get professional advice on purchasing new property
In previous years buyers have held off on buying a new property during Hungry Ghost Month. Reports showed that new private home sales fell drastically during Hungry Ghost Month in 2016. This could also have been due to developers pushing back project launches due to the inauspicious sentiments tied to the season.
However, in recent years, new launch sales have remained robust, and even taken an upsurge during Hungry Ghost Month as superstitions fly out the window, likely due to the combination of low supply of available properties as well as pent-up demand from buyers. In August of last year, the Business Times reported that private property resale volume rose despite it being Hungry Ghost Month.
Alternatively, you could also get a Feng Shui master to help you select an auspicious date to complete your property purchase. If you are looking to invest in a new property, getting a new launch that has yet to TOP may just be a win-win situation for you. Property transactions may be known to dip during this month as investors or new homeowners avoid purchasing new property, but new launch sales could still remain robust depending on the housing market at the time. But also, with the stretched completion timeline of new launches, you may even land yourself a good deal if developers decide to launch special promotions to drive sales during what they may fear is a “lull period” for sales!
Regardless of your beliefs, Ohmyhome is here to help you make prudent home buying decisions that will benefit you and your family!
Looking for an HDB or private property?
Let Ohmyhome’s smart data-matching technology MATCH you with the right home, according to your specific needs. Submit your preferences to us and our algorithm will filter all our available listings based on those, and we’ll WhatsApp them to you once we find a match. We’ll also send you relevant content that you can use for your research and inform your home buying decision, so you no longer have to spend hours searching online for the information that you need. Because at Ohmyhome, we’re always by your side, always on your side.
You can message us in the chatbox at the bottom, right-hand corner of the screen to secure an appointment with any of our Super Agents.. You can also WhatsApp us at 9755 9283!
We even have feng shui practitioners on our team who can help you make prudent decisions on when and how to purchase your new home during this period!
Frequently asked questions about Hungry Ghost Month
What is the month of the Hungry Ghost?
The seventh month in the Lunar Calendar is regarded as Ghost Month. The Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated on the fifteenth month of the Lunar Year, which falls on 12 August 2022.
How long is the Hungry Ghost Festival?
The Hungry Ghost Month festivities last for 14 days; from July 29 to August 26 2022.
What not to do during Hungry Ghost Month?
Homeowners are advised to not hang their laundry overnight, hold off on home renovations, and moving into a new place, to name a few dos and don’ts.
3 Benefits of Living in the City (Updated 2022)
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Whether its non-residential sites like the Paya Lebar Airbase, older neighbourhoods like Ang Mo Kio or even less accessible areas like the Jurong Lake District, the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) residential development plans for the next 50 years will be taking jobs, transportation and other essential facilities into the four corners of Singapore.
This decentralisation was already in the works prior to this decade, but was accelerated by a prolonged period of mandatory work-from-home arrangements owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Which begs the question: If all Singapore towns become as accessible and connected as the central region, is it still worth it to pay a premium for properties there?
If you’re looking to buy or rent a home in the Core Central Region (CCR), the question of whether living in the city is still worth it might have crossed your mind.
The short answer? Yes.
Living in or close to the CBD still comes with major perks unique to the central region. Even as Singapore’s property landscape continues to transform, there will always be something about the CBD that other neighbourhoods can’t quite replicate — and we’ll be breaking down what exactly makes the city centre so distinct in this article.
Read Also: URA Reveals Housing Plans for the Next 50 Years
Where exactly is Singapore’s city centre?
Officially, the CCR refers to districts 9, 10, 11, the Downtown Core and Sentosa. As you may know, this is where the nation’s most prestigious residential properties tend to be found. Mixed-use developments and good class bungalows are commonly found in the area, located close to lifestyle and retail districts such as Orchard Road and of course, Sentosa Resort.
And contrary to the Central Business District (CBD) that’s filled with tall, concrete office buildings that results in high foot traffic, and noise pollution, there are actually plenty of private residences that provide personal space and tranquillity in the CCR!
If you’re looking at getting your hands on property in any of these regions, you’ll have the following to look forward to:
1. Always within reach of essential and recreational facilities
Living in the CCR means always being just a few stops away from three essential aspects of life in Singapore: good jobs, good food and good entertainment.
Nearly every MRT station here is an interchange that links to at least two other lines. If you’re going to the prime shopping district of Orchard, you can easily stream into the North-South Line from the North-East Line or Circle Line via Dhoby Ghaut MRT, or the East-West Line via City Hall MRT or Raffles Place MRT. Everything else in between is either accessible by foot or can be reached within a quick bus ride.
That said, residents living outside the central region are also receiving upgrades to their transportation networks. For example, Punggol residents will be able to reach Pasir Ris in just three MRT stops once the Cross Island Line is completed in 2030. Similar developments across the island mean that public transport networks will soon be just as dense elsewhere as they are in the city centre.
However, the CCR still retains its edge over other neighbourhoods due to its reputation of being where Singapore’s most affluent residents have been living for the longest time. Businesses and developers have spent decades setting up retail and recreational offerings in the area, so that CCR dwellers won’t have to travel out of town to find something to keep them entertained. Additionally, since the Cross Island Line and other public transport upgrades are still in the works, the CCR continues to beat other neighbourhoods in terms of convenience and connectivity. At least for now.
2. Save time and money
On a related note, the connectivity within the CCR allows you to avoid a significant portion of the morning rush hour. The convenience is such that you may even opt to go without a car. Don’t underestimate the amount of savings you can make with that. After considering road tax, Electronic Road Pricing fees, parking, petrol and insurance, owning a car in Singapore can cost you upwards of $200,000 over the course of 10 years.
Therefore, though residential units in the CCR often come at a premium, the hours shaved on daily commutes and savings you make on private transport might actually make the higher price point worth it.
Furthermore, the aforementioned decentralisation of the CBD might actually be a good thing. As high-paying jobs are scattered over the country, you may find that you’re able to get on with your day quicker as lunch crowds and road traffic thins. Lesser foot traffic also means that facilities in the area will have less competition, and require less frequent maintenance, too.
3. Good property investment potential
Buying a home in Singapore has always been regarded as one of the safer ways to invest. And considering the recent volatility of the stock market, downturns in alternative portfolios such as cryptocurrency as well as the threat of a looming global recession, real estate remains to be one of the few assets that continue remaining stable during this period.
The limited availability of space in the CCR means that property buyers and investors are always looking for opportunities to lay their hands on a coveted unit in the area. Should you find yourself in a position to sell your CCR property further down the road, chances are that you’ll have many takers who are willing to buy your home at a favourable price.
Furthermore, URA’s plans to incorporate living elements such as mobility-friendly features, green spaces, convertible public areas and lifestyle essentials into the downtown area will also stimulate growth value in CCR properties. The CBD’s reputation as a ghost town after office hours may soon be a thing of the past, and you’ll find yourself with plenty of things to do and places to explore when you’re done with work.
Finally, CCR’s long-held reputation as the A-list of local properties also means that residential units here have a high chance of retaining their value, even as developments around the island continue to spring up. Older office developments may also be converted into mixed-use residentials after renovation, offering a unique alternative to what’s already on the CCR market.
Looking for private property?
Let Ohmyhome’s smart data-matching technology MATCH you with the right home, according to your specific needs. Submit your preferences to us and our algorithm will filter all our available listings based on those, and we’ll WhatsApp them to you once we find a match. We’ll also send you relevant content that you can use for your research and inform your home buying decision, so you no longer have to spend hours searching online for the information that you need. Because at Ohmyhome, we’re always by your side, always on your side.
You can also call us at 6886 9009 to secure an appointment with any of our Super Agents or message us in the chatbox at the bottom, right-hand corner of the screen. You can also WhatsApp us at 9755 9283!
Powering Up Our Tech! Prioritising Security for Our App Users
In 2016, Ohmyhome launched with an app that helped you buy and sell homes easier and faster.
In the years since, we’ve included plenty of features that made the initial promise easier to fulfill.
And as usual, we only keep improving.
In August this year, Ohmyhome will be rolling out a new in-app chat update that creates a safer environment for all users on our app.
We’ve doubled down on security and made that our utmost priority by:
- Introducing fraud detection measures that flag out suspicious behaviours on the marketplace by blocking phrases and sentences typical scam artists use.
- Removing the “Make An Offer” feature, which we’ve identified as one of the functions abused to pressure users to send money to what they believe to be a legitimate process and request in buying or viewing a home.
- Implementing read receipts to ensure that a user always knows the buyer or seller’s level of engagement. In a chat conversation, you can now see if the other party has read your message.
- Adding push notifications for the chat function so that you’re notified when you receive a reply. This means you end up buying, selling, renting, or leasing your home much quicker, saving precious time, and likely closing at a better deal.
- Promoting an environment to keep the entire conversation you have with an interested party within the app (it’s much safer to keep Chats on Ohmyhome).
Important note for active users:
1. (For all users) All closed and completed chat history sessions will be removed, but conversations with active listings will remain.
2. (For Singapore app users only) The appointment setting function will also be removed, but only temporarily. A new and improved version will be introduced soon.
This will be a mandatory update so you will have to ensure you’ve updated the app to its latest version before you can continue using it.
We’ll remind you as the days get closer.
If you have yet to download our app, today is still the best day to do so. Put the power and knowledge of buying or selling your home in your hands. Feel free to click the image to your respective app stores below to download the app.
We’re looking forward to making sure your experience with Ohmyhome continues to be a pleasant one and we’re excited to let you know what else we have in store to make your homeowning experience even simpler and safer.
While the Information is considered to be true and correct at the date of publication, changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the Information. The Information may change without notice and Ohmyhome is not in any way liable for the accuracy of any information printed and stored or in any way interpreted and used by a user.
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