Blogger exposes rent error
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It was an eye-popping figure, even in the midst of a property market boom — and it turned out to be too good to be true.
On Saturday, The Straits Times ran an article on HDB rents hitting a 10-year high.
Citing rental figures from property agencies, ST reported — also listing other transactions in various locations — that a 3-room unit in Block 253 in Jurong East St 24 fetched a monthly rental of $2,500.
But the figure turned out to be inaccurate, after an alert blogger did his own investigations and published the findings on his blog.
Mr Alex Au, who runs the yawningbread.org website, told TODAY that the unrealistic figure raised his eyebrows, especially since he lived just a few blocks away from Block 253.
With a digital camera in hand, Mr Au visited the block and found that it was half-empty.
He asked: "Why would a new tenant pay premium rates when there are so many unoccupied flats on offer?"
When contacted by TODAY, ERA Singapore, which provided the data on the Jurong East transaction, acknowledged its mistake.
Its vice-president Eugene Lim said: "It was a transaction in 2005, but it was actually for two units of 3-room flats that were combined. Under the data churned out by our computer, it was classified as a 3-room flat transaction Â… You can call it human error or computer error."
Mr Lim added that the "jumbo" flat was rented to a company to house its foreign workers.
TODAY verified the claim when it visited Block 253.
ST said in a statement that the newspaper had "verified the accuracy of the information with ERA before going to print".
But after questions were raised over the flat, the paper investigated further.
"We found that the $2,500 monthly rental was being paid for a 'jumbo' flat in Block 253 which comprised two adjoining 3-room flats," it said.
Over at Block 510 Woodlands Drive 14 — also cited in the ST report — residents said they were "surprised" at the $2,200 monthly rent that an executive unit at their block fetched.
But Mr P Wang, who bought his four-room unit for $260,000 in February, felt the high rent was "possible".
The 32-year-old technician said: "It could be a one-off, given the booming property market."
Earlier, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan had expressed his concern over reports of record property prices.
Mr Au agreed that the media had to be "very careful" with information supplied by third parties, "especially when there might be a vested interest".
The latest episode goes to show how the mainstream media and the blogosphere could complement each other in revealing "the truth", he added. "Working together in a more active media scene benefits everybody." - TODAY/ra
Shows even more that the newspapers can't be trusted lately. Especially with the property prices boom, and they publish an article like that...
Sheesh. -
knn, is the economy really that good?
rentals all up by such a big margin.
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I thought it's kind of obvious when you read it. That price is way too high. Computer error? Human error? Crap.
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yes and the power see it as a sign of booming economy to increase prices, tax and their salaries since it seems that everyone is getting richer everyday.Originally posted by dragg:knn, is the economy really that good?
rentals all up by such a big margin.
The news nowadays are not reliable. The reporters nowadays does not seem to care their reports are hurting someone as long as it sells their only papers in Singapore -
of course rentals do increase because we have a booming economy and you can be very sure it will keep going up.
However, once you see such ridiculous prices as those reported, common sense will tell you something is not right. Thos who did the dubious reporting ought to be exposed and shamed. -
reminds me of the incident where students catch a teacher saying something wrong, he will always sweep it under the carpet with the phrase "just testing see if you alert, or not"
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i pity the next generation. will they even be able to afford rent a flat least buying one
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its up to us. If we refuse to pay higher prices, or sell or rent out at higher the market prices will not go up.Originally posted by SevenEleven:i pity the next generation. will they even be able to afford rent a flat least buying one -
According to my real estate friend in Singapore, rental is high because of the large bloom in FTs seeking rental places.
Not sure if it's his personal opinion or a generally accepted opinion. -
you can then choose to rent it to them at a low rate so that the rental market prices will not increase. its all up to us.Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:According to my real estate friend in Singapore, rental is high because of the large bloom in FTs seeking rental places.
Not sure if it's his personal opinion or a generally accepted opinion. -
I guess everyone's in for the quick buck.Originally posted by Mat Toro:you can then choose to rent it to them at a low rate so that the rental market prices will not increase. its all up to us. -
yes, high rentals are good cos we make money from the FTs.Originally posted by bigmouthjoe:I guess everyone's in for the quick buck. -
one day Singapore dollar become like Japanese Yen..........
$10 for a piece of watermelon in Toyko........housing loan to be repaid in 3 generations....... -
Precisely when foreign professional come, they can rent from the local who still paying the monthly loan.Originally posted by Mat Toro:yes, high rentals are good cos we make money from the FTs.
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Then we live where? 10 years down the line all HDB 3 room flats will be shared with FTs..~Originally posted by will4:Precisely when foreign professional come, they can rent from the local who still paying the monthly loan. -
This letter, especially the last section:
Mr Au agreed that the media had to be "very careful" with information supplied by third parties, "especially when there might be a vested interest".
The latest episode goes to show how the mainstream media and the blogosphere could complement each other in revealing "the truth", he added. "Working together in a more active media scene benefits everybody." - TODAY
Shows the subtle attempt to cover up their own mistakes by attempting to divert attention to a union of blogosphere and mainstream media.
It is unfortunate that despite our media's proud boast - that they print honest facts and factual articles- there are lingering and sometimes glaring mistakes, which they conveniently attribute to a simple 'typo'.
I picked up the Sunday times last weekend for my daily news, and while i wasn't specifically nit-picking, i spotted several glaring errors; a mix bunch of grammatical and spelling errors littered throughout the papers.
In the age of computers and microsoft, one would think the 'spelling' check button is only a click away, and yet we continue to expose ourselves by printing poor English. -
how true.. even a simple common miscrosoft word will pick out common grammatical errors even as you type a document.. hmm it makes u wonder if it was really a computer error afterall..Originally posted by BillyBong:This letter, especially the last section:
Shows the subtle attempt to cover up their own mistakes by attempting to divert attention to a union of blogosphere and mainstream media.
It is unfortunate that despite our media's proud boast - that they print honest facts and factual articles- there are lingering and sometimes glaring mistakes, which they conveniently attribute to a simple 'typo'.
I picked up the Sunday times last weekend for my daily news, and while i wasn't specifically nit-picking, i spotted several glaring errors; a mix bunch of grammatical and spelling errors littered throughout the papers.
In the age of computers and microsoft, one would think the 'spelling' check button is only a click away, and yet we continue to expose ourselves by printing poor English. -
BillyBong, you seem to have misinterpreted the article.Originally posted by BillyBong:This letter, especially the last section:
Shows the subtle attempt to cover up their own mistakes by attempting to divert attention to a union of blogosphere and mainstream media.
1stly, it isn't a letter but a news article.
2ndly it isn't any subtle attempt by anyone to cover up his or their mistake. It is Alex's view that 'how the mainstream media and the blogosphere could complement each other in revealing "the truth", he added. "Working together in a more active media scene benefits everybody." '