Singaporeans warned over excessive overseas property purchases

Residents are twice as likely to hold properties abroad.

The tight residential property is causing more Singaporeans to purchase overseas properties. However, the Monetary Authority Singapore warned that the rise in overseas property investments could expose investors to foreign exchange risks.

“There has also been increased interest in foreign property purchases, which could expose investors to foreign exchange and interest rate risks, as well as other risks arising from unfamiliarity with overseas property markets,” the MAS stated.

According to a report by Blackrock, Singaporeans demonstrate less of a home bias than other Asian markets, holding more foreign assets in both property and equities. 

“They are more than twice as likely to hold overseas investment property than the average investor in Asia. There is some uncertainty and mixed sentiment on the performance of the property market relative to other asset classes. This may be a reflection of recent government interventions to cool the domestic property market,” noted Blackrock