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Independent Singapore
13-07-2025
- General
- Independent Singapore
Maids forced to sleep in bomb shelters: Singaporean woman asks, 'Why not employers try to sleep in one for themselves first?'
SINGAPORE: In Singapore, where real estate is precious and space is tighter than your grab driver's parking spot on a Saturday night, families are turning to creative solutions. Unfortunately, not all of them are kind. The 'maid room' — a term now synonymous with bomb shelters and utility rooms in many Build-to-Order (BTO) flats and condos. Once built for emergencies, these small, windowless boxes are increasingly being rebranded as living quarters for foreign domestic workers (FDWs). But are we disguising practicality as progress? Or simply camouflaging discomfort? Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco RICE Media hit the streets to find out, and what they uncovered was a complex mix of justification, concern, and quiet suffering. When being pragmatic becomes problematic 'I think this is very inhumane to let the maid sit in the bomb shelter. I don't think it will have proper ventilation,' said one woman who was interviewed. And she's not alone in thinking that a room built to withstand explosions might not be the coziest space to catch some shut-eye. But not everyone sees it that way. Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco 'I think using the bomb shelter or laundry room as a maid's room is okay because some people just do not have an extra room to be able to help give to the helper,' said one resident, pointing out the harsh reality of space constraints in Singaporean homes. One employer admitted: 'I have a live-in helper with me. She stays in the utility room by herself… to be pragmatic, is there an alternative?' Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco That seems to be the prevailing sentiment — pragmatism over perfection. Space-saving or soul-crushing? To understand how livable these spaces truly are, RICE Media spoke to the helpers themselves. And let's just say, 'cozy' isn't exactly the word they'd use. 'My employer said, 'You cannot touch the room, you cannot go inside because you cannot stay inside the bomb shelter for so long,'' shared one domestic worker, visibly concerned. Another helper said bluntly, 'It's not okay to sleep in the bomb shelter. I want my room to be very comfortable for rest, so that I can do my work properly the next day,' and summed it up with: 'We respect you, and you can also respect us.' Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco The recurring theme? Rest is not a luxury; it's a requirement for good work. Yet many helpers report cramped quarters, lack of privacy, and even safety issues. Store rooms, not storm rooms Some employers take a more conscientious approach, as the earlier one explained how when he had two helpers and only one utility room, he offered the larger bedroom, but surprisingly, both helpers wanted the smaller one, likely out of shyness. 'I think minimally, employers must provide a wall fan… and the door has to be opened. If privacy is an issue, maybe you can have a small curtain or cloth covering,' he said. Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco And others go further. 'If you have the money to hire a helper, you should be able to provide the helper with the right amenities and the right place to stay,' said another woman, who shared she had friends who turned their spare storeroom into a bedroom by clearing it out for their helpers. Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco It's also a sentiment echoed by the interviewed resident, who described horror stories of helpers sleeping in bomb shelters stacked with boxes, which are uncomfortable and dangerously unsafe. 'In newer estates like Sengkang, these rooms are two by one meters at most. Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco That's the biggest it gets. Other places just get smaller and smaller.' A place to sleep or a place to rest? One domestic helper pointed out the stress of having no personal space at all: 'I have a friend who sleeps in the living room… her employer is still in the living room, so she cannot sleep early. So she always sleeps late.' Another stressed the importance of simple dignity: 'Privacy is very important…' Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco A good night's sleep should not be a workplace perk — it should be a basic right. 'We're not asking for a big room. We're asking for it to be comfortable enough so we can rest after work,' she added. Humanity over hierarchy Despite the grim stories, not all employers treat their helpers as invisible labour. 'I told my helper that as long as she finishes her job, she can do whatever she wants,' the employer shared. 'We can't help them reunite with their family often. But if you let them have access to the internet, they might feel happier… so treat them like a normal human being, treat them like a fellow colleague or a younger brother or sister.' Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco The earlier resident who was interviewed also urged the community to shed its bias. 'Sometimes when I hang out with my friends, I see a bunch of helpers during the weekends. And there are comments — 'Oh, it's them again,' or 'They're making a ruckus.' Just let them live. They're coming here to help our economy. They have no ill intent at all. Try to integrate them into our community,' he advised. The uncomfortable truth The growing rebranding of bomb shelters as 'maid rooms' might look like an architectural convenience. But at its core lies a tough question: are we offering our helpers a place to live, or merely a place to stay? Many Singaporeans would never consider placing a family member in a bomb shelter. Yet for some, it's deemed acceptable for the person who cooks their meals, cares for their children, and supports their elderly parents. Photo: YT screengrab/@ricemediaco If foreign domestic helpers are expected to treat their employers' families like their own, shouldn't they be treated like part of the household too? As the woman who was interviewed above put it: 'I'll tell people who ask helpers to sleep in the bomb shelter — why not they try for themselves first? If they can survive, then it's okay.' Check out the RICE Media 's episode Singapore, Unfiltered video below to witness the full street interview while exploring their perspectives even more in depth: Read related: Domestic helpers in Singapore: We left our own children behind to raise yours, but you treat us like second-class citizens, without even basic dignity
Wall Street Journal
13-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Airbnb Lets You Add a Private Chef to Your Rental. Your Host Might Not Like It.
Airbnb ABNB -1.20%decrease; red down pointing triangle not only wants to rent you a vacation home this summer—it wants to help you add a private chef or massage session. The hosts who own the condos, cottages and houses aren't so sure.
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Condo sales up by 34 per cent in Waterloo Region's latest real estate report
A for sale sign is seen in Waterloo region. (CTV News Kitchener) Condo sales are rising in Waterloo Region, according to the Cornerstone Association of Realtors. The organization released its latest real estate report on Friday, highlighting a 34 per cent increase in condo sales in June compared to the year before. Meanwhile, the sale of detached homes went up 5.6 per cent during the same timeframe, the sale of townhouses went down 17.4 per cent, and semi-detached home sales dropped 25.4 per cent. The average cost to buy a detached home remained stable at $896,770, a 0.2 per cent year-over-year decrease. The average price to buy a semi-detached home was also relatively unchanged at $649,039, representing a 0.5 per cent decrease. But the price for a townhome and apartment-style condo dipped 6 per cent and 5.7 per cent, respectively. The average buyer paid $624,754 for a townhome and $435,435 for a condo. Houses stayed on the market for an average of 27 days in June, compared to 18 days last year.
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Surge in 'underwater' homeowners sparks fresh market fears
By A massive amount of US home sellers are at risk of selling at a loss in the current housing market. One in six of today's US home sellers are likely to sell their property for less than they originally paid — up sharply from just 4.4 percent a year ago, reports Redfin. While the risk of selling at a loss varies widely by location, the national increase marks a significant shift from last year's market conditions. In San Francisco, for instance, nearly 20 percent of sellers are at risk of losing money, but virtually no one who sells in Providence, RI, will see a loss. The risk also depends heavily on the type of home. Condos are much more likely to be at risk of selling at a loss than standalone homes or townhouses. Redfin's data shows that nearly one in four condos are at risk of selling below their purchase price—and that number climbs to nearly 30 percent for condos bought after the pandemic boom. 'We are seeing the biggest price drops in the condo market,' said Redfin agent Andy Potarf. 'I had a seller who bought a condo for $570,000 in 2021 and it just sold for $525,000 last week. Sellers who have to sell are willing to take a bigger hit to get the deal done.' Potarf added that condo sellers are in a particularly tough position because many face restrictions—from HOAs or local authorities—on how they can lease their properties. 'A lot of condo sellers have a choice to make: stay put, or take a loss,' he said. For sellers who bought single-family homes after the pandemic, 16.4 percent of sellers are at risk of selling at a loss in today's market. Post-pandemic buyers paid high prices due to intense competition and record-low mortgage rates that created a buying frenzy. Bidding wars were common, and many homes sold for well above list price. 'Current sellers who bought their home after mid-2022 may have overextended themselves, thinking that prices were going to keep rising at similar rates,' said Redfin economist Asad Khan. ' 'Prices have kept ticking up since then, but at a slower pace—and now prices have started to fall in some parts of the country, especially in the Sun Belt. 'That means sellers are in a position where they may need to choose between accepting a lower price, or taking the home off the market.' Those who bought during the pandemic will see 9 percent of sellers take a loss. For those who bought homes before the pandemic, only 1.8 percent will take a loss. The Redfin analysis looked at active listings on the MLS in May, and predicted how much a home is likely to sell for based on the sale-to-list price ratio of the metro area where it is located. For example, if a listed home is priced at $500,000 in a metro where the sale-to-list price ratio is 95 percent (where homes sell on average for 5 percent under the original list price), they predict that the home will sell for $475,000. Next, Redfin compared the expected sale price to what the seller originally paid for the home. The report found that many would-be sellers facing a financial loss will simply wait until they find a buyer willing to pay the asking price, while others may take their home off the market and continue to live in it or rent it out. In the early 2010s, following the global financial crisis, roughly half of for-sale homes were at risk of selling at a loss. Even prior to the pandemic, in early 2020, around 10 percent of for-sale homes were at risk of selling for less than their purchase price. Redfin senior economist Asad Khan said the sellers facing a loss today is good news for buyers. 'We are seeing more opportunities for buyers to pay a little less than they would have just a year or two ago,' he said. 'That's because sellers with significant equity in their homes—and therefore at no risk of selling at a loss—are more willing to be flexible on price. 'That's a meaningful shift for anyone who's been watching and waiting for prices to come down, especially first-time homebuyers.' Khan said that the longer someone has owned their home, the more likely they are to come out ahead. 'But that's little comfort for those who bought more recently and may be facing a loss,' said Khan. 'Not every homeowner is listing because they want to—some are listing because they have to. 'In those cases, it's important to list at a realistic price for the market and be prepared to adjust depending on buyer interest.' Redfin agents in some parts of the country report that some sellers who don't need to move immediately have already opted to de-list their home. 'A lot of sellers are taking their home off the market rather than reducing their price, with the idea of listing it again next year,' said Aditi Jain, a Redfin agent in Boston. 'They're not motivated by making money the way they would have been two or three years ago because there's not as much money to make. 'Another trend with sellers is they're accepting offers instantly. If they get one solid offer, they're signing the contract, cancelling other tours and open houses, and trying to close the deal as soon as possible.' Florida in particular has homes for sale at rock bottom prices. With a surplus of listings flooding the market, soaring HOA fees and sky-high insurance rates, owners just can't unload their homes so they are slashing prices. One two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in the Hunters Run community of Boynton Beach, complete with a pool and a gym, was purchased in 2002 for $91,000. It's now going for just $1,000. The HOA fees are a whopping $1,503, but for a $1,000 home, the buyer still gets a deal. Plus, with no mortgage, a buyer would eliminate that bill, too. Residency in the neighborhood comes with an amenities-filled community, including three championship 18-hole golf courses, tennis and pickle ball courts, six dining venues, multiple pools, a fitness center, a spa, a salon and monthly entertainment. Another condo in the area that sold for $29,000 in 2015 is now listed at $9,500 - that's after the original $19,000 price tag was slashed in half.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Condo prices are falling. Gen Z and millennials: This could be your shot to break into the housing market
After years of rising mortgage rates and soaring home prices, many younger buyers have been priced out of the market. But falling condo prices, driven by rising HOA and insurance costs, may offer Gen Z and millennials an entry point into homeownership. Real estate experts say condos can be a smart first purchase, but buyers have to do their due diligence. Following the sub-3% mortgage rates during the pandemic that ushered in a wave of new homeownership, hopeful homeowners were slapped by rates that peaked at 8% in October 2023. That halted many new buyers from entering the market—particularly younger generations. But there may be a small sliver of the market where Gen Zers and millennials could have the opportunity to break in, even though home prices are currently 51% higher than they were the same time in 2020, according to the Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index. Condo prices are actually falling, and dropped 2% year over year in May, according to Redfin. That's the second-largest decline since the real estate company started tracking the data in 2012. Condo prices are dropping because homeowners have gotten fed up with high HOA and insurance fees, according to Redfin. The average cost of a condo in the U.S. is $354,100, Redfin data shows. Jaclyn Bild, a real estate broker associate at Douglas Elliman Real Estate based in Miami, confirmed the drop in prices has primarily been driven by rising HOA fees, insurance premiums, and overall cost of ownership—not a drop in demand. 'Inventory has increased slightly, and days on market have ticked up, giving buyers more leverage than they've had in recent years,' Bild told Fortune. 'This window could represent an opportunity for younger buyers who've been sidelined by pricing wars or rising interest rates.' That could be welcome news for Gen Zers and millennials who have had a tough time breaking into the housing market for a host of reasons: comparatively high mortgage rates, rising home prices, and older generations holding on to their homes for longer than they used to. Buying a condo can be a good place for first-time homeowners to start because of their typically lower price tag than single-family homes—and less maintenance to boot. Brett Johnson, a Colorado real estate agent and owner of New Era Home Buyers, told Fortune condo prices in his housing market have been dropping since June 2024, when the average closing price of a condo was $416,000. As of this June, the average price had dropped 2.6% to $405,000. While not a huge drop, it's 'enough to get buyers' attention,' Johnson said. 'This could still be a good entry point for Gen Z or millennial buyers who understand the risks and are willing to do their homework,' he added. The homework is understanding the associated HOA and insurance costs with owning a condo. This is mostly a problem with older or underfunded buildings, he said. 'I've helped buyers take advantage of these price dips, but I always tell them to dig deep into the HOA's financials, look out for special assessments, and understand what they're signing up for,' Johnson said. 'Some of these condos are still great deals, but only if you know what you're getting into.' Florida is a prime example of where HOA and insurance fees have caught homeowners by surprise. In recent years, wealthy homeowners have flocked to Florida for its warm weather and smaller tax bills, but were met with unexpected housing fees. An August 2024 Redfin report showed median monthly HOA fee increased 17.2% year over year in Tampa, compared to 5.7% nationally, as an example. Meanwhile, home insurance prices are expected to jump 8% this year, with some states seeing a 27% jump, according to a study by Insurify. 'Buyers are looking at not just the purchase price, but the total monthly outlay—and if those numbers don't work, they're walking away or negotiating more aggressively,' Bild said. 'It's a numbers game, and buildings with transparency, maintenance history, and financial health are coming out ahead.' This story was originally featured on
