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ST Forum Stuck in housing limbo despite higher ceiling MY WIFE and I were delighted when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced that the income ceiling would be raised to $10,000 and $12,000 for new build-to-order (BTO) flats and executive condominiums (ECs) respectively ('HDB raises income ceiling to $10,000'; Aug 15). We checked the HDB website several days later but discovered that we were once again ineligible to apply for ECs even though our combined income falls below $12,000. That is because of a clause stating that an applicant cannot own any private property 30 months prior to EC application. We are prepared to sell our private property to apply for an EC. However, requiring us to sell it 30 months before applying for an EC does not make sense. Where will we stay for 21/2 years? In fact, if one includes the time taken for construction of the EC, we would have to spend at least five years renting a place or living with our parents. We have a toddler and plan on having another child. The waiting period will surely disrupt their education and childcare. Two years ago, we did not qualify because our combined income exceeded $8,000. With sellers seeking cash-over- valuations of between $60,000 and $90,000 in our preferred location - near both our parents' homes - we were forced to buy a small private condominium apartment that was selling at valuation as we did not have enough cash. The inescapable irony was that we qualified for a bank loan to buy a private property but did not have enough cash to buy a subsidised public flat. Being forced to buy a private home saddled us with a whopping $600,000 loan. We are toying with the idea of selling our private property as our joint income is just below the income ceiling for now, but we are uncertain if we will still be earning the same income 30 months from now. All we want is to live in a home we can afford and, yet, we are caught in a predicament. We think this could be our last chance to buy a Housing Board flat. We hope the Government would consider revising this rule for the sandwiched class. Lim Chong Wee

Dear all, i would like to seek some feedback on my current situation. 2008 Jan, i renewed my previous car insurance with a old friend who is an agent ( hi - bye type friend ) He gave me a special discount of abt 100+ dollars off my premium , after i asked is there any good price since i 've been with him since 2006. In June 08 i changed car , and the insurance company refunded me the excess of the premium as i used 6mths of the insurance. In Aug 08 , my friend started calling me and asking me to pay him back 100 dollar as they cut back his commission due to i change car and terminate the policy . Do i have the right not to pay him the $ Because honestly i feel there i have the right not to pay back as i did not demand the $ and on start he did not inform me on this issue. Pls share your honest view on this case