A Middle-Class Life Overseas with Just One Home? Is Retirement Plan B Really Feasible?
Sentiment in Singapore’s property market has been increasingly steady and optimistic.
In the latest quarter, the NUS Real Estate Sentiment Index (RESI) jumped from 5.7 to 6.1. Not only has current sentiment improved, expectations for the next six months have also strengthened across the board.
The standout segment is Core Central Region (CCR) luxury homes, with a net positive sentiment of 60%. Suburban homes remain at around 40% positive sentiment, and office properties have turned positive for the first time in two years.
For Singaporeans, investing in property is nothing new.
Even when people only have a few hundred dollars to spare, many already think about putting some money into REITs. With property sentiment recovering, REITs may look even more promising.
Besides REITs, some people invest by buying a second property… or simply rent out their own home and retire somewhere else.
“Can I live off rental income + investments and semi-retire in a lower-cost country?”
This isn’t a fantasy anymore — it’s becoming a common “Singapore-style Plan B.”
Case study: Can a 35-year-old couple + one fully MOP-ed flat support living overseas?
Assume a couple, both 35 years old, who own:
A recently MOP-ed 4-room HDB in Punggol
Monthly rental income: $3,200
Monthly mortgage: $1,070
After accounting for vacancy, agent fees, and maintenance:
Net rent ≈ $2,666/month
Plus:
$100,000 in basic investments
4% annual dividend yield = $333/month
Total passive income ≈ $3,000/month
In Singapore? → Enough to get by, but not enough to enjoy life
In many Southeast Asian cities? → Middle-class, or even “comfortable upper-middle” living
So which path brings the average Singaporean closer to a true “middle-class lifestyle”?
Buying property → Stronger asset appreciation logic
Investing in REITs → Stronger cash-flow logic
Can one property get you to a middle-class life?
Can REITs alone fund a comfortable lifestyle?
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看看我自己的MOP-ed HDB，净租金收入加上基本投资股息可以给我3000美元/月左右。在新加坡，这足以维持生活，但在许多东南亚城市，它可以支持舒适的中上阶层生活方式，使出国半退休成为现实。
对我来说，房地产提供长期升值，而房地产投资信托基金提供稳定的现金流。两者的结合似乎是理想的：房地产租金收入加上房地产投资信托基金股息，让我更接近国内外真正的中产阶级生活方式。
@Tiger_SG @TigerStars @Tiger_comments
So which path brings the average Singaporean closer to a true “middle-class lifestyle”?
Buying property → Stronger asset appreciation logic
Investing in REITs → Stronger cash-flow logic
Can one property get you to a middle-class life?
Can REITs alone fund a comfortable lifestyle?
if have lots of extra [USD] [USD] [USD] then perhaps may consider owning a property or properties for investment. otherwise, REIT is good too.
best to have both [Grin] [Grin] [Grin]
Imagine waking up knowing that your core living expenses are taken care of by the fruits of your prudent investments.
Dividends from a strong performer like $DBS(D05.SI)$ or steady income from a diversified SReit like $CapLand IntCom T(C38U.SI)$, can fund not just the essentials but also the small joys that make life rich.
This combination is great for a life rich on community, family and simple pleasures.
Singapore - Our Home, Our Country. 😍😍😍🇸🇬🇸🇬🇸🇬🏡🏡🏡
@Tiger_SG @Tiger_comments @TigerStars @TigerClub @CaptainTiger
Check them in the history - “community distribution“
Non-traditional retirement plans relying on investments like REITs or rental income are feasible but require careful planning, diversification, and risk management
Property in Singapore offers long-term wealth through appreciation but requires significant capital, while REITs provide cash flow and liquidity, though neither alone may fully support a middle-class lifestyle
One property or REITs can support a middle-class lifestyle if they appreciate or generate income, but a larger portfolio or additional income streams are needed for long-term comfort, especially in high-cost areas
A combination of property for capital appreciation and REITs for cash flow offers balance, but relying on either alone requires careful strategy and additional income sources for long-term comfort
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@Huat99
@Snowwhite
That not only allows savings by cutting rental, it also builds rapport with staff who can have better work life balance (who also save on spending a bomb on travel and meals).
Office property market has to be artificially propped up by the rich who need businesses to force their workers to slave and toil away in their glass towers
1. Property is an essential part of an investment strategy
2. Real estate is a high dividend yield investment as an alternative to stocks
在最近一个季度，新加坡国立大学房地产景气指数（RESI）从5.7跃升至6.1。不仅当前情绪有所改善，对未来半年的预期也全面走强。
突出的部分是核心中心区(CCR)豪宅，净正面情绪为60%.郊区住宅仍维持在约40%积极的情绪，写字楼物业两年来首次转正。