THIS HAPPENED 3YEARS AGO. But i thought it useful to share my experience esp to those who are ignorant of what these insidious, money hungry real estate agents really care about - their ownself. Don't be fooled when they tell you they are on your side and helping you.

We bought our 2nd hand 4room flat from an elderly couple represented by a housing agent - CHIA PENG PARK, representing the company FIRST TREE PROPERTIES PTE LTD. Although the elderly couple were nice people but they main place their trust and dealing to their agent Chia - who apparently is not so nice the person as he looks.

Well, this usually happens to first timers buying a flat. When we both wanted to get married and buy a 2nd hand flat, we thank God we found one so close to our parents and my sister's homes. So we are bent on buying over the flat from the elderly couple. The couple was even so nice to sell it to us at the actual valuation price (without additional cash topup). This was indeed a very good offer considering that we are just starting out as a newly wedded couple.

Guess what, the agent lied to us a few things to quickly close the contract with HDB, get rid of the hassle of dealing with us, and then get his commission money:-

1.The agent Chia Peng Park told us that we MUST get a private bank home loan, instead of thru CPF loan to buy the house. We didn't understand why at that time, and just do what he says. Now looking back, he just wanted to have a higher valuation price of the HDB flat, and thus a higher commission for himself from both the buyer and seller. This is because private valuators normally quote higher than HDB govt valuators. Now i feel so cheated cos i end up paying higher home loan.

2. The agent Chia Peng Park conveniently said that it is complusory to produce the wedding cert during HDB appointment, and just brush off as "it's no use" when we ask his help to appeal to HDB or ask him what we can do to produce the wedding cert later. To us, it was very important and sacred date to have our wedding date fixed and not just go ROM to get the wedding cert just bcos of HDB. Thank God, we ignored his convenient advice and want ahead to appeal and gotten our deferment letter. Phew! You should see the agent's shocked face when we produce our letter of deferment to produce the wedding cert only after our wedding date

3. After the entire incident, the agent Chia Peng Park unprofessionally whipped out 2 AIA insurance policies, claiming that he is also a part-time insurance agent and agressively persuade me to buy the policies. Mind you that the policies cos a hefty sum, together costing S$1,500-2,000/month. And i wonder he didn't even do an assessment on our needs and financial status...Typical of trying more money from us "gullible new birds" who are first time buying a house.

I share these with you all, and hope you are aware of these agents...BAH!
ps: somemore, this agent used to be my ex-lecturer in Ngee Ann Polytechnic!!!! Wahbiang leh!!!!

DAN