Live near your place of work

In most countries, it is common for a person to move house and live near the place of work, especially if they take up a new job in another town. This will help to reduce the need for commuting a long distance.

We have to encourage this new kind of lifestyle. If you live in Woodlands and take a new job in Changi, you should consider moving your house to Tampines or Pasir Ris.

There is a financial obstacle. The cost of selling your house or flat and buying a similar type of house is quite high. You have to pay about 5% to the housing agent, lawyer and in stamp duty.

We have to find a way to reduce this high cost. I hope that the stamp duty can be waived and that the other fees can be reducd considerably. Perhaps the total cost should be reduced to 0.5% of the value of the new home.

If more people can be encouraged to move and live near their place of work, there will be reduced need for commuting and congestion on the roads. The public transport will be less crowded.