I realize Singapore has perhaps the best government in the world, but I do not see why that should justify such astronomical property prices.BTW, when you are referring to a "house" in Singapore for $300K, you actually mean "tiny condo," right?

Their lending practices drove the demand up astronomically against a fixed supply therein driving up the prices.

Now this area is tricky because the avg price for a house is around $300,000 + and the taxes are astronomical avg around $12,000 + per year.

If your situation is so constrained, just remember that todays down interest rates are tomorrows highs... factor that into your calculations.Variables rates in Iceland became astronomically high during the financial crisis.

This is great info - I myself am starting to explore auction properties (properties in my area are astronomically priced and margins are razor-thin for retail).  

A lot of calls giving you some astronomical pie int he sky number to sell (if you're a sucker), and lots of RTS just because they don't want to open it. 

I live in the Bay Area and as all you know the prices for housing here is astronomical.

The volatility of the market combined with the astronomical costs of marketing that it takes to create leads leaves many people bankrupt and forces even the most successful of those in this field to find easier ways to make money in order to supplement, and in some cases replace, their sporadic income that is pretty standard among wholesalers and creative investment specialists. 

However, in the local market, the stagers have had a pretty good run of business and their fees are high, bordering astronomical.  

These costs seem astronomically high to me.