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I refer to the article “ ” (Aug 21). National Development Minister Desmond Lee rightfully pointed out perceptions that HDB home buyers and sellers may have in the light of million-dollar resale flats on the rise. While I applaud the decision to lower the loan-to-value limit (LTV) from 80 per cent to 75 per cent to fund a new or resale flat purchase, I am of the view that more should be done to suppress the “psychological dynamic” behind HDB resale prices going through the roof. First, I hope the media refrains from publicising million-dollar resale flat transactions. The headline is often sensational in highlighting that the seller stands to gain a whopping windfall. Over time, every seller would increase his asking price, causing the median resale prices to inch up faster than anticipated. Next, the HDB’s Resale Flat Prices portal should stop listing those million-dollar transaction “outliers”. I believe the readily available information pushes every seller in the same block, precinct or town to put up an indicative price close to or around the million-dollar transacted figures. We want listed prices to be realistic and reasonable, in line with market expectations, especially when it comes to public housing. Last but not least, a multi-tier LTV corresponding to cash over valuation (COV) quantum should be considered. For higher COVs, the loan amount should be reduced. This will induce the buyer to think twice before coughing up more money. In any case, if a buyer is willing to pay an exorbitant COV, it’s likely that he has plenty of cash on hand. It’s only natural that every seller has a “dream” price tag and hopes that there is a willing buyer to match that “magical” figure. What we don’t want is to create anxiety or fear that our future generation can no longer afford to buy an HDB flat, be it resale or new.