Lifting the hood on changing needs of home buyers and tenants

PropertyGuru Group managing director for Singapore Yao Lu said the way Singaporeans search for homes has changed more in the past few years than in the previous 15 combined, with listings now first discovered via TikTok, Instagram, or AI search engines. In a podcast with The Business Times, Lu revealed that among high-income singles, 42% of those aged 30 to 34 prefer private housing while 52% of those aged 35 to 39 want a four-room or larger HDB flat, and that four out of five Singaporeans aged 21 to 29 want to move out but only 15% have, highlighting a readiness gap. Lu also discussed how AI is improving agent workflows and consumer trust, and said AI will not necessarily reduce the number of property agents because it cannot replicate trust.

Lifting the hood on changing needs of home buyers and tenants Get insights on what matters when people look for a home from PropertyGuru’s Yao Lu, in conversation with senior correspondent Leslie Yee. The way Singaporeans search for a home has changed more in the past few years than in the previous fifteen combined. It is no longer a straight line from budget to location to a call with an agent. Today, listings get their first click from a TikTok video, an Instagram post or an AI search engine, and the profile of who wants what has fractured in ways most people would not expect. In this episode of PropertyBT , a BT Correspondents podcast, Leslie Yee speaks with Yao Lu, managing director, Singapore of PropertyGuru Group, about how buyers and tenants actually search for homes today, how AI is reshaping the process for agents and consumers alike, and whether Singapore’s love affair with homeownership still makes sense. Why listen Why age gaps of just a few years produce wildly different housing preferences Among high income singles, 42 per cent of those aged 30 to 34 want private housing, while 52 per cent of those aged 35 to 39 want a four-room or bigger HDB flat. Yao Lu breaks down what is really driving these choices. Why rental remains a minority choice despite rising interest among Gen Z Four out of five Singaporeans aged 21 to 29 say they want to move out, yet only 15 per cent actually have. Yao Lu explains the financial and personal readiness gap behind that number. How AI is already changing agent workflows and consumer trust From listing co-pilots that automate mundane tasks to an AI moderation engine that flags heavily enhanced photos, Yao Lu walks through where artificial intelligence is genuinely improving the home search experience. Whether AI will eventually mean fewer property agents Yao Lu’s answer centres on something AI still cannot replicate: trust. The home search journey has never been more fragmented or more personal. This conversation makes sense of both. Listen now. Discover more episodes at bt.sg/podcasts https://bt.sg/podcasts . Got feedback? Email us at btpodcasts@sph.com.sg mailto:btpodcasts@sph.com.sg . --- Written and hosted by: Leslie Yee lyee@sph.com.sg With Yao Lu, managing director for Singapore, PropertyGuru Group Edited by: Nicole Teo & Claressa Monteiro Produced by: Leslie Yee, Nicole Teo & Chai Pei Chieh A podcast by BT Podcasts, The Business Times , SPH Media --- Follow BT Correspondents: Channel: bt.sg/btcobt https://bt.sg/btcobt Amazon: bt.sg/btcoam https://bt.sg/btcoam Apple Podcasts: bt.sg/btcoap https://bt.sg/btcoap Spotify: bt.sg/btcosp https://bt.sg/btcosp YouTube Music: bt.sg/btcoyt https://bt.sg/btcoyt Website: bt.sg/btcorresp https://bt.sg/btcorresp Do note: This podcast is meant to provide general information only. SPH Media accepts no liability for loss arising from any reliance on the podcast or use of third party’s products and services. Please consult professional advisors for independent advice. --- Discover more BT podcast series: BT Money Hacks: bt.sg/btmoneyhacks https://bt.sg/btmoneyhacks BT Podcasts: bt.sg/pcOM https://bt.sg/pcOM BT Market Focus: bt.sg/btmktfocus https://bt.sg/btmktfocus BT Lens On: bt.sg/btlenson https://bt.sg/btlenson Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free. Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved. ABOUT THE PODCAST BT Correspondents brings together some of The Business Times’ most trusted columnists in a single series. Featuring Mark to Market, WealthBT, TransportBT, and PropertyBT, weekly episodes deliver expert analysis and clear perspectives on stocks, wealth, mobility, and real estate. It is essential listening for professionals who want context, clarity, and depth.