Like Singapore, every country has its own challenges and hence its own unique quirks, when it comes to housing. These are of interest to local property investors as well: apart from the most obvious use cases (e.g., they intend to invest in overseas property, as ABSD rates are high), they might also provide alternative ideas for property assets. Cities and their various authorities also learn from one another, and in the future, we may see more borrowed ideas. Here are some unusual ones from around the globe:

1. Jeonse (or Chonsei) Housing System

Used in South Korea, this is the only widely used rental method that does away with monthly rental payments. Instead, the tenants pay a lump-sum deposit to the landlord, which is returned after the end of the lease (with no interest paid on the deposit). This deposit can range between 50 to 80 per cent of the property’s market value, depending...