Phrase as subject + Verb is always singular?

[sehejbindra]

I've been told that whenever a phrase or clause is the subject of a sentence, the phrase/clause is always considered singular. Hence the verb corresponding to that phrase should also be singular.

Example -

Repairing the foreclosed properties that are in bad condition is the latest initiative by the banks to stay competitive in the real estate market.

The underlined portion of the sentence is the phrase subject. The use of IS instead of ARE is correct here.
Would this still hold true in the following sentence?

Repairs on the foreclosed properties that are in bad condition is the latest initiative by the banks to stay competitive in the real estate market.

The above sentence feels wrong to me. Instinctively my brain says - Repairs is plural therefore the verb should be are instead of is.

Can someone please clarify? Thanks!

[RonPurewal]

i don't know what you mean when you say "phrase" here.
...but you're taking an idea that's supposed to be simple (subject-verb agreement), and making it needlessly and artificially complicated.

if you have a noun + modifiers... the noun is still a noun!
if it's singular, it's still singular!
if it's plural, it's still plural!

so, in your second sentence here, the subject is "repairs", which is plural.
the modifiers make no difference to the singular/plural status of this noun.

[RonPurewal]

IF you encounter a situation where an entire clause is the subject of a sentence, then, yes, THAT is singular.

e.g.,

That you were on time to the party was a surprise to everyone.
(here, the subject is the whole clause "That you were on time to the party")