Fraud Blocker
Your search results

Is it Better to Sell Your Newly Launched Condo Before or After Completion? Here’s What the Statistics Indicate

Posted by Jayson Ang on March 14, 2025
| 0

TLDR

Determining the best time to sell a newly launched condo involves weighing the benefits of selling before or after the project’s completion. Selling early can lead to quicker profits and less competition, while waiting until completion might attract more buyers and higher prices, albeit with potential risks like construction issues. Data from various condo sales since 2018 indicates that selling after the Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) often yields slightly better returns, with a 1.4% improvement on average. However, the timing difference is marginal, and decisions should consider market conditions, project specifics, and personal financial strategies. Understanding the Sellers Stamp Duty (SSD) and market trends is crucial for maximizing investment returns in Singapore’s property market.

There has been significant interest in figuring out the best time to sell your newly launched condo, especially as more units from recent developments are approaching completion.

Should you sell before the condo is finished? Selling early allows for quicker access to profits and opens up opportunities for other potential investments. Furthermore, selling sooner can mean facing less competition, particularly if your unit is part of a large-scale development.

Conversely, there are benefits to waiting until the project is completed. You might see an uptick in demand from buyers eager to move in, and if the condo exceeds expectations, it could command a higher price. However, there’s a risk that any construction quality issues could surface, which might negatively affect your selling price.

So, does selling early genuinely offer greater profitability, and how does the timing of your sale influence your returns? We examined data from various condo sales to uncover the answers:

Projects that we used for comparison

We compared private, non-landed projects launched since 2018. We also looked at new resale and new sub-sale transactions for comparison.

Project New Sale to Resale (Vol) New Sale to Sub Sale (Vol) Total Volume
AMBER 45 10 1 11
AVENUE SOUTH RESIDENCE 37 2 39
BUKIT 828 1 1 2
DAINTREE RESIDENCE 8 16 24
FOURTH AVENUE RESIDENCES 2 13 15
JADESCAPE 45 80 125
JUI RESIDENCES 7 2 9
KOPAR AT NEWTON 1 15 16
MARGARET VILLE 31 4 35
MAYFAIR GARDENS 13 14 27
MIDWOOD 6 6 12
NYON 3 1 4
OLLOI 1 1 2
PARC ESTA 56 169 225
PARK COLONIAL 52 56 108
REZI 24 1 4 5
STIRLING RESIDENCES 107 84 191
THE ANTARES 2 2 4
THE GARDEN RESIDENCES 69 4 73
THE JOVELL 4 10 14
THE TAPESTRY 97 19 116
THE VERANDAH RESIDENCES 4 10 14
TREASURE AT TAMPINES 61 275 336
TWIN VEW 43 45 88
VERDALE 1 1 2
WHISTLER GRAND 48 57 105
Total Transactions 674 928 1602

Avenue South Residence transactions were initially recorded as Sub Sale. We changed them to “Resale” for analysis because it was believed that the residence was ready for move-in earlier. We used March 2023 as the date for considering these transactions as Resale instead of Sub Sale.

A look at overall returns

Project New Sale to Resale New Sale to Sub Sale Grand Total Which is better? Difference
AMBER 45 +15.1% +6.1% +14.3% Sell After TOP +9.0%
AVENUE SOUTH RESIDENCE +14.7% +13.7% +14.6% Sell After TOP +0.9%
BUKIT 828 +8.9% -4.6% +2.1% Sell After TOP +13.6%
DAINTREE RESIDENCE +21.6% +22.2% +22.0% Sell Before TOP -0.5%
FOURTH AVENUE RESIDENCES +17.8% +8.4% +9.7% Sell After TOP +9.4%
JADESCAPE +25.8% +22.0% +23.4% Sell After TOP +3.8%
JUI RESIDENCES +9.3% +11.5% +9.8% Sell Before TOP -2.2%
KOPAR AT NEWTON +11.6% +12.7% +12.6% Sell Before TOP -1.1%
MARGARET VILLE +17.1% +11.1% +16.4% Sell After TOP +6.0%
MAYFAIR GARDENS +10.3% +9.8% +10.0% Sell After TOP +0.5%
MIDWOOD +18.4% +20.9% +19.7% Sell Before TOP -2.5%
NYON +16.3% +13.2% +15.5% Sell After TOP +3.1%
OLLOI +24.0% +17.5% +20.7% Sell After TOP +6.5%
PARC ESTA +29.1% +22.7% +24.3% Sell After TOP +6.4%
PARK COLONIAL +20.8% +15.7% +18.1% Sell After TOP +5.1%
REZI 24 +4.3% +7.3% +6.7% Sell Before TOP -2.9%
STIRLING RESIDENCES +24.2% +20.1% +22.4% Sell After TOP +4.1%
THE ANTARES +19.2% +12.9% +16.1% Sell After TOP +6.3%
THE GARDEN RESIDENCES +13.5% +8.2% +13.2% Sell After TOP +5.3%
THE JOVELL +22.7% +16.9% +18.5% Sell After TOP +5.9%
THE TAPESTRY +16.6% +11.6% +15.8% Sell After TOP +5.0%
THE VERANDAH RESIDENCES +13.3% +10.2% +11.1% Sell After TOP +3.1%
TREASURE AT TAMPINES +23.5% +21.8% +22.1% Sell After TOP +1.7%
TWIN VEW +22.6% +17.0% +19.8% Sell After TOP +5.6%
VERDALE +12.8% +13.9% +13.3% Sell Before TOP -1.1%
WHISTLER GRAND +30.7% +24.6% +27.4% Sell After TOP +6.1%
Average +21.3% +19.9% +20.5% Sell After TOP

New resale transactions were slightly better, suggesting it’s often wiser to sell after TOP. However, the difference isn’t significant. In six projects where selling before TOP was advantageous, three only had one new resale transaction, and Jui Residences had two, making it tough to reach solid conclusions. Midwood stands out, as selling after TOP increased value by 2.5 percent.

We need to note that prices increased a lot after Covid

In the aftermath of the Covid pandemic, the housing shortage led to a significant increase in home prices. As a result, we would anticipate that new units compared to resale properties would exhibit stronger performance, as they likely have appreciated due to extended time in the market.

Below are the holding periods for the different transactions:

Project New Sale to Resale New Sale to Sub Sale Grand Total
AMBER 45 4.4 Years 3.2 Years 4.3 Years
AVENUE SOUTH RESIDENCE 4.0 Years 3.1 Years 3.9 Years
BUKIT 828 4.0 Years 1.6 Years 2.8 Years
DAINTREE RESIDENCE 3.7 Years 3.3 Years 3.4 Years
FOURTH AVENUE RESIDENCES 3.6 Years 3.6 Years 3.6 Years
JADESCAPE 4.1 Years 3.7 Years 3.8 Years
JUI RESIDENCES 4.6 Years 3.4 Years 4.3 Years
KOPAR AT NEWTON 4.0 Years 3.6 Years 3.6 Years
MARGARET VILLE 4.4 Years 3.5 Years 4.3 Years
MAYFAIR GARDENS 4.6 Years 4.1 Years 4.3 Years
MIDWOOD 3.2 Years 3.1 Years 3.1 Years
NYON 3.9 Years 3.5 Years 3.8 Years
OLLOI 3.9 Years 2.2 Years 3.1 Years
PARC ESTA 4.3 Years 3.7 Years 3.8 Years
PARK COLONIAL 4.9 Years 3.7 Years 4.3 Years
REZI 24 3.5 Years 4.0 Years 3.9 Years
STIRLING RESIDENCES 4.3 Years 3.6 Years 4.0 Years
THE ANTARES 3.7 Years 3.9 Years 3.8 Years
THE GARDEN RESIDENCES 4.1 Years 3.4 Years 4.0 Years
THE JOVELL 4.2 Years 3.5 Years 3.7 Years
THE TAPESTRY 4.6 Years 3.3 Years 4.4 Years
THE VERANDAH RESIDENCES 5.7 Years 4.7 Years 5.0 Years
TREASURE AT TAMPINES 3.8 Years 3.7 Years 3.7 Years
TWIN VEW 4.9 Years 3.4 Years 4.2 Years
VERDALE 3.6 Years 3.4 Years 3.5 Years
WHISTLER GRAND 4.1 Years 3.5 Years 3.8 Years
Average 4.3 Years 3.7 Years 3.9 Years

For Midwood, the average time between buying and selling is similar for both sub sales and resales, so the holding period isn’t significant for this condo.

Generally, if you wait until after the TOP to sell, the results improve by about 1.4 per cent, which is due to an eight-month difference in the holding period.

In general, the findings indicate that the timing of this brief scale does not significantly impact the results

It’s wise to follow a basic strategy for property buying: purchase when you can hold onto the investment and weather market downturns.

The Sellers Stamp Duty (SSD) imposes a 12% tax on the sale price if a unit is sold within the first year, dropping to 8% and then 4% in following years. This is why many sub sales happen in the fourth year, after the SSD period.

Decisions often depend on the specific project. For a luxury condo with fewer competitors and a promising outlook, waiting might be advantageous as buyers may pay more for something they like.

In contrast, for mass-market launches, timing can be crucial. If you bought early and others bought later, selling before more listings appear could be wise, even if you risk missing a higher price later.

Finally, private property prices are rising slowly and struggling to exceed $2,200 per square foot, affecting sub sale transactions. Buyers should be ready to hold their properties longer than expected, possibly needing to sell well after the official completion date.

Should You Buy, Sell or Wait?

If you’re reading this, you must be trying to figure out the best course of action right now: is it the right time to buy or sell?

It’s difficult to give an exact answer since everyone’s situation is unique and what works for one person may not necessarily work for you.

I can bring you a wealth of on-the-ground experience and a data-driven approach to provide clarity and direction. From beginners to experienced investors, our top-down, objective approach will help you on your real estate journey.

I can help you by:

  1. Offering Strategic Real Estate Advice – I can help create a comprehensive plan to guide you through your property journey.
  2. Connecting Your Home with the Perfect Buyers – Through stunning visuals, an effective communication strategy, and an in-depth knowledge of the market, we’ll ensure your home is presented in the best possible way to fulfill your goals.

You May Also Like …


Top 5 : How Does One Choose Good Property In Singapore?
Mandarin Top 5

Top 5 : How Does One Choose Good Property In Singapore?

Choosing a property in Singapore can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor. With the city-state's dynamic real estate market, it...
Read More
Top 5 : Best Themed Cafes in Singapore
Mandarin Top 5

Top 5 : Best Themed Cafes in Singapore

Singapore, a vibrant and diverse city, is known for its eclectic mix of cultures, cuisines, and attractions. Among the many...
Read More
Breaking Through the Stalemate of En Bloc Sales
All Blog Posts Opinion

Breaking Through the Stalemate of En Bloc Sales

TLDR The Singapore property market faces challenges with the ongoing en bloc stalemate. Lower success rates, higher development risks, and...
Read More
Top 5 Reasons : How Investing in a Luxury Condominium in Singapore Can Boost Your Portfolio
Mandarin Top 5

Top 5 Reasons : How Investing in a Luxury Condominium in Singapore Can Boost Your Portfolio

Investing in a luxury condominium in Singapore is an attractive option for investors looking to diversify their portfolio and enjoy...
Read More
Top 5 Nature Walks in Singapore for Hikers
Mandarin Top 5

Top 5 Nature Walks in Singapore for Hikers

Singapore, a bustling city-state known for its impressive skyline and modern architecture, is also home to a plethora of natural...
Read More
5 Factors : Why Singapore’s Prime District Properties Are Still In Demand
Mandarin Top 5

5 Factors : Why Singapore’s Prime District Properties Are Still In Demand

Singapore's prime district properties continue to be in high demand due to a combination of factors that make them attractive...
Read More
Top 5 : Singapore’s Most Desirable Properties: A Look at the City’s Most Coveted Real Estate
Mandarin Top 5

Top 5 : Singapore’s Most Desirable Properties: A Look at the City’s Most Coveted Real Estate

Singapore, a bustling city-state known for its impressive skyline and thriving economy, is home to some of the most desirable...
Read More
ANALYSIS: Unveiling the HDB Towns with the Steepest and Lowest Price Surges!
All Buying Tips

ANALYSIS: Unveiling the HDB Towns with the Steepest and Lowest Price Surges!

TLDR The real estate market for HDB flats in Singapore has witnessed significant growth, with prices reaching new highs. The...
Read More
Beware! Spot These Warning Signs Before Making a Home Purchase!
All Blog Posts Buying Tips

Beware! Spot These Warning Signs Before Making a Home Purchase!

TLDR When purchasing a property in Singapore, it is crucial to thoroughly assess various aspects of the home to avoid...
Read More
Top 5 : Best Street Art Murals in Singapore
Mandarin Top 5

Top 5 : Best Street Art Murals in Singapore

Singapore, a vibrant and multicultural city-state, is not only known for its iconic landmarks and delicious cuisine but also for...
Read More
Invest During the Bearish & Exit During the Bullish
All Blog Posts Opinion

Invest During the Bearish & Exit During the Bullish

TLDR A comprehensive overview of the real estate market trends, emphasizing the importance of strategic property analysis and investment decisions....
Read More
When to Strike Gold: The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your House in Singapore!
All Buying Tips

When to Strike Gold: The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your House in Singapore!

TLDR When deciding the best time to sell your property, consider various factors such as market trends, financial goals, and...
Read More
5 Smart Techniques That Resourceful Homebuyers Utilize to Overcome Restrictions on Home Loans
All Buying Tips

5 Smart Techniques That Resourceful Homebuyers Utilize to Overcome Restrictions on Home Loans

TLDR When it comes to navigating the complex world of home loans and property acquisition, it's crucial to be aware...
Read More
The Impact of a Real Estate Agent on Your Property’s Selling Price
All Buying Tips Opinion

The Impact of a Real Estate Agent on Your Property’s Selling Price

TLDR In the world of real estate, the value of property agents lies in their ability to create competition among...
Read More
The Changing Faces of Orchard Road
All Buying Tips

The Changing Faces of Orchard Road

Should You Buy, Sell or Wait? If you're reading this, you must be trying to figure out the best course...
Read More
5 Things to do When You Go For A Property Viewing In Singapore Part 2
Buying Tips Mandarin Top 5

5 Things to do When You Go For A Property Viewing In Singapore Part 2

5 Things to do When You Go For A Property Viewing In Singapore Part 2 Here are 5 more things...
Read More
Top 5 Factors That Real Estate Investors Should Consider When Selecting A Luxury Condo In Singapore
Mandarin Top 5

Top 5 Factors That Real Estate Investors Should Consider When Selecting A Luxury Condo In Singapore

Investing in a luxury condominium in Singapore is an attractive option for real estate investors seeking high-quality properties with potential...
Read More
Will New Launch Condos See a Drop in Prices Soon?
All Buying Tips Opinion Selling Tips

Will New Launch Condos See a Drop in Prices Soon?

TLDR The real estate market in Singapore is experiencing a trend of lackluster bids for prime properties in various locations....
Read More
How Can Real Estate Investment Help You to Combat Inflation?
All Blog Posts Opinion

How Can Real Estate Investment Help You to Combat Inflation?

TLDR When it comes to real estate investments in Singapore amidst rising inflation rates, consider strategies such as capitalizing on...
Read More
Learning Hard Truths in Property Investment: Timing the Market Can Hurt
All Buying Tips Opinion Selling Tips

Learning Hard Truths in Property Investment: Timing the Market Can Hurt

TLDR The blog post delves into the complexities of market timing in property investment, highlighting the risks and challenges associated...
Read More
1 18 19 20 21 22 27

Compare Listings