Buying Tips

The 15-Month Wait-Out Period: An Unnecessary Burden in a Challenging Economy

Jayson Ang – February 6, 2026 –

TLDR The 15-month wait-out period introduced in September 2022 requires private property owners to wait before buying a resale or BTO HDB flat, aiming to curb million-dollar HDB transactions by limiting demand from private owners. However, despite reducing private owner purchases of million-dollar flats from...

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Love Across Borders: Navigating Singapore’s Housing Choices for Mixed-Nationality Couples

Jayson Ang – January 30, 2026 –

TLDR Marriages between Singaporeans and foreigners now make up about 20% of all marriages, but housing options for these couples remain limited. Mixed-nationality couples face challenges owning HDB flats, as only the Singaporean spouse can officially own resale flats, with the foreign spouse as an...

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The Integrated Living Experience: Benefits and Drawbacks of Condos Above an MRT

Jayson Ang – January 22, 2026 –

TLDR Integrated developments in Singapore combine residential units with commercial spaces and direct MRT access, offering convenience and car-free living. Residents appreciate easy access to amenities and increased social visits. However, common complaints include confusing layouts with multiple lobbies and lift systems that complicate navigation...

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New Condo Sales Surge: Decoding Singaporeans’ Enthusiasm Despite “High” Prices

Jayson Ang – January 14, 2026 –

TLDR Recent strong condo sales in Singapore, including Emerald of Katong’s 99% take-up during launch, challenge perceptions of unaffordability. Key reasons include pent-up demand after limited launches in early 2024, attractive mega-developments in strategic locations near MRTs, and optimism fueled by US interest rate cuts...

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Purchasing Older HDB Resale Flats: Key Considerations When the Flat Outlives You

Jayson Ang – January 10, 2026 –

TLDR HDB flats have a 99-year lease, and key housing schemes require the lease to cover the youngest owner until age 95. If the flat is five or more years older than the buyer, CPF usage, HDB grants, loan amounts, and eligibility for the Lease...

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Dispelling Common Myths: Navigating Singapore’s Property Market in 2025

Jayson Ang – January 6, 2026 –

TLDR Singapore’s property market in 2025 is fast-moving and different from five years ago. Buyers often overestimate available options due to multiple listings and rapid sales of new launches. Comparing price per square foot (PSF) can be misleading because of recent changes in floor area...

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Uncovering Hidden Details: Key Questions to Ask at a New Launch Condo Show Flat

Jayson Ang – January 2, 2026 –

TLDR Show flats can be impressive but may hide important details. Buyers should ask about room sizes, furniture fit, balcony usability, appliance spaces, and bathroom plumbing. Check countertop materials, ceiling heights, and lift availability to avoid future issues. Sales teams highlight strengths, so verify facts...

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The Unsung Importance of Property Finishing: More Than Just Aesthetics

Jayson Ang – December 30, 2025 –

TLDR Many homebuyers overlook the importance of high-quality finishes in properties, assuming they will renovate later or that tenants won’t pay more for premium materials. However, poor finishes can lead to costly premature renovations, reduced rentability due to unattractive units, safety hazards like rust or...

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Navigating Property Purchases in Singapore: Why Going Without an Agent Can Be Risky

Jayson Ang – December 26, 2025 –

TLDR Many homebuyers hesitate to engage their own real estate agent due to misconceptions about costs and conflicts of interest. However, having a dedicated buyer’s agent offers key benefits, such as spotting critical contract issues, preventing avoidable expenses, identifying unauthorized property modifications, and streamlining the...

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Timing the Market: Lessons from Singapore’s Property Price Fluctuations

Jayson Ang – December 18, 2025 –

TLDR Singapore’s property market has seen price declines during major crises such as the 1985-1989 pre-recession, 1996-1998 Asian Financial Crisis, 2000-2004 dot-com bubble and SARS, 2008 Global Financial Crisis, and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. However, timing these dips is difficult because recovery periods are often...

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Leasehold vs. Freehold Condos in Singapore: A Decade of Data

Jayson Ang – December 14, 2025 –

TLDR In Singapore’s property market (2014-2024), leasehold condos often outperform freehold in short-term holding (around 10 years) due to lower prices and stronger gains. Freehold properties show better returns mainly over longer periods, especially for older buildings. Newer freeholds are more volatile and don’t guarantee...

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Timing the Singapore Property Market: A Data-Driven Analysis

Jayson Ang – December 10, 2025 –

TLDR Historical data of Singapore’s property market shows seasonal trends: Q1 (January to March) often has price dips, making it a potentially better time to buy, while Q2 (April to June) tends to see price gains, favoring sellers. Q3 sees demand rebound after the Hungry...

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Will Property Owners Earn More By Keeping Residential Properties For An Extended Period?

Jayson Ang – December 6, 2025 –

TLDR In Singapore, holding a residential property longer typically yields higher profits—averaging $665,000 after 20 years, versus $200,000 for 5–10 years. Most owners sell within 10 years, but freehold and landed homes are kept longer and tend to be more profitable. However, holding an unprofitable...

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$1.5 Million HDB Flats: Their Locations and Reasons Behind Being Singapore’s Priciest Public Housing

Jayson Ang – December 2, 2025 –

TLDR Singapore’s HDB resale market has entered a new phase, with at least 13 flats sold for $1.5 million or more—most transacted between May and July 2024. These record-breaking flats are usually large (jumbo, maisonette, or 5-room DBSS), in central locations like Tiong Bahru, Bishan,...

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5 Warning Signs of New Launch Condominiums That Certain Property Agents Might Not Disclose to You

Jayson Ang – November 29, 2025 –

TLDR When buying a new launch condo, don’t just rely on show flats or sales pitches—look deeper. Watch out if nearby land plots have been sold for less, as this may affect your resale value. High agent commissions and sudden spikes in advertising could signal...

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HDB Owners Have Identified This Reason as the Primary Barrier to Upgrading in 2024. Surprising? Not Really.

Jayson Ang – November 25, 2025 –

TLDR High property prices in Singapore make it difficult for most to upgrade from HDB flats to private condos, despite periodic calls to relax policies like the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for upgraders. The ABSD controls demand and helps prevent runaway price increases by...

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5 Frequently Heard Sales Pitches from Agents Encouraging You to Choose a New Development Instead of a Resale Condo: How Accurate Are They?

Jayson Ang – November 21, 2025 –

TLDR While some agents may discourage resale condos due to personal incentives, the difference in profits between resale and new launches is minimal—91% of resale buyers and 89.8% of new launch buyers made profits in recent years. Arguments against resale condos, such as higher renovation...

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Is It Wise to Make a Partial Prepayment on Your Home Loan in 2024? Here’s How to Make Your Decision

Jayson Ang – November 13, 2025 –

TLDR Partial prepayment of your home loan means paying off a chunk of your mortgage early to lower future monthly repayments, especially as interest rates have risen since 2022. This strategy isn’t for everyone—it depends on factors like lock-in penalties, CPF usage, remaining loan tenure,...

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How to Identify an “Undervalued Property” in Singapore in 2025: 6 Easy Tips

Jayson Ang – November 9, 2025 –

TLDR Undervalued properties are harder to find in Singapore due to market transparency, but deals still exist. Target areas with new or recent launches—resale condos nearby may be underpriced before prices adjust. Watch for small price gaps between premium and standard units, and look out...

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What’s A Fair Price For An HDB Flat in 2025? A Savvy Buyer’s Guide

Jayson Ang – November 5, 2025 –

TLDR There’s no single “fair” price for HDB resale flats—what’s fair depends on your needs, motivation, and timing. To navigate the market, track transaction activity in your target area, study how long listings stay unsold, and compare actual recent sale prices for similar units (not...

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The COV Conundrum: Navigating Singapore’s Property Premium

Jayson Ang – October 24, 2025 –

TLDR Cash Over Valuation (COV) is the difference between a property's official valuation and the price a buyer is willing to pay, and it must be covered in cash. In Singapore, COV is common for both HDB and private properties, especially in high-demand areas or...

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Common Misconceptions About Buying Property in Singapore’s Core Central Region (CCR) in 2025

Jayson Ang – October 22, 2025 –

TLDR Singapore’s Core Central Region (CCR) is often seen as a safe, luxurious, and exclusive property segment. However, this view oversimplifies reality. The CCR includes prime districts like Orchard, Marina Bay, and Sentosa, but not all properties here are luxury or freehold, and freehold status...

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Exploring the Allure of Freehold Titles Among Singaporeans

Jayson Ang – October 16, 2025 –

TLDR Freehold properties remain highly attractive in Singapore due to their scarcity, lasting value, and legacy potential. Buyers are drawn by the ability to pass assets down through generations, especially when these properties are well-located near MRT stations or top schools. Historical data shows strong...

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Singapore’s Property Jungle: A Guide to Every Development Type

Jayson Ang – October 12, 2025 –

TLDR Singapore’s real estate market features a diverse mix of property types—public HDB flats, executive condominiums, private condos, landed homes (including bungalows, semi-detached, terrace houses), and unique strata landed options. Commercial properties span offices, business parks, shophouses, and retail spaces, while hospitality developments include hotels...

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Breaking the New Launch Conflict: Leasehold or Freehold?

Jayson Ang – October 9, 2025 –

TLDR Freehold properties in Singapore offer indefinite ownership but come with a 15–25% premium over 99-year leasehold units. Despite common beliefs, freehold doesn’t always guarantee better returns. Over the past decade, leasehold condos outperformed freeholds, rising 45.9% vs. 35.9% (2013–2023), mainly due to better locations...

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