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6 Factors Making Singaporean Properties Difficult to Sell (Even in a Strong Market)
TLDR Properties in Singapore may linger on the market due to several key factors. Small boutique developments face price volatility, while mega-developments suffer from intense competition amid many listings. Tenanted...
The New Condo Rule: How GFA Harmonization Makes New Launches “Pricier” and What It Means for Buyers
TLDR GFA Harmonization standardizes Gross Floor Area measurements across Singapore government agencies, removing non-usable spaces like oversized planter boxes, air-con ledges, and strata voids from condo floor area calculations. This...
The Rise of New Launch 2-Bedroom Condos: Why Homebuyers are Prioritizing Them Over Resale Options in 2025
TLDR Two-bedroom condominiums are shifting from primarily rental investments to popular family homes, especially among small families and HDB upgraders, due to rising home prices forcing size compromises. New launch...
2-Bedroom vs. 2+Study Units: A Decade of Performance Analysis
TLDR Over the past decade, 2+Study units (compact 3-bedroom layouts) consistently outperformed standard 2-bedroom units in resale gains across most projects, both for long-term and short-term holdings. Examples include Stirling...
Increased Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD) Rates in Singapore: Implications for Buyers and Sellers
TLDR From July 4, 2025, Singapore reinstates Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD) rates to 2017 levels, with rates of 16%, 12%, 8%, and 4% for properties sold within 1, 2, 3,...
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Category Archives: Selling Tips
Singapore’s Property Jungle: A Guide to Every De...
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 and serviced apartments. Each serves different lifestyle and investment needs, influenced by ownership rules and market demand. Shophouses stand …
Breaking the New Launch Conflict: Leasehold or Freehol...
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 and lower entry prices. Rental yields are usually higher for leaseholds, as tenants don’t value tenure. However, leasehold values …
5 Untold Risks Of Buying An Old Freehold Condo In Sing...
TLDR Old freehold condos in Singapore may seem attractive due to lower prices, but they come with hidden pitfalls. Longstanding management committees can resist change, leading to politics and even corruption. Mixed-use spaces often suffer from poor retail curation, exposing residents to undesirable tenants. Outdated designs mean inadequate shelter from rain and inconvenient layouts for the elderly. Maintenance costs can spike due to aging …
Are Resale HDBs Really Unaffordable In 2025?
TLDR Singapore’s housing debate is fueled by headlines about million-dollar flats, but most resale 4-room flats in over 10 estates cost less than $600,000. Sticker shock is normal—it doesn’t mean homes are out of reach. Focus on average prices in your preferred areas instead of extremes. While prime locations cost more, reasonably priced options do exist, especially outside the city center. Most buyers land …
My Dad’s Agent Utilised Misleading Information to Coer...
TLDR While Singapore’s real estate sector is more regulated, some agents still use high-pressure tactics that make buyers uncomfortable. Common strategies include giving unverifiable information about unit availability, exaggerating price trends, pushing unclear or short-lived promotions, and framing situations as urgent crises to pressure decisions. Buyers are often left unable to verify these claims, leading to rushed or costly choices. Not all agents do …
Rise In Private Home Ownership Among Those Under 35
TLDR Youth homeownership in Singapore’s private housing sector is rising, with residents under 35 living in private properties hitting 380,459 in 2023—up from 375,651 in 2022. Modern amenities, exclusive communities, and investment potential attract young buyers. With median household incomes at $10,689 monthly, private condos have become more accessible, especially for those targeting two-bedroom units in the $1.2M–$2M range. A disciplined savings plan—$10,000 to …
Should You Buy An Older Resale HDB Flat If You Are In ...
TLDR Younger Singaporeans are increasingly drawn to older resale HDB flats due to their larger size and central locations, without the heavy restrictions of newer Plus or Prime flats. However, these flats come with significant considerations: potential lease decay, costly renovations (especially if little has been updated in decades), and inconsistent build quality. Exiting options are limited due to low SERS/vers rates and poor …
8 Untold “Savings” Hacks You Need To Know ...
TLDR Undervalued properties in Singapore are those priced at least 10% below market value, often due to urgent sellers, developer ABSD deadlines, or less-desirable locations catching up in value. To find such properties, compare prices of similar developments nearby, look for motivated sellers, monitor projects nearing ABSD deadlines, and check older or long-unsold listings. Auctions and rental listings may also reveal good deals. Always …
A Timeline of Property Cooling Measures in Singapore T...
TLDR Since 2009, Singapore has implemented over 15 rounds of property cooling measures to curb speculation and keep homes affordable. These include tightening loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, raising Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), introducing the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR), shortening loan tenures, and imposing higher taxes on foreign buyers and those with multiple properties. Despite these steps, both HDB and private home prices have …
The Surprising Truths of Home Ownership: How Health Ch...
When thinking about staircases, light switch locations, selling our home, and similar topics, many plan for retirement, assuming these issues are less relevant to younger people. However, life can be unpredictable; health problems might require these changes sooner than expected. This was the case for KL, who was diagnosed with cancer in his late forties. Here’s how this affected his home ownership: When landed …
What Impact Will Decreasing US Interest Rates Have on ...
TLDR The Fed’s recent 0.5% rate cut is likely to lower Singapore’s SORA-based home loan rates, benefiting those with bank loans in the short term. However, not all borrowers will gain equally—those on longer SORA periods or locked-in fixed rates may not see immediate savings, and refinancing can incur penalties. HDB loan rates and loan qualification criteria (TDSR/MSR) remain unaffected as banks still use …
Reduced Lease Durations for HDB Flats: What Potential ...
TLDR Shorter lease HDB flats are typically about 22–25% cheaper than their 99-year counterparts, based on both resale and BTO market data. For example, a 4-room resale flat with 60–70 years left on the lease is around 22% less costly than one with nearly a full lease. Similarly, 2-room Flexi BTO flats show a 40% price drop for a 45-year lease compared to a …
