TLDR Investing in a 99-year leasehold landed property in Singapore can be a lucrative venture due to the country's land scarcity and strategic urban planning. While leasehold properties tend to...
Is It Better To Purchase A Larger HDB Or A Smaller Condo For $1 Million In 2025?
TLDR When comparing a large, centrally located resale flat (e.g., 5-room HDB) with a small condo around the $1 million mark, the key trade-offs are space versus facilities and investment potential. Flats offer more living space, access to grants, better local amenities, and lower monthly fees, but have stricter resale rules and limited appreciation potential....
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Should You Pay For A Buyer Agent?
TLDR The idea of making buyers pay their own property agents in Singapore, as suggested by SEAA, makes sense in theory but faces big hurdles in practice. While splitting commissions seems fair, human nature means most buyers will choose free services over paying out of pocket. Agents aren’t likely to change unless everyone is forced...
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A Timeline of Property Cooling Measures in Singapore Through the Years
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...
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How En-Bloc Sales of Condominiums Turned into a Speculative Exit Strategy in Singapore
TLDR En-bloc sales—where owners collectively sell an entire property for redevelopment—have become a key feature of Singapore’s private property market, but this wasn’t always the case. The first such sale was likely five bungalows turned into Anderson 18 in 1979/80, not Cosy Mansions as some believe. The en-bloc trend accelerated when the government began sharing...
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The Surprising Truths of Home Ownership: How Health Challenges Led a Homeowner to Relocate
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....
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What Impact Will Decreasing US Interest Rates Have on Homeowners in Singapore?
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...
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Multiple Property Ownership in Singapore: A Different Landscape in 2025
TLDR Owning multiple properties in Singapore in 2025 is tougher due to higher Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), stricter Loan-to-Value (LTV) limits, and Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) rules. ABSD can reach up to 30-35% for second and later properties, increasing costs greatly. Tighter LTV limits and TDSR reduce borrowing capacity. Higher taxes and maintenance...
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What Might Occur If We Ease Property Cooling Measures?
TLDR To assess if Singapore’s property cooling measures are working, compare our actions with China, which is applying the opposite strategy by trying to revive its real estate sector. China recently cut mortgage rates and raised the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, while Singapore tightened borrowing criteria and reduced LTVs. If China’s moves spark a rebound...
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Reduced Lease Durations for HDB Flats: What Potential Savings Could Your Property Offer?
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%...
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6 Possible Risks of Purchasing a One-Bedroom Apartment in Singapore: Key Considerations to Be Aware Of
TLDR One-bedroom condos in Singapore are attractive for their lower entry price and rental potential, but buyers should be aware of key risks. These units can lack flexibility for changing personal needs (like accommodating family or future life events) due to limited space. Resale and rental prospects depend heavily on location, supply of similar units,...
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Navigating the 2025 Singapore Property Market: Why Informed Buyers Can Stay Confident
TLDR Despite global economic uncertainties, Singapore’s property market remains resilient due to robust financial regulations, conservative loan assessments, and effective government cooling measures. Stringent lending policies like MSR and TDSR prevent over-leveraging, while new LTV limits ensure buyers have enough equity. Self-employed buyers face stricter income assessments, further safeguarding loan stability. Buyers can keep $20,000...
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The Uncomfortable Truth About Homeownership and Relationships in Singapore
TLDR Property ownership and prenuptial agreements are key for married couples in Singapore. Joint ownership (either joint tenancy or tenancy-in-common) affects how property is divided if things go wrong. HDB’s “Owner and Essential Occupier” structure gives no legal claim to non-owners. Prenups aren’t strictly binding but help clarify asset division and reduce disputes. Choosing the...
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Executive Condos in Singapore: Have They Outgrown the “Sandwich Class” Label?
TLDR The Executive Condominium (EC) scheme, once intended as affordable “sandwich class” housing, is now acting more like a lottery ticket due to rising prices and shrinking price gaps with private condos. Projects like Hundred Palms have shown huge resale gains, making ECs attractive for profit rather than genuine long-term living. Affordability is a growing...
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HDB’s Policy Shift for Young Couples: Progressive Step or Cause for Concern?
TLDR Starting July 2025, HDB will let young couples—where at least one partner is a full-time student or NSF—defer income assessment for BTO loans until flat key collection. This helps more young Singaporeans apply for flats earlier, basing loan eligibility on their future, likely higher incomes. While it makes homeownership more accessible and may boost...
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Singapore Distressed Property Market in 2025: Separating Fact from Fiction
TLDR Mortgagee sale listings in Singapore rose in Q1 2025, mainly due to higher interest rates in recent years. Despite more distressed properties hitting the market, bargains are rare—banks set reserve prices based on fair market value, not desperation. Only about 5% of mortgagee auctions end in a sale, as most buyers negotiate privately afterward....
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The Ultimate Checklist for Work-From-Home Homebuyers in Singapore: Beyond the Basics
TLDR Remote work has changed what makes an ideal home—buyers now need to prioritize productivity and well-being alongside location and price. Open-concept layouts can hurt focus, so look for homes with private or convertible office spaces. Pay attention to noise issues from layouts, neighboring units, or nearby roads, and consider higher floors or soundproofing. Dual-key...
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Singapore Homebuyers: Finding Hidden Value in ‘Undesirable’ Property Traits
TLDR Many perceived drawbacks in Singapore’s property market—such as mortgage lock-ins, leasehold status, west-facing units, nearby construction, inefficient spaces, and older car parks—can actually become opportunities for savvy buyers. For example, mortgage lock-ins can secure lower interest rates if you don’t plan to refinance soon; leasehold properties offer strong rental yields without the premium of...
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Why Are Singapore Property Agents So Keen on New Launch Condos? Unpacking the Motivations in 2025
TLDR In Singapore’s 2025 property market, agents’ strong preference for recommending new launch condos is less about chasing commissions and more about adapting to current realities: commission differences between new launches and resale have narrowed, while limited resale inventory means fewer viable options for buyers. New launches also offer streamlined viewing experiences and more transactional...
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Three Singaporeans Share Their Experiences of Co-Owning a Property with Friends
TLDR In Singapore, some individuals venture into property investments with unrelated partners, driven by opportunities and personal circumstances. Jim, leaving finance during the 2009 crisis, invested in real estate with an ex-colleague, turning an old apartment into a bed-and-breakfast. They maintain a stable business relationship, focusing on shared goals. John, unable to buy an HDB...
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Is it Better to Sell Your Newly Launched Condo Before or After Completion? Here’s What the Statistics Indicate
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...
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