Buying a property in Singapore: 7 things to consider before you start
Buying property in Singapore is one of the largest financial decisions most people make, and the rules around it change more often than many buyers expect. Before you visit a single showflat, it helps to get seven things clear.
1. Why are you buying?
Own stay and investment call for different choices. A family home puts weight on schools, space and a neighbourhood you'll enjoy for years. An investment puts weight on rental demand, entry price and exit options. Many buyers want both, which is fine, as long as you know which one wins when they conflict.
2. Your buyer profile and ABSD
Your citizenship and how many residential properties you already own decide your Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD). A Singapore Citizen buying a first home pays 0%, while a second property attracts 20%. Permanent Residents pay 5% on their first, and most foreigners pay 60%. Check the full table in our buyer's guide before you set a budget.
3. What you can really afford
Your borrowing limit is shaped by the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR), which caps all monthly debt repayments at 55% of gross income, tested at a higher interest rate than today's. Then there's the cash: at least 5% of the price in cash, the rest of the 25% down payment from cash or CPF, plus stamp duties within 14 days. Our guide How much can you afford? walks through it step by step.
4. Location
You can renovate a home, but you can't move it. Distance to an MRT station, nearby schools, amenities and future plans for the area all shape both daily life and long-term value. Read more in Districts, MRTs and amenities.
5. Tenure
Freehold, 999-year and 99-year leasehold properties are priced and valued differently, and lease length affects financing and CPF use later on. See Freehold vs leasehold for the trade-offs.
6. New launch or resale
A new launch lets you pay progressively as it's built and choose from a fresh unit mix, but you wait several years to move in. A resale home is ready now, and you can see exactly what you're buying. Compare them in New launch vs resale.
7. Your holding period and exit plan
For residential property bought on or after 4 July 2025, Seller's Stamp Duty applies if you sell within 4 years, at rates from 16% down to 4%. Plan to hold for at least that long. If you're upgrading from an HDB flat, you must also have met the flat's Minimum Occupation Period before buying private property, and you need a plan for selling the flat.
Before you commit
Get an in-principle loan approval from a bank, confirm your CPF balances, and work out your cash outlay for every stage. Our cash outlay calculator does the maths for a new launch purchase in a minute.
General information only, not financial or legal advice. Rules were current when reviewed on 30 Sep 2026 and may change.
Interested in Dunearn House?
Dunearn House is the first private condominium in the Bukit Timah Turf City transformation. Get the latest price list, balance units and floor plans on WhatsApp, or work out your cash outlay with our calculator.