January 8, 2016

FAQ

About The Site

About Us
Condominiums of Singapore is a platform that consolidates unit availability data from individual new condominium launches websites and delivers all these information in one location. This empowers you as a consumer to understand what is available from the first-hand market in a single glance. Currently, drawing from a database of over 550 developments with access to thousands of photos and floor plans, our platform is able to help you save a lot of time and effort in your search for new launches in Singapore.

Our Property Consultants
This platform is only made possible by the efforts of our team of property consultants who painstakingly update the individual project sites on a regular basis. Coming from various agencies and consisting of team members who are Project-ICs, Top Producers, SAEA and other award winners, you can be rest assured that you will find the best property that matches your requirements.

Private Property Buying Guide

What to expect when purchasing a private property in Singapore?
To purchase any private residential property in Singapore, there are a few things to take note.

  1. Ensure you have fulfilled your minimum occupation period if you are an HDB or executive condominium owner.
  2. Ensure you are eligible to purchase a landed property (strata-titled or any form of landed housing) if you are a Permanent Resident or Foreigner. The only exceptions are some strata landed housing(within a condominium complex) which was launched before 4th April 2012 or those landed houses located at Sentosa Island. This is in accordance to the Residential Property Act.
  3. Ensure you are eligible to take a loan based on the property price. You can use our financial calculator to do a quick calculation on what to expect.
  4. Ensure you understand the current stamp duty based on your residency as well as the number of properties you are holding on to. Again, our simplified financial calculator will be able to give you a quick summary of what to expect.
  5. Ensure you have engaged a lawyer to aid you in the conveyancing process. The lawyer will do the necessary checks, liaise with CPF board, banks and communicate with the developer on key collection.
  6. You have to be above the age of 21.

Once you have done the preliminary checks and ready to make a purchase, here’s what to expect from the timeline of your initial deposit.

Timeline of Purchasing A New Property (Building Under Construction Or TOP without CSC)

TimelineActivityPayment Required
Day 1Choose a Unit. Sign Option To Purchase issued by developerBooking fee of 5%-10% to developer's project account.
Within 14 days from Day 1The Developer must deliver Sales and Purchase agreement to buyer or buyer's lawyer. Nil
Within 3 weeks of Delivery of S&PBuyer must exercise within this 3-week time frame or risk forfeiting 25% of the booking fee. Exercising of option is done at the lawyer's office. The lawyer may request for the payment of stamp duties during this time(See Below).Nil
Within 14 days of Exercising OptionPayment of stamp duty.Buyer's Stamp Duty as well as any Additional Buyer's Stamp Duties.
Within 8 weeks from Day 1Buyer to transfer the remainder of the initial downpayment(CPF/Cash) to the developer's project account. The rest of the payment will be progressive.20% minus booking fee
Generally 1 year from Day 1. Dependent on many factorsCompletion of foundation work10%
Generally 6 months laterCompletion of reinforced concrete framework of unit10%
Generally 6 months laterCompletion of partition walls of unit5%
Generally 6 months laterCompletion of roofing/ceiling of unit5%
Generally 6 months laterCompletion of door sub-frames/ door frames, window frames, electrical wiring, internal plastering and plumbing of unit5%
Generally 6 months laterCompletion of car park, roads and drains serving the housing project5%
Generally 6 months laterTemporary Occupation Permit or Certificate of Statutory Completion25%
Generally 1 year from TOP.On completion date15%

Timeline of Purchasing A Resale Property Or A New Property After CSC

TimelineActivityPayment Required
Day 1Buyer gives offer to purchase to seller. If seller accepts, issues Option To Purchase1% Booking Fee
Generally within 14 days from day 1. Can vary depending on offer to purchase.Buyer exercise option to purchase (OTP). Exercising of option is done at the lawyer's office. The lawyer may request for the payment of stamp duties to IRAS during this time(See Below).4% Exercise Fee
Within 14 days of Exercising OptionPayment of stamp duty.Standard Buyer's stamp duty as well as any Additional Buyer's Stamp Duties.
Generally 10 weeks from exercising option. Can vary depending on offer to purchase.Buyer to transfer the remainder (CPF/Cash) to the resale owner/developer's account. Completion is also done at the lawyer's office.95%

Glossary

Buyer’s Stamp Duty
Buyer’s Stamp Duty is a tax payable for any residential property transacted in Singapore. The tax rate is 1% on the first $180,000, 2% on the next $180,000 and 3% thereafter. Since most private properties are transacted above $360,000, an easier formula to use would be 3% of the property price minus $5400.

Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty(From 6th July 2018 onwards)
Here’s a quick summary of your residency and the count of your property on the expected Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty you are required to pay. This Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty is on top of the current Buyer’s Stamp Duty.

Residential Status1st Property2nd Property3rd Property Onwards
Singaporean0%12%15%
Permanent Resident5%15%15%
Foreigner20%20%20%
Company25%25%25%

Option To Purchase
An option to purchase(OTP) is a right given by the seller or developer of a property to the buyer who is intending to purchase the property.

Sales And Purchase Agreement (S&P)
The Sales and Purchase agreement (S&P) is a private contract between the developer and the buyer for the sale and purchase of the property. This is a standard form used by all housing developers in Singapore for the sale of units in a housing development.

Condominium
A condominium or condo is a private property that has a land size of more than 40,000sqft and certain exclusive facilities shared by all the residents. Such facilities include Swimming Pool, Guard House, Gym, BBQ Area and Tennis Court. The units in this housing complex can vary and range from apartment units, penthouse or even strata-landed houses.

Executive Condominium
An executive Condominium or EC is a type of hybrid housing in Singapore. In terms of the building facade, ECs look no different from any private condominium. In fact, most ECs are developed by the very same private developers who built condominiums. Considered to be a form of public housing, ECs are sold at a subsidised rate. Eligibility to purchase is determined by regulations that are set by the Housing Development Board(HDB). Partial privatisation of an EC will take place 5 years after the development is completed. This will allow the initial buyer to resell their ECs to any Singaporean or PR. Full privatisation of an EC will occur 10 years after completion. This is when units can be resold to anyone including foreigners.

Share Value
As an owner of a strata-titled housing project in Singapore, you will be allocated a share value that is in relation to the entire housing development. The value of the shares is dependent on the size of the unit you own and used as a determining factor of the maintenance charges of the common property. The share value is also commonly used in the calculation of any proceeds from an en-bloc sale.