One thing to look forward to when you are single and turn 35 is owning your own HDB flat or Executive Condominium (EC) in Singapore. However, if you are under 35 and ready to own your own home, you will be eligible to buy a private flat, although you will not be eligible to buy an HDB flat.
Singles interested in buying a flat have the option of buying a flat under at least two different HDB schemes (Single Singapore Citizenship Scheme and Joint Singles Scheme) and can choose from three main types of properties (HDB BTO, resale flats and EC). Whether you're into HDB BTO or flat resale, let's first review your options to help you make a decision.
Single Singapore Citizenship Program and Joint Program for Singles
There are currently two schemes - the Single Singapore Citizenship and the Joint Singles scheme that unmarried Singaporeans can apply for if they are eligible for both types of HDB flats or ECs. Foreigners are not eligible to buy HDB flats in Singapore, but can buy ECs that are at least 10 years old.
So, unmarried Singaporeans or permanent residents can buy new or resell HDB flats, but once they get a BTO, they face the restriction of only being able to buy 2-room Flexi BTO flats in immature properties. As for resale flats, there are no restrictions on the size or location of resale flats. Below is an overview of the criteria that apply to singles in Singapore and joint singles programs.
Eligibility criteria for unmarried Singapore citizens and joint programs for singles
Citizenship
Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident (PR) and other SC or SPR own or occupy.If all intended owners are permanent residents, they and the primary resident must have been resident for at least 3 years.
Yes
35 and over (single or divorced) or 21 and over (widowed or orphaned).
EIP in SPR quota
it simply has toComplete the block/community's EIP and SPR quota when applying for resale.
BTO vs Resale Flat vs Executive Condo: Which is better for singles?
When you compare the three types of properties you can buy individually (or against each other), there are some differences in restrictions, income limits and other factors.
Here's a quick rundown of things to consider.
| BTO | resell | European Community | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restrictions on apartment types/apartment types | Only 2 bedroom flexi is available for singles in senior complex | nobody | Only singles who have previously bought 2 subsidized houses (HDB/resale flat/DBSS/EC) are not allowed to buy EC |
| Upper income limit | USD 7,000 (maximum lease term of 99 years) USD 14,000 (maximum lease term of 45 years) | nobody | 16,000 dollars |
| Title/disposition | Delay at least 30 months before the date of application | Disposal within 6 months of purchase | Deferral within 6 months of completion of EC unit purchase |
| Provide assistance in housing care | Joint program for singles (at least 35 years old) |
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What to consider when applying for a BTO or resale of an apartment?
income ceiling
Although there is no income limit for singles looking to buy an HDB flat on the resale market, there is a maximum income limit if you are looking at CPF housing grants or HDB loans. For a BTO, your monthly income should not exceed $7,000 (up to a 99-year lease) or $14,000 (up to a 45-year lease).
Eligibility for award or purchase of BTO
Grants ease the financial burden of paying off your home loan, but your age plays an important factor in your chances of getting these grants. Our monthly income increases over the years, and because your income exceeds the requirements, you may not be eligible for housing support. So if you are single and earn more than $6000, you will no longer be eligible to buy a new HDB BTO flat or any subsidy.
Pay with CPF savings
Singles who decide to take HDB loans to buy BTO and/or resell flats can use their CPF savings to pay the required 15% down payment. There is also a tiered payment scheme (if you qualify) that allows you to pay in two installments.
To qualify for the deferred payment scheme as a single, you must book an unfinished 2-bedroom or smaller flat in an unfinished property at an HDB sales event and you must not sell or complete an existing sales flat on your Flat application on point. For singles who buy apartments with a loan from banks, a higher amount of 25% in advance is required, of which 20% can be paid from HFP savings, of which at least 5% in cash.
In total
If there is a possibility that you will get married in the near future or if your current co-owners may have to change the ownership status of the apartment due to changes in family circumstances, such as marriage or death of the owner, etc., you should keep this in mind. What to do in that situation.
In the absence of financial reasons, a request for a change of ownership is required (not in case of sale). This requires a closing process, similar to the process of buying an HDB flat, and is considered a legal process, which means that you and the co-owners or related parties must prepare the necessary financial and legal documents. The process usually takes about 4 months after you and all parties involved have confirmed the change of ownership of the property and submitted all necessary documentation.
Frequently asked questions
What types of properties can a single person buy in Singapore?
- Singles who are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents (PRs) can choose to purchase one of the three main types of property (HDB BTO, Resale Flats and EC).
Can I use my CPF savings to buy an HDB flat?
- Yes, you can use your CPF savings to make a percentage down payment for your HDB condominium or BTO or other legal type of property that is legally allowed to be partially paid for through CPF savings.
At what age can a single person buy a HDB or EC in Singapore?
- Singles must be at least 35 years old to buy an apartment. For EC, singles must be at least 21 or 35 if applying under the joint singles scheme.
Do single people have the right to buy a BTO apartment?
- Yes, but they can only buy a flex two-bedroom flat in a non-mature property and must meet the necessary income limit requirements.
Can foreigners buy HDB flats in Singapore?
- I can not. Foreigners are not eligible to buy HDB flats in Singapore.
Am I eligible for the joint singles program if I want to buy EC with my friend?
- That. Provided you meet the age requirement of at least 35 years and have a maximum income of $16,000.
Is there an income limit for buying HDB flats for resale?
- No, there is currently no upper income limit for buying a resale flat.
Can one person apply for any type of BTO?
- I can not. Singles are only eligible to live in two-bedroom flex apartments in immature buildings and must meet the necessary upper income requirements.
What is a deferred payment plan?
- Book unfinished three-bedroom or smaller flats in immature properties at any HDB sales event. But for singles, they can only book unfinished 2-bedroom or smaller flats in immature properties at any HDB sales event, and they can't sell or complete the sale of your existing flat when applying for a flat.
FAQs
Can I buy a BTO if I have a resale flat? ›
Hi, Yes, as a second-time hdb buyer, you can apply for a BTO even though you already own a resale fl... You will also enjoy exclusive benefits and get access to members only features.
Should I buy a resale HDB or BTO? ›Time and tenure
But while resale flats allow you to move in much quicker, they tend to have shorter remaining lease tenures, with some having even less than 40 years, which may make it tricky to get housing loans from banks. In contrast, BTO flats have a fresh, 99-year lease.
In Singapore, it is prohibited to buy a Housing Development Board (HDB) flat if you already own real estate. In this context, real estate includes other HDB flats and both local and overseas private properties.
Can I apply for BTO if I have a resale? ›If you are still feeling unsure, visit HDB's website for the ultimate BTO eligibility check. But if you're buying a resale flat, there is no limitation on property ownership, and previously owned properties have to be sold/disposed of within six months of your purchase.
How many times can I buy a resale HDB flat? ›There is no limit on how many times you are eligible to purchase a HDB resale. You are only not allowed to take a HDB loan more than 2 times and also purchase a flat directly from HDB (eg BTO/SOB) more than 2 times. I am specialised in HDB transactions. Do contact me at 9337....
Can I buy a resale HDB flat if I own a private property? ›Owners of private property or owners who have disposed of a private property within the last 15 months may take over the ownership of an HDB flat if they meet the following: The existing flat owner has fulfilled the requisite occupation period. At least 1 of the proposed owners is a Singapore Citizen.
Is resale HDB worth it? ›Thus, HDB resale flats are a good option if you don't want to waste time waiting or renting. However, with prices at a record high, do consider if the price you're paying is worth it based on the remaining years left on the lease.
Is resale flat more expensive than BTO? ›Higher renovation costs (resale flats)
It is also a common understanding that renovation costs for BTO flats cost about 20% to 30% less than their counterpart resale flats of the same size.
Singaporean Citizens cannot concurrently own two HDBs, so your second home will be a private condominium or house.
Can foreigners buy resale HDB in Singapore? ›Under the Residential Property Act, foreign nationals are permitted to own residential property in Singapore. However, there are certain restrictions on the type of property they may own. List of Properties Singapore PRs are eligible to Purchase: Resale HDBs – only with another Singapore PR or SG Citizen.
What is the overseas property tax in Singapore? ›
You don't need to pay ABSD for overseas property
For Singaporeans, the ABSD is an extra 12% to 15% tax levied on your second and subsequent property purchases – but those in Singapore only.
Foreigners are not allowed to purchase new HDB flats such as Build-To-Order Flats (BTOs) or Sale of Balance Flats (SBFs) regardless or not if they're a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR).
What is the income ceiling for resale HDB? ›| BTO HDB flat type | Income ceiling |
|---|---|
| 4-room flat or bigger | $14,000; or $21,000 if purchasing with extended or multi-generation family |
| 3-room flat | $7,000 or $14,000 depending on the project |
| 2-room Flexi flat | $7,000 for 99-year leases; or $14,000 for short leases (15 to 45 years) |
Downpayment when buying a BTO flat with a bank loan
If you're using a bank loan, you need to put in a downpayment of at least 20% of the purchase price. Of this, 15% can be paid using your CPF-OA funds, while the remaining 5% will have to be paid in cash.
Can I submit more than 1 application? No. You can only submit 1 application for 1 town and 1 flat type in a sales launch. If there is a concurrent SBF exercise, you can only submit an application for either the BTO or SBF exercise.
What is the stamp duty for HDB resale in Singapore? ›Who should pay BSD? BSD is payable by the buyer or transferee. First $180,000 1% 1% Next $180,000 2% 2% Next $640,000 3% 3% Exceeding $1,000,000 4% ^BSD is to be rounded down to the nearest dollar. You may wish to use the Stamp Duty Calculator by clicking here.
What if I Cannot sell my HDB flat? ›Yes you can appeal to hdb requesting them to take back your flat , however chances are slim for your appeal to be successful. Even if your appeal is successful, you will probably get a better price for yourself if your hdb is sold to the open, resale market instead .
Can I use all my CPF to buy resale HDB? ›You may use your CPF savings to pay for the balance purchase price. The monthly payments will start after the resale completion. Flat buyers taking a housing loan from HDB have the option of retaining up to $20,000 of the available CPF savings in each buyer's OA.
Can I inherit HDB flat if I own a HDB? ›Can I inherit an HDB flat if I already own an HDB? In short, yes. You can inherit it, but you would have to sell your interest in one of the two HDBs. This is because anyone can own only one HDB flat at a time.
What is the 15 month rule? ›As part of the property cooling measures introduced on 30 Sep 2022, private residential property owners (PPOs) and ex-PPOs are required to serve a wait-out period of 15 months after the disposal of their private properties before they are eligible to buy a non-subsidised resale flat.
What is the minimum occupation period for resale flat? ›
More Space for Less Money
Location aside, HDBs are generally built with the family nucleus in mind. Each bedroom is typically bigger (well technically, the whole place is bigger). Let's compare the average size of your home should you have a million dollars to buy either a HDB or a Private Condominium.
2 HDB's flash estimate of the 1st Quarter 2023 Resale Price Index (RPI) is 173.4, an increase of 0.9% over that in the 4th Quarter of 2022 (see Annexes A1 and A2). This is a slower increase than the 2.3% increase in the 4th Quarter of 2022, and is the smallest quarterly increase compared to the last 10 quarters.
Can I buy a 40 year old HDB? ›Failing this, the available CPF monies and HDB loan will be reduced for the buyer. Banks almost never provide loans for properties with 30 or fewer years remaining; and the loan quantum may be much lower, for properties with 40 to 60 years remaining.
Why do people sell BTO? ›Some of the reasons why homeowners might be interested in selling their HDB flat can be due to upgrading, such as to make space for a new family member. Other reasons could be to leverage the capital appreciation due to the release of the MOP restriction.
What is the average price of a 3-room HDB? ›The overall median price for 3-room flats in 2022 was $389,300. Compared to 2021, the median prices for the cheapest HDB estates for 3-room flats have risen by 7% to 14% with Geylang showing the greatest increase.
How much is HDB resale option fees? ›...
Deposit to sellers.
| Payment | When to Make Payment | Amount to Pay (in Cash) |
|---|---|---|
| Option Fee | Granting of OTP | $1 to $1,000 |
If you have no children from your marriage, you can take over the flat under the Single Singapore Citizen (SSC) Scheme or to include another person to retain the flat. Alternatively, if the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is satisfied, you can sell the flat in the open market.
Can a single buy 4-room resale HDB flat? ›Singles—whether individually or jointly—can purchase any type of HDB resale they desire, provided they can afford it. The main disadvantage of buying a resale flat is the cost. At present, and reasonably for the next 30 years or so, the smallest resale HDB you can probably buy is a 3-room unit.
Who can inherit a HDB flat? ›The beneficiary must be eligible to own the inherited flat, i.e., an immediate family member of the deceased and at least 21 years old. If the beneficiary decides to keep their existing HDB flat, they need to sell the inherited HDB flat within six months.
Can I buy HDB if my wife is foreigner? ›
You can buy an HDB house, but not all BTOs when you buy a house in Singapore. If you're a Singaporean with a foreign spouse, you can apply for a Built-To-Order (BTO) home. But you won't have the same options that you'd have if you were a Singaporean couple.
What is the stamp duty for foreigners in Singapore? ›| Buyer profile | ABSD amount (rates on/after 27 April 2023) |
|---|---|
| SPRs buying their first property | 5% |
| SPRs buying their second property | 30% |
| SPRs buying their third and subsequent properties | 35% |
| Foreigners buying any property | 60% |
Yes, your grandchild can inherit the HDB flat, but in order to keep it, he will have to meet the eligibility conditions of owning a HDB flat under one of the many HDB Eligibility Schemes, i.e Fiance/Fiancee Scheme, Public Scheme etc.
How much is property tax in Singapore for Americans? ›For foreigners buying any home, the tax rate doubled to 60% from 30%.
Can Singaporean buy USA property? ›Anyone may buy and own property in the United States, regardless of citizenship. There are no laws or restrictions that prevent an individual of any foreign citizenship from owning or buying a home in the U.S.
Are foreigners taxed in Singapore? ›Income is taxable when it accrues in or is derived from Singapore, whether or not the individual is resident in Singapore.
Can I buy a house in Singapore without agent? ›Of course, whether or not you hire a property agent is entirely up to you; even when buying an HDB flat, the HDB does not require you to have an agent. It is, however, less risky for a first-time buyer if he has an agent, while a more experienced buyer can easily navigate the process without one.
Can I buy HDB flat without an agent? ›Can I buy a resale HDB without an agent? Yes, you can. Before doing so, you will need to visit the HDB Resale Portal for an instant assessment of your eligibility to do so, as well as information on CPF housing grants and the HDB housing loan.
Can 2 friends buy a house together in Singapore? ›Type of Co-ownership and Limitations
However, this highly depends on the type of co-ownership both you and your friend choose. In Singapore, there are two types of co-ownership for any property (public or private): joint tenancy or tenancy-in-common.
From 9 May 2023, the HDB Resale Portal will be integrated into the HDB Flat Portal. Resale flat buyers and sellers will transact via the HDB Flat Portal and be guided step-by-step on their journey to complete the transaction.
What is the salary cap for BTO HDB? ›
At the current income ceiling of $14,000, about 8 in 10 Singaporeans are eligible to apply for a BTO flat, while the $16,000 ceiling enables about 9 in 10 Singaporeans to apply for EC. There is no income restriction for the purchase of a resale HDB flat on the open market.
Can I buy resale HDB with cash? ›5% is payable in cash while the remaining 15% can be paid in cash or CPF savings. Financial institutions can only grant a maximum loan quantum of up to 75% of the purchase price, so note that you will also have to pay the balance 5% of the purchase price using cash or CPF when you collect the keys to your flat.
Can I apply BTO if I have a HDB? ›You will only be able to apply for a BTO flat if you satisfy HDB's eligibility criteria. Here are the eligibility criteria for a BTO flat: As a family: Either with your spouse (including child/children if any), your parents, or if you are divorced person with legal custody, care, and control of your child.
Can I buy BTO if I own private property? ›Cannot buy BTO or take HDB loan
For a minimum of 30 months, starting from the date you sold your private property, you are not eligible to: Buy a BTO. Buy an Executive Condominium (EC) Apply for CPF Housing Grants.
Unfortunately, you only apply for your second Build-to-Order (BTO) HDB flat or Executive Condominium (EC) after you have fulfilled your MOP for your current HDB flat. No earlier, no exceptions.
Can I buy BTO if I have a condo? ›If you own a condo, you cannot own an HDB flat at the same time. You would need to sell your condo before buying an HDB flat. You may buy a resale flat if you sell your condo within six months of moving in.