Work out what you can borrow before you fall in love with a home. Banks measure your total monthly debt repayments, including the new loan, against 55% of your gross monthly income. This is the total debt servicing ratio (TDSR).

For HDB flats and executive condominiums, there is a second test. Your property loan repayments must stay within 30% of your gross monthly income. This is the mortgage servicing ratio (MSR), and it is often the tighter limit.

When HDB works out how much you can borrow, it tests your loan at an interest rate floor of 3.0%, even though the actual rate is lower. Banks test at a floor of 4%.

For an HDB loan, how much you can borrow depends on how far the flat's remaining lease covers the youngest applicant to age 95. If the lease falls short, the loan limit is reduced from 75%. Look at this early, especially for older flats.

Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) applies to all residential purchases. Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) applies if you already own residential property, or if you are not a Singapore Citizen. You will also need to plan for legal fees, valuation, renovation and moving.

Estimate your stamp duty.

• Look at recent transactions for the same block, street or project, and compare floor level, size and condition.
• Ask what the seller's timeline is. It often shapes how flexible they can be.
• Decide your walk-away price before you start negotiating.
• Confirm your financing before you commit to an offer.

We prepare a transaction comparison for each shortlisted home so you can see what similar homes have sold for.

If you have disposed of private residential property, HDB applies a 30 month wait, counted from the legal completion date of the disposal, before you can apply for an HFE letter to take an HDB loan. Plan your timing before you sell or buy. Other rules may apply to your situation, so check the HDB page or ask us.

• What have similar homes in this block sold for in the past year?
• How much can I borrow, and what would my monthly instalment be?
• What will I pay in stamp duty and other costs?
• How does the remaining lease affect my loan and future resale?

Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) applies when you sell residential property within a set time after buying it. For property bought on or after 4 July 2025, the SSD rates are 16%, 12%, 8% and 4% for sales within the first, second, third and fourth year. There is no SSD after four years. SSD is charged on the higher of the selling price or market value.

Estimate your SSD.

A valuation report shows where your property stands against recent transactions and current market activity. It gives you a realistic starting point for your price and your timeline. Request yours.

• Start with the expected sale price.
• Subtract your outstanding loan balance.
• Subtract the CPF refund owed from your sale proceeds.
• Allow for any SSD, agent fees and legal fees.

What remains is the cash you can put toward your next step. We prepare a proceeds estimate with you before you set your price.

Price too high and a listing can sit. Price too low and you leave money behind. We compare recent sales of similar homes in your block or project, then discuss a pricing strategy that fits your goals and timeline.

We handle enquiries and viewings, screen offers and negotiate on your behalf. We explain the terms of every offer, not just the price, so you can compare them properly.

To take a second HDB housing loan, HDB requires you to use the CPF refund and part of the cash proceeds from the sale of your last-owned flat, or of eligible private property, toward the new purchase. If you already own a residential property and buy another before selling, ABSD may apply. Remission and refund rules can be involved, so plan the timing of the sale and purchase together, and confirm the details with IRAS and HDB.

We coordinate the paperwork and the handover with your lawyer, the buyer's side and, for HDB flats, HDB, so each step is done in the right order.