Singapore Property Blog
Glossary
37 articles
CPF OA for Property: Using CPF to Buy a Home
CPF Ordinary Account (OA) savings can be used to purchase residential property in Singapore, subject to withdrawal limits. For private property, CPF u
Freehold vs Leasehold: Tenure Types Compared
Freehold tenure means the owner holds the property in perpetuity with no lease expiry. Freehold properties generally command a 10-20% premium over 99-
En Bloc and Collective Sale: How It Works
An en bloc sale (collective sale) occurs when owners of at least 80% (for developments over 10 years old) or 90% (under 10 years) of strata area and s
LTV Ratio: Loan-to-Value Limits in Singapore
Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratio is the maximum percentage of a property's value that a bank will lend. In Singapore, the maximum LTV is 75% for the first ho
MOP: Minimum Occupation Period for HDB and EC
Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) is the mandatory period (typically 5 years) during which HDB flat owners and EC owners must physically occupy the prop
Annual Value (AV) and Property Tax in Singapore
Annual Value (AV) is the estimated gross annual rent a property can reasonably command if it were rented out, as assessed by IRAS. AV is used to deter
COV: Cash Over Valuation for HDB Resale
Cash Over Valuation (COV) is the difference between the agreed purchase price and the HDB valuation of the flat. This amount must be paid in cash — CP
MCST Explained: Condo Management and Strata Fees
Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST) is the legal body formed by all unit owners in a strata-titled development to manage and maintain the commo
TOP and CSC: When You Can Move Into Your New Home
Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) is issued by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) when a new development meets minimum standards for occupa
S&P Agreement: Sale and Purchase Contract Explained
The Sale and Purchase Agreement (S&P) is the main legal contract that governs a property transaction in Singapore. It sets out the purchase price, com
OTP Explained: Option to Purchase in Singapore
The Option to Purchase (OTP) is a legally binding agreement giving the buyer the exclusive right to purchase a property within a fixed period (usually
TDSR and MSR: Singapore's Borrowing Limits
Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) is a framework that limits total monthly debt repayments (including the new mortgage) to 55% of gross monthly income
ROI Metrics: Total Return, Break-Even, Future Value
Net profit (rental income + capital gain minus all costs) expressed as a percentage of the original purchase price. This is your overall ROI.
CCR, RCR, OCR: Singapore's Market Segments
Core Central Region (CCR) covers Singapore's prime districts including Orchard, Marina Bay, and Districts 9, 10, 11. CCR properties command the highes
ABSD Explained: Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty Rates
Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) is an extra tax applied on top of BSD for certain buyer profiles. Singapore Citizens buying a second property pay
Gross Yield vs Net Yield: Property Returns Explained
Gross Yield is the annual rental income divided by the property value, expressed as a percentage. It provides a quick snapshot of rental return but do
What Is PSF? Price Per Square Foot Explained
Price per Square Foot (PSF) is the unit price of a property divided by its floor area in square feet. It is the standard metric used to compare proper