One of the most popular e-services at HDB’s website is the Resale Flat Prices search facility which enables the public to check recently transacted resale prices without charge. This is part of the HDB’s on-going efforts to provide better services to the public to enable buyers and sellers of HDB resale flats make more informed decisions.

This e-service enables a user to check past 1-year resale transacted prices. The objective is to assist potential resale flat buyers and sellers in making informed decisions, taking into account the prevailing trends in the HDB resale market.

The data is based on approved resale applications and is updated on the 1st and 16th of each month.

At the moment, you have to qualify under one of the following schemes so that you can buy a resale flat from the open market:

• Public Scheme
• Fiancé/Fiancée Scheme
• Single Singapore Citizen Scheme
• Joint Singles Scheme
• Non-Citizen Spouse Scheme
• Non-Citizen Family Scheme
• Orphans Scheme
• Citizen/Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) Siblings Scheme

Basically the eligibility conditions are with regards to citizenship, age and family nucleus.

If you are eligible to buy, the resale flat you are going to buy must also satisfy the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), which sets maximum proportions for ethnic groups in each block. The EIP is aimed to promote racial integration and harmony and to prevent the formation of racial enclaves, by ensuring a balanced ethnic mix among the various ethnic communities living in public housing estates.

It is good to refer to the TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE/PURCHASE
OF AN HDB RESALE FLAT before proceeding to buy a flat in the open market.

D2 City – Business District
Anson Road, Chinatown, Neil Road, Raffles Place, Shenton Way, Tanjong Pagar

D3 Central South
Alexandra Road, Tiong Bahru, Queenstown

D4 South
Keppel, Mount Faber, Sentosa, Telok Blangah

D5 South West
Buona Vista, Dover, Pasir Panjang, West Coast

D6 City – Business District
City Hall, High Street, North Bridge Road

D7 City
Beach Road, Bencoolen Road, Bugis, Rochor

D8 Central
Little India, Farrer Park, Serangoon Road

D9 Central – Orchard
Cairnhill, Killiney, Leonie Hill, Orchard, Oxley

D10 Central – Near Orchard
Balmoral, Bukit Timah, Grange Road, Holland, Orchard Boulevard, River Valley, Tanglin Road

D11 Central – Near Orchard
Chancery, Bukit Timah, Dunearn Road, Newton

D12 Central
Balestier, Moulmein, Novena, Toa Payoh

D13 Central East
Potong Pasir, Machpherson

D14 Central East
Eunos, Geylang, Kembangan, Paya Lebar

D15 East Coast
Katong, Marine Parade, Siglap, Tanjong Rhu

D16 Upper East Coast
Bayshore, Bedok, Chai Chee

D17 Far East
Changi, Loyang, Pasir Ris

D18 Far East
Pasir Ris, Simei, Tampines

D19 North East
Hougang, Punggol, Sengkang

D20 Central North
Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Braddell Road, Thomson

D21 Central West
Clementi, Upper Bukit Timah, Hume Avenue

D22 Far West
Boon Lay, Jurong, Tuas

D23 North West
Bukit Batok, Choa Chu Kang, Hillview Avenue, Upper Bukit Timah

D24 Far North West
Kranji, Lim Chu Kang, Sungei Gedong, Tengah

D25 Far North
Admiralty, Woodlands

D26 North
Tagore, Yio Chu Kang

D27 Far North
Admiralty, Sembawang, Yishun

D28 North East
Seletar, Yio Chu Kang

The following table lists the different postal districts:

An intermediate category of housing to bridge the gap between HDB flats and private condominiums was introduced in 1995. Called executive condominiums, these units offer the standard of private condominium living but at lower prices even though they are built and sold by private developers. The reselling of such units is subject to certain restrictions, which are lifted only after a minimum occupation period of ten years.

Shortly after independence, Singapore faced a serious problem of housing shortages. In response, the government passed the Housing and Development Act of 1960 which replaced the existing Singapore Improvement Trust with the Housing and Development Board. The very first priority during formation was to build as many low-cost housing units as possible. Through the years, the emphasis of its housing programmes has shifted from quantity of housing to quality of life. Beyond the flat itself, there is now also more attention given to the overall quality of the housing estate in terms of the amenities provided, aesthetic appeal and visual identity.

In 1968, citizens were allowed to use their pension fund (Central Provident Fund) to purchase and own the homes they were renting to give them a stake of the country and as an incentive to work hard. In 1980, a quota was introduced to ensure that no particular racial group concentrated together to prevent sectarianism. There must be a certain ratio of ethnicity within the HDB blocks, and any move-in or move-out must adhere to this policy.

In the 1990s, the HDB concentrated on the upgrading of existing older flats, installing new facilities such as lifts that stop on every floor. The first programme, called the main upgrading programme, was launched in 1990. Under this programme, improvement works are carried out within the flat and at the block and precinct levels. In 1995, HDB launched the selective en-bloc redevelopment scheme, which involves the demolition of entire blocks for redevelopment. Smaller-scale programmes have also been developed since 1990 to bring the benefits of upgrading to more residents. These include the home improvement programme launched in 2007 that targets common maintenance problems within the flat such as spalling concrete and ceiling leaks.

Ownership in public housing is limited to a 99-year lease. Size is usually denoted by the terms such as four-room, five-room or similar, and is based on the number of bedrooms in addition to the living room but newer five-room apartments come with only three bedrooms and a dining room. The largest HDB flats (in terms of floor area) ever built are two-storey Executive Masionettes built in the 1990s which can have floor area ranging from 160 – 190 m².

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Majority of the population live in high-rise HDB (Housing & Development Board flats (public housing) and condominiums. The rest of the people here own and live in private apartments/condominiums or live in a landed property.

Investing in real estate is very common among wealthier Singaporeans. More than 90% of households own their homes and are equipped with modern amenities.

Residential properties in Singapore can be divided into three main categories: Private apartments, landed properties and HDB apartments.

Private apartments are classified either as apartments or condominiums by the government. The distinction is somewhat artificial, but typically apartments are smaller developments and condominiums generally have more facilities and are larger. Most condominiums come with swimming pool, tennis court, gym, squash court, children playground and a BBQ area. They also typically have their own enclosed car park and security guards looking after the security at the entrances and the whole area around the condominiums. Tenure of private apartments is commonly freehold, 99-year leasehold or 999-year leasehold. A freehold title enables the owner to hold the property in perpetuity, whilst a leasehold title confers possession upon the purchaser for the duration of the lease (for example, 99 or 999 years). On expiry of the lease, the title and interest in the property revert to the State.

Interest rates in Singapore are currently relatively low which is helping to attract more buyers to the property market. Home financing can be quite affordable and if an investor decides they want a mortgage to buy their investment property in Singapore they should have this agreed in principal before making any offer to buy otherwise the sale could fall through and the potential buyer could lose up to a 10% deposit.

On deciding to purchase a property the first step is to get an Option to Purchase. This is done by making a payment of one percent of the purchase price. This will effectively take the property off the market and allow the investor’s solicitor to have time to check out whether all is in order with the property and whether the investor will require permission to buy it.

Option to Purchase is usually prepared by the seller’s (vendor) solicitor or property agent is valid for a 14 day period after which time a buyer either forfeits his 1% and the property goes back on the market or the buyer pays a further 9% of the purchase price to make up a 10% deposit. At this stage the property buying process moves forward and a preliminary contract is signed by the vendor and buyer.

Any further surveys, searches and permission seeking will take place before the final contract is signed and the property is exchanged. There is usually a 1% fee payable by the buyer to the estate agent in Singapore.

Besides this, stamp fee will be payable to Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore within 14 days upon exercising the Option to Purchase or signing the Sales and Purchase Agreement when you buy from a property developer. For properties above S$300,000, stamp fee payable will be 3% of the purchase price minus S$5,400.

Lawyer’s fees and any charges attributed to acquiring permission to buy property in Singapore or securing a mortgage are extra.