Property Advice

The Hidden Risks Of Buying A Landed Home In Singapore: 6 Renovations That Could Be Illegal

Imagine discovering that part of your home—say, your driveway or even your swimming pool—was never supposed to be there.  That was the reality for one couple in Seletar, who unknowingly lived for nearly 15 years on land they didn’t legally…

• 9 Apr 2025
• 7 min read
• 0

Why Being The First Seller In A Condo Can Be Risky (And How To Make It Work)

Depending on who you ask, being the first seller in a condo project is either a blessing or a curse. On the one hand, there’s no prior transactions to hamper your price; and buyers may be more open to negotiation….

• 8 Apr 2025
• 5 min read
• 0

Why You Should Rethink Using CPF for Your Home Purchase In 2025

Singaporeans can be in two very different schools of thought, when it comes to CPF usage. The first group wants to leave their wallets and bank accounts as untouched as possible, leaving their CPF Ordinary Account (CPF OA) to handle…

• 2 Apr 2025
• 5 min read
• 0

Can You Really Sell Your Home For Just $2K In Singapore? Here’s When A Fixed-Fee Property Agent May Work

In recent years, you may have noticed the emergence of a new fee structure among property agents. Rather than charging a typical percentage of the sale price, these agents tend to have a fixed amount (e.g., $5,000 regardless of what…

• 27 Mar 2025
• 5 min read
• 0

Why Starting With A 3-Room HDB Flat Still Makes Sense In 2025

If you were in the property market a decade ago, either as a buyer or seller, you may recall being told to “start with the smallest resale 3-room flat you can afford.” This was repeated like a mantra, along with…

• 21 Mar 2025
• 6 min read
• 0

Worrying About Your Property Purchase Choice? 5 Logical Things To Consider Before Backing Out

It’s not uncommon to get cold feet when buying a property. It’s a huge purchase that can mean a big change in your lifestyle; and in a situation where you have many options, cases of “analysis paralysis” can be devastating….

• 15 Mar 2025
• 5 min read
• 2

How To Make A Landed Home More Elderly-Friendly In Singapore (Before Moving Feels Necessary)

Landed homes provide the luxury of space, but they come with one inherent drawback: many of them are less senior-centric, and don’t accommodate the needs of the elderly quite as well. This is, in fact, one of the leading reasons…

• 13 Mar 2025
• 5 min read
• 0

How To Avoid A Costly First Home Mistake In Singapore: A Checklist For Married Couples

One of the most challenging milestones is getting married, because a whole host of other major decisions – in rapid succession – tend to follow right after. One of these is picking out the first home; and because everyone has…

• 12 Mar 2025
• 10 min read
• 0

12 Costly Property Buying Mistakes You’ll Regret (And How To Avoid Them!)

With projects like Emerald of Katong and Parktown Residence selling out fast, it’s clear that buying season is upon us. That isn’t just true for new launches either: good resale condos have become an increasingly rare find, that you’ll want…

• 5 Mar 2025
• 7 min read
• 0

8 Key Things To Note When Right-Sizing From A Condo To An HDB In 2025

Whether you planned the move from the beginning, or your finances have changed, it’s time for you to switch back down to an HDB flat. This doesn’t just involve lifestyle changes: it may also mean regulatory hurdles like the waiting…

• 27 Feb 2025
• 7 min read
• 1

8 Must-Know Factors For Finding The Best 2-Bedroom Layout In Singapore

With home prices climbing, we may soon see a day when families (at least smaller families) are forced to accept a two-bedder as a norm. But not all two-bedders are created equal: older two-bedders may be huge in terms of…

• 22 Feb 2025
• 6 min read
• 2

How To Renovate A 4-Room HDB Flat For A Family With Three Kids In Singapore

A few days ago, a reader pointed out an interesting conundrum: the renovations on various websites, for big families, tend to be for other countries. And for Singapore sites, the nicest reno features all tend to show a big condo…

• 18 Feb 2025
• 6 min read
• 1

Is It Worth Paying ABSD To Keep Your HDB Flat And Own A Condo In 2025?

If you want to retain your flat – even after you buy a condo unit – it often means paying the 20 per cent ABSD (for Singapore citizens; it’s even higher for PRs). There may be some ways around it,…

• 4 Feb 2025
• 6 min read
• 0

6 Common Things That Can Go Wrong When Buying A Property In Singapore (Without An Agent)

Some homebuyers may feel an agent of their own is unnecessary. Some want to avoid paying commissions (though for private properties, the seller usually pays both agents). Others worry about the buyer and seller agents colluding to raise the price,…

• 31 Jan 2025
• 6 min read
• 0

5 Ways the Finishing of Your Property is More Important Than You May Think

Homebuyers tend to be a pragmatic bunch. Sometimes, this leads to a certain dismissive attitude towards the more “froo-froo” aspects of a property, such as the finishing. For every buyer who cares about the tiling, countertops, light fixtures, etc., there’s…

• 27 Jan 2025
• 4 min read
• 0

Why Buying A Condo Near HDB Flats Could Be Your Best Property Move

Some homebuyers associate the lack of nearby HDB flats (i.e., a low-density area) with luxury. We see this among landed homes, for instance, or in areas like Bukit Timah. But this has also sometimes led to the misconception that being…

• 27 Jan 2025
• 5 min read
• 0

How Property Agents In Singapore Select Their Own Homes (And What You Can Learn)

When buying a home, who better to learn from than the experts? If you’re like many buyers, you may wonder whether your estate agent would follow the same advice they’re giving you. Would they make the same choices they’re encouraging…

• 25 Jan 2025
• 7 min read
• 0

Should You Sell Your Own Home In Singapore? 7 Key Factors To Consider Before You Try

It can be tempting to try and sell your own home in Singapore. Skipping the property agent means you can save the usual two per cent commission, which, on higher-priced properties, can add up to a significant amount. However, in…

• 22 Jan 2025
• 6 min read
• 1