How Much Would It Take To Pay Off Your Flat By 30, 40, 50 or 55?

Get The Property Insights Serious Buyers Read First: Join 50,000+ readers who rely on our weekly breakdowns of Singapore’s property market.

A seasoned content strategist with over 17 years in the real estate and financial journalism sectors, Ryan has built a reputation for transforming complex industry jargon into accessible knowledge. With a track record of writing and editing for leading financial platforms and publications, Ryan's expertise has been recognised across various media outlets. His role as a former content editor for 99.co and a co-host for CNA 938's Open House programme underscores his commitment to providing valuable insights into the property market.
For many Singaporeans – heck, for many people across the world – paying off the mortgage early is a common aspiration. We get it too: most of us don’t like the thought of owing money, especially on something as major as our home. The good news for Singaporeans is that, unlike the Singapore private property market, HDB flats are affordable to most. But if you want to take it further and go for early retirement, FIRE, etc., here’s how much you’d need to do it:
How are the following figures derived?
In all of the following, we assumed full financing from available loans. This is 90 per cent of your flat price if using an HDB loan, and 75 per cent if using a bank loan.
We have also assumed the flat is a new 4-room flat, which is the most common first-home choice among Singaporeans. We will use an assumed cost of $320,000 for this flat (this is a typical amount after subsidies).
We have excluded stamp duties, renovations, and furnishing, as these are not covered by the home loan.
For the purposes of bank loans, we have used an interest rate of 1.3 per cent, which is the present-day average. However, for the purposes of determining the minimum income only, we have used an interest rate of 3.5 per cent. This is the rate that banks will use when factoring your MSR (even if the real interest rate is a lot lower).
The HDB loan rate is 2.6 per cent, and seldom changes.
In each of the following, we have assumed that the buyers’ obtained their flat at age 25. We have also assumed a loan tenure of 25 years.
How did we derive the minimum income required?
Under the Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR), your monthly home loan repayment cannot exceed 30 per cent of your combined monthly income (among all borrowers). We’ve used the MSR to determine the minimum income level, for a loan of the given tenure.
How much do you need to pay off your flat in just five years?
Using an HDB loan
Details | Amount |
Downpayment (10% of $320,000) | $32,000 |
Loan quantum | $288,000 |
Monthly repayment on 5-year loan tenure | $5,123.95 |
Total interest paid on 5-year loan tenure | $19,436.93 |
Minimum combined income required | $17,079.83 (exceeds income ceiling for BTO flats) |
The income ceiling for buying a BTO flat is currently $14,000 per month. This means such a loan wouldn’t usually be possible, and you’d need to either (1) buy a resale flat (for which there’s no income ceiling), or (2) make a much bigger down payment, to reduce the monthly loan repayment.
Using a bank loan
Details | Amount |
Downpayment (25% of $320,000) | $80,000 |
Loan quantum | $240,000 |
Monthly repayment on usual 25-year loan tenure | $4,133.57 |
Total interest paid on 25-year loan tenure | $8,014.42 |
Minimum combined income required | $14,553.40 (exceeds income ceiling for BTO flats, see above) |
How much do you need to pay off your flat in 15 years?
Using an HDB loan
Details | Amount |
Downpayment (10% of $320,000) | $32,000 |
Loan quantum | $288,000 |
Monthly repayment on 15-year loan tenure | $1,933.94 |
Total interest paid on 15-year loan tenure | $60,109.15 |
Minimum combined income required | $6,446.46 |
Using a bank loan
Details | Amount |
Downpayment (25% of $320,000) | $80,000 |
Loan quantum | $240,000 |
Monthly repayment on 15-year loan tenure | $1,468.28 |
Total interest paid on 15-year loan tenure | $24,289.48 |
Minimum combined income required | $5,719 |
How much do you need to pay off your flat in 25 years?
Using an HDB loan
Details | Amount |
Downpayment (10% of $320,000) | $32,000 |
Loan quantum | $288,000 |
Monthly repayment on 25-year loan tenure | $1,306.57 |
Total interest paid on 25-year loan tenure | $103,970.45 |
Minimum combined income required | $4,355.23 |
More from Stacked
I’m Stuck With An Old Condo I Bought Last Year That Isn’t Earning Much Rent: Should I Continue Renting It, Sell Or Just Move In?
Hi
Using a bank loan
Details | Amount |
Downpayment (25% of $320,000) | $80,000 |
Loan quantum | $240,000 |
Monthly repayment on 25-year loan tenure | $937.46 |
Total interest paid on 25-year loan tenure | $41,237.63 |
Minimum combined income required | $4,005.00 |
To pay off the home loan only after 30 years:
HDB loans are capped at 25 years. If you start servicing the loan at 25, it’s not possible to stretch the loan tenure past the age of 50.
It is possible for bank loans though. The catch is that if the loan tenure exceeds 25 years, the maximum financing falls to 55 per cent. So you will need a bigger down payment, if you want to stretch the loan this far.
Do also note that the maximum loan tenure for bank loans financing HDB purchases is 30 years.
Details | Amount |
Downpayment (45% of $320,000) | $144,000 |
Loan quantum | $176,000 |
Monthly repayment on 30-year loan tenure | $590.66 |
Total interest paid on 30-year loan tenure | $36,639.28 |
Minimum combined income required | $2,634.40 |
In a bid to make things easier, we have also broken down how much it would cost to pay off a BTO in both a mature and non-mature estate. For this example, we’ve used prices from the recent BTO sales launch in November 2020 – Tengah (non-mature) and Toa Payoh (mature).
Minimum Combined Income for HDB Loan
Min. Income (HDB LOAN) | 3-Room | 4-Room | 5-Room |
Mature BTO Price | $324,000 | $466,000 | $627,000 |
By 30 Years Of Age | $17,293* | $24,873* | $33,466* |
By 40 Years Of Age | $6,527 | $9,388 | $12,631 |
By 50 Years Of Age | $4,410 | $6,342 | $8,534 |
Non-Mature BTO Price | $194,000 | $288,000 | $394,000 |
By 30 Years Of Age | $10,355 | $15,372* | $21,030* |
By 40 Years Of Age | $3,908 | $5,802 | $7,937 |
By 50 Years Of Age | $2,640 | $3,920 | $5,362 |
Do note that at 25, the maximum tenure is just 25 years for HDB loans.
Minimum Combined Income for Bank Loan
Min. Income (BANK LOAN) | 3-Room | 4-Room | 5-Room |
Mature Estate BTO Price | $324,000 | $466,000 | $627,000 |
By 30 Years Of Age | $14,735* | $21,193* | $28,516* |
By 40 Years Of Age | $5,791 | $8,328 | $11,206 |
By 50 Years Of Age | $4,055 | $5,832 | $7,847 |
By 55 Years Of Age | $2,667 | $3,836 | $5,162 |
Non-Mature Estate BTO Price | $194,000 | $288,000 | $394,000 |
By 30 Years Of Age | $8,823 | $13,098 | $17,919* |
By 40 Years Of Age | $3,467 | $5,147 | $7,042 |
By 50 Years Of Age | $2,428 | $3,604 | $4,931 |
By 55 Years Of Age | $1,597 | $2,371 | $3,244 |
*Not possible to do so given these income exceeds the ceiling for BTOs.
Do note that for bank loans exceeding 25 years in tenure for HDBs, the financing changes from an LTV of 75% to 55%.
What about paying off the entire loan with a windfall?
Sometimes, occurrences like winning the lottery, getting an inheritance, etc., provides an opportunity to pay off the outstanding home loan.
For HDB loans, you can do this anytime you want, without any penalty. For bank loans, you need to check for prepayment penalties. There is usually a period just after you take the loan (around three to five years is the norm), when you pay a penalty for trying to pay off the loan early.
With most banks, this comes to 1.5 per cent of the amount redeemed (e.g., if you try to pay off $100,000 at one go, you would pay $1,500 in penalty). This isn’t true of every loan package, so do check before you pay.

Finally, an important note on paying off your home loan early
Please keep in mind that it’s not prudent for everyone to pay off their flat loan by 30 or 40, even if they could.
A fully paid-up flat can’t pay for needs like meals or healthcare (unless you’re willing to sell the flat, which defeats the purpose). It’s a mistake to empty one’s savings on early home loan repayments, and end up needing personal loans in emergencies.
The typical unsecured loan has an interest rate of six to nine per cent, whereas HDB loans are only 2.6 per cent. In most such cases, the borrowers would be better off keeping cash for emergencies, paying their home loan slowly, and avoiding the use of other loans.
If you’re uncertain about how home loans work, or you need help with the numbers, drop us a message on Facebook. You can also follow us on Stacked, to know more about the Singapore property market, and for reviews on new and resale properties alike.
If you’d like to get in touch for a more in-depth consultation, you can do so here.
Ryan J
A seasoned content strategist with over 17 years in the real estate and financial journalism sectors, Ryan has built a reputation for transforming complex industry jargon into accessible knowledge. With a track record of writing and editing for leading financial platforms and publications, Ryan's expertise has been recognised across various media outlets. His role as a former content editor for 99.co and a co-host for CNA 938's Open House programme underscores his commitment to providing valuable insights into the property market.Read next from Property Market Commentary

Property Market Commentary Why More Young Families Are Moving to Pasir Ris (Hint: It’s Not Just About the New EC)

Property Market Commentary This Upcoming 710-Unit Executive Condo In Pasir Ris Will Be One To Watch For Families

Property Market Commentary Which Central Singapore Condos Still Offer Long-Term Value? Here Are My Picks

Property Market Commentary Springleaf Vs Faber Walk: Which Future GLS Residential Site Has More Potential?
Latest Posts

Singapore Property News Is Our Housing Policy Secretly Singapore’s Most Effective Birth Control?

On The Market A 10,000 Sq Ft Freehold Landed Home In The East Is On The Market For $10.8M: Here’s A Closer Look

On The Market 5 Spacious Old But Freehold Condos Above 2,650 Sqft

Property Investment Insights We Compared New Launch And Resale Condo Prices Across Districts—Here’s Where The Price Gaps Are The Biggest

Pro Similar Layout, Same District—But Over $500K Cheaper? We Compare New Launch Vs Resale Condos In District 5

New Launch Condo Analysis The First New Condo In Science Park After 40 Years: Is LyndenWoods Worth A Look? (Priced From $2,173 Psf)

Editor's Pick Why The Johor-Singapore Economic Zone Isn’t Just “Iskandar 2.0”

Editor's Pick URA’s 2025 Draft Master Plan: 80,000 New Homes Across 10 Estates — Here’s What To Look Out For

Pro Analysing Forest Woods Condo at Serangoon: Did This 2016 Project Hold Up Over Time?

Property Advice We Ranked The Most Important Things To Consider Before Buying A Property In Singapore: This One Came Top

Editor's Pick Where To Find Freehold Terrace & Semi-D Landed Homes From $4.85 million In The East

Singapore Property News She Lost $590,000 On A Shop Space That Didn’t Exist: The Problem With Floor Plans In Singapore

On The Market 5 Cheapest Newly MOP 5 Room HDB Flats From $700k

Pro Why Rivergate Outperformed Its District 9 Rivals—Despite Being Nearly 20 Years Old

Editor's Pick Why Kingsford Hillview Peak Underperformed—Despite Its MRT Location And “Good” Entry Price
