The private housing market has been tough on home buyers as the post-Covid era is one of the priciest times to buy a private property. Singles, in particular, face unique difficulties. They can only buy a resale HDB after turning 35, and private housing often seems out of reach. So for those with a budget of $1 million or less, what are the options that you have out there? We explored the market to uncover potential opportunities:

A shortlist filtered by price, size or tenure is a useful way to narrow your options, but it won't tell you which property is the best fit for your finances, lifestyle or long-term plans.

That's where the real evaluation begins: comparing the trade-offs between each option to decide which one makes the most sense for your situation.

Over time, that's also why we decided to work with agents who shared the same data-driven and advisory-led approach behind our editorial, consultants who could help readers think through decisions more objectively, rather than simply push transactions.

Today, the team has worked with more than 2,000 clients across over $5B in property transactions.

See how the consultation works →

Looking at transactions across the regions:

We looked through the OCR, RCR, and CCR for private property transactions at $1 million or under in 2024 so far. Here’s how many we found:

Market SegmentSmallest SizeLargest SizeNo. of Tnx% Of Tnx
CCR334592202.7%
RCR323103321929.1%
OCR366122751368.2%

We’re sure it’s not a surprise to learn the majority of $1 million or under transactions are from the OCR. What may come as a surprise to some people, however, is that there are private properties transacting for this amount even in the CCR. 

These are the prime location properties which have seen such transactions:

Project NameTransacted Price ($)Area (SQFT)Unit Price ($ PSF)Sale Date
THE PLAZA$750,000592$1,26712 Mar 2024
SKYSUITES@ANSON$920,000398$2,31018 Mar 2024
SKYSUITES@ANSON$885,000366$2,4183 Apr 2024
THE CLIFT$970,000495$1,9595 Jan 2024
V ON SHENTON$948,000474$2,00226 Mar 2024
RV POINT$945,000484$1,9519 Jan 2024
ATTITUDE AT KIM YAM$775,000355$2,18212 Jan 2024
VIVACE$902,888420$2,15118 Mar 2024
RV RESIDENCES$985,000452$2,17910 Jan 2024
ZEDGE$888,000495$1,7938 Jan 2024
LOFT@HOLLAND$858,888334$2,5742 Feb 2024
ESPADA$945,000355$2,66013 Feb 2024
OXLEY EDGE$835,000377$2,21620 Feb 2024
THE ASANA$988,888398$2,48320 Feb 2024
OXLEY EDGE$920,000431$2,13718 Mar 2024
ROBIN RESIDENCES$979,000409$2,39326 Mar 2024
ESPADA$965,000377$2,56128 Mar 2024
OXLEY EDGE$890,000377$2,36225 Apr 2024
M5$960,000474$2,0272 May 2024
M5$945,000441$2,14114 May 2024

Without exception, all the units are one-bedders. The smallest units are from Espada (near Somerset MRT) and Oxley Edge (near Fort Canning MRT). The largest was The Plaza along Beach Road, near the Nicoll Highway MRT. 

Espada Condo Review

The lower cost for The Plaza is likely due to age (it was built in 1979), and perhaps being an apartment rather than a condo (it’s above some commercial units, in the style of old-school mixed-use projects). 

Do note that all of these are freehold or 999-year projects. Some of these, like Robin Residences, are also famous for being near good schools; but this is negated by the units being single-bedders. 

Projects in the RCR for $1 million or below:

Project NameTenureMin Size (Sq Ft)Max Size (Sq Ft)Volume
WING FONG COURTFreehold9479902
LE REGALFreehold3667863
NOTTINGHILL SUITESFreehold3987104
# 1 SUITESFreehold5606674
THE HILLFORD60 yrs from 19/02/20133986575
THE VERVEFreehold4416243
NOVA 88Freehold5066033
28 IMPERIAL RESIDENCESFreehold4095922
STUDIOS @ MARNEFreehold5605922
SIMS URBAN OASIS99 yrs from 29/07/201440958112
SIMS EDGEFreehold4095812
D'WEAVEFreehold4205705
TRE RESIDENCES99 yrs from 23/04/20144205704
METRO LOFTFreehold4525702
GUILLEMARD EDGEFreehold4095604
THE MEZZOFreehold5605602
REZI 24Freehold4635492
THOMSON V TWOFreehold4525382
SANT RITZ99 yrs from 01/10/20125275273
NIN RESIDENCE99 yrs from 13/09/20104745272
ONE DUSUN RESIDENCESFreehold5275272
THE TRE VER99 yrs from 27/03/20184954955
BARTLEY RIDGE99 yrs from 16/04/20124634952
LE SOMMEFreehold4954952
PRINCIPAL GARDEN99 yrs from 21/07/20144844843
WATERBANK AT DAKOTA99 yrs from 07/12/20094844843
PENROSE99 yrs from 03/07/20194744842
SKY VUE99 yrs from 04/03/20134844842
COMMONWEALTH TOWERS99 yrs from 07/05/20134414747
EDENZ SUITESFreehold4414744
VIIO @ BALESTIERFreehold4744742
THOMSON IMPRESSIONS99 yrs from 12/01/20154634633
PARK COLONIAL99 yrs from 11/10/20174634632
CENTRA SUITESFreehold4204523
CITY GATE99 yrs from 15/04/20144314522
IMPERIAL HEIGHTSFreehold4524522
QUEENS PEAK99 yrs from 28/09/20154314415
THE POIZ RESIDENCES99 yrs from 17/11/20144204415
CENTRA HEIGHTSFreehold4314313
QUESTA @ DUNMANFreehold4314313
THE FORESTA @ MOUNT FABERFreehold4314312
PARC ESTA99 yrs from 12/07/20184204203
PARC IMPERIALFreehold3984203
CASA AERATAFreehold3884202
PRESTIGE HEIGHTSFreehold3444094
ALEXISFreehold3984092
SPOTTISWOODE 18Freehold3883885
SUITES@ KATONGFreehold3883882
VIVA VISTAFreehold3233772
SKYSUITES17Freehold3553552

There were 112 projects, but we’ve filtered some out, as they had only a single transaction. Here, the largest transacted unit was at Wing Fong Court; at 900 sq. ft., this would be considered a three-bedder today. Unfortunately, we don’t think many families will like the location.

Wing Fong Court is sizeable for the price, and close to many amenities; but it’s also surrounded by many hotels around the Geylang Lorong 14 area. And whilst the vice area in Geylang has shrunk over time, it’s still going to be too close for comfort for some.

Wing Fong is also quite old, dating back to 1997; but the freehold status mitigates some of the age issues. It may be more viable as a rental asset, given the good location and lower price.

sims urban oasis pool 1

Sims Urban Oasis is a leasehold counterpart, which is also closer to Aljunied MRT station (which also means it’s reasonably far from the vice area). It’s even one of the newer condos, dating back to just 2017; but you do need to contend with a high unit count (1,024 units), and quite a bit of traffic issues from Aljunied Road. 

Parc Esta is also likely to raise some eyebrows, as this is a high-demand condo. This project is across from Eunos MRT station and one stop away from Paya Lebar, so you get all the benefits of PLQ, minus the crowds and noise. It’s also very new, built in 2022.

Parc Esta 11 hero shot

However, Parc Esta also has a high unit count (1,399 units), and a 420 sq. ft. unit is certainly small, even by today's standards. Still, if you are willing to look past that, the location is a convenient one.

The same consideration pertains to Queens Peak (across from Queenstown MRT) and Principal Garden (somewhat near Redhill MRT and one stop away from Tiong Bahru). They’re both below 500 sq. ft. but close to $1 million.

As an aside, do note that most of the projects here are still freehold or on 999-year leases.

Projects in the OCR for $1 million or under

Project NameTenureMin Size (Sq Ft)Max Size (Sq Ft)Volume
MELVILLE PARK99 yrs from 01/09/199293612068
PARKVIEW APARTMENTS99 yrs from 01/05/19949269906
MAYSPRINGS99 yrs from 01/12/19948079044
LAUREL TREEFreehold4638724
EIGHT COURTYARDS99 yrs from 20/09/20105498614
THE INFLORA99 yrs from 25/05/20124638185
PARC ROSEWOOD99 yrs from 07/09/20114318079
PARC OLYMPIA99 yrs from 25/01/20124957978
RIPPLE BAY99 yrs from 10/08/20114847975
SYMPHONY SUITES99 yrs from 10/06/20146897867
BELLEWOODS99 yrs from 12/08/20137867864
NV RESIDENCES99 yrs from 07/01/20087437644
NORTHWAVE99 yrs from 25/05/201566775313
THE SANTORINI99 yrs from 16/10/20135277537
HILLSTA99 yrs from 03/10/20115277535
D'NEST99 yrs from 20/10/20104847534
SKIES MILTONIA99 yrs from 20/02/20124847435
SOL ACRES99 yrs from 02/06/201449571014
THE ALPS RESIDENCES99 yrs from 03/08/20155067004
THE MINTON99 yrs from 27/07/20075497004
KINGSFORD WATERBAY99 yrs from 03/03/20144746899
TREASURE AT TAMPINES99 yrs from 29/11/201846367829
HIGH PARK RESIDENCES99 yrs from 05/11/201444166711
KINGSFORD . HILLVIEW PEAK99 yrs from 04/06/20125176576
THE GREENWICH99 yrs from 21/12/20096036576
RIVERFRONT RESIDENCES99 yrs from 31/05/201846363511
SEAHILL99 yrs from 26/09/20114956249
THE HILLIER99 yrs from 01/08/20115176246
URBAN VISTA99 yrs from 05/11/20124316148
LE QUEST99 yrs from 29/08/20164956144
WATERTOWN99 yrs from 18/05/20115706039
PARC RIVIERA99 yrs from 11/11/20154636038
THE TAPESTRY99 yrs from 31/07/20174416037
THE ESTUARY99 yrs from 25/06/20085926035
STRATUM99 yrs from 11/07/20124415928
ECO99 yrs from 14/05/20125495925
RIVERTREES RESIDENCES99 yrs from 28/08/20135815925
PARC BOTANNIA99 yrs from 28/12/20164315924
THE SCALA99 yrs from 06/01/20104745924
EUHABITAT99 yrs from 06/12/20105275817
THE GLADES99 yrs from 21/01/20134525706
NORTH PARK RESIDENCES99 yrs from 19/03/20154315495
AFFINITY AT SERANGOON99 yrs from 18/05/201847453813
HILLION RESIDENCES99 yrs from 04/01/20134635388
THE FLORENCE RESIDENCES99 yrs from 24/12/201847452715
THE GARDEN RESIDENCES99 yrs from 30/10/20174525177
PARC CLEMATIS99 yrs from 08/08/20194525175
BOTANIQUE AT BARTLEY99 yrs from 14/04/20144955174
J GATEWAY99 yrs from 28/08/20124745065

There’s a big list of 158 projects, so the OCR is clearly (and unsurprisingly) the region where you have the most options. For simplicity, we picked out projects with at least four or more transactions in 2024. 

treasure at tampines

Treasure at Tampines is on the list, as even at launch, one of its main draws was its highly competitive pricing. However, do note that it’s currently the biggest-ever condo in Singapore (over 2,200 units). While there is a wide range of facilities (11 swimming pools available), not everyone would like living in such a busy environment.

29 units have transacted for under $1 million at Treasure, and we note the 678 sq. ft. unit was at $970,000. This is probably stretching what some might consider to be reasonably sized for a small family, about on par with a 3-room flat. That said, this is a rather good price given the condo was just completed last year!

watertown condo closed blocks

Hillion Residences and Watertown are also notable names. Both of these are integrated developments: Hillion is connected to Bukit Panjang LRT, and has a commercial element that includes a food court and an NTUC. Watertown is connected to Punggol MRT, and Waterway Point is the major retail, food, and entertainment hub of the area. 

Integrated developments tend to cost more as a rule, so a unit below $1 million is still achievable for singles or young couples; and if you’re thinking of investment, these units tend to be easily rentable, on account of the attached amenities. 

The biggest unit transacted on the list is a 1,206 sq. ft. unit at Melville Park. This is pretty amazing in the 2024 market: right now a resale unit half that size could go for around $1.4 million. The lower price point is probably because of the high unit count (1,232 units), age (completed in 1996), and also because it is on a 99-year lease. Also, given the proximity to the airport, the SIA training centre, and SUTD, there’s reasonably good rentability. 

So there are private properties available for $1 million or under even in 2024; but the better options appear to be among larger projects (mega-developments). Couples and singles actually do have options even now, but larger family buyers seem out of luck (unless they’re okay to accept the oldest fringe-region properties, that is). 

For more on the Singapore private property market, follow us on Stacked. If you'd like help with your real estate needs, you can also reach out to us here.

A shortlist sorted by one variable is a fast way to narrow your options, but the pick that's cheapest, biggest, or most convenient isn't always the one that fits your situation best.

If you'd like to discuss how this applies to your own circumstances, you can reach out for a one-to-one consultation here.

And if you simply have a question or want to share a thought, feel free to write to us at stories@stackedhomes.com. We read every message.