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123 articles on home financing.

New CEA rules from 2027: what tougher agent standards mean for buyers

From January 2027, CEA rules require property agents to complete at least three transactions every three years to renew their licence, or pass a refresher exam. A new listing verification platform will reduce fake and duplicate entries, and commission data collection will improve transparency around agent fees. These changes improve the quality of information and agent competence around your transaction, but do not affect stamp duties, eligibility rules, or what you can buy.

Sarah Chen29 Jul 2026

Regulations & Policy

The 15-Month HDB Wait-Out Period Is Gone: What It Means for Your Move From Private to Public Housing

Singapore has removed the 15-month wait-out period for private property owners buying HDB resale flats, effective 28 July 2026. This means downgraders can now purchase a non-subsidised resale flat without an HDB loan immediately after selling their private home, as long as they complete the sale within six months of the resale flat purchase. The 30-month wait-out period for subsidised flats and executive condominiums from developers remains in place.

Sarah Chen28 Jul 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

ULI 2026: Singapore's private homes are now the priciest in APAC, yet HDB stays the region's only attainable buy

Singapore's HDB flats remain the only attainable public housing in the Asia Pacific region at 4.3 times median household income, while private homes now average over S$2.3 million, making them the most expensive per square metre in APAC. The gap between the two sectors creates distinct financing challenges: HDB buyers must work within MSR and TDSR limits, while upgraders face higher LTV cash requirements, steep Buyer's Stamp Duty, and potential ABSD exposure. Where you sit within the HDB market determines which set of financing constraints applies to your next move.

Sarah Chen27 Jul 2026

Refinancing & Cost Savings

Your rate dropped from 2.8% to 1.6%. Why does the monthly instalment barely move?

When mortgage rates fall, the monthly instalment drops only modestly because it bundles both interest and principal repayment together. The rate change only affects the interest portion, while the principal portion stays the same, diluting the visible impact. Looking at total interest paid or the outstanding balance at the end of a lock-in period gives a far more accurate picture of the true saving.

Sarah Chen25 Jul 2026

Home Buying 101

Why a small leasehold condo beat every two-bedder in Aljunied, Paya Lebar and Eunos

Legenda @ Joo Chiat outperformed every two-bedder in the Aljunied, Paya Lebar and Eunos corridor over the past decade because four factors aligned: boutique scale limiting competing supply, a lower entry price that amplified ROI, efficient unit layouts, and scarce new leasehold supply nearby. The lesson for buyers financing a two-bedder is not to chase the next Legenda, but to apply those same four checks to entry price, competing supply, loan flexibility and net return before committing to a loan.

Sarah Chen24 Jul 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

Community Care Apartments at 55: what the lower age means for your housing and financing plans

The eligibility age for Community Care Apartments has dropped from 65 to 55, bringing this housing option into the same planning window as your working years, outstanding mortgage, and CPF decisions. A CCA offers a smaller, senior-fitted home with bundled care services on a shorter lease, making it a right-sizing tool rather than an investment asset. Before applying, you should map out your existing property equity, any outstanding mortgage, CPF accrued interest obligations, and the timing gap between selling and buying.

Sarah Chen24 Jul 2026

Rate Updates

Singapore inflation expectations climb to 3.4%: what it means for your mortgage

Singapore households now expect inflation of 3.4% over the coming year, a rise that signals the interest-rate environment may stay elevated for longer than many borrowers anticipated. For mortgage holders, this reduces the likelihood of a meaningful SORA decline in the near term, making the choice between fixed and floating packages more consequential. Those within six months of a lock-in expiry should begin comparing packages now rather than waiting for a rate drop that may not arrive on schedule.

Sarah Chen23 Jul 2026

Rate Updates

CPI, MAS and the IMF verdict: reading Singapore's rate signals before your next refinance

Three macro signals, rising inflation expectations, the IMF's Article IV review, and the upcoming CPI and MAS policy decision, suggest Singapore mortgage rates are unlikely to fall soon and may edge higher. MAS manages monetary policy through the exchange rate rather than a policy rate, so a firmer CPI print reduces the chance of SORA relief. Borrowers should stress-test their loans against higher rates and consider fixing their rate rather than waiting for cuts that may not arrive.

Sarah Chen22 Jul 2026

Mortgage Basics & FAQs

Record HDB prices, but most million-dollar buyers paid zero COV. Here is why that matters for your loan

Most buyers of million-dollar HDB resale flats in 2025 paid zero cash-over-valuation (COV), meaning valuations kept pace with prices. This matters because COV cannot be financed by any loan and must be paid entirely in cash on top of your down payment. Getting an indicative valuation before committing to a price is the most important step to understanding your true cash requirement.

Sarah Chen21 Jul 2026

Refinancing & Cost Savings

2Y at 1.4% or 3Y at 1.6%? How to price the bet on where rates land in 2028

When choosing between a 2-year fix at 1.4% and a 3-year fix at 1.6% on a S$2 million loan, the decision comes down to whether two-year fixed rates in late 2028 will exceed 2.0%, which is the break-even point where total interest costs are equal across both paths. The 2-year fix is the more defensible default for borrowers without a strong view on rising rates, as it costs less upfront and preserves the option to reprice with better information in 2028. The 3-year fix only earns its premium if you genuinely expect rates to rise above 2.0% or if the added certainty is worth the extra cost to you.

Sarah Chen20 Jul 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

When the plan changes: what a BTO pivot costs in CPF, loans and eligibility

When housing plans change due to retirement or a relationship breakdown, the financial and eligibility consequences depend heavily on timing and how far along the process you are. Retirees with ageing leasehold properties face narrowing buyer pools, BTO wait times, and loan tenure caps, while couples cancelling a joint BTO application risk grant clawbacks, forfeiture costs, and second-timer eligibility penalties. Modelling CPF limits, loan constraints, and eligibility resets before any irreversible step is essential to understanding the true cost of pivoting.

Sarah Chen16 Jul 2026

Regulations & Policy

From S$1.8b to S$1.48b: what People's Park Centre's third en bloc attempt tells you

People's Park Centre has relaunched its collective sale at S$1.48 billion, down S$320 million from its 2022 guide price that attracted zero bids. The reduction reflects developer caution on large, long-dated sites where construction costs, ABSD remission deadlines, and borrowing costs all compress margins. For en bloc owners, future buyers, and nearby property owners, the signals and the required financial decisions are each quite different.

Sarah Chen16 Jul 2026

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All articles

New CEA rules from 2027: what tougher agent standards mean for buyers

The 15-Month HDB Wait-Out Period Is Gone: What It Means for Your Move From Private to Public Housing

ULI 2026: Singapore's private homes are now the priciest in APAC, yet HDB stays the region's only attainable buy

Your rate dropped from 2.8% to 1.6%. Why does the monthly instalment barely move?

Why a small leasehold condo beat every two-bedder in Aljunied, Paya Lebar and Eunos

Community Care Apartments at 55: what the lower age means for your housing and financing plans

Singapore inflation expectations climb to 3.4%: what it means for your mortgage

CPI, MAS and the IMF verdict: reading Singapore's rate signals before your next refinance

Record HDB prices, but most million-dollar buyers paid zero COV. Here is why that matters for your loan

2Y at 1.4% or 3Y at 1.6%? How to price the bet on where rates land in 2028

When the plan changes: what a BTO pivot costs in CPF, loans and eligibility

From S$1.8b to S$1.48b: what People's Park Centre's third en bloc attempt tells you

Tools & Resources

Cashew Mortgages