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141 articles on home financing.

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

Home Buying 101

Does HDB check your credit report for a BTO? What actually happens before key collection

HDB checks your credit report during the HFE letter application, where it retrieves your CBS credit report in the background using your consent. The loan amount is then reassessed again before key collection, so changes in income or debt during the BTO waiting period can reduce the loan you qualify for. A Debt Management Programme does not automatically disqualify you but reduces your borrowing capacity through its impact on your MSR and TDSR.

Sarah Chen15 Jul 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

What does it really take to afford a landed property?

Affording a landed property in Singapore depends less on the sticker price and more on five interacting factors: your real loan quantum under TDSR at the 4% stress rate, how far that falls below the 75% LTV cap, the cash cost of BSD, a properly sized renovation or A&A reserve, and the liquidity buffer you retain after all of it. A buyer committing to a S$6 million-plus landed home in a single name should model all five before signing, and prioritise a location with durable demand to protect the equity locked in.

Sarah Chen14 Jul 2026

Regulations & Policy

Prime CCR sales jump 25% as the broader market cools: what it signals for everyone else

Prime CCR home sales rose nearly 25% year on year in the first half of 2026, driven largely by new citizens and PRs who benefit from lower ABSD rates compared to foreign buyers. This divergence from a softening broader market reflects capital seeking stable assets rather than growth, and does not directly forecast movement in mass market or suburban segments. The same financing rules, including LTV caps, TDSR, and stamp duty payable in cash, apply across all price points regardless of property tier.

Sarah Chen14 Jul 2026

Mortgage Basics & FAQs

Why that boutique condo may cost you more: a financing view on construction quality

Boutique condos often carry higher long-term costs than buyers expect because smaller developers typically lack the scale, quality controls, and contractor leverage of larger conglomerates. Poor build quality drives up defect repair costs, MCST maintenance spending, and special levies, all of which affect household cash flow and the collateral value underpinning your mortgage. Before buying, check BCA CONQUAS scores, MCST financials, and sinking fund balances to assess the true financing risk.

Sarah Chen13 Jul 2026