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141 articles on home financing.

What's your home worth today?

Your home's current value drives every major financial decision tied to your property, from refinancing eligibility and loan-to-value ratios to selling price and equity access. Cashew's free home valuation tool gives you an indicative value in seconds by entering your postal code and unit number, with no sign-up required. The estimate is powered by Amicus, using the same automated valuation model banks rely on, and connects directly to relevant loan packages, a mortgage calculator, and an affordability check.

Sarah Chen8 Jun 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

11 new condo launches, one emerging price ceiling: what H2 2026 means for your mortgage budget

With up to 11 new condo projects launching in H2 2026 and analysts signalling that average prices are unlikely to breach S$4,000 psf, buyers have more choice and a clearer pricing ceiling to plan around. This environment rewards buyers who anchor their budget to LTV limits and TDSR headroom rather than developer asking prices, and who treat any negotiated discount as a reduction in borrowing rather than a reason to stretch further. Securing an in-principle approval and knowing your stress-test repayment before you shop puts you in a stronger position when the right launch arrives.

Sarah Chen8 Jun 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

Big salary, tight loan: how slowing real wages are redefining Singapore's HENRYs

High earners in Singapore increasingly find that a strong salary does not automatically translate into strong borrowing power or enough cash to complete a property purchase. Slowing real wage growth, combined with TDSR and MSR limits, stress-tested interest rates, and a 25% minimum cash and CPF outlay requirement, means the gap between income and actual purchasing ability is wider than the headline salary suggests. HENRYs benefit most from clearing existing debt before applying, separating borrowing capacity from comfortable repayment capacity, and considering refinancing if already on a mortgage.

Sarah Chen4 Jun 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

Job worries vs. buying a BTO: the financing reality young Singaporeans should run first

Young Singaporeans worried about job security can still consider buying a BTO flat due to its below-market entry price and long construction timeline, but the decision depends on whether your income comfortably clears the Mortgage Servicing Ratio (30% of gross income) and Total Debt Servicing Ratio (55% of gross income) at loan approval. The HDB concessionary loan offers added stability through a fixed rate and no mandatory cash outlay, making it worth considering for those with income concerns. The honest case for buying is not fearlessness but having sufficient buffer, ideally six to twelve months of repayments in reserve, before committing.

Sarah Chen3 Jun 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

Renovation loan, personal loan, or cash: how to finance your reno without the debt stress

Renovation loans, personal loans, and cash each carry different costs and trade-offs, and all affect your overall financial position after a mortgage. The key is to budget your renovation as part of the same decision as your home purchase, not separately, since renovation loan or personal loan repayments count toward your TDSR and reduce future borrowing headroom. Paying cash avoids interest but can dangerously deplete your emergency buffer, so the right choice depends on how much you need and how much reserve you can maintain.

Sarah Chen2 Jun 2026

Regulations & Policy

The ABSD shortcut that could cost you the property

Nominee arrangements designed to avoid Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty are treated as sham transactions by IRAS, meaning the avoided tax becomes payable with penalties. Worse, courts will not enforce ownership claims built on an illegal purpose, so the real buyer can lose the property entirely to the nominee. Legitimate alternatives like decoupling exist but carry their own stamp duty costs and should be fully priced before assuming they save money.

Sarah Chen31 May 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

A $900k Queenstown flat shows exactly why resale buyers need so much cash

When buying a high-priced resale HDB flat like the $900,000 Queenstown unit, buyers face significant cash requirements beyond what can be financed. The loan is capped at 75% of HDB's assessed valuation, not the agreed price, meaning any gap between the two must be paid entirely in cash as Cash Over Valuation (COV). Budgeting for a realistic COV before making an offer is critical, as the valuation is only revealed after committing to a price.

Sarah Chen30 May 2026

Home Buying 101

How to Decouple a Private Property in Singapore: The Step-by-Step Process

Decoupling a private property in Singapore involves one co-owner transferring their share to the other, leaving a sole owner. The process covers confirming the remaining owner qualifies for the full loan under TDSR, obtaining a market valuation, engaging separate lawyers, restructuring the mortgage, paying Buyer's Stamp Duty on the transferred share, refunding any CPF used, and completing the transfer. Key costs include stamp duty, legal fees, refinancing fees, and potentially significant CPF accrued interest.

Sarah Chen29 May 2026

Regulations & Policy

Decoupling Private Property in Singapore: What Still Works, and What Is Now Illegal (2026)

Decoupling, or a part sale of one co-owner's share to the other, remains legal in Singapore in 2026 and can help couples manage Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty when purchasing a second property. However, IRAS and the courts now draw a clear line between genuine transfers at market value and contrived arrangements like the 99-to-1 scheme, with enforcement including surcharges and criminal prosecution. Whether decoupling makes financial sense depends on your property equity, CPF accrued interest, the remaining owner's ability to qualify for the full mortgage under TDSR, and whether there is a genuine reason for the transfer beyond tax savings.

Sarah Chen29 May 2026

Affordability & Financial Planning

Real wages up 4%, inflation at 1.4%: what it means for your mortgage and refinancing timing

Real wages grew 4% in 2025 while core inflation eased to 1.4%, temporarily expanding borrowing headroom under TDSR and MSR rules for Singapore homebuyers and refinancers. However, the improvement is driven by falling inflation rather than stronger pay, and an expected Q3 inflation spike from July energy tariffs could reverse this advantage. Acting on mortgage or refinancing decisions sooner rather than later may be prudent while the affordability conditions still hold.

Sarah Chen29 May 2026

Home Buying 101

Your mortgage journey with Cashew: from first inquiry to loan disbursement

This article walks through the complete mortgage journey with Cashew, from your first inquiry through loan disbursement. Whether you are buying a new property or refinancing, a Cashew advisor handles each stage on your behalf, including eligibility checks, IPA applications, loan shortlisting, document submission, and coordination with law firms and banks. The process is designed to remove the guesswork and give you a clear picture of what to expect at every step.

Sarah Chen29 May 2026

Rate Updates

MAS tightened in April: what that means for your mortgage decision now

MAS tightened monetary policy in April 2026 for the first time in roughly three years, steepening the S$NEER appreciation slope and raising its 2026 inflation forecast to 1.5-2.5%. While this does not directly move SORA, it signals that rate risks are weighted to the upside, making fixed-rate mortgage packages more attractive relative to floating options than they were six months ago. Borrowers with expiring lock-in periods should treat this as an active decision point rather than waiting for further data.

Sarah Chen28 May 2026

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All articles

What's your home worth today?

11 new condo launches, one emerging price ceiling: what H2 2026 means for your mortgage budget

Big salary, tight loan: how slowing real wages are redefining Singapore's HENRYs

Job worries vs. buying a BTO: the financing reality young Singaporeans should run first

Renovation loan, personal loan, or cash: how to finance your reno without the debt stress

The ABSD shortcut that could cost you the property

A $900k Queenstown flat shows exactly why resale buyers need so much cash

How to Decouple a Private Property in Singapore: The Step-by-Step Process

Decoupling Private Property in Singapore: What Still Works, and What Is Now Illegal (2026)

Real wages up 4%, inflation at 1.4%: what it means for your mortgage and refinancing timing

Your mortgage journey with Cashew: from first inquiry to loan disbursement

MAS tightened in April: what that means for your mortgage decision now

Tools & Resources

Cashew Mortgages