Financial planning is required for buying property in Singapore. In this article, we’ll go through the steps you need to take for effective financial planning and how to buy a house in Singapore; mainly for HDB flats and private properties (e.g. condos).
In case you’re wondering, this ultimate guide includes the latest HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter application process and the down payment for a condo – based on the Loan-to-Value limit (LTV) for bank loans.
Want to find out how to have effective financial planning for buying property in Singapore? Read on!
1. Set SMART Financial Planning Goals
| SMART financial planning goals | What each SMART step means |
| Specific | Specify the kind of property you want. What type of house do you want to buy, and which district are you interested in? How big do you want it? |
| Measurable | Set out a measurable figure to aim towards. Calculate the amount you need to buy the property you specified, taking into consideration the interest rate and down payment. Also, set the measurable time frame within which you aim to obtain the property. |
| Achievable | Ask yourself, is the goal so far achievable? How can it be achieved? Set out the steps you will need to get the property you want (e.g. search for property, find out your total assets, and speak to banks to get loan offers). |
| Relevant | Ask yourself, is the goal relevant? Is it the right time to buy this property given other circumstances, for example, a newly announced property cooling measure, or a rise in Singapore Overnight Rate Average (SORA) interest rates? |
| Timebound | Set a deadline for every step of your goal. For example, you might allocate three months to a house search, or ensure you have a loan offer by a certain date. |
2. Assess How Much Savings You Can Spend
Open your bank account, and take stock of how much savings you have, and how much of that you are willing to spend on your property. That will tell you how much more you may need to top up through borrowing.
Generally, when buying a property, it is good to ensure you have enough cash for about 20% to 30% of the purchase price to pay for down payments and any legal/processing fees that arise at the start of the transaction.
If you realise you don’t have enough savings for the down payment, much less for the rest of your property price, then this is a good sign you’ll need to set a savings goal. Work backwards using your SMART goals to figure out how much you need to save by when, and therefore how much of your salary must be set aside regularly to ensure you reach your financial planning goals.
3. Assess How Much CPF You Want To Use
Unless you can pay off your dream home in one shot, you’ll probably need to take a loan. To pay it back, you can either use cash, your CPF, or a combination of the two. You’ll need to understand the pros and cons of each approach, weigh it against your own needs and priorities, and plan which approach you want to use to pay off your mortgage.
Beyond general financial planning, there are different ways to go about buying property in Singapore. Read on for the differences between how to finance HDB flats and condos, respectively.
Financing an HDB Flat
HDB Home Loan Eligibility
Before 9 May 2023, potential HDB homebuyers had to apply for the HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter to find out their HDB loan eligibility and amount.
Effective 9 May 2023, however, the HDB Flat Portal was updated to help HDB flat buyers streamline their homebuying process. The steps for assessing your HDB flat eligibility, HDB loan eligibility and amount, and CPF Housing Grant eligibility and amount are now combined into one step at the start of your HDB homebuying journey. This is also known as the HFE letter application process.
Simply log on to the HDB Flat Portal using your Singpass and apply for your preliminary HFE check for an immediate analysis of your current HDB eligibility statuses; then when you’re ready to formally proceed with buying your HDB flat, apply for the official HFE letter and wait up to 21 working days for HDB to process your request!
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CPF Housing Grant Eligibility
As mentioned above, you can now find out your CPF Housing Grant eligibility and amount via applying for the HFE letter.
CPF Housing Grants are part of the government’s promise to ensure every Singaporean will be able to afford a house. As such, they have a range of eligibility criteria, including income ceilings and purchased HDB flat type.
CPF Housing Grant amounts are also regularly reviewed and revised. For example, to support young married couples with children, the Budget 2023 announcement included increased CPF Housing Grants for first-timer family applicants buying HDB resale flats. The revised CPF Housing Grant for HDB resale flats was extended to eligible singles too.
| HDB flat type | Revised CPF Housing Grant amount for eligible families (as of 15 February 2023) | Revised CPF Housing Grant amount for eligible singles (as of 15 February 2023) |
| 4-room or smaller | Up to $80,000 | Up to $40,000 |
| 5-room or larger | Up to $50,000 | Up to $25,000 |
Financing a Condo
Condo Home Loan Eligibility
While you can choose to finance an HDB flat with either an HDB or bank loan, you can only finance a condo with a bank loan.
There are several bank loan eligibility criteria you need to take note of.
| Bank loan eligibility criteria | This is the maximum percentage of… | How is it calculated? |
| Loan-to-Value limit (LTV) | The condo’s property value the borrower can loan from a bank | 75% of the property value |
| Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) | The borrower’s gross monthly income that can be allocated to all their loans (e.g. mortgage, car loan repayment, etc.) | 60% of the borrower’s gross monthly income |
| Down payment for a condo (only via a bank loan) | The condo’s property value the buyer needs to pay upfront | 25% of the property value; only 20% can be paid with CPF, the remaining 5% must be paid in cash |
Do note that the above bank loan rules are merely a gauge: while the LTV limit for bank loans is 75%, banks may not offer you the LTV limit of your condo’s property value.
Banks will take into account that your monthly mortgage repayments need to be within the 60% Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) and your credit rating. You cannot ‘guarantee’ your bank loan amount before requesting an In-Principal Approval (IPA).
Financial Planning for Buying Property in Singapore: Need Help?
Preparing your finances for a major and complex purchase like property can be a daunting task – but by breaking it down into steps and areas as we have shown you, it can be made somewhat easier to manage and understand.
And if it’s still too much to absorb, we’re always here to help. Reach out to our PropertyGuru Finance Mortgage Experts today for personalised home financing advice to help you choose the best mortgage package for you and refinancing when you’re ready to be pegged to even more attractive interest rates – all for free!
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Disclaimer: Information provided on this website is general in nature and does not constitute financial advice.
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