New Executive Condominium (EC) Purchase Rule Revisions

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know May 10, 2026

Executive Condominium (EC) Purchase Rule Revisions for New Launches

Recent revisions to the rules governing the purchase of new launch Executive Condominium (EC) have introduced material changes for prospective buyers and market participants.

Summary of Key Revisions for New EC Buyers

Updated Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) requirements.
Greater priority for first-time buyers, with a higher quota allocation set aside for this group. Increase priority period for first-timers.
Removal of the Deferred Payment Scheme for new ECs purchased directly from private developers.

Comparison: Current vs New Rules (New Launch ECs)

Measures	Current rules (before revision)	New rules (from 8 May 2026 GLS EC tenders)
Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)	5 years	10 years
Full Privatisation	10 years	15 years
Quota Allocation for First-time Buyers	70%	90%
Quota / allocation for second-timers	30%	10%
First-timer Priority window	1 month	2 years
Deferred Payment Scheme (DPS) for new ECs bought from developers	Available (Buyers could opt for Deferred or Normal Payment Scheme)	Only Normal Payment Scheme
Effective date	Applies to sites before 8 May 2026 tender closing	Applies to all GLS EC sites with tender closing dates on 8 May 2026 and thereafter

A More Define New Build-To-Order (BTO) Classification

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know August 17, 2024BTO, HDB Balloting Launch, HDB Classification, HDB Estate, HDB Mature Estate, HDB Non Mature Estate, HDB Plus Flats, HDB Prime Flats, HDB Standard Flats

Evolving Build-To-Order (BTO) Flats

As land-scarce Singapore continues to develop and progress with time and technology, more land is being utilized. New plans are made in advance to keep up with these developments. Undeveloped areas are revitalized by new roads, rezoning of land use, and the construction of new public transportation systems. The distinction between new Build-To-Order (BTO) in mature and non-mature estates is becoming increasingly blurred. Previously undeveloped areas like Punggol and Sengkang are now equipped with well-connected roads, public bus interchanges, amenities, and high-rise buildings.

Service Apartments – An Alternative Short Term Stay

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know July 3, 2024Accommodation in Singapore, SA, SA2, Service Apartment, Service Apartment 2, Singapore Residential, Singapore Short Term Stay, Stay Term Accommodation

Singapore Residential – Service Apartments

Under Singapore law, residential properties are not intended for short-term accommodation. These properties include condominiums, walk-up apartments, landed housing, and HDB flats. Visitors, such as tourists, should seek legal short-term accommodation options.

This regulation aims to preserve the residential character of local communities in Singapore, as well as the safety and privacy of residential homes. The frequent presence of short-term visitors may compromise these aspects.

Land Betterment Charge – Elevate your Land Value Interest

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know March 25, 2024March 26, 2024Development Charge, Enbloc, Land Betterment Charge, Land Value, LBC, SLA, SLA Land Tax, SLA Table of Rates, URA

Intensified Land Usage – Land Betterment Charge

With recent developments relaunching for en-bloc sales, the Land Betterment Charge (LBC) is something we might encounter frequently. It is another significant cost that could influence developers’ decisions on whether to replenish their land stocks and intensify their land use, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding construction costs and bank rates at present.

The Land Betterment Charge (LBC) is a new term that landowners or developers will need to become familiar with if they wish to enhance their development or intensify their land’s usage by redeveloping.

It will replace the previously known Development Charge (DC), Difference Premium (DP) and Temporary Development Levy (TDL). The Land Betterment Charge take effect on 1st August 2022.

URA Floor Area Harmonization

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know February 26, 2024February 25, 2024URA Gross Floor Area, URA Harmonization, URA New Floor Area Definition, URA New Floor Area Measurements, URA Standardised Area Measurements, URA Strata Area

New Floor Area Definition to Adopt

Various government agencies adopt different definitions of floor areas for their respective purposes, leading to confusion among property owners. In particularly those owners undertaking additions and alterations in their strata units.

Beginning on 1 June 2023, these government agencies will adhere to the standardized new definition for floor areas set by URA. This measure aims to standardize measurements and expedite application processes with the agencies.

The new definition will apply to all development applications from 1 June 2023, and to all Government Land Sales (GLS) launched for sale from 1 September 2022 onwards. The affected new launches will include upcoming Lentor Mansion, Marina Garden Lane site, Jalan Tembusu site and subsequent new launches.

Thomson-East Coast Line – Future of Urban Mobility

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know January 26, 2024February 3, 2024MRT line, Singapore MRT, Singapore Rail Network, Singapore Transportation, TEL MRT, TEL Singapore, Thomson East Coast, Thomson-East Coast line

New MRT Rail Line – Thomson-East Coast Line

The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) is anticipated to commence full operations in 2025. Following the latest announcement in December 2023, Land Transport Authority (LTA) will transfer Stage 4 stations of this new line to the operator SMRT. This transfer will occur in early 2024 after LTA completes its train testing. Before the official commencement, further familiarization with operating, maintaining, and managing incidents is required at SMRT’s end. With the launch of TEL Stage 4, which includes seven new stations, the Thomson-East Coast Line is nearing completion. Read more

The Heritage Springleaf Estate Unfolded in Upper Thomson

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know December 21, 2023December 22, 2023springleaf, Springleaf Estate, Springleaf GLS, Springleaf MRT, Springleaf Nature Park, Springleaf New Launch

Springleaf Estate – Upper Thomson Road

Springleaf Estate is situated in the North region of Singapore along Upper Thomson Road/Sembawang Road. It is within the Yishun Planning area in District 26—an area characterized by a low-density population. The site is primarily occupied by low-rise landed housing, eateries, shops, forested areas, and Nee Soon Camp. Bounded by the Seletar Expressway and Mandai Road, the main access road is Upper Thomson Road/Sembawang Road. This precinct shares District 26 with another emerging location, Lentor Hills Estate. The only difference is that it is under the Ang Mo Kio Planning area in the Northeast region. Despite this distinction, both estates share very similar attributes.

Navigating EV Charging in Singapore Condo Development

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know December 6, 2023December 7, 2023EV Charging, EV Charging Condo, EV Charging Cost, EV Parking

According to the latest monthly vehicle population statistics from the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the number of fully electric private cars has been experiencing exponential growth. As of October 2023, there are approximately 10,426 fully electric vehicles (EV) on the road, constituting just 1.6% of the total car population of 649,786. The government aims for all vehicles to adopt cleaner energy by 2040, with plans to install 60,000 EV charging points by 2030 across public and private premises. Read more

What You Need to Know about Your New Condo’s Parking Spaces

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know November 21, 2023November 22, 20232nd car parking, condo parking, new condo parking, new launch parking space

Examining recent new launch land tender details reveals that the provision of a 1-to-1 parking ratio might no longer be obligatory for private condo developers. This is contingent upon the Technical Conditions specified in the Land Tender context, particularly for sites well-connected to public transport or designated car-lite precincts. In cases where parking spaces are outnumbered by dwelling units, buyers must be informed upfront in the Option to Purchase and Sales & Purchase Agreement. Read more

Lentor Hills Estate: A Haven of Modern Comfort

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know November 5, 2023February 3, 2024

New Lentor Hills Estate

Lentor Hills Estate is a new and tranquil residential area located in District 26 of Singapore. This peaceful neighborhood is surrounded by predominantly landed houses, low to mid-rise condominiums, and natural habitats. It falls under the Ang Mo Kio Planning Area, part of the URA North-East Region rejuvenation plan. The estate is adjacent to the Central Water Catchment area, where you can explore various parks and nature reserves and, including Lower and Upper Pierce Reservoir Park, Lower and Upper Seletar Reservoir Park, MacRitchie Reservoir, Thomson Nature Park and Ang Mo Kio-Bishan Park. Nature enthusiasts often visit this area for outdoor activities and to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It is bordered by Teacher’s Housing Estate to the south and Sindo Industrial Estate to the west.

Hike in HDB and Condo Rents; Demands for Bigger Flats Still High in Landlord’s Market

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know January 29, 2023

As per the stats obtained from the month of October, rents for private Singapore Condo and HDB flats increased in October with the rise in demand. This is possibly the outcome of recently implemented cooling measures as more tenants these days are looking forward to HDB flats at comparatively lower rental prices.

An exponential rise of 1.8% in HDB rents has been experienced in the market during October month. However, it was 3.3% in the month of September. On the other side, the executive flats are experiencing a rise of 6.1% in rents.
A larger number of HDB flats were rented in the month of October. The volume has further increased by 10.3% leading to the estimated number of 1995 units in comparison to only 1809 units rented out in September.

HDB Resale Flat Experience Considerable Price Hike in November

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know January 1, 2023

As per a recent market update for November month, prices of HDB resale flats experienced a hike for the 29th straight month. As a result, a higher number of units exchanged hands with the recently applied cooling measures. If we compare the trends of October month with November month, the prices of HDB resale flats grew much faster with a change from 0.5% to 0.6%. On yearly basis, prices increased by almost 10%.

Punggol Waterfront BTO Projects Receives BCA Award for Impressive Design

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know December 11, 2022

The barrier-free linkways and communal spaces at transport nodes and neighborhood center at Waterfront I & II of Northshore provide residents with the unique experience of seafront living without compromising accessibility and comfort. These features proved to be extremely useful to promote this project and it ultimately helped to win Building & Construction Authority Award for excellent design.

The built-to-order project at Punggol housing estate is one of the four winning constructions. Note that all these sites received the highest universal design rating for their innovative appeal. The winners of this award presented universal design principles for creating a highly accessible and inclusive environment, especially for elders, children, and people with disabilities.

31ha of Forested Areas to Have 10,000 New Homes in Bedok

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know November 26, 2022

Almost 31ha of forested land in Bedok is expected to receive clearance by the end of 2029 to have a Bayshore Housing development that is expected to be ready by the middle of 2030. As per the recent environmental assessment report from Housing Board, the target areas have conservation value ranging from minor to moderate – mainly due to the lesser number of species with conservation, species with richness, and enhanced dominance of flora with non-native significance.

The reports reveal that the areas targeted for clearance are listed among the last substantial forests from eastern Singapore. Moreover, the construction activities in this area are expected to leave some irreversible effects, mainly due to the considerable loss of bird species and plants.

DHI Water & Environment consultancy conducted a study that included baseline surveys from April 25 to July 21 in the year 2022. It covered approximately 31.4 ha of a total development site of 60 ha which is equivalent to 84 football fields. This complete construction site is linked to Upper East Coast Road in the north direction; however, the south side is connected to East Coast Parkway. The areas that are not studied in this survey include some highly vegetated sites that are now cleared for leading MRT station-related construction activities.

The forested land of almost 31ha is expected to be cleared for the Bayshore area housing project and the residents here will be served by two main MRT stations in the coming years. The recent environmental survey was conducted to understand the impact of upcoming developments along with mitigation measures.

Strong Demand for HDB Rental Properties in Singapore Ensures Landlord’s Market

My Exclusive Condo Buyer & Seller Must Know November 13, 2022

After the recent cooling measures applied in the Singapore housing market, the rental prices for private apartments & housing board flats have grown fast and the scenario indicates strong pressure on the rental market during the coming months. Studies reveal that HDB rental properties have climbed by almost 3.2% during the month of September which is comparatively higher than 2.4% rise reported in August. This report is presented with reference to both non-mature as well as mature estates in the Singapore housing area.
Read more

← Previous