Singapore Property Guides for Sellers, Upgraders and Buyers

Practical, worked-number guidance on selling, upgrading and buying residential property in Singapore — HDB, EC, Landed and private condo.

Written by Rick Long, Associate Senior Division Director at Huttons Asia (CEA R026818Z), covering CPF, ABSD, sale proceeds and affordability, grounded in official sources like HDB, CPF Board and IRAS. New guides published regularly.

singapore property blog

What the rules say, what the numbers show, and what I’d do next.

Client Experiences | Documented, Not Curated

Couple reviewing property and CPF documents at a table before deciding to sell one and buy two

Sell One, Buy Two in Singapore: How It Works

Selling one property and buying two rests on a single piece of arithmetic: each name buys as a first housing loan, at up to 75%. Here is how that works, who it fits, and when keeping the property you already own is the better move.

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Two people discussing property documents at a table before appointing a property agent in Singapore

How to Choose a Property Agent in Singapore

There is no perfect property agent, but there is a checkable one. What the CEA Public Register shows about an agent’s record, what it leaves out, and the questions worth asking before you appoint anyone.

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Singapore HDB flat owner showing the unit to a viewer, handling the sale without a property agent

Selling Your HDB Without an Agent: What It Takes

Selling your HDB flat on your own is permitted, and CEA publishes the route for it. Whether it suits you depends on how many moving parts your sale has — and on knowing what the buyer’s agent may and may not do.

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Singapore HDB owner comparing a bank bridging loan against HDB's Enhanced Contra Facility before a sell-and-buy move

HDB Bridging Loan vs Contra (ECF): How to Choose

An HDB bridging loan and HDB’s Enhanced Contra Facility (ECF) solve the same problem — paying for your next flat before the money from your sale arrives — through different doors.

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Moving boxes, keys and a written agreement in the living room of an HDB resale flat during a temporary extension of stay before handover to the buyers

HDB Extension of Stay: Rules, Costs & Agreement

The Temporary Extension of Stay lets HDB sellers stay up to 3 months after completion — if the buyers agree. Here are the rules, the costs, and what to put in writing.

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HDB resale flats in Singapore, illustrating an Enhanced Contra Facility sell-and-buy move

HDB Contra (ECF): How to Sell and Buy an HDB Flat at the Same Time

Selling one HDB flat while buying another? The Enhanced Contra Facility routes your sale proceeds and CPF refund straight into your next purchase. Here’s the 2026 guide — rules, timeline, worked numbers, and the failure modes nobody covers.

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Illustration of the second HDB loan 50% cash proceeds retention rule in Singapore.

Second HDB Loan: The 50% Cash Proceeds Rule

If you take a second HDB concessionary loan, HDB right-sizes it: you keep the higher of S$25,000 or 50% of your cash proceeds from the flat you sold — including the deposit you received — and the rest goes into the next purchase to reduce your loan. Each household can take at most two HDB loans. Here is how the numbers actually land.

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Hi, I’m Rick Long,

Associate Senior Division Director, Huttons Asia · CEA Reg. R026818Z

With decades of experience in Singapore’s real estate market, I’ve had the privilege of being mentioned in media outlets such as Channel NewsAsia, The Straits Times, and 99.co.

Over the years, I’ve written extensively on the local property landscape — tackling the real questions buyers and sellers face, and helping them navigate each step with greater steadiness and confidence.

Many of my clients have become long-time friends — their trust and kind reviews continue to inspire me to raise the bar in everything I do. 

I believe real estate should be strategic, seamless, and deeply aligned with your life’s journey.