2026 Foreigner's White Paper: Buying Property in Singapore
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Summary (30 seconds)
- Can you buy? Foreigners can buy private condos without approval; not HDB flats; landed needs approval.
- Biggest cost: per IRAS, foreigners pay 60% ABSD, plus BSD up to 6%.
- Biggest saving: per IRAS, FTA nationals (US, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) get citizen ABSD — 0% on the first home, lower than a PR's 5%.
- Advanced: buying via a trust with a US-citizen child beneficiary can bring ABSD down to 0% after remission.
- Loans: per MAS, up to 75% LTV on the first home; 55% TDSR; down payment in cash.
- Commercial & industrial: per IRAS, offices, shophouses and factories have no ABSD and need no approval.
1. Eligibility
Foreigners can buy private condos, not HDB. Per SLA, no approval is needed for condos/apartments; landed homes need SLA approval (rarely granted); per HDB, flats are for citizens/PRs only. See the buying guide.
2. Tax: ABSD & BSD
The core cost for foreigners is 60% ABSD. Per IRAS: BSD up to 6% + ABSD (foreigners 60%).
| Buyer | 1st property ABSD |
|---|---|
| Singapore Citizen | 0% |
| PR | 5% |
| Foreigner | 60% |
| FTA national (US etc.) | 0% |
See the ABSD guide.
3. The FTA advantage
A US citizen is taxed like a Singapore citizen — lower than a PR. Per IRAS, US nationals and nationals/PRs of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland get citizen ABSD treatment. Often overlooked, hugely valuable.
4. Commercial & industrial: no ABSD
Offices, shophouses, retail and factories have no ABSD and need no approval. Per IRAS, ABSD applies only to residential. Non-residential BSD tops out at 5%; 9% GST may apply if the seller is GST-registered. See commercial guide.
5. Loans
Up to 75% LTV on the first home, 55% TDSR, cash down payment. Per MAS.
About the author
Lucy Wu (吴璐汐), PropNex Realty, CEA 注册编号：R062904B, NUS Master of Real Estate; S$300M+ transactions; featured by EdgeProp. Contact: WeChat wlx567 · +65 8310 5396.
⚠️ General information as of July 2026; rates and policies may change. Verify with IRAS/URA/MAS and consult professionals.