Steps to Upgrade to an HDB Resale Flat?

Steps to Upgrade to an HDB Resale Flat?

Kumar Properties

Steps to Upgrade to an HDB Resale Flat?

When can you upgrade from your HDB flat? 

Usually, those who purchased HDB, must wait 5 years to sell HDB property and buy other private property. HDB properties have Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). During MOP period, you must live in the HDB flat you bought. During MOP, few things should not be done like:

  1. Selling HDB flat
  2. Buying a second HDB flat
  3. Investing in other private property
  4. Buying property in abroad

These rules are applicable for the resale HDB flat too. For 1-bedder there is no MOP but not for above 2 bedder HDB flats. Here are the guidelines for the above 2 bedroom flats:

Purchase ModeMOP
Bought new HDB flat (including buying under SERS)5 years
Bought new DBSS flat from developer5 years
Bought resale flat with CPF housing grant5 years
Bought Resale flat without grant (after Aug 2010)5 years
Bought Resale flat without grant(Mar to Aug 2010)3 years
Bought Resale flat without grant(before 5 Mar 2010)2.5 years

Which property you can upgrade after MOP?

When your MOP is up, you have many options to purchase second property. Some of the most popular are:

  1. Resale HDB flat: Investing resale HDB flat is the cheapest and easiest option, some of the prices of the flats are below $400,000. In HDB resale portal, you can find and purchase an HDB resale flat easily. Upgrading from HDB to a new HDB may not be much difference but upgrading to resale HDB flats in mature estates like Bishan and Queenstown are larger and more spacious. If you want to upgrade your home for good schools for your children. 
  2. Condominium: The most popular option for most HDB upgraders is condo properties. When a property becomes older property value also increases. According to the price, private condos are more expensive than resale HDB flats, mostly prices starting from $1.5 million.
  3. Landed Property: landed properties are more expensive than condo properties, prices of landed properties start from $2 million, which is considered a cheap in cost for landed properties in Singapore. For upgrading any type of property, a property agent is needed to make the process easy. Kumar is one of the property agents in Singapore, he serves all the clients and also helps you to understand the property market. We’ll guide you step-by-step procedure for upgrading any property.

Steps to Upgrade to an HDB Resale Flat?

Upgrading property is the biggest dream to many of the property owners. If you have decided to upgrade for an HDB resale flat, here is a step-by-step procedure to upgrade your property. 

Step 1: Choose your resale flat

Before choosing a resale flat, first of all, decide to engage a top property agent. The real estate agent is necessary to do all those works like legal work and paperwork for your property upgrade. They not only help you in paperwork but also guide you to choose the right property and how to sell your first property above your market value. 

The further step is to figure out all your requirement like location, no. of bedrooms, amenities and budget to buy a resale HDB flat. Next according to your requirements, find a resale HDB unit in different property portals else you can say to your agent for choosing the right property.

Step 2: Check the flat before you invest

Before you invest in resale HDB flat, book showflat appointment and visit the flat to check condition of the HDB resale unit. There are some other things to consider, they are

  1. Ethnic and PR quota – You can check the status of this in HDB quota portal because it will change from month to month.
  2. HDB Ownership – You should also make sure about the seller details like HDB is legally owned and met MOP or not.
  3. Upgrading Works – Make sure about the payment of upgrading works wh should pay you or your seller.
  4. HDB Resale Prices – according to your budget choose right property and quote right price by checking recent transacted HDB prices.
  5. Leasehold Period – For every HDB leasehold will be 99 years. Before you invest in property check how many years left on the lease. Because of the lease, it may affect your home loans and how much of your CPF you can use. For the new CPF rules lease period should be atleast 20 years left on the lease, with the youngest buyer up to the age of 95 able to pay the lease using CPF. 

 Next procedure is exercise your option to purchase and pay a deposit to the seller.

Step 3: Start using HDB Resale Portal

To know exact transaction details, both buyer and seller need to browse HDB resale portal. Register with the HDB resale portal then it will say you what to do.

Step 4: Check out your eligible for the proximity housing grant

The price of a 5-room HDB resale flat can be anywhere from $400,000 (Sembawang) to $850,000 (Toa Payoh). Since most people don’t have such a lot of money lying around, grants are helpful. Unfortunately, HDB schemes are primarily aimed at first-time buyers. Second-time buyers can only apply for the Proximity Housing Grant. If you buy a resale flat within 4 kilometers of your parents or in-laws, it’s $20,000 if you get them to live with you. Importantly, these living arrangements must remain the same throughout the MOP.

Step 5: Finance your resale HDB

The Enhanced Contra Facility of HDB is the most useful scheme for upgraders. This allows you to sell your current HDB flat and buy a resale at the same time. The proceeds from your sale and your refunded CPF can be used to finance your new resale flat, reducing the amount of cash you’ll need up front and the amount of loan you’ll need. When it comes to financing your HDB upgrade, there’s actually a fixed order to follow.

Financing Method Notes
Cash received by selling first HDB flatYou have to use atleast 50% for resale HDB
CPF (OA)You can CPF use only when you don’t have cash and also you can withdrawal limit amount.
HDB loanIf you’re eligible, You can use after using cash & CPF 
Bank loanIf you’re not eligible for HDB loan you can use but the loan limit is 75% for first mortgage) and 45% of second mortgage.

Step 6: Handovering your first HDB flat keys in 6 months

Last but not least is you can’t buy 2 HDB flats at a time so, you need to sell your HDB flat and handover keys to your buyer. Then only you can buy other HDB. 

So selling your HDB flat also need to contact property agent. Before selling you need to valuate your property. Kumar Properties is a property agency, we will you in every step of property selling and buying process. We will make hassle free process. So contact +65 82828214.

 

For more property articles and property details. please contact us +6582828214

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Things to know before upgrading to a private property?

Things to know before upgrading to a private property?

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Things to know before upgrading to Private Property

Upgrading from HDB to a private condo is followed by many people. Numerous Singaporean families turned their dream into a reality of buying and staying in condo. Several households currently wanted to live in private condos rather than in HDB for exclusive facilities and different lifestyles. 

Due to the growth of the HDB resale prices in the past few years, many of the house owners have decided to upgrade their property. In the second half of the 2019 HDB resale price values started to recover after booking six consecutive years of decline. In 2021, there is a sudden increase of HDB resale prices by 12.7%, following a 5% increase in 2020. Because of this reason many owners are selling their HDB flat and investing private property.

Things to consider for upgrading property

Are you completed your 5 years minimum occupation period (MOP) for HDB?

Do You want to upgrade your HDB flat to private condo?

There are several things to consider to upgrade property in Singapore. Read this articles to know more.

1. Find objective for upgrading to private condo

First of make clear idea about why do you want to upgrade from HDB to a private condo. Private property provides you privacy in gated condo system and also use of different condo facilities like a swimming pool, yoga pavilion, herb garden, clubhouse, gym, tennis court and other facilities. These facilities are one of the reasons to upgrade property from HDB to condo property, which are highly attractive. One reason is facilities another reason will be the rise of private property prices in future. Here is the URA Private property prices index (PPI) and HDB Resale prices index (HRPI). By observing this chart, know that private property price growth rate is more than the HDB resale prices (See Chart 1).

 

2. Financial analysis and monthly payment

Upgraders are mostly concentrating on mass-market private homes in the outside central region (OCR) or Executive condos (EC’s). Executive condos are a type of public and private housing hybrid. Now a day’s residential property prices have continuously increased and reached a peak point. 

Based on URA Realis caveat data, the average price in 2021 for new launches, resales and new EC projects were $1.74M, $1.25M and $1.37M, respectively (see Table 1).

If the upgrader has sold the flat and has no other financial commitments, buyers will have to pay a monthly loan repayment between $3,900 and $5,500 at these prices. Using a 75% loan to value loan at a rate of 2% and a 25-year loan, Table 2 illustrates the buyer’s financial outlay.

Prior to making such a big purchase as a new home, prospective buyers should consult with an experienced realtor or financial advisor.

3. Maintenance/ conservancy fees

It is also important to consider how much maintenance or service and conservation charges are payable each month if you are living in a private condo rather than a HDB flat. A four-room HDB flat’s S&CC is usually about $64 and a five-room flat’s about $80. A condo maintenance fee, on the other hand, can easily go over a hundred dollars, and it depends on the size and value of the unit. In addition, private condo owners may not enjoy certain incentives offered by the government, such as S&CC rebates for example. 

4. Chance to buy property 

When the couple sells their apartment (which was joint bought) and buys a new house, they will be able to “decouple” – they will purchase the new house under one name. As this would be the individual’s first home purchase, he will be able to purchase a residential property in the future without paying additional buyer’s stamp duty.

When is the right time to upgrade property in Singapore?

There is no way to perfectly time the market, but would-be buyers could take some advice from price movements in private and HDB resale properties. If private home prices are likely to plateau or grow much more slowly, owners would be interested in taking advantage of a stronger HDB resale price growth.

In 2022, PropNex estimates HDB resale prices will increase by 6% to 8% at a faster rate than private residential properties. In contrast to the 10.6% increase in private home prices in 2021, prices are expected to rise at a slower pace this year thanks to new cooling measures implemented in December 2021.

It is likely that inflationary pressures will drive prices up this year as construction costs and manpower costs rise, but strong demand in 2021 drove prices up. Additionally, with interest rates expected to rise through 2022, some buyers may want to secure a better mortgage rate now rather than later.

To know more information about properties, here are my articles about how to buy property and how sell property. Do you want to read more about property investment, please register with us

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We will love to answer any queries you might have. Submit this form and we will be in touch with you shortly.

For Free Consultation. Kindly Contact Our Team At +6569028874.

KUMAR PROPERTIES

Find Your Dream Home

SITELINKS

Kumar Properties

About Kumar

Services

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CONTACT US

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+6569028874

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