Illustrative photography · Unsplash. Not a client property or transaction.
The advertised price is only the starting point
Two homes with the same asking price can lead to different cash-flow experiences once financing, renovation, and moving arrangements are considered. Before making an offer, build a transaction budget beside your purchase budget. Treat taxes and professional fees as named items rather than a vague allowance you hope will be enough.
Check the correct basis
IRAS explains that Buyer’s Stamp Duty is calculated on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher. Residential property uses a tiered schedule. Use the current IRAS guidance or calculator for the actual transaction; multiplying the entire price by a single headline rate is not a reliable substitute.
Keep BSD and ABSD separate
Buyer’s Stamp Duty and Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty answer different questions. A calculation of one does not establish whether the other applies. Your citizenship, ownership interests, and buying arrangement need their own review. Do not assume that being a first-time visitor to a showflat means you have the same tax position as another buyer.
Think about timing as well as totals
A cost can be manageable overall but difficult if it falls due before your expected funds are accessible. Ask your conveyancing lawyer to map the amounts, payment methods, and due dates. Keep the working figures in one place and update them when the price or ownership arrangement changes.
A more useful affordability conversation
Bring your proposed price, ownership details, financing position, and cost list to your planning discussion. The mortgage calculator helps illustrate monthly repayments, while your transaction budget captures what must happen upfront. Both are needed before a property feels comfortably within reach.
Go to the source
IRAS · Buyer’s Stamp Duty ↗General planning information, prepared on 30 October 2026. Rules and individual circumstances can change. Verify current requirements with the relevant authority and your lender before making commitments.