Illustrative photography · Unsplash. Not a client property or transaction.
Keep three figures separate
The asking price, the price you agree with a seller, and the value used for financing are different concepts. Put them in separate lines of your worksheet. This helps you see whether a price discussion is changing your financing assumptions or only changing what you hope to pay for the flat.
Understand the official process
HDB’s Request for Value guidance explains that the assessed value forms the basis for CPF usage and the reference for a housing loan, unless the financial institution advises otherwise. Buyers using CPF or a housing loan should follow the stated request process after the seller grants the OTP. Confirm the required deadlines before entering the transaction.
Keep an allowance for uncertainty
Before an offer, decide how much cash you are prepared to commit across the whole purchase. Allow for a potential valuation gap alongside transaction costs, renovation, and a remaining emergency buffer. Do not assume that a gap can simply be absorbed by increasing the mortgage or changing the CPF contribution.
Do not use asking prices as proof
A seller’s expectation is useful negotiation context, but it is not an official valuation. Compare genuinely relevant completed transactions, with attention to the home’s attributes and timing. Discuss how strong the evidence is and where uncertainty remains. A confident-looking estimate should still explain its limitations.
Set your decision boundary early
Write down the maximum overall cash commitment that still leaves the move comfortable. Agree on it with anyone buying with you before negotiations become emotional. Bring that boundary and your financing position to the Health Check so the discussion centres on a home you can fund, not just a price you can agree.
Go to the source
HDB · Request for Value for a resale flat ↗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.