Illustrative photography · Unsplash. Not a client property or transaction.
Start with an everyday budget
Track your regular expenses and decide what monthly repayment would leave room for your other priorities. Use the mortgage calculator to compare scenarios; its output is an illustration, not a loan offer or eligibility assessment.
Make a separate upfront-cost list
Include the down payment, applicable stamp duties, legal fees, valuation costs, renovation, furniture, and moving costs. Keep a separate emergency buffer. The amount payable in cash depends on your financing and circumstances.
Check eligibility and financing early
If you are considering an HDB flat, consult HDB’s current purchase and financial-planning guidance. For any purchase, check financing with your lender and confirm the rules that apply to your situation.
Use viewings to test your priorities
Take a consistent checklist to every viewing. Compare travel time, condition, layout, ongoing costs, and how well each home fits your plans rather than judging by photographs alone.
Go to the source
HDB: Financial planning for a flat purchase ↗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.