How do I work out how much home I can afford in Singapore?

Start from the loan rules, not the asking prices: banks can lend up to 75% of the property value, capped by the Total Debt Servicing Ratio of 55% of gross monthly income; HDB flats and ECs are additionally capped by the 30% Mortgage Servicing Ratio. Add your cash and CPF for the downpayment and stamp duties to find your realistic ceiling.

Do buyers pay agent commission in Singapore?

It depends on the transaction. In many resale purchases the buyer's agent is paid via co-broking arrangements; in others a buyer-paid fee is agreed. Geraldine explains exactly how she is remunerated in writing before you engage her, so there are no surprises.

What should I check at a viewing?

Beyond the interior: sun direction in the afternoon, noise at different times of day, corridor and lift condition, nearby construction plans, and actual transacted prices in the block. Geraldine provides a viewing checklist and attends viewings with her clients.

Buying

Buy the right home in Singapore — at a price the data supports

HDB resale, EC or private condo. We start with your real budget, not a portal wishlist — then search with discipline and negotiate with evidence.

Start with a budget chat Resale vs new launch guide

Quick answer

Geraldine Koh represents buyers of HDB resale flats, ECs and private homes across Singapore. The service starts with a financing-rules-based budget (LTV, TDSR, MSR), then covers shortlisting, accompanied viewings with a structured checklist, price benchmarking against actual transactions, and offer-to-completion support. The first budget conversation is free.

Budget before viewings. Always.

The most expensive mistake buyers make is falling for a unit before knowing their ceiling. Once you're emotionally committed, every number becomes negotiable — with yourself.

So we start with the rules that actually decide your budget:

Loan-to-value: banks can lend up to 75% of the property value on a first housing loan; HDB loans are also capped at 75%.
TDSR: all your monthly debt repayments must stay within 55% of gross monthly income.
MSR (HDB/EC only): the home loan repayment alone must fit within 30% of gross monthly income.
Cash and CPF: downpayment, Buyer's Stamp Duty, and — if this is a second property — ABSD at your profile's current rate.

Financing limits per MAS rules, verified July 2026. Your bank's in-principle approval is always the final word — I'll help you get one before we view.

What you get from me

A written budget summary you can sanity-check with your banker
A ranked requirements list — separating "must have" from "nice to have"
A focused shortlist, not fifty portal tabs
Accompanied viewings with a structured checklist: sun, noise, defects, surroundings at different hours
Price benchmarking against actual transactions before any offer
Offer strategy, OTP handling and completion support

Geraldine's note I keep a simple rule with buyers: we never offer on a unit we've seen only once, and never above what the transaction evidence supports without a reason we can write down.

Three buying paths, compared

	HDB resale	Resale condo	New launch condo
Move-in	~3 months after OTP	~3 months after OTP	Typically 3–5 years (on TOP)
What you see	The actual unit	The actual unit	Showflat and floor plans
Financing cap	LTV 75% + MSR 30%	LTV 75% + TDSR 55%	LTV 75% + TDSR 55%, progressive payments
Typical buyer	Value-focused families	Families needing space now	Buyers with time horizon and holding power

The full comparison — including cost worked examples — is in the guide: Resale condo vs new launch: how to choose. Considering a specific project? See the new launch directory.

Buying questions, answered

How do I work out what I can afford?

Work backwards from the rules: 75% maximum loan-to-value, TDSR at 55% of gross income, MSR at 30% for HDB/EC, then your available cash and CPF for downpayment and stamp duties. I run this with clients in about 20 minutes, and then we confirm it with a bank's in-principle approval before viewing anything.

Do buyers pay agent commission?

It depends on the transaction structure — in many resale deals the buyer's agent is remunerated through co-broking; in others a buyer-paid fee is agreed. Either way, I put how I'm paid in writing before you engage me.

What do you check at viewings that I might miss?

Afternoon sun on west-facing windows (a real issue in our part of the island), noise at rush hour versus Sunday morning, upcoming construction nearby, lift and corridor condition, and how the asking price compares with what's actually transacted in the block — not what's listed.

I'm selling my flat to fund the purchase. What order should I do things in?

That's an upgrading question, and the sequence matters enormously for ABSD and financing. Start with the upgrading guide or my HDB upgrading service.

Let's find out what's realistic

Twenty minutes on WhatsApp or a call, and you'll know your true budget and which paths fit it. No viewing pressure afterwards.

Discuss buying on WhatsApp