No matter in which part of
world you are, buying a property is not an easy task. You need to make sure
that the deal you are going to make is a legitimate one. You can do this by
getting some exclusive information from your real estate agent and from the
neighborhood. Thus, it is vital to get associated with a competent and reliable
RES
(Real Estate Salesperson).
Once an agent shortlists some
of the properties and seeks your approval, you are expected to make few short
trips to the site and people linked with it. These trips are meant to ensure
that you get familiar with the interior and exterior of the house building and
the fixtures of the prospective property. This also ensures that you are
satisfied with the property details before giving your final consent. Buying an
immovable property is a long time investment, and you need to be fully sure
that you are making a wise decision and are happy with your deal. Thus, you
should inspect the prospective property closely noting all the details and
clear all your doubts with the concerned RES
Singapore before finally signing the option to purchase.
Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) on and
after 22nd February 2014
BSD is based on the purchase
amount of market value, whichever is higher
Purchase amount or Market Value, whichever is
higher
|
BSD Rates
|
For the first $180,000
|
BSD is 1%
|
For the next $180,000
|
BSD is 2%
|
Subsequent (Remainder) Amount
|
BSD is 3%
|
For example if a property is
purchased at $2,000,000. And this is reflective of its market value, then the
BSD is calculated as follows
- · For the first $180,000 the BSD is 1% of 180,000 = $1800
- · For the next $180,000 the BSD is 2% of 180,000 = $3600
- · For the remaining $1,640,000 BSD is 3% of 1,640,000 = $49,200
As a purchaser, other than the
property cost you are required to pay BSD and bear other expenditures viz.
legal cost and one-time fee of the solicitor. If you are interested to take a
bank loan, you should know that banks usually allow loans up to the 70% of the
property price; thus, you should be ready with at least 30% equity along with
other expenditures to purchase a property in Singapore .
Expats interested to buy
properties in Singapore
should know that foreigners can now purchase non-condominium developments of
less than six levels. Additional BSD is applicable for foreigners buying
property in Singapore .
For buying land, landed properties, semi detached and terrace houses, foreign
nationals should seek a prior approval from Singapore Land Authority.
As per prevalent norms, all new
real estate salesperson in Singapore
are required to pursue RES
course and pass the RES exam before getting their license. This has
increased the proficiency and reliability in the real estate business in Singapore
in recent years.