The home ownership rate in Singapore stands at
90.7% as of 2017, making it one of the
highest in the world. However, with the large number of Permanent Residents and foreign workers living in the city (about
64% of the population as of 2017), as well as
strict controls on who can buy HDB properties, the question of whether to buy or rent is increasingly salient.
Buying vs renting: financial costs
The choice between buying and renting depends on your financial situation and other life circumstances. But first, let’s compare the financial costs of each:
The cost of buying (in the first 5 years)
Let’s say you’re buying your first property in Singapore – it’s a small, 517-square-feet private condo located at Bukit Merah, valued at S$767,000. You take a 30-year loan at an interest rate of 2.5%. Here’s how much you may have to pay in upfront ...
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