Category: Property Jargon

Everyday, 99.co takes a piece of property jargon and demystifies it. Today, we’re looking at the Core Central Region (CCR), the big-bucks area of Singapore property: What is the CCR? A really great country-rock band that your dad remembers. But also, the Core Central Region (CCR) is where you find the most prestigious, high-rent areas…

35% Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) will now apply for any transfer of residential property into a living trust from 9 May onwards, as announced by the Ministry of Finance late on 8 May. Previously, the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) was payable for the transfer. Depending on the profile of the beneficiary, ABSD might also…

Update as of 17 December 2021: This article has been updated to include the latest TDSR, in light of the recent cooling measures announcement.  Every day, 99.co picks a piece of property jargon to explain it. Today we look at the TDSR, which affects your home loan application. What is Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR)?…

These days, more than three-quarters of the land in Singapore belongs to the government. However, this was only possible due to the Land Acquisition Act, which allows the government to acquire private land for public purposes. This includes freehold land, which, unlike leasehold land plots, technically belongs to the owner indefinitely. The most recent case…

Every day, we pick a piece of property jargon to demystify on 99.co. Today, we’re looking at the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP): What is the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP)? The EIP  is a housing policy unique to Singapore. It was instituted in 1989, as part of a wider plan to enforce multi-culturalism. Under the EIP,…

Once in a while, 99.co picks a piece of property jargon to explain it. Today we look at the notorious ABSD, which is a stamp duty (tax) on your house. Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) The most notorious of the cooling measures, the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) is a stamp duty paid on your…

Everyday at 99.co, we pick a piece of property jargon to demystify for you. Today, we look at Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): What’s a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)? A lot of Singaporeans want to invest in property; but they often run into a problem. It’s what we property industry experts technically call “not…

Every day, 99.co picks a piece of property jargon to explain it. Today we look at the painful issue of lease decay: What is lease decay? This refers to both the process, and effect, of a property that’s running down its lease. For example, a condo with just 30 years left on its 99-year lease…

Every day, 99.co picks a piece of property jargon to explain it. Today we look at the “mortgage brokers” that everyone keeps talking about. Who are these mysterious beings, and how do they keep your house affordable? What is a mortgage broker? Mortgage brokers serve three main purposes: They help property buyers to find the…

Every day, 99.co takes a piece of property jargon and demystifies it. Today, we’re looking at the Temporary Occupancy Permit (TOP): What is a Temporary Occupancy Permit (TOP)? For a building to be declared fit and ready for habitation, it needs to obtain the Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC) from the authorities. However, most buyers…