{"id":1253,"date":"2019-02-25T07:29:24","date_gmt":"2019-02-24T23:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/blog\/singapore\/?p=1253"},"modified":"2023-04-27T18:25:42","modified_gmt":"2023-04-27T10:25:42","slug":"singapore-property-buying-guide-for-foreigners","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/singapore-property-buying-guide-for-foreigners\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a property in Singapore as a foreigner"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Everything a foreigner needs to know about buying property in Singapore can be found in the Residential Property Act (Chapter 274) of the Singapore Law. Yet, reading through a couple hundred pages of legal jargon could be a little overwhelming.<\/p>\n

We at 99.co<\/a> have put some of our minions to work and crunched out the essentials. Whether you are aiming to dip your toes into buying property in Singapore or jump in head-first, here are some pointers.<\/p>\n

Like most countries, Singapore does play favourites with its citizens.
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The property market in Singapore is segmented and favours Singapore citizens.\u00a0 The story goes something like this:<\/p>\n

Since the early \u201870s, the Singapore government has had a hand in the property market, gradually imposing a series of thresholds and restrictions on foreigners looking to buy property in Singapore.<\/p>\n

These regulations are implemented in the context of a property market that has limited supply (this is a tiny island, despite the growing population). As such, restrictions exist to keep property affordable for Singaporeans, and give them a stake in their own country.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, foreigners shouldn’t be worried. There are plenty of opportunities to buy a home in Singapore. That said, finding property, especially in an unfamiliar country, can be challenging.<\/p>\n

When are you considered a foreigner?<\/h2>\n

Generally in Singapore, anyone who is not a Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident, is a foreigner.<\/p>\n

The significance of your residential status is that it affects the stamp duties to be paid (more on this later) and the type of residential properties you can purchase.<\/p>\n

Under the Residential Property Act, a foreign person refers to anyone who is not any of the following:<\/p>\n