Freehold vs leasehold condos – Which is the best choice?

For educational purposes only. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.

Leasehold versus freehold: An argument that will go on until the cows come home

Many have always debated over the issue of whether to buy a leasehold or freehold property. (In this article, we shall treat 999-year leaseholds as if they are freehold in nature.) In their quest to find out more about these two tenures of properties, one thing they will encounter is the question of what premium a freehold property commands over one that has a limited legal lifespan. However, one thing that many will notice is that wherever they turn to for an answer, there doesn’t seem to be a definitive one. Even professionals like valuers would condition their reply with an approximate percentage. Often a 10% premium is used
Read more…

Leasehold favoured over freehold properties in current en bloc fever

Developers’love for freehold property in residential en bloc sales in the past appears to have given way to a preference for leasehold assets in the current en bloc cycle.
Read more…

The big leasehold debate

Discussions about leasehold properties have dominated headlines in the first half of 2017. The debate was re-visited courtesy of a blog post in March 2017 by National Development Minister, Lawrence Wong, about how leasehold HDB flats would return to the state once its lease was up. He added that since 1995, only 4 per cent of HDB flats were identified for Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). We’ve previously covered the implications of a leasehold on HDB flats here.
Read more…

Leasehold property: What happens when 99 years runs out?

Land in Singapore is held under three main leasehold types: freehold, 999-year and 99-year leases.
For properties built on freehold land, the land belongs to the leasehold owner indefinitely so there’s no need to worry about the lease running out (save for the dreaded government acquisition of course). This extends, to a certain extent, to 999-year leasehold properties as well, since 999 years is certainly long enough to house many generations with ease.
Read more…

Freehold vs leasehold: Which is better?

In land-scare Singapore, space is a luxury. A spacious property that can house three generations comfortably is increasingly rare. While many remember the brisk sales and popularity of “mickey mouse” apartments a few years ago, President Halimah’s jumbo HDB flat has brought the spotlight to larger units. So what is the attraction of a larger home?
Read more…

Freehold vs leasehold condos – Which is the best choice?

A freehold property can be held by the owner indefinitely. A 99 year leasehold property reverts back to the state, upon the expiry of its lease.
A holdover from the Colonial era are properties with 999 year leases. This is, for all intents and purposes, similar to freehold.
Read more…

Freehold vs Leasehold – which is better?

In Singapore, there are generally two types of tenure – freehold and 99-year leasehold. A 999-year lease is usually considered similar to freehold as its difference in value is negligible while banks are not expected to impose any loan limit even if the lease covers a few hundred years, revealed a report from OrangeTee Research.
Read more…

Freehold Property: Why It’s Not as Great as It Seems

Singaporeans get traditional when it comes to property. We want the land we pay for, and 99 years won’t cut it. We want our descendants holding on to it, long after the Great World War of 3012 when humanity is living off roaches and lichen. But freehold property is a monstrous cost; and are we being practical, or buying an overpriced security blanket? In this article, I examine how freehold property has conditional value. Depending on your situation, it may not be the best choice:
Read more…

Freehold vs Leasehold Singapore – A Brief Comparison

Comparing freehold and leasehold properties is indeed a tedious task. There are many factors that one needs to consider to get a better perspective between the two. The land tenure, location, price, convenience, amenities, rental potential, investment returns and all others should always be taken into account when buying a property in Singapore. Below is a brief comparison between freehold and leasehold properties so you could assess things more appropriately without being too technical.
Read more..

Is Singapore Freehold Property Always Better Than Leasehold?

Everyone desires owning a property in Singapore but we must be aware of the various property types in order for us to make the best of choices when we eventually decided to invest.
Read more…

Leasehold vs freehold: What’s the difference?

Wondering what the difference is between a leasehold and a freehold? This guide breaks down the ways you can own a property: freehold, leasehold, or leasehold with a share of the freehold. It also examines the costs and responsibilities of each, and how they affect what a property will cost to buy, sell, and maintain.
Read more…