Destination · Singapore
Singapore.
Asia's deepest private-residential market and one of the most aggressively cooled. A 60 percent Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty makes the city closed to most foreign buyers. For those who fit the narrow paths in (Sentosa Cove, FTA nationals, the PR route), the structural case for ownership remains uniquely strong.
Editorial introduction
Singapore is the most institutionalised residential market in Asia. SGX-listed developers, a tightly regulated planning regime, mature secondary market, and one of the world's most aggressive cooling-measure frameworks. The 60 percent Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty introduced in April 2023 effectively closed the market to ordinary foreign purchasers.
For the narrow population that still has access — US, Icelandic, Liechtensteiner, Norwegian and Swiss nationals via Free Trade Agreement exemptions, foreigners purchasing in Sentosa Cove under the Land Dealings (Approval) Unit framework, and the larger cohort who acquire Permanent Residency before purchasing — Singapore property remains a structurally compelling holding.
This editorial hub covers the legal framework, the SGX-listed developer landscape, and the practical mechanics of buying Singapore property under the current cooling-measure regime.
At a glance
Singapore in numbers.
- Resident population
- 6.04M
- Citizen + PR
- 4.18M
- Land area
- 734 km²
- Foreign ABSD rate
- 60%
- FTA-exempt buyers
- 5
- Sentosa Cove
- 117 ha
Total population including residents and non-residents (2024)
Singapore citizens and permanent residents
One of the world's most densely populated sovereign states
Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty for foreigners since April 2023
USA, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland nationals
Singapore's only zone where foreigners can buy landed property
Sources: Singapore Department of Statistics · IRAS · URA · Latitude editorial
The Singapore editorial
What we cover.
Buyer Guide and the Developments Directory are live. Service Providers, Lifestyle and Neighbourhoods roll out next.
Buyer Guide
How foreigners buy property in Singapore in 2026
The 60% ABSD reality, the Sentosa Cove exception, FTA-exemption mechanics, leasehold versus freehold, the districts that hold value, taxes and the structural exit routes.
Open
Directory
Singapore property developments directory
The major SGX-listed and privately held developers: CapitaLand, City Developments Limited, Far East Organization, UOL, Frasers Property, GuocoLand and more.
Open
Service Providers
Trusted legal, tax, PR and banking specialists
An editorial directory of conveyancing solicitors, tax advisors, Permanent Residency specialists, private banking partners, valuation surveyors and relocation firms.
Open
Agencies
Real estate agencies foreign buyers actually use
International flagship brokerages (Knight Frank Residential, Savills Residential), the major SGX-listed franchise networks (PropNex, ERA, OrangeTee, Huttons) and the two property marketplaces.
Open
Lifestyle
MICHELIN restaurants, sky bars, signature venues
Singapore's Three-Star, Two-Star and One-Star MICHELIN kitchens plus the rooftop bars and signature venues that anchor the dining calendar.
Open
Neighbourhoods
Deep-dive district guides
Standalone reports per district. Demographics, pricing, lifestyle and editorial point of view. In editorial pipeline.
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