Black and whites 

These striking government-owned historical bungalows with colonial roots are heritage protected and are available for foreigners to rent via an auction process. Think tropical garden settings, airy high ceilings and, unsurprisingly, black and white painted exteriors.

Cluster house

Can’t decide between the privacy and space of a landed property and the convenience of condominium facilities such as pools, playgrounds and gyms? Cluster housing might be what you are looking for.  Cluster housing developments combine landed property, such as bungalows, semi-detached or terrace houses, with the benefits of shared facilities.

Condominium
Many expats enjoy the lifestyle afforded by privately owned condominiums in large apartment complexes with a range of resort-style facilities, such as playgrounds, pools, gyms, function rooms and tennis courts. Condominiums can be found all over Singapore, but particularly in Central neighbourhoods.

Executive condominium (EC)

Physically, an EC property may look identical to a condominium, both in style and facilities. The difference in category lies in the rules and regulations regarding the property.  Executive condominiums are a relatively recent public-private hybrid: public housing units and estates aimed at property buyers looking for something more up-market than an HDB flat, but for whom private property remains too expensive. A new EC has similar public housing regulations to an HDB flat, with a 5-year minimum occupation period before it can be sold or leased out. After 10 years the EC effectively transforms into a private condominium and may then be sold on the open market to foreigners.

Freehold title

Purchase of a property with a freehold title grants you ownership of the estate in perpetuity, or without a time limit. This is also known as the statutory land grant (SLG). Tenure of residential property in Singapore tends to be either freehold or 99-year leasehold. Traditionally, freehold titles have been priced at a premium to leasehold, however, some leasehold property owners have benefitted from the HDB’s Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme, which may acquire leasehold titles for redevelopment, often with an accompanying package of compensation and rehousing benefits.

Golden shoe area

Singapore’s commercial heart since colonial times, in the 1960s this area began to be redeveloped into a financial centre reminiscent of Wall Street. The ‘shoe’ in the name refers to the shape of the area in which the government encouraged development through rent decontrol measures.

Housing and Development Board (HDB)

Established in the 1960s, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) is Singapore's public (government) housing authority. The HDB has been a highly successful government initiative, with, by their own estimates, over 80% of Singapore's resident population now living in HDB flats.

Landed property

As described. A freestanding property with no shared walls, on an island the size of Singapore, these are understandably occupied by wealthier residents. Landed property may be purchased by foreigners with Government approval according to the Residential Property Act.

Leasehold title

In the main, there are four types of leasehold titles, granting the right to lease the property for 30, 60, 99 or even 999 years, which is probably beyond most of our lifetimes. At the end of the period, the title reverts back to the state. Tenure of residential property in Singapore tends to be either 99-year leasehold or freehold.

Minimum occupation period (MOP)

Singapore citizens must live in their HDB flat for 5 years before being able to sublet or sell it.

Non-Citizen Quota for Subletting of Flat

You may come across this quota if you want to rent a public flat. The Housing & Development Board manages the number of foreigners within their estates to help maintain a mix of ethnicities. The quota is set at 8 percent at the neighbourhood level and 11 percent at the block level. Once these levels have been reached, only Singaporeans or Malaysians can rent a flat in that neighbourhood or block. Eligibility can be checked online.

Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS)

A leasehold property may be subject to en bloc sale, usually for higher density redevelopment. According to the HDB, SERS residents get the opportunity to move to a new home with a new 99-year lease, as well as a package comprising compensation and rehousing benefits.

Statutory land grant (SLG)

See Freehold title.

Strata landed house

See cluster house.

Temporary occupation permit (TOP)

Newly constructed units must granted a TOP by the Building and Construction Authority before they can be occupied.

Units of measurement

Square feet

Similar to this:

Introduction to Singapore property

Buying property in Singapore

Renting property in Singapore

Obtaining finance in Singapore

Property taxes in Singapore