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Hi, my 4rm HDB at Boon Lay Drive is reaching MOP in Nov . I am 47 this year. Loan balance is abt $241k which can be cleared. No other loans on hand.

My objectives are:
1) I need slightly bigger space to accommodate a family of 4 plus a study (due to WFH). Ideally a 3+1 or 4 bedder

Right now I have 2 options in my mind:
1) Upgrade to a 5rm HDB (ie 1200 sqf) within the same estate which are 10 year old HDBs
2) Looking at Wandervale EC. Prefer to stay in the west and maybe near MRTs. Can walk or take bus 1-2 stops. Don't mind condo and I am comfortable with anything below $1.8mil.

Not considering new launch since I need a place to stay and I do not want to rent. New EC, I am faced with the income ceiling cap.

Desired retirement plan is perhaps downgrade back to HDB when its my retirement age and get back some cash since I am not tied to 18 months waiting period post 55 yo.
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13 Answers

Hi Do contact me at 97970200  to understand more and discuss.

Mark, your RIGHT choice
Propnex Read More
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I’m Aren Goh from PropNex.

What you’ve described is perfectly legal under current HDB rules, because an essential occupier is not considered a legal property owner and therefore can buy a private property later without ABSD, so long as they meet eligibility conditions.

That said, given how authorities have tightened 99/1 decoupling and other stamp duty-related workarounds, it’s not impossible they could review this arrangement in the future if they see it being used mainly as a tax avoidance tactic. Any change would likely come with transitional provisions, but there’s no guarantee existing owners would be fully exempt from new rules.

If you’re thinking of using this structure now, the key is to make sure the ownership and occupier arrangement still meets your practical needs, not just tax savings. I can help assess your situation in detail so you’re prepared both under current rules and in case things shift down the road. You can reach me at 9657 6701  . Read More
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  • NA
    Intend to sell my existing hdb so no issue with 99:1
Hi

Based on info shared, between the two options if I were you I may lean slightly more to Wandervale EC as I think it still has potential upside given it is a relatively new development 7+ years old. There will also be a new mixed development near CCK MRT in the future which will bring up the sale prices here to another level, plus the CCK MRT will become an interchange with Jurong Region Line in the future linking residents here to more commercial nodes like Tuas, Jurong Innovation District and NTU. I think the capital appreciation potential for Wandervale will be faster than the 5-room hdb in a similar time period.

That said you might need to adjust a bit in terms of size as a same size condo/resale EC, and hdb will feel different in terms of space. Also financially the loan repayment will be higher versus getting a more affordable 5-room hdb. But I think you will get better returns if you go for the resale EC option.

Just my 2 cents, perhaps we can discuss further over phone. Hope the above clarifies. I am well-versed with HDB and private property transactions, having helped more than 100 homeowners transit smoothly with their housing plans. Please reach out to me at 97432395  for a more in-depth discussion :)

May I have more info on your requirements so as to make better recommendations? Thanks and looking forward to chat more

Warm Regards,

Ivan Ng Realtor
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HDB Jurong West 5-RM Sellers, Exec Apartment Purchasers, Lenz & Michelle --

We would like to thank you for ensuring a smooth and well-explained process throughout the whole selling and buying of our property. We got to know you thru Property Guru, where we are scouting for condo around West area. We remember that we are quite tight in our budget in purchasing the condo unit,but you are still very willingly explaining and calculating our financial liabilities. You are always having your smiles whenever we met for discussion.

We appreciated your process of selling and buying of our property are very systematically and well executed, from financial calculation to the purchase procedure of our new house. We are always being updated thru our group chat during the engagement of your service.

We would never expect such a smooth sailing experience of selling and buying of property. Your professionalism in work will definitely be remembered and rewarded. All the best

Hdb Yishun BTO 5-RM Sellers, Private Property Upgraders Mr. & Mrs. Koh --

I would like to express my appreciation to Ivan Ng for his excellent work. Ivan is a dedicated, client-focused, patient and sincere agent. Throughout the whole process of selling and looking for our next property, he has always acted very professionally that makes my wife and I feel at ease and assured. Ivan is not a pushy and hard sales agent. Ivan listens and understands our needs and carefully guided us through. We are fortunate to have Ivan as our agent. Thank you Ivan. Read More
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Should not be an issue for both options, and from your case, it is likely more on the non-tangible effects for the next move. Upgrading to a condo will give you better protection in terms of asset value while HDB should give you more comfortable size and less financial strain, which could perhaps have an impact on your desired lifestyle.

I'd reckon that you can start viewing both options and have a feel of how things can be, so you will be able to make a more sound decision. Family decision can also play a part so you may wish to involve your family in the viewing process.

——

I have been in the real estate business since 2009, with more than 15 years of experience serving the Singapore real estate market.

I am very active in the residential segment of Singapore real estate market, having transacted hundreds of deals from HDBs to private condominiums and landed properties in Singapore, and have handled many unique cases in sales and purchases as well as rental deals.

Over the years, I have also established a network reaching out to more than 15,900 expatriates, bringing my market presence to both in and outside of Singapore. This has created an additional exposure when I manage my client's portfolios, on top of the conventional on and offline platforms, where other estate agents are relying on. This has allowed me to consistently convert leads into results.

With an evolving market, where change is the only constant, I have also been investing in upgrading of my knowledge and skills sets to improve myself and meet the demands of current and future market.

We are offering our clients a complimentary first consultation without obligations (Absolutely FREE!). Schedule for your FREE session today!

Warmest regards,
Geryl Lim
Deputy Branch Associate Director
Email: geryl.lim@orangetee.com / geryl7772@gmail.com
OrangeTee & Tie Pte Ltd 430 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #01-01 OrangeTee Building Singapore 319402
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 +65 92787772 
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Good day to you.

Your plan to upgrade from your current HDB to a larger 3+1 or 4-bedroom condo is a strategy that many homeowners choose as they seek more space and modern amenities. This transition reflects a desire for a comfortable living environment, along with your growing family's needs and wishes to enhance your quality of life.

Considering the maximum loan age guidelines, you will likely be eligible for an approximately 18-year mortgage for your new property. This timeframe can provide you with a manageable repayment schedule while allowing you to still invest in your future.

I suggest we arrange a meeting to conduct a thorough feasibility study on your options. We can evaluate your financial situation, explore the potential returns on your investment, and discuss the long-term plan of possibly downsizing back to an HDB as you approach retirement. This comprehensive approach will ensure that your home upgrade aligns well with your future goals.

Navigating a property transaction can be complex, especially with major life events. As a seasoned property consultant with 15 years of experience, I provide informed guidance on complex property matters.

I assist my clients with -

Divorce: Providing guidance for property settlements and achieving a clear outcome.
Estate Planning: Simplifying the process of planning for the future or handling inherited property.
Complex Situations: Offering support for cases involving Power of Attorney, bankruptcy, and other challenges.

For informed guidance along your property journey, you can schedule a free consultation to discuss your specific needs.

For more property insights, follow my short videos here: https://www.youtube.com/@SGHomeCompass Read More
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1. Condo offers stronger long-term value protection, while HDB provides more space at a lower monthly cost.
2. HDB may ease financial stress, giving more room for lifestyle choices, whereas condo ownership leans toward capital preservation.
3. View both types to see which suits your comfort and future plans; ensure ownership setup works for daily living, not just tax perks.

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
WhatsApp me at: ABLE Toh (65) 9856-9255  or through this link.:https://wa.me/6598569255

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like renting / selling, buying / or investing, I'm here to help!

WhatsApp me at: ABLE Toh (65) 9856*9255 or through this link.:https://wa.me/6598569255

(Unfortunately, this platform doesn't allow direct contact, but you can easily reach me )

(2) (***) ✅✅ You can READ my REVIEWS here:

✅✅ https://www.propertyguru.com.sg/agent/able-s-k-toh-61591.

(3) ✅✅ For PRIVATE Home Buyers, I offer solutions for sourcing resale and new PRIVATE homes at ✅✅ ZERO charge (Because Most PRIVATE seller Agent are willing to share commission with Buyer Agent)

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NORTH Region //

N1.Springleaf Residence – Upper Thomson Road, D26 | OCR | ~3 min to Springleaf MRT (TEL)

N2.Artisan 8 – Sin Ming Road, D20 | RCR | ~4 min to Upper Thomson MRT (TEL)

N3.Canberra Crescent Residences – Canberra Crescent, D27 | OCR | ~6 min to Canberra MRT (NSL)

SOUTH Region //

S1.UpperHouse @ Orchard – Orchard Boulevard, D10 | CCR | Direct link to Orchard Boulevard MRT (TEL)

S2.Zion Residences – Zion Road, D9 | CCR | ~4 min to Great World MRT (TEL)

S3.Promenade Peak – Zion Road, D9 | CCR | ~5 min to Havelock MRT (TEL)

S4.Robertson Opus – Unity Street, D9 | CCR | ~7 min to Fort Canning MRT (DTL)

S5.River Green – River Valley Road, D9 | CCR | ~5 min to Great World MRT (TEL)

EAST Region //

E1.Arina East Residences – Tanjong Rhu Road, D15 | RCR | ~3 min to Katong Park MRT (TEL)

E2,Amber House – Amber Gardens, D15 | RCR | ~10 min to Tanjong Katong / Marine Parade MRT (TEL)

E3.Mori @ Guillemard – Guillemard Road, D14 | RCR | ~8 min to Mountbatten MRT (CCL)

WEST Region //

W1.LyndenWoods – Science Park Drive, D5 | RCR | ~5 min to Kent Ridge MRT (CCL)

W2,Bloomsbury Residences – Media Circle, D5 | RCR | ~8 min to one-north MRT (CCL)

W3.Faber Walk GLS – Faber Walk, D5 | RCR | ~10 min to Clementi MRT (EWL)

W4.Elta Condo (Clementi Ave 1) – Clementi Avenue 1, D5 | RCR | ~10 min to Clementi MRT (EWL)

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O1.One Marina Gardens – Marina Gardens Lane, D1 | CCR | ~2 min to Marina South MRT (TEL)

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O4.The SEN – De Souza Avenue, D21 | OCR | ~8 min to Hillview MRT (DTL)

O5.Skye at Holland – Holland Drive, D10 | CCR | ~6 min to Holland Village MRT (CCL)

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QUOTE OF THE DAY " In negotiations, the most important thing is not to win or lose, but to find a solution that is mutually beneficial." Read More
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You are in a great position right now, and I have advised many clients in your circumstances to make smart property moves. Most importantly, it is about finding that balance between building your asset pool for future retirement, while having a spacious home to accommodate your family's needs over the years.

I'm a Harvard graduated real estate agent with a degree in economics, and have supported clients on more than $1 billion in transactions. I can help with sourcing, viewing, own-stay & investment analysis, market comparatives, timeline planning, safe entry pricing and more.

Please reach out via my Whatsapp / email below and I can share with you all the considerations and options.

Kay Cloud
The Harvard Educated Agent
Propnex Realty Pte Ltd
cloud@propnex.com
Tel: (+6.5.) 8.5.6.7.4.5.8.5
Whatsapp -> https://wa.me/6585674585 Read More
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Hi, appreciate your sharing. Able to work out the funds flow and timeline for you before deciding the move.
Looking forward to assist you at 9696 4398  or email me at stewartlim96964398@gmail.com

Cheers
Stewart-PropNex (Senior Associate Division Director) Read More
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Tan Pei Cheng (Pei)
I would be glad to assist you.
Feel free to contact me at wa.me/6597100155
Hope to hear from you soon.
Pei Mobile: (65) 9 7 1 0 0 1 5 5.
Email: peicheng.tan@propnex.com
Associate Group Director
Propnex Realty Pte Ltd Read More
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hi,

There are pros and cons to both options. A condo generally offers stronger long-term value protection, while an HDB provides more living space at a lower monthly cost.

Opting for HDB may help ease financial stress and leave more room for lifestyle choices, whereas a condo leans toward capital appreciation and long-term wealth preservation.

If you ask me, I would lean toward the condo option — working hard to finance it over the next 10 years, then potentially downsizing back to an HDB at retirement age. This way, you’re moving up the capital ladder now and growing your asset base with a condo, which can put you in a stronger financial position by the time you retire.

I can also walk you through the full financial breakdown — including loan amount, down payment, and monthly mortgage — so you can assess whether the condo option feels right for you.

This platform does not allow me to contact you directly so kindly contact me at https://wa.me/6597261112 I would be glad to assist you further.

Thank you and best regards,

Jenny Tran
Propnex Realty Pte Ltd
(HP) +65 97261112 
(Email) jenny.tran@propnex.com
BSc (Real Estate) (Hons)-NUS

Testimonial from Satisfied Clients
-- My husband and I wish to commend the sincere attitude and good customer service rendered by your staff Jenny, who handled the sale of our 5R HDB flat early this year. We have met several agents but none as genuine as Jenny. Being a seller agent, she took our interest at heart in handling the sale, unlike other agents who are self-interest. Jenny is punctual and prompt in the whole dealings and we were convinced that such an agent is hard for find nowadays. Jenny is a trustworthy, honest, sincere and hardworking agent. We are happy with her service and would gladly recommend her to our friends in future. Jenny is an asset to Propnex and the organisation should value her. Thank you Jenny for her efforts--
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Nick and Kim (New launch buyer)

--Jenny did a great job helping my wife and I sell our unit. She took active steps to walk our neighbourhood to understand what she was marketing. During the marketing period, she managed potential buyers and provided timely updates and recommendations so we could stay on top of the process. Overall, Jenny was professional and helped us to achieve a positive result which we are very thankful for--
Aaron ( HDB seller)

--Jenny was very passionate and went the extra miles to help. Thanks to her professional advice and recommendations, I had finally found my dream home--
Yvonne (New launch buyer)

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Hi Sir/Mdm,

Upgrading to a condo especially a 4 bedroom is a good idea as the supply of 4 bedroom condo units in Singapore are lesser and the potential of appreciation in the future is higher.

Since you are still quite young now and therefore it is ideal if you are upgrade first and subsequently only downgrade to a HDB when you are nearing your retirement age.

Upgrading to a HDB is also a possible option but as HDB prices are at an all time high now and you may not be able to enjoy much capital gains when you downsize in the future.

Transiting from one property to another requires meticulous planning in terms of timeline and finances so that you are bale to transit smoothly and seamlessly with minimal cash outlay, avoid paying Additional Buyer Stamp Duty, have buffer time for renovation and without the need for an interim place to stay.

I have assisted many of my clients to upgrade successfully. Please feel free to contact me so that I can understand your situation better and give you an overview of the process.

Regards,
Nick Tan
(M) +65 96 44 48 54
B.Eng(Chemical)(Hons)(NUS) / Cert-in-REA
(E) nick96444854@gmail.com

SEAA Salespersons Achievement Platinum Award 2020/2022/2023

WhatsApp: https://wa.me/qr/X6VRPGSSIHN5D1

Visit my website to get to know me better:
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I was featured recently on Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) Newsletter:
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Testimonial from my Clients
Nick is THE absolute best agent, guide to navigating the property market in Singapore. From selling to buying, he manages to get the absolute highest when selling and negotiators to the absolute lowest when purchasing. (So double win for me!). In fact, I bought my new home at the absolute lowest transaction across all the transacting homes. Most agents would just give vanilla advice, he puts scrutiny into every potential choice we were making by advising potential gains, rental yields, back up plans. I think we went through a whole list of more than 20 + before narrowing down to a few high potential properties! Super responsive to our questions and handheld us through the process and even answered questions in the middle of the night. Would absolutely recommend working with Nick for anyone looking to buy, sell or just advice!
Kenneth (Seller and Buyer) Jan 2025

Nick was introduced to me by a friend who learned that my previous property agent wasn’t meeting my expectations. During our first phone call, Nick quickly grasped my concerns and provided a detailed financial plan the next day. Since switching to Nick, selling my house has been much more relaxed. His virtual tour and informative fact sheet eliminated the need for my family and me to be constantly present for viewings by unsuitable buyers.
Nick was invaluable in purchasing my next property. He sourced units within my budget and analysed price trends of condo projects I was interested in. With Nick’s assistance, the buying process was seamless, and he expertly coordinated the sale of my current unit with the purchase of the next. Kudos to Nick for his outstanding service and advice!
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During Nick’s presentation to us, he showed confidence and resourcefulness. He showed us his various methods of reaching out to potential buyers instead of just relying on Propertyguru. He also saw the potential of our home to sell at our projected price. Where other agents deem impossible to achieve, he did his analysis and deems it reasonable and achievable. Nick proves trustworthy. From time to time, Nick will update us on the progress and on any viewing. He will filter buyers who could not meet our asking price and provide update and advice on the offers. We are grateful that he helps us to negotiate for a good price for our home. In summary, Nick is dedicated, resourceful, trustworthy and willing to take challenges.
Sunny Ng (Seller) April 2024

Selling our house was a pretty stressful ordeal, as we have already committed to buying our new home an Read More
1
Robbie Chen Chee Howe
Hi,

I understand that your main objective is space. Hence, I would say a bigger HDB flat would better suit your objective, as condos are relatively smaller, especially the newer ones. The older condos has bigger space, but may face lease decay issues down the road.

Having said that, if you're looking at profitability, you may wish to "sacrifice" some space for higher "potential" capital appreciation by going for the newer condos.

There are no right or wrong moves here, it all depends on what's best for you and your family.

I am experienced and well-versed in both HDB and private transactions. I will be able to assist you in your property plans. Please get in touch with me for a more in-depth discussion.

Should you need require further assistance in matters relating to property, please contact me at my mobile +65 97 48 63 05. I will be happy to assess and share with you the possibilities for you in the current market.

Thank you.

Best regards,
Robbie Chen
+65 97 48 63 05
PropNex Realty Read More
0
Hi,

1) You should look for a resale EC instead of an HDB flat for the desired budget and sizes you are looking for.
2) A 5-rm flat does not necessary come with an additional room, only some of the 5-rm flats has such design.
3) The main difference between a 4-rm and 5-rm flat is the space for dinning, and a larger space for all bedrooms and hall.

All The Best!!!

Hope the above answers your main concerns, but if there are more queries, please feel free to contact me at 90110636  or email: ling.ck7@gmail.com if more information is needed.
I'll be glad to assist.

Best regards
Ling CK
 90110636 
ling.ck7@gmail.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckling/
https://agents.huttonsgroup.com/R056727F/

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