**How long you must wait after buying a new unit depends on whether you mean collecting keys to move in, selling it, renting it out, or qualifying to buy another home in Singapore:**
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### 1. Waiting to Move In (Construction to Key Collection)
* **Private Condominium (New Launch):** Typically **3 to 4 years** from launch date until the project obtains its **Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP)** and key collection begins.
* **Executive Condominium (EC):** Typically **3 to 3.5 years** to reach TOP.
* **HDB BTO / SBF:** Standard BTO completion averages **3 to 4.5 years** (with shorter wait times of under 3 years for select fast-tracked projects).
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### 2. Waiting to Sell (Seller’s Stamp Duty & Minimum Occupation Period)
* **Private Condominium:**
* You must hold the unit for **at least 3 full years** from the date you exercise the Sale and Purchase (S&P) Agreement to avoid paying **Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD)** to IRAS.
* *SSD Rates:* 12% if sold within Year 1, 8% within Year 2, 4% within Year 3, and **0% after Year 3**. (Note: Because construction takes 3–4 years, you can often sell the unit upon TOP with zero SSD payable).
* **Executive Condominium (EC):**
* Subject to a statutory **5-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)** starting from the date of key collection / TOP. You cannot sell on the open market during this period.
* After 5 years, you can sell to Singapore Citizens and PRs. Full privatization occurs after 10 years (open to foreigners).
* **HDB BTO Flat:**
* **Standard Flats:** Fixed **5-year MOP** from key collection date.
* **Plus & Prime Flats:** Mandatory **10-year MOP** from key collection date before resale is permitted.
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### 3. Waiting to Rent Out the Unit
* **Private Condominium:** You can rent out the entire apartment **immediately upon key collection (TOP)**. There is no MOP or holding period requirement for renting out private property.
* **Executive Condominium (EC):** Whole-unit rental is prohibited during the 5-year MOP. Room rental is permitted during MOP, and whole-unit rental is unlocked only after completing the 5-year MOP.
* **HDB BTO Flat:**
* **Standard Flats:** Whole-unit rental is allowed only after the 5-year MOP (Singapore Citizen owners only).
* **Plus & Prime Flats:** Whole-unit rental is **permanently prohibited**, even after the 10-year MOP. Only individual rooms may be rented out.
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### 4. Buying Another Residential Property Later
* **Private Property Owners Buying HDB Resale:** If you sell your private condo to downgrade to an HDB resale flat, you can do so immediately following recent policy updates removing the prior 15-month wait-out window.
* **Buying an Additional Property (ABSD):** You do not need to wait to buy a second residential property, but it will attract Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) unless you sell your first property within statutory remission windows.
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Gan Eng Joo Onassis 颜荣裕, REALTOR®
MSc BIT (Middlesex, England, United Kingdom); BBA (South Australia)
CEA Reg No: R021244C | Singapore Line:
(+65) 88899918
Email: onassis@sgagent.com
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