A few things here:
• Why the owner is selling – only the seller or their agent can tell you the exact reason. Sometimes it’s upgrading, downsizing, relocating, or financial. Best to ask directly through the marketing agent.
• Stamp duty – for private property, Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) applies. It’s tiered based on purchase price. If you already own property, Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) may also apply. This is always payable in cash first (cannot use CPF), though you can later apply for reimbursement from CPF if eligible.
• Agent fee – normally the seller pays their own agent commission. As a buyer, you don’t usually pay unless you engage a buyer’s agent and have a separate agreement.
• Government grant – housing grants (CPF housing grants) only apply to HDB purchases, not private condos. So for condos, there’s no grant.
• Who is the owner – ownership details are private. You can only find this officially through SLA (paid title search) or via the seller’s agent once you’re a serious buyer.
• Facing of the unit – whether it faces the main road or market depends on the actual stack/unit. Best to confirm from the floor plan, site plan, or during viewing.
Do you want me to help you calculate the exact BSD/ABSD amount if you share the purchase price and your current property ownership status?
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