How to Choose the Right Property: A First-Time Buyer’s Guide

Buying your first property is exciting—but it can also feel overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. With so much advice floating around, it’s easy to get distracted by flashy showflats or “hot tips” that don’t apply to your situation.

This guide breaks it down simply: here’s what really matters (and what to ignore) when buying your first home in Singapore.

1. Know Your Numbers (Don’t Skip This)

It’s easy to get emotionally attached to a unit — the balcony view, the showflat vibes.
But first things first: understand your affordability. Knowing your budget, loan eligibility, and CPF usage will help you avoid wasting time on units you can’t comfortably afford.

💡 Our agency has developed practical tools and calculators to help buyers get clear on their numbers — beyond just sticker prices.

Quick Tips:

• Use tools like Loan Calculators and TDSR/MSR checkers.
• Plan for both initial cash outlay and monthly instalments.
• Don’t forget to factor in stamp duties, legal fees, and buyer-specific rules (e.g. for PRs vs SC).

“It’s not about stretching to buy the most expensive unit. It’s about finding a home that fits your lifestyle without compromising your future.”

2. Don’t Just Buy for Now—Think 5 Years Ahead

It’s tempting to buy a place that suits your life right now, but you should also ask:

• Are you going to stay here forever?
• Will this location still suit you in 5–7 years?
• If you start a family or change jobs, is the property still viable?
• Can you sell or rent it out easily in the future?

Buying a home isn’t just about now—it’s about planning your exit, even before you enter. Is the value important to you?

3. Understand the Strategies we use to select a Good Property

For Example, did you know that big developments tend to have:

• More facilities 🏊‍♀️
• Better resale benchmarks 📈
• More buyer/tenant demand 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Smaller projects may be boutique (and some people may like this too), but they come with fewer transactions—which can make it harder to gauge value or sell in the future.

Real Example:

One Robey (18 units) vs. Kovan Regency (393 units)
Over 10 years: 6 transactions vs. 161 transactions.
Guess which one gave owners better flexibility to upgrade?

This is one of the key filters our team uses — supported by a back-tested framework of transaction data across different cycles. It helps our clients avoid flashy but underperforming buys, and focus on value they can grow.

Final Thoughts

Being a first-time buyer can feel overwhelming — there’s a lot to consider, and everyone seems to have different advice. But with the right lens, things start to make more sense.

Take your time. Focus on clarity, not rush.

And if you’re looking to better understand where you stand, or simply want to bounce off some thoughts — we’re happy to chat.