28 Apr 2026
SOURCE: CPF Board

Buying a home, especially for the first time, is an exciting but potentially costly milestone, especially if you do not prepare ahead for it. Whether it’s a BTO or resale flat, you’ve likely saved and planned diligently for the downpayment, mortgage loan, as well as budgeted for furniture, appliances and renovation costs.

But don’t forget about these lesser known (but no less important) expenses that you may incur at different stages of your home purchase.

The first thing you have to pay when you buy a HDB flat is the application fee:

BTO flat: $10

Resale flat: $40 (1- and 2-room), $80 (3-room and bigger)

Do note that this application fee is non-refundable.

Once you identified the home you want to buy, the next step is to pay the option fee to secure it.

BTO flat:

Source: HDB

The option fee will form part of your downpayment.

Resale flat:

Once your seller grants you an Option-to-Purchase (OTP), you must pay them an option fee, followed by an option exercise fee when you exercise the OTP. 

Source: HDB

You can negotiate the exact amount with the sellers, and these fees will form part of the resale price.

Do note that the option fees cannot be paid using your CPF.

You’ll need to pay Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD), which is the tax payable on the documents relating to the purchase. This is based on the selling price of the flat and must be paid upfront alongside several other legal fees.

The BSD rates are as follows:

First $180,000: 1%

Next $180,000: 2%

Next $640,000: 3%

Next $500,000: 4%

Example:

If you were to purchase a 4-room $700,000 resale HDB flat:
 

First $180,000: 1% = $1,800

Next $180,000: 2% = $3,600

Remaining $340,000: 3% = $10,200

Total stamp duty payable: $15,600

BSD is rounded down to the nearest dollar, subject to a minimum duty of $1.

If you appoint HDB to act for you in the purchase and/or the mortgage of your resale flat, you’ll need to pay legal fees and registration fees:

This is calculated as such for sale of a flat by HDB, together with mortgage of such flat to HDB:

• First $30,000: $0.90 per $1,000
• Next $30,000: $0.72 per $1,000
• Remaining Amount: $0.60 per $1,000

Source: HDB

For resale, transfer or assignment of flat ownership

Based on the resale price:

• First $30,000: 13.50 cents per $100 or part thereof
• Next $30,000: 10.80 cents per $100 or part thereof
• Remaining amount: 9 cents per $100 or part thereof

The legal fee is rounded up to the next dollar, before applying GST. The minimum legal fee chargeable is $21.80 (inclusive of GST).

For mortgage if you are taking an HDB housing loan

• First $30,000: 13.50 cents per $100 or part thereof
• Next $30,000: 10.80 cents per $100 or part thereof
• Remaining amount: 9 cents per $100 or part thereof

If HDB is acting for you in the mortgage of the flat to HDB:

• Minimum mortgagor's fee: $21.80 (inclusive of GST) (for all flat types); and
• Minimum mortgagee's fee: $21.80 (inclusive of GST) (for 1- and 2-room flats) and $43.60 (inclusive of GST) (for 3-room and bigger flats)

Source: HDB

• Lease In-Escrow registration fee: $38.30 (fixed amount) if HDB acts for you in your resale flat purchase
• Mortgage In-Escrow registration fee: $38.30 (fixed amount) if HDB acts for you in the HDB housing loan
• Title search fee (for resale flat): $32

Also known as the Buyer’s caveat, this is an official notice to the Singapore Land Authority to protect your interest in the flat. This will cost $64.45 (inclusive of GST).

Mortgagee’s caveat (if the buyers are taking an HDB housing loan): $64.45

You would need to pay a survey fee to the surveyor inspecting the condition and value of your new flat.

You’ll also need to pay these miscellaneous fees as part of the legal fees.

If HDB is acting in the purchase: $16.35

If you engaged a private lawyer for the purchase: $5.45

There are other costs that you will need to consider and set aside a budget for on a monthly or annual basis.

It is mandatory for homeowners to buy and renew the HDB Fire Insurance for your HDB flat for as long as you have an outstanding HDB loan.

Depending on the size of your flat, a five-year premium ranges from $1.11 to $6.68.

The Home Protection Scheme (HPS) is a mortgage-reducing insurance that protects you and your loved ones from losing their HDB flat in the event of death, terminal illness or total permanent disability.​

Owning a property in Singapore makes you liable for property tax, regardless of whether the property is occupied or not.

The tax is calculated by multiplying the Annual Value (AV) of the property with the prevailing property tax rate. The AV of the property refers to an estimate of how much gross annual rental income your property can fetch in the year.

S&CCs are a vital component of maintaining the cleanliness, hygiene and upkeep of HDB estates. Town councils collect monthly fees from HDB flat owners to cover the costs of cleaning common areas and maintaining equipment such as lifts. This is an essential aspect of maintaining the quality of life and ensuring a smooth running of residential areas.

Depending on the size of your flat, the S&CCs typically range from $21 to $123 per month after taking into account the reduced fees for Singaporeans who own and occupy the flat without ownership of any private property.

With energy costs becoming more volatile, it helps to be mindful of how your household uses resources. Small everyday habits can make a difference to your bills.

Here are some practical ways to manage this:

• Turn off electrical appliances when not in use.
• Household appliances such as refrigerators, air-conditioners and washing machines tend to use more energy, so selecting models with higher energy efficiency ratings can help reduce your monthly bills over time.
• Use water wisely. Habits like taking shorter showers or installing water-saving fittings such as low-flow showerhead and taps can help lower water usage.
• Set aside a maintenance fund for your home. Wear and tear is expected over time, therefore some repairs or replacements will be needed.
• Regular servicing can also help appliances run more efficiently. For example, cleaning your air-conditioner filters can prevent unnecessary energy use.

Keeping your home clean and well-maintained not only helps prevent damage, but also supports a more comfortable and efficient living environment.

Starting your home ownership journey? Make sure you don’t forget to plan your budget using the Home Purchase Planner.

Information accurate as of date of publication.