Policy before and after · Cooling measure

Singapore raises ABSD by 5 to 10 points and tightens LTV limits

Announced 5 July 2018 · Effective 6 July 2018

Read the full event recordCompare with another policyCreate research briefView Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty policy evolutionView Loan-to-value limits, bank loans policy evolutionView Mortgage equity withdrawal loans policy evolutionView Minimum cash downpayment policy evolution

Comparison anchored to effective date: 6 July 2018. Before: 7 April 2018 to 5 July 2018. After: 6 July 2018 to 3 October 2018. The same 90 days on each side; the anchor day counts as after.

Before · 7 Apr 2018 to 5 Jul 2018

5 land-sales awards

  • 13 land-sales steps in all
  • 0 other archive events

The event

Announced 5 Jul 2018

Effective 6 Jul 2018

The effective date is the anchor.

After · 6 Jul 2018 to 3 Oct 2018

5 land-sales awards

  • 12 land-sales steps in all
  • All 90 days observable

What this comparison can and cannot show

Generated from this window's records

Recorded

  • 22 policy parameters recorded with a before and an after value on this event.
  • 5 land-sales awards in the 90 days before the effective date, and 5 in the 90 observable days after.
  • None of the 8 tracked series has a whole period on both sides of a 90-day window, so no market figure is compared.

Cannot be concluded

  • That this event moved any figure on this page. The comparison is by date; nothing here is attributed to the event.
  • A reading of the concurrent land sales and events as responses to this one. They are listed by date alone.
About this eventIssuing authority, category, affected market, primary source, summary
Announced
5 July 2018
Effective
6 July 2018
Issuing authority
Monetary Authority of Singapore, Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Finance
Category
Cooling measure
Affected market
Acquisitions of residential property for ABSD purposes. The revised LTV limits applied to housing loans granted by financial institutions for the purchase of residential property, INCLUDING eligible loans used to purchase HDB flats. Loans granted directly by HDB were not affected. The exemption depended on the LENDER, not the property type: an HDB flat purchased with a covered financial-institution loan WAS affected.
Primary source
MOF/MND/MAS joint media release: Raising Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty Rates and Tightening Loan-to-Value Limits to Promote a Stable and Sustainable Property Market

On the evening of 5 July 2018, MOF, MND and MAS jointly announced increased Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty rates and tightened Loan-to-Value limits, effective the following day. ABSD rose 5 percentage points for individuals other than Singapore Citizens and Singapore Permanent Residents buying their first residential property, and 10 percentage points for entities, from 15% to 25%. A new 5% non-remittable ABSD was introduced for housing developers on top of the 25% entity rate, which remained potentially remittable subject to prescribed development and sale conditions. LTV limits for financial-institution housing loans were tightened by 5 percentage points across the applicable tiers, while Mortgage Equity Withdrawal Loan limits were tightened by 5 or 15 points depending on the borrower's existing exposure. The measures landed during a rapid price recovery that had begun in Q3 2017 following close to four years of gradual decline, and at the peak of the 2017-18 collective sale cycle.

In brief

In brief

  • ABSD, Singapore Citizen, 2nd property: increased from 7% to 12%.
  • ABSD, Singapore Citizen, 3rd and subsequent property: increased from 10% to 15%.
  • 15 of the 22 recorded parameters changed; 2 did not.
  • 5 GLS site awards were recorded in the before window and 5 in the after window.

What changed

Policy parameterBeforeAfter
ABSD · Singapore Citizen, 1st property0%0%
ABSD · Singapore Citizen, 2nd property7%12%
ABSD · Singapore Citizen, 3rd and subsequent property10%15%
ABSD · Singapore Permanent Resident, 1st property5%5%
ABSD · Singapore Permanent Resident, 2nd property10%15%
ABSD · Singapore Permanent Resident, 3rd and subsequent property10%15%
ABSD · Foreigner15%20%
ABSD · Entity15%25%
View all 22 parameters
ABSD · remittable, Housing developerUnknown25%
ABSD · non remittable, Housing developerUnknown5%
FI_LTV · standard, 080%75%
FI_LTV · tenure or age linked, 060%55%
FI_LTV · standard, 150%45%
FI_LTV · tenure or age linked, 130%25%
FI_LTV · standard, 2+40%35%
FI_LTV · tenure or age linked, 2+20%15%
FI_LTV · non individual20%15%
MWL · no80%75%
MWL · yes60%45%
MIN_CASH_DOWNPAYMENT · 75 no outstanding loanUnknown5%
MIN_CASH_DOWNPAYMENT · 55 no outstanding loanUnknown10%
MIN_CASH_DOWNPAYMENT · one or more outstanding loansUnknown25%
Where these values come from
Source
Recorded on this event's policy matrix in Prevo's archive. The event's primary source: MOF/MND/MAS joint media release: Raising Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty Rates and Tightening Loan-to-Value Limits to Promote a Stable and Sustainable Property Market.
Primary source published
5 July 2018
Validity
In force from the event's effective date, 6 July 2018. The row records no date of its own; the date is the event's.
Basis
Archive record. The matrix row carries no source reference of its own; the event's sources are listed below.

Observed around this event

View linked outcomes

The same statistic over the 90 days before and after the anchor. Figures describe what was recorded in each window; they do not attribute a change to this event.

Singapore private residential transactions, all types of sale

units · Total over whole quarterly periods inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
FLOW
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Calculated (sum of published period values)
Shown because
Mapped to this kind of event

Private Residential Property Price Index, All Residential

index (2009Q1=100) · Value in the latest whole quarterly period inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
INDEX
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Source fact (latest whole period)
Shown because
Mapped to this kind of event

Private residential units sold, all segments (uncompleted plus completed)

units · Total over whole quarterly periods inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
FLOW
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Calculated (sum of published period values)
Shown because
Mapped to this kind of event

Uncompleted private residential units launched, all segments

units · Total over whole quarterly periods inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
FLOW
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Calculated (sum of published period values)
Shown because
Mapped to this kind of event

Price index of non-landed private residential properties, Core Central Region

index (2009Q1=100) · Value in the latest whole quarterly period inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
INDEX
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Source fact (latest whole period)
Shown because
Cited by this event's own outcomes

Price index of non-landed private residential properties, Outside Central Region

index (2009Q1=100) · Value in the latest whole quarterly period inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
INDEX
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Source fact (latest whole period)
Shown because
Cited by this event's own outcomes

Price index of non-landed private residential properties, Rest of Central Region

index (2009Q1=100) · Value in the latest whole quarterly period inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
INDEX
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Source fact (latest whole period)
Shown because
Cited by this event's own outcomes

Uncompleted private residential units sold, all segments

units · Total over whole quarterly periods inside each 90-day window

Before

None

Coverage 0/90 days

After

None

Coverage 0/90 days

Difference

Not stated

No whole quarterly period of this series falls inside either window, so no comparison is stated. A longer window may contain one.

Provenance
Source
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Series kind
FLOW
Basis
Observation periods wholly inside each window, values as originally recorded.
Origin
Calculated (sum of published period values)
Shown because
Cited by this event's own outcomes

Concurrent planning and land activity

Land sales and other archive events dated inside the windows, listed by date only. Each land-sales line shows the site as the record stood on that day.

Before the effective date

13 lines

13 land-sales steps (5 awards) · 0 archive events

From the effective date

12 lines

12 land-sales steps (5 awards) · 0 archive events

Explore concurrent events

Before (13)

  1. 26 April 2018 · Land sales

    Cuscaden Road: Tender closed

    Residential · status on 26 April 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  2. 26 April 2018 · Land sales

    Mattar Road: Tender closed

    Residential · status on 26 April 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  3. 26 April 2018 · Land sales

    Silat Avenue: Tender closed

    Residential & Residential with Commercial at 1st Storey · status on 26 April 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  4. 3 May 2018 · Land sales

    Hillview Rise: Tender closed

    Residential · status on 3 May 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  5. 16 May 2018 · Land sales

    Holland Road: Awarded

    Commercial & Residential · status on 16 May 2018: Awarded · awarded to Stirling Land Holdings Pte. Ltd., Stirling View Pte. Ltd. (as Trustee of Commons SR Trust) and Stirling Property Pte. Ltd. (as Trustee of Commons Commercial Trust) at S$1,213,333,000

  6. 17 May 2018 · Land sales

    Cuscaden Road: Awarded

    Residential · status on 17 May 2018: Awarded · awarded to Amberden Pte Ltd, FEC Properties Pte Ltd and Orchard Square Pte. Ltd. at S$410,000,000

  7. 17 May 2018 · Land sales

    Mattar Road: Awarded

    Residential · status on 17 May 2018: Awarded · awarded to FSKH Development Pte Ltd at S$223,019,000

  8. 17 May 2018 · Land sales

    Silat Avenue: Awarded

    Residential & Residential with Commercial at 1st Storey · status on 17 May 2018: Awarded · awarded to UOL Venture Investments Pte. Ltd., UIC Homes Pte. Ltd. and Kheng Leong Company (Private) Limited at S$1,035,300,000

  9. 31 May 2018 · Land sales

    Dairy Farm Road: Launched for tender

    Residential with commercial at 1st storey · status on 31 May 2018: Tender open

  10. 21 June 2018 · Land sales

    Sengkang Central: Tender closed

    Commercial & Residential · status on 21 June 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  11. 28 June 2018 · Land sales

    Canberra Link: Launched for tender

    Executive Condominium housing · status on 28 June 2018: Tender open

  12. 28 June 2018 · Land sales

    Jalan Jurong Kechil: Launched for tender

    Residential · status on 28 June 2018: Tender open

  13. 3 July 2018 · Land sales

    Hillview Rise: Awarded

    Residential · status on 3 July 2018: Awarded · awarded to Intrepid Investments Pte. Ltd. and Garden Estates (Pte) Limited at S$460,000,000

After (12)

  1. 10 August 2018 · Land sales

    Anchorvale Crescent: Launched for tender

    Executive Condominium housing · status on 10 August 2018: Tender open

  2. 16 August 2018 · Land sales

    Sengkang Central: Awarded

    Commercial & Residential · status on 16 August 2018: Awarded · awarded to Siena Residential Development Pte. Ltd. and Siena Trustee Pte. Ltd. (as Trustee-Manager of Siena Commercial Trust) at S$777,777,777

  3. 27 August 2018 · Land sales

    Pasir Ris Drive 3 / Pasir Ris Drive 8 / Pasir Ris Central: Launched for tender

    Mixed commercial and residential · status on 27 August 2018: Tender open

  4. 4 September 2018 · Land sales

    Canberra Link: Tender closed

    Executive Condominium housing · status on 4 September 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  5. 4 September 2018 · Land sales

    Dairy Farm Road: Tender closed

    Residential with commercial at 1st storey · status on 4 September 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  6. 4 September 2018 · Land sales

    Jalan Jurong Kechil: Tender closed

    Residential · status on 4 September 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  7. 7 September 2018 · Land sales

    Dairy Farm Road: Awarded

    Residential with commercial at 1st storey · status on 7 September 2018: Awarded · awarded to UED Residential Pte. Ltd at S$368,800,001

  8. 7 September 2018 · Land sales

    Jalan Jurong Kechil: Awarded

    Residential · status on 7 September 2018: Awarded · awarded to COHL Singapore Pte. Limited and CSC Land Group (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. at S$215,000,000

  9. 10 September 2018 · Land sales

    Canberra Link: Awarded

    Executive Condominium housing · status on 10 September 2018: Awarded · awarded to Hoi Hup Realty Pte Ltd and Sunway Developments Pte Ltd at S$271,000,000

  10. 14 September 2018 · Land sales

    Anchorvale Crescent: Tender closed

    Executive Condominium housing · status on 14 September 2018: Tender closed, award pending

  11. 27 September 2018 · Land sales

    Anchorvale Crescent: Awarded

    Executive Condominium housing · status on 27 September 2018: Awarded · awarded to Evia Real Estate (8) Pte Ltd & Gamuda (Singapore) Pte Ltd at S$318,888,899

  12. 27 September 2018 · Land sales

    Club Street: Launched for tender

    Hotel · status on 27 September 2018: Tender open

Methodology5 rules
  • Comparison anchored to effective date: 6 July 2018. The anchor is the effective date where one is recorded, otherwise the announcement date.
  • The windows are the same number of days on each side of the anchor, and the anchor day belongs to the after window.
  • A series counts toward a window only for observation periods wholly inside it, with values as originally recorded, not as later revised.
  • Where no whole period falls inside a window, no value and no difference is stated; a day no whole period covers is missing, never zero.
  • Concurrent land sales and archive events are listed by date alone. Nothing on this page is attributed to the event.

Sources

The event's sources (4)

Primary sources4
  • MOF/MND/MAS joint media release: Raising Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty Rates and Tightening Loan-to-Value Limits to Promote a Stable and Sustainable Property Market

    Monetary Authority of Singapore · Primary source · Published 5 July 2018

    Open original source

  • URA quarterly private residential property statistics (series)

    Urban Redevelopment Authority · Primary source · Publication date not recorded

    Original source link unavailable

  • IRAS historical ABSD rate schedule

    Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore · Primary source · Publication date not recorded

    Open original source

  • Stamp Duties (Housing Developers) (Remission of ABSD) Rules and Stamp Duties (Non-licensed Housing Developers) (Remission of ABSD) Rules

    Ministry of Finance · Primary source · Publication date not recorded

    Original source link unavailable

Event checked against its primary sources on 13 August 2026. Each claim keeps its own verification status.

Observed series come from the published statistics named on each card. Land-sales lines link to the site record and its releases.