20 Feb 2025
Budget 2025: Building a More Inclusive and Sustainable Housing Market
Property Insight

Budget 2025 prioritizes affordability, accessibility, and sustainability in both public and private housing. With an emphasis on homeownership support, climate-friendly initiatives, and senior-friendly modifications, the government aims to provide inclusive policies that cater to all Singaporeans.

Public Housing – Expanding Supply & Affordability

The government is expanding housing options to improve affordability, especially for first-time homebuyers. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong noted that application rates for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats have stabilized and are now lower than pre-pandemic levels, indicating a more balanced supply-demand situation.

To ensure sufficient housing stock, more than 50,000 new HDB flats will be launched islandwide over the next three years. These developments, located in key estates such as Woodlands, Bayshore, and Mount Pleasant, aim to meet the diverse housing needs of Singaporeans.

For those seeking faster access to a home, HDB is prioritizing shorter waiting times. In 2025, about 3,800 flats with waiting periods of less than three years will be launched, accounting for approximately 20% of the total BTO supply.

Recognizing the strong interest in completed flats, the government will introduce another SBF exercise in 2025, providing homebuyers with additional options.

To further assist lower-income families, the Fresh Start Housing Scheme grant has increased from S$50,000 to S$75,000. This initiative, previously limited to second-timer families, now extends to first-time families living in rental housing.

Private Housing – Sustainability & Senior-Friendly Measures

Enhancements to Climate Vouchers

To support sustainability, the government is enhancing the Climate Friendly Households Programme. HDB households will receive an additional S$100 in Climate Vouchers, raising the total to S$400.

For the first time, private property households will also receive S$400 in Climate Vouchers, expanding support for sustainable living across Singapore.

Enhancements to Senior-Friendly Home Modifications

The Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme will be extended until 2028. Previously available only to HDB flats, it will now include private property households, allowing more seniors to age safely and independently at home.

Why It Matters

• Improved Affordability: Stabilized application rates provide more homebuyers with the opportunity to secure a flat.

• Faster Access to Housing: The introduction of a second SBF exercise in 2025 increases the chances of obtaining a ready-to-move-in unit.

• Balanced Housing Supply: The ramp-up in BTO launches prevents excessive price increases and meets long-term housing needs.

• Sustainability & Inclusivity: Expanding Climate Vouchers and senior-friendly modifications ensures equitable access for all Singaporeans.

Budget 2025 reinforces the government’s commitment to affordable, sustainable, and inclusive housing policies, ensuring Singaporeans have more opportunities for homeownership while fostering a livable and resilient community.

Click here for the full report 

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg  

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Transaction volume climbed modestly to 964 deals in 1H2025, up 6.6% year-on-year from 904 in the same period last year. Although volumes have not yet returned to the peaks of 1H2022, this upward movement reflects renewed confidence in the segment. The uptick was driven by increased demand for semi-detached and terrace houses, with sales rising 21.0% and 2.4% respectively. This highlights a sustained appetite for more spacious and private living environments, especially among multi-generational families and private upgraders.

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Sing Holdings–Sunway joint bid leads Chuan Grove tender at $1,376 psf ppr

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This site’s appeal stems from its strategic location within the Serangoon planning area—an established and mature residential enclave known for its strong amenities, schools, connectivity, and limited new supply. The Chuan Grove tender price also represents the second-highest OCR land bid in 2025, just behind the Bayshore Road site ($1,388 psf ppr). The enthusiastic turnout and aggressive bidding underscore growing developer confidence in OCR locations with strong locational attributes and buyer demand.

A key factor bolstering interest in Chuan Grove is the successful performance of Chuan Park, a nearby project launched in Q4 2024. Chuan Park achieved an impressive take-up rate of over 83% within less than a year. 

In summary, the Chuan Grove GLS tender exemplifies renewed optimism in OCR development, underpinned by strategic location advantages, successful nearby launches, and supportive infrastructure enhancements. As developers continue to seek value in mature, well-connected estates, the Chuan Grove site represents a timely and compelling addition to Singapore’s new launch pipeline.

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Seller’s Stamp Duty Changes 2025: Minimal Impact on Genuine Buyers

On 3 July 2025, the Singapore government announced adjustments to the Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD), effective from 4 July 2025. The changes involve extending the SSD holding period from three to four years and increasing SSD rates by four percentage points across all tiers. The revised rates restore the SSD framework to its pre-2017 structure, with a 16% duty for properties sold within the first year, tapering to 0% only after four years. Importantly, these changes do not apply to HDB flat owners.

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The policy is timely given the fragile global economic backdrop, including persistent trade tensions, tariff volatility, and geopolitical uncertainties. With Singapore’s 2025 GDP growth forecast set between 0.0% and 2.0%, the SSD revision serves as a preemptive safeguard. It is designed to discourage short-term speculative activity, moderate knee-jerk market reactions, and build long-term market resilience.

Market Reaction and Holding Periods

The revised SSD is expected to have minimal impact on genuine homebuyers and long-term investors. Transaction data from SRI Research shows that average holding periods already exceed the new 4-year requirement across various segments:

This reinforces that the market is primarily driven by owner-occupiers and long-horizon investors rather than speculative flippers.

Sustainable Market Momentum

The SSD revision aligns with a broader strategy to sustain healthy market momentum. According to URA’s 2Q2025 flash estimates, private home prices rose 0.5%, moderating slightly from the 0.8% increase in 1Q2025. Developers are adopting a more calibrated launch strategy, balancing supply with demand, and promoting sustainable absorption.

Outlook

Far from being a deterrent to long-term investment, the SSD changes are seen as a structural reinforcement of market stability. They protect long-term asset value, offer confidence to serious buyers, and enhance Singapore’s reputation as a safe and transparent investment hub. As more launches are expected in 2H2025, the policy provides developers and buyers with a clear framework to plan within a disciplined, fundamentals-driven property cycle.

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Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: research@sri.com.sg