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.

Why This Matters

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