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Singapore property terms, in plain words
Reviewed by the Swee Homes data desk on 6 Oct 2026. Terms that carry a rule are re-checked every 90 days; next check due 4 Jan 2027.
129 terms used in Singapore property, grouped by what you are doing. Each one is a plain sentence, with its source where a rule or an amount is involved.
Buying and selling
- Agreement for Lease
The contract with HDB to buy a new flat. A buyer taking a bank loan needs a valid Letter of Offer from the bank before signing it.
Also called: AFL
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Cash Over Valuation
The part of a resale flat's price that is above HDB's valuation. CPF Ordinary Account savings cannot pay for it, so the buyer pays it in cash.
Also called: COV
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Caveat
A legal document a buyer lodges with the Singapore Land Authority to protect their interest after an option to purchase is exercised or a sale and purchase agreement is signed. URA notes that lodging one is voluntary.
Source: URA. Checked 8 Oct 2026.
- CEA Public Register
CEA's online register for checking whether a property agent or agency is registered. You can search by name, registration number or phone number. It also has a tab for suspended and revoked agents.
Also called: CEA register, public register
Source: CEA (eservices.cea.gov.sg/aceas/public-register/sales/1). Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Commission
The fee paid to a property agency for its services. Commissions are not fixed, and you are free to negotiate the amount or rate.
Also called: agent fee
Source: CEA (www.cea.gov.sg/consumers/engaging-a-property-agent/what-to-take-note-of-when-engaging-a-property-agent). Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Conveyancing
The legal work of transferring ownership of a property from seller to buyer. Solicitors usually handle it, and for private property they complete the sale at their offices.
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Estate agency agreement
A written agreement in a form CEA prescribes, recording the agreed commission and the duties of the agency and agent. CEA advises documenting the commission before entering a contract.
Also called: Prescribed Estate Agency Agreement
Source: CEA (www.cea.gov.sg/consumers/engaging-a-property-agent/what-to-take-note-of-when-engaging-a-property-agent). Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Exercising the option
The buyer signs the acceptance, gives the signed Option to Purchase to the seller and pays the exercise fee. This creates a binding contract between buyer and seller for the flat.
Also called: exercise the OTP, acceptance
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Intent to Sell
A registration an HDB flat owner makes in the HDB Flat Portal to check eligibility to sell. The seller must have a valid one at least 7 days before granting an Option to Purchase.
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Joint tenancy
Co-owners together own the whole interest in the property. When one owner dies, the interest passes automatically to the surviving co-owners, even if the owner left a will.
Also called: joint tenants, joint tenant, right of survivorship
Source: HDB. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- Option exercise fee
Money the buyer pays the seller to exercise the Option to Purchase. For an HDB resale flat it cannot be $0, and the option fee plus this fee, the deposit, cannot exceed $5,000.
Also called: exercise fee
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Option fee
Money the buyer pays the seller to receive the Option to Purchase. For an HDB resale flat it cannot be $0 and cannot exceed $1,000. With the exercise fee it forms the deposit.
Also called: option money
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Option period
The time a buyer has to exercise an Option to Purchase. For an HDB resale flat it is 21 calendar days after the option date, weekends and public holidays included, ending at 4pm.
Also called: OTP validity
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Option to Purchase
A contract in which a seller gives a buyer the right to buy a property within a set period, after the buyer pays an option fee. For an HDB resale flat the period is 21 calendar days.
Also called: OTP, option
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Property agency
A company licensed by CEA, through which property agents are registered. CEA says to make payment to the agency, not to the agent.
Also called: estate agency, licensed estate agent
Source: CEA (www.cea.gov.sg/consumers/engaging-a-property-agent/what-to-take-note-of-when-engaging-a-property-agent). Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Property agent
A person registered with CEA to do estate agency work, who must be registered through a licensed property agency. Doing this work without valid registration is an offence.
Also called: salesperson, agent
Source: CEA (www.cea.gov.sg/consumers/engaging-a-property-agent/check-if-your-property-agent-is-registered). Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Request for Value
A request that HDB resale buyers using CPF or an HDB loan send to HDB, so that HDB sets the flat's value. HDB charges a processing fee of $120 including GST.
Also called: RFV
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Resale completion
The appointment when a resale flat changes hands: the buyer pays the balance price and any outstanding fees. HDB sets it about 8 weeks after it accepts the resale application.
Also called: completion
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Sale and Purchase Agreement
The contract a buyer signs with a developer to buy a new private unit. Licensed housing developers must use the standard form, and changes need the Controller of Housing's prior approval.
Also called: S&PA, S&P agreement
Source: URA. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- Sub-sale
The sale of a unit by someone who signed an agreement to buy it from a developer or a later purchaser, before the Certificate of Statutory Completion and titles for all units in the development are issued.
Also called: subsale, sub sale
- Tenancy in common
Each co-owner holds a separate and distinct share of the property. When an owner dies, the share goes under their will, or under intestacy law if there is none, not to the other owners.
Also called: tenancy-in-common, tenants in common, tenant in common
Source: HDB. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- Valuation
An assessment of a property's market value. For an HDB resale flat bought with CPF or a housing loan, HDB's valuation is the basis for the loan and the CPF use.
Also called: HDB valuation
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
Money and duties
- Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty
Extra stamp duty on residential property, paid on top of BSD. The rate depends on whether the buyer is an individual or an entity, their residency status and how many residential properties they own.
Also called: ABSD
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Annual Value
IRAS's estimate of the yearly rent a property could fetch if let out, excluding furniture, furnishings and maintenance fees. Property tax is worked out from it, and it is not the rent actually received.
Also called: AV
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Buyer's Stamp Duty
Stamp duty every buyer pays on property bought in Singapore. For homes it is charged in tiers, from 1% on the first $180,000 to 6% above $3,000,000, on rates from 15 Feb 2023.
Also called: BSD
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- e-Stamping
IRAS's online way to stamp documents and pay stamp duty, through the myTax Portal with Singpass. Adhesive stamps are no longer used, and IRAS charges no fee for the service.
Also called: myTax Portal stamping
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Holding period
For SSD, the time between buying a residential property and selling it. For property bought from 4 Jul 2025 it is four years, and a sale after that pays no SSD.
Also called: SSD holding period
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Lease duty
Stamp duty on a lease or tenancy agreement. Where average annual rent is over $1,000, it is 0.4% of the total rent for a lease of four years or less. A lease at or under $1,000 is exempt.
Also called: rental stamp duty, tenancy stamp duty
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Owner-occupier tax rate
The lower property tax rates for a home the owner lives in. If a married couple owns two homes, only one gets them. Other residential property pays the non-owner-occupier rates.
Also called: owner-occupier rates, owner-occupied rate
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Progress payment
When buying an uncompleted private home from a developer, the buyer pays the price in instalments as each stage of construction is completed, following the payment schedule in the Sale and Purchase Agreement.
Also called: progress payments, progressive payment, Progressive Payment Scheme, instalment payments
Source: URA. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- Property tax
Yearly tax on property owners, worked out by applying progressive rates to the property's Annual Value. It is payable on residential property whether it is lived in, vacant or rented out.
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Remission
Relief where IRAS waives or refunds duty that would otherwise be payable, if set conditions are met. Some married couples buying a home together can apply for ABSD remission.
Also called: ABSD remission
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Seller's Stamp Duty
Stamp duty a seller pays on residential property sold within four years of buying it. For property bought from 4 Jul 2025 the rate falls from 16% in year one to 4% in year four.
Also called: SSD
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Stamp duty
Tax on legal documents such as sale contracts and tenancy agreements, paid to IRAS. For documents signed in Singapore it is due within 14 days of signing, and it cannot be paid by instalments.
Source: IRAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
CPF and loans
- Accrued interest
The interest your CPF savings would have earned had they stayed in your account. When you sell a property, you refund the CPF money used plus this interest.
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Age 95 lease rule
A CPF rule: the full housing limit applies only if the remaining lease covers the youngest owner using CPF to age 95. If not, the CPF amount is scaled down.
Also called: lease to age 95
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Bank housing loan
A housing loan from a bank or finance company. Its rate varies by lender and changes with the market. For an HDB resale flat the buyer needs a valid Letter of Offer when exercising the option.
Also called: bank loan
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Basic Retirement Sum
A CPF retirement sum equal to half the Full Retirement Sum. When using OA savings for a second or later property, you set aside the BRS if you own a property with a lease lasting to age 95.
Also called: BRS
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- CPF Charge
A legal claim on your property for CPF savings you have used, in place from the moment the savings are released. It stays until all that money, with interest, is refunded.
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- CPF housing limit
The most CPF Ordinary Account savings you can use for a property. For a resale HDB flat or a bank loan, it is the lower of the price and the valuation at purchase, if the lease covers the youngest buyer to 95.
Also called: housing limit
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- CPF housing refund
The CPF principal used for a property plus accrued interest, returned to your CPF accounts when you sell. Sale proceeds first pay off the housing loan, then the refund.
Also called: CPF refund, P+I
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- CPF Ordinary Account
The CPF account most members use for housing. Its savings can pay for a home and its loan, but not for option fees, renovation or service and conservancy charges.
Also called: CPF OA, OA
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Downpayment
The part of the price you pay yourself instead of borrowing. With a bank loan at the 75% loan limit, 5% must be paid in cash and the rest can come from CPF.
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Full Retirement Sum
A CPF retirement sum that depends on the year you turn 55. For a second or later property you set aside the FRS if you own no property with a lease lasting to age 95.
Also called: FRS
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- HDB housing loan
A loan from HDB to buy an HDB flat. Its interest rate is set 0.10% above the CPF Ordinary Account rate, and at least one applicant must be a Singapore Citizen.
Also called: HDB loan, concessionary loan
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Home Protection Scheme
A CPF insurance scheme. You must be insured under it if you use CPF savings to pay the housing loan for an HDB or DBSS flat.
Also called: HPS
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Letter of Offer
A bank's written offer of a housing loan. A buyer taking a bank loan for an HDB flat needs a valid one before exercising the Option to Purchase or signing the Agreement for Lease.
Also called: LO
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Loan tenure
The number of years you have to repay a housing loan. Banks and finance companies can lend for up to 30 years on an HDB flat and up to 35 years on other property.
Source: MAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Loan-to-value limit
The loan as a percentage of the property's value, capped by MAS. For an individual with no other housing loan, the limit is 75% or 55%, depending on loan tenure and age.
Also called: LTV, LTV limit
Source: MAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Mortgage Servicing Ratio
A cap that applies to bank loans for HDB flats, and to executive condominiums still within the minimum occupation period. Property loan repayments can be at most 30% of gross monthly income.
Also called: MSR
Source: MAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Refinancing
Replacing a housing loan with a new one, from another bank or on another rate package. HDB says a bank loan cannot be refinanced into an HDB housing loan.
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- SORA
Singapore Overnight Rate Average: the volume-weighted average rate of borrowing transactions in the unsecured overnight interbank SGD cash market in Singapore between 8am and 6.15pm, published by MAS.
Also called: Singapore Overnight Rate Average
Source: MAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Total Debt Servicing Ratio
MAS's cap on the share of your gross monthly income that can go to all debt repayments. For loans where the option was granted on or after 16 Dec 2021, it is 55%.
Also called: TDSR
Source: MAS. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
Leases and tenure
- 99-year leasehold
A lease that runs for 99 years from its start date. Many HDB and private homes in Singapore are sold on this term.
Also called: 99-year lease
- 999-year leasehold
A lease that runs for 999 years from its start date, far longer than a 99-year lease.
Also called: 999-year lease
- Freehold
Ownership of the land with no end date. The owner and later owners hold it indefinitely.
- Lease start date
The date a lease begins. Remaining lease is the lease term minus the years that have passed since this date.
Also called: lease commencement date
- Leasehold
Ownership of a property for a fixed number of years, after which the lease ends and the right to the land returns to the lessor.
- Remaining lease
The years left on a lease, counted from today to its end date. HDB loan and CPF rules both depend on how much lease is left.
Also called: lease left, balance lease
Source: CPF Board. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Tenure
How long the right to the land under a property lasts: without end for freehold, or for a fixed number of years for leasehold, such as 99 or 999 years.
HDB schemes
- 2-room Flexi flat
A 1-bedroom HDB flat that HDB calls an affordable option for lower-income households, seniors and singles. A short-lease version, sold only by HDB, gives seniors a shorter lease and a lower price.
Also called: 2-room Flexi, short-lease 2-room Flexi
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- 3Gen flat
An HDB flat type for eligible multi-generation families living under one roof. It has 4 bedrooms, 2 of them with attached bathrooms.
Also called: 3Gen
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Build-To-Order
HDB's mode of sale where applicants choose a flat type and town, and a computer ballot decides who may book. First-timer families get higher priority.
Also called: BTO
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Community Care Apartment
A joint offering of MND, MOH and HDB that combines senior-friendly housing with care and social services, which can be scaled to care needs. HDB sells it directly.
Also called: CCA
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Core family nucleus
The group HDB uses to assess housing subsidies: you, your spouse and children; you, your parents and siblings; or you and your children in your custody, for widowed or divorced people.
Also called: core member, core occupier
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- CPF Housing Grant
Money credited to the CPF Ordinary Accounts of eligible buyers, to reduce the flat price or the loan. Types include the Family, Enhanced, Step-Up, Proximity and Singles grants.
Also called: housing grant
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Design, Build and Sell Scheme
A scheme under which flats were bought from a property developer but fall under HDB rules. HDB sets a 5-year minimum occupation period for these flats.
Also called: DBSS
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Enhanced CPF Housing Grant
An extra grant for first-timer families, up to $120,000 from 20 Aug 2024, set by household income. For a resale flat you must first qualify for the Family Grant.
Also called: EHG
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Ethnic Integration Policy
An HDB rule with ethnic quotas for each block and neighbourhood. A flat sale must stay within the quota, and within the Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR) quota where it applies.
Also called: EIP
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Family Grant
A CPF Housing Grant for eligible families buying a resale flat. A first-timer Singapore Citizen couple gets $80,000 for a 2- to 4-room flat and $50,000 for a 5-room or bigger flat.
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- First-timer
An applicant who has not taken a housing subsidy before. Only a first-timer core member may qualify for most CPF housing grants.
Also called: first-timer family
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Fresh Start Housing Scheme
An HDB scheme that helps ComLink+ families with young children living in public rental flats buy a 2-room Flexi or 3-room Standard flat on a shorter lease. The MOP for these flats is 20 years.
Also called: Fresh Start
Source: HDB. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- HFE letter
HDB's letter telling you whether you can buy a new or resale flat, and which grants and HDB loan you can get. It is valid for 9 months, and a resale buyer needs it before getting an OTP.
Also called: HDB Flat Eligibility letter, HFE
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Income ceiling
The cap on household income to qualify for CPF housing grants, except the Proximity Housing Grant, and for an HDB housing loan. A resale Standard or unclassified flat has no income ceiling to buy.
Also called: monthly household income ceiling
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Lease Buyback Scheme
An HDB scheme for older owners: you sell part of your flat's remaining lease to HDB, keep living in the flat, and the proceeds top up your CPF Retirement Account for CPF LIFE payouts.
Also called: LBS
Source: HDB. Checked 7 Oct 2026.
- Minimum occupation period
The time you must physically live in your flat before selling it. For HDB flats it starts when the purchase completes: 5 years for Standard and unclassified flats, 10 years for Plus and Prime.
Also called: MOP
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Plus flat
Under HDB's framework: a flat with a 10-year minimum occupation period, no whole-flat rental, and subsidy recovery when sold if bought from HDB.
Also called: Plus
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Prime flat
Under HDB's framework: a flat with a 10-year minimum occupation period, no whole-flat rental, and subsidy recovery when sold if bought from HDB. It includes PLH flats sold before the October 2024 sales exercise.
Also called: Prime
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Prime Location Public Housing
A type of HDB flat sold before the October 2024 sales exercise. HDB counts these flats as Prime flats.
Also called: PLH
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Proximity Housing Grant
A grant for resale buyers who live with or near their parents or child. For families it is $30,000 to live with them and $20,000 to live within 4 km.
Also called: PHG
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Resale flat
An HDB flat sold by its owner on the open market rather than by HDB. The owner must have met the minimum occupation period, and the buyer needs a valid HFE letter.
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Resale levy
A payment that reduces the subsidy on a second subsidised flat. For first flats sold from 3 March 2006, families pay a fixed amount by flat type, from $15,000 (2-room) to $55,000 (EC).
Also called: HDB resale levy
Source: HDB. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- Sale of Balance Flats
One of HDB's modes of selling new flats, alongside Build-To-Order and open booking of flats.
Also called: SBF
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Second-timer
An applicant who has already taken a housing subsidy. A second-timer single cannot get another subsidy but may apply for the Proximity Housing Grant. Couples with one first-timer have their own grant rules.
Also called: second-timer family
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme
HDB's programme to redevelop selected older blocks through compulsory acquisition. Owners can move to a new home with a fresh 99-year lease. HDB says no more SERS projects are planned.
Also called: SERS
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Singles Grant
The CPF Housing Grant (Singles). A first-timer citizen buying a resale flat alone gets $40,000 for a 2- to 4-room flat or $25,000 for a 5-room flat, with age and income conditions.
Also called: CPF Housing Grant (Singles)
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Standard flat
Under HDB's Standard, Plus and Prime framework: a flat with a 5-year minimum occupation period, no subsidy recovery on sale, and whole-flat rental allowed after the MOP.
Also called: Standard
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Step-Up CPF Housing Grant
A $15,000 grant for eligible second-timer families who have taken one housing subsidy and are moving up from a 2-room flat, subject to flat, income and lease conditions.
Also called: Step-Up Grant
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Subsidy recovery
A percentage of the resale price returned to HDB when a Plus or Prime flat bought from HDB is sold. It does not apply to Standard flats or to resale Plus and Prime flats bought on the open market.
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Top-Up Grant
A top-up for Singles Grant recipients who later marry an eligible citizen or permanent resident, or whose spouse or child becomes one. It is up to the gap to the Family Grant, applied for within 6 months.
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Unclassified flat
A flat sold before the October 2024 sales exercise and not classified as Standard, Plus or Prime. For resale rules, HDB treats it like a Standard flat.
Also called: unclassified
Source: HDB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
Condo and landed
- Certificate of Statutory Completion
BCA's certificate that a development has met all statutory requirements and obtained all clearances from the relevant agencies.
Also called: CSC
Source: BCA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Cluster housing
Strata-titled landed homes sharing one site, communal facilities and a single vehicle access. URA's term is strata landed housing, and the units can be bungalows, semi-detached or terrace houses.
Also called: cluster house, strata landed housing
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Collective sale
A sale of all units in a strata development to one buyer, usually a developer. It needs consent of 90% by share value and strata area if the development is under 10 years old, and 80% if older.
Also called: en bloc, en bloc sale
Source: STB. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Condominium
A non-landed private residential development. URA says condominiums typically offer more communal and recreational facilities than flats developments, and have larger sites.
Also called: condo
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Corner terrace
A terrace house on a corner plot. URA sets a larger minimum plot size and plot width for corner terraces than for intermediate terraces, the houses between neighbours.
Also called: corner terrace house
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Detached house
A landed house standing alone on its own land title, sharing no wall with a neighbour. URA calls it a bungalow.
Also called: bungalow, detached
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Executive Condominium
A private condominium sold new to buyers who meet HDB's rules. Under the EC Act, a unit may be sold to Singapore citizens and permanent residents after its minimum occupation period, and to anyone 5 years after it ends.
Also called: EC
Source: SSO. Checked 8 Oct 2026.
- Good Class Bungalow
A bungalow in one of the Good Class Bungalow Areas that URA lists. In those areas the minimum plot size is 1,400 sqm, and only bungalows are allowed.
Also called: GCB, Good Class Bungalow Area, GCBA
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Landed property
A house on its own plot of land, as opposed to a unit in a flat or condo. URA's main landed forms are terrace, semi-detached and detached houses (bungalows).
Also called: landed house, landed home
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Maintenance contribution
What each unit owner pays the management corporation, in proportion to the unit's share value. It goes into the management fund for daily costs and the sinking fund for long-term costs.
Also called: maintenance fee, maintenance charge, management fund
Source: BCA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Management Corporation
The body made up of all the unit owners of a strata development, which controls and manages the common property under the Building (Strata Management) Act. Tenants are not members.
Also called: MCST, management corporation strata title
Source: BCA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Master Plan
URA's statutory land use plan. It guides development over the next 10 to 15 years, is reviewed every five years, and shows permitted land use and density.
Also called: URA Master Plan
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Planning area
A division of a planning region in URA's Master Plan, with its own town centre and neighbourhood centres. Each area is split into subzones, and its boundary may not match existing developments.
Also called: URA planning area
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Planning region
One of the large divisions into which URA splits Singapore for planning. Each region is divided into smaller planning areas.
Also called: region
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Postal district
A numbered area of Singapore, such as D9 or D15, based on the first two digits of postal codes. Listings and URA private property data use it to group locations.
Also called: district
- Private apartment
A home in a non-landed private development, either a flats development or a condominium, as URA classes them. It is not an HDB flat.
Also called: apartment, private flat
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Semi-detached house
One half of a pair of houses, each with its own land title, separated by a common party wall.
Also called: semi-detached, semi-D
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Sinking fund
A fund held by the management corporation for long-term future spending, such as repainting, upgrading, replacing major equipment and cyclical repairs of common areas.
Source: BCA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Strata title
Title to one unit in a building divided into strata lots, such as a condo unit, with shared ownership of the common property. SLA issues it as a Subsidiary Strata Certificate of Title.
Also called: strata-titled, strata
Source: SLA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Temporary Occupation Permit
BCA's permit to occupy a building when it is suitable for occupation but some matters with other agencies are still outstanding. The final certificate is the CSC.
Also called: TOP
Source: BCA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
- Terrace house
A landed house with its own land title that forms part of a row of at least 3 houses sharing party walls.
Also called: terrace
Source: URA. Checked 6 Oct 2026.
Data terms we use
- Caveated transaction
A sale that has a caveat lodged against the property's title, which is how it appears in the records we use. Lodging a caveat is optional, so counts cover caveated sales, not every sale.
Also called: caveat data
Source: URA. Checked 8 Oct 2026.
- Median
The middle value when prices are sorted from lowest to highest: half the sales are below it, half above. A few very high or very low sales move it less than they move an average.
- psf
Price per square foot: the price divided by the area in square feet. The area can be floor area or land area, so check which one a figure uses before comparing.
Also called: price per square foot, $psf
- psm
Price per square metre: the price divided by the area in square metres. One square metre is about 10.76 square feet.
Also called: price per square metre, $psm
- Quarter
A three-month period of the calendar year: Q1 is January to March, Q2 April to June, Q3 July to September and Q4 October to December.
Also called: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4
- Transaction count
How many sales a figure is based on. A median built on a small number of sales can move a lot from one period to the next.
Also called: number of transactions, sample size
- Year on year
A comparison of a figure with the same period one year earlier, for example Q3 this year against Q3 last year.
Also called: YoY
Who runs what
- BCA
The authority that issues the Temporary Occupation Permit and the Certificate of Statutory Completion for new buildings.
Also called: Building and Construction Authority
Source: BCA. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- CEA
The regulator that licenses property agencies and registers property agents.
Also called: Council for Estate Agencies
Source: CEA (www.cea.gov.sg). Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- CPF Board
The board that runs CPF savings, including the rules on using them for a home.
Also called: Central Provident Fund Board
Source: CPF Board. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- HDB
The statutory board that builds and sells public flats in Singapore and sets the rules for buying, owning and selling them.
Also called: Housing & Development Board
Source: HDB. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- IRAS
The tax authority. For property it collects stamp duty and property tax.
Also called: Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore
Source: IRAS. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- MAS
Singapore's central bank and financial regulator. It sets the rules banks follow on home loans, such as TDSR and loan-to-value limits.
Also called: Monetary Authority of Singapore
Source: MAS. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- MND
The ministry responsible for land use and housing policy, with HDB and URA under it.
Also called: Ministry of National Development
Source: MND. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- MOH
The health ministry. It offers Community Care Apartments jointly with HDB and MND.
Also called: Ministry of Health
Source: MOH. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- SLA
The authority that keeps Singapore's land register and issues land titles.
Also called: Singapore Land Authority
Source: SLA. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
- URA
Singapore's land use planning authority. It draws up the Master Plan and publishes data on private property transactions.
Also called: Urban Redevelopment Authority
Source: URA. Checked 9 Oct 2026.
About the data
Every rule in a definition carries its source and the date we checked it. We are not affiliated with any government body. General information, not financial advice.