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Anonymous

13 Sep 2021

Property

First time property buyer / Do I need a property agent for buying a resale flat?

Do I need a agent? Does property grants from the government stack together? Any good resources for reading up before buying a resale flat? TIA

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Hi, are you looking for a new house? Head to mogul.sg to browse your preference of properties for sale or rent in Singapore.

In case you need some reference as a first-time buyer, feel free to read up some articles below:

For Young Singaporean Couples: 4 Tips On Buying Your First Home Resale Flat

https://www.blog.mogul.sg/post/for-young-singap...

Quick Guide to Buying Resale HDB Flat: Requirements, Financing and Fees - 2021 Update

https://www.blog.mogul.sg/post/quick-guide-to-b...

Buying Your First BTO Flat? Here're 8 Things You Should Pay Attention

https://www.blog.mogul.sg/post/planning-to-buy-...

Cheers! :)

For buying I think can DIY - for me, I went to propertyguru, 99 dot co etc. and just directly contact the one listing their resale flats (mostly agents) to go for viewing.

The process itself if quite straightforward, not difficult in my opinion, but need to keep up at the doing homework diligently (to view + determine price to offer/willing to buy) and transacting stage (highly administrative in nature). Sharing what I have learnt (got a resale this year).

  1. Understanding how much you can afford - get HLE (HDB Loan Eligibility letter) + whatever cash/savings (loan + savings + CPF Ordinary). You can also use this to estimate (https://homes.hdb.gov.sg/home/calculator/budget). For me, the HLE is most accurate - that's how much HDB want to lend you based on your actual income/savings in CPF.
  2. Search for houses within your affordability (computed under 1), with desired size location/amenties + remaining lease (impt). (99dot co and propertyguru).
  3. Go for viewings - gain experience in what to look out for in a house, what are your likes/dislikes, neighbours/surroundings, how to talk to agents/owners - questions you want to ask. Think of how much you will offer even b4 going. B4 viewing remember to check the past transactions - i find HDB map services super useful: https://services2.hdb.gov.sg/web/fi10/emap.html in getting past transactions, nearby amenties, remaining leases (all in 1 place). Look at the other listing too. I find doing homework must useful and essential - else easy for agents to smoke... ...
  4. Transacting - Ensure if money handed over there are relevant documents/acknowledgement from seller, ensure you know the next step (check HDB / check seller agent). Ensure that when filling up the multiple forms on HDB website - you know what to do (get all the income, CPF etc. documents super ready). the submission of doc timely from both sides is required - ppl hire agent becoz they dun want to do this.
    Hope this helps.
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Tan Choong Hwee

13 Sep 2021

Solutions Specialist at Providend

It is possible to buy resale flat without agent. The most authoritative guide on the process is of c...

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