Buyers from China are snapping up luxury Singapore property at a record rate

May 31, 2024

Foreigners bought 159 non-landed, luxury homes in Singapore’s core central region in the first quarter, according to a report by OrangeTee & Tie Pte. That’s up from 71 units a year earlier.

The number of luxury condominium units bought by Chinese buyers increased to 111 units, up 158 per cent year on year, the property agency said.

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Singapore government doubles residential property tax for foreigners to 60 per cent

Singapore authorities last month doubled property levies for foreigners to 60 per cent, the highest among major global cities, as part of efforts to cool the housing market. The government has said that the policy is a preemptive move as investment demand for residential property is likely to continue to grow otherwise.

“The cooling measures may not affect buyers’ perception of Singapore as one of the best places for property investment,” said Christine Sun, a senior vice president at OrangeTee, citing economic fundamentals.

“Some high-net-worth individuals may continue to park their wealth here as luxury properties are pricey in many other cities.”

More Chinese investing in Singapore homes, ‘politically stable’ environment

Singapore’s home sales surged 80 per cent in April from a month earlier to a seven-month high as more projects were launched, government figures showed Monday.

Foreigners bought 70 units in April, the most since May 2022, according to Lee Sze Teck, senior director of research at Huttons Asia Pte. Most purchases were in the S$2 million (US$1.5 million) to S$5 million category, he said.

Geopolitical tensions may have led more foreigners to buy Singapore properties as a safe-haven asset, he added.

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