What is the timeline to sell an HDB and buy a condo?

You can sell your HDB and buy a private condo once you have met the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP): 5 years for standard flats, or 10 years for Plus and Prime flats. Before MOP, you cannot own private property alongside your flat. The main timing question after MOP is whether you sell first or buy first, which affects Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD).

The full rules

Key rules for HDB-to-condo timing

The timeline is driven by three things: your flat's MOP, ABSD on the condo, and loan limits under TDSR.

Minimum Occupation Period (MOP)

You generally cannot own private residential property while still bound by your MOP. Plus and Prime classifications apply to BTO exercises from Oct 2024; PLH flats have applied since 2021.

Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) on the condo

Your ABSD depends on how many residential properties you hold when you buy. If you buy the condo before selling the HDB, the condo counts as a second property.

Nationals of the USA, and nationals/PRs of Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are treated as Singapore Citizens for ABSD.

Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR)

The data provided does not cover ABSD remission or refund timelines for selling one property when buying another; check with IRAS for those conditions.

Worked example

Worked example

Wei Ling is a Singapore Citizen. She bought a standard BTO flat and has lived in it for the full 5-year MOP, so she is now free to buy private property.

Option A — sell HDB first, then buy condo:

When she buys the condo, it is her only residential property. ABSD for a Citizen's first property is 0%. No ABSD is payable.

Option B — buy condo first, sell HDB later:

At the point of purchase she owns two properties, so the condo attracts second-property ABSD of 20%. On a $1,500,000 condo, that is $300,000 in ABSD.

Her new loan must also keep total monthly debt within the 55% TDSR limit. The data provided does not specify any ABSD refund for later selling the flat, so treat the 20% as a real cost unless IRAS confirms otherwise.

What this means for you

Standard flat owner past MOP

You have held your standard flat for 5 years or more. You can proceed. Selling before buying keeps you at 0% ABSD (Citizen first property).

Plus or Prime flat owner

Your MOP is 10 years, not 5, with no whole-flat rental allowed and a subsidy clawback on your first resale. You must wait the full 10 years before buying a condo.

Owner who wants to buy the condo first

Buying before selling means the condo is a second property: 20% ABSD for a Citizen, 30% for a PR. Budget for this upfront cash and stay within the 55% TDSR loan limit.

Related questions

Can I buy a condo before my MOP is up?

No. You generally cannot own private residential property while bound by your MOP — 5 years for standard flats, or 10 years for Plus and Prime flats.

Is it cheaper to sell my HDB before buying the condo?

For a Citizen, buying first makes the condo a second property at 20% ABSD. Selling first means it counts as your first property at 0% ABSD.

What ABSD does a PR pay on a second property?

A Permanent Resident pays 30% ABSD on a second residential property and 5% on their first. Rates are set by IRAS and effective from 27 April 2023.

How much can I borrow for the condo?

Your total monthly debt repayments cannot exceed 55% of gross monthly income under the TDSR rule, which applies to all property loans from financial institutions.

Do Plus and Prime flats have different rules?

Yes. They carry a 10-year MOP, no whole-flat rental at any time, and a subsidy clawback on first resale. This delays any move to a condo.

More answers: Can a foreigner buy a condo in Singapore? · Can a PR buy a condo in Singapore? · Can a PR buy a resale HDB flat? · Can I buy a condo while owning an HDB flat?

Sources: HDB — selling eligibility / Minimum Occupation Period · IRAS — Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty · MAS — Total Debt Servicing Ratio · Last verified 2026-09-05

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