Once you reach your late twenties or thirties, you will likely be starting a family and buying a home.
For that, you might need a HDB housing loan.
HDB housing loans are affordable and practical solutions for Singaporeans who need homes. You can get a considerable amount, but you have to get through all the bureaucracy first.
Read this guide to understand your eligibility criteria and how much you can borrow. We know that many Singaporeans have a source of passive income, or at least know how to generate passive income.
We’ll give you plenty of examples, and we’ll also tackle the self-employed situation.
Keep reading below.
Annual income | Singapore citizens and permanent residents | Foreigners residing in Singapore |
---|---|---|
Below $10,000 | $3,000 | $500 |
At least $10,000 but below $20,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
At least $20,000 | 6x the monthly income | 6x the monthly income |
Personal Loans | Renovation Loans | |
---|---|---|
Loan Amount | Up to $250,000 | Up to $30,000 |
Loan Use | Flexible and can be used for expensive purchases, education, home renovations, etc. | It can only be used for home repairs or renovations |
Interest Rate | Starts from less than 4% p.a. | Starts from less than 3% p.a. |
Loan Eligibility | 21-65 years with a minimum income of $20,000 | You must own the home or be a family member. |
Disbursement Speed | From 15 minutes | Depends on the bank and the borrower's circumstances |
Repayment Duration | One to five years | One to five years |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
20% of the purchase price must be paid as a downpayment, which a CPF payment can fully cover | Has a higher interest rate of 0.1% above the interest rate of the CPF OA |
Your loan limit is up to 80% of the buying price | Higher LTV, combined with a higher interest rate, would result in an expensive home |
Its interest rate is less prone to fluctuations because it is tied to the CPF OA interest rate | |
You can opt for flexible refinancing as it doesn’t have a lock-in period | |
You can pay off the loan early without incurring any penalty fees |
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Lower interest rate package than HDB loans | Your ability to repay a bank loan early is restricted by the lock-in period, and will result in an early repayment penalty of 1.5% of the loan balance |
You can renegotiate your mortgage for the lowest interest rates available | A downpayment of up to 25% of the purchase price is required. Out of which, at least 5% must be paid in cash |
Fewer application restrictions (e.g. no income ceiling conditions) | During the mortgage period, switching to a HDB loan is not possible |
The maximum bank loan for HDB depends on your Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR) | Interest rates are inconsistent and constantly changing in response to market changes |
Remember that the maximum loan amount you can borrow for your HDB flat depends on the factors below:
If you have an extended family, here’s how you should calculate the average household income per month:
The average gross monthly household income of extended families is calculated as follows:
Annual Income Of Borrower Singapore Citizens And Permanent Residents Foreigners Residing In Singapore Less than $10,000 $3,000 $500 At least $10,000 but not up to $20,000 $3,000 $3,000 At least $20,000 Up to 6x their monthly income Up to 6x their monthly income
Let’s take an example.
Let’s say a married couple with two working children wants to get an HDB housing loan. Their average gross incomes per month are:
Here’s how you assess your average gross income per month if you’re this sort of an extended family:
The eligibility requirements and maximum amounts we’ve explained above are from the HDB website. But how much are you actually eligible for? And what if you’re self-employed?
Let’s review the application process first:
You need to submit your HLE letter before applying for your flat. This letter’s validity is just six months. Conversely, BTO flat needs at least two years before it’s finished, which means your HLE has expired.
If that happens, you’ll have to get a second HLE. Make sure this application covers 90% of your flat’s price. Otherwise, you’ll have to use your CPF contributions, savings account, or a loan to cover the difference.
If you don’t have enough money, you’ll lose your flat and the down payment.
What about self-employed people?
You’ll have to bring more documents:
Pro tip: If you don’t have a fixed income and are paid in cash, deposit this money into your bank account as soon as you get it. Also, make accurate IRAS declarations. Otherwise, you won’ be able to prove your income, and you won’t be eligible for a sufficient loan.
Now let’s see how much you qualify for. Use HDB’s calculator.
Before applying, consider that home loan repayments can’t be more than 30% of your gross income per month. So, if you’re earning $4,500, you can only use $1,500 for your housing loan.
This sum is smaller if you have other debt. You can’t spend more than 60% of your gross income per month towards your loans, including car or education loans in Singapore.
If you are already in debt or have a bad credit score, you can consider taking a personal loan to improve your financial health.
You can also take a personal loan if you are facing problems with your monthly HDB loan repayments.
So, now you know the issues that affect your HDB loan amounts and the application requirements. Use this information to prepare for your purchase wisely. Check out several home loans to ensure you’re getting an affordable deal!