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The tiny size of Singapore limits the availability of free physical land which causes limited availability of land. However when it comes to residential property markets, you'll be surprised to how many available properties you can choose from. There are public HDBs, hybrid properties and a lot more types of properties in Singapore.
Generally, home buyers who are going to buy a home for the first time choose EC and private condominiums. If you are financially strong the better option is to look for a house with a big garden or a modern apartment which can accommodate more people. Or you could also choose an isolated house away from the neighborhood if you are vying for privacy. Another option is buying a subsidized home. With so many different kinds of opportunities you can choose from, it all boils down to your decision and what you are ultimately looking for in a property.
Housing and Development Board or HDB flats are public housing properties for working class Singaporean citizens. These are usually low-priced but of high quality. In recent years, they have become the indispensable residential choice for the residents of Singapore because of their affordability, having as much as 80% of people dwelling in these budget flats. They are also available in different forms.
Two-room flats are small but they are best suitable for small families and less wealthy households. A small size 2-room flat is normally 45 square meters in size, and provided with everything from the bedroom to the living room, all the way to the bathroom, kitchen, and even storage room. If you compare them with private houses, a 2-room flat built by HDB is of size equal to the one-bedroom unit.
If you are a growing family of three or a tandem of would-be parents, the 3-room flat might be the best option for your residential choice. Measuring 60 to 65 square meters, this space has a master bedroom and a bathroom, an extra bedroom, a kitchen, a common bathroom, storage room, and a service yard.
Measuring 91 to 100 square meters, a 4-room flat has a master bedroom, a living area, two common bedrooms, a kitchen, and a storage room — proving to be the most suitable option for big families with kids. The four-room HDB flat is relatively spacious and offers a good amount of space. Furthermore, it is available at an affordable price. You can get them in different types of design as you wish.
Measuring close to 110 square meters, a 5-room flat has a master bedroom, one kitchen, a living area, two common bedrooms, one store room, and an additional dining area in each of the units. All this makes it a fairly big home.
These apartments are more commonly made to fulfill the needs of elderly people. Aside from providing comfort through its fairly spacious area, they have features that are suitable for the elderly — including bathroom support bars, non-slip tiles, and cabinets without sharp edges. Studio apartments can accommodate two people easily and they are generally sold on a 30-year lease.
This is classified as a public housing that is larger than HDB flats but smaller than executive condominiums. However, the planning and design in walls are done by private developers and are built with finishing that is minimal and looks more like a private home and have fewer facilities. These flats are popular among more affluent residents who have the financial capabilities to purchase bigger spaces yet are still not ready to splurge on the private market space.
An executive flat normally measures around 130 square meters and is one of the biggest dwelling units in Singapore. This unit includes an extra space which you can transform however you want. Moreover, some executive flats have balconies fronting a nice view of Singapore.
If you have enough money to invest more than the price of an HDB flat but are still hesitant to make the full switch to a private property, hybrids are the ideal residential choice for you. Hybrids are special houses since they have the characteristics of public housing and qualities of private housing. They are a cross between private and public properties.
These flats were erected in the ‘70s and became more popular in the ‘80s. Only a few estates are left with HUDC flats since it started being phased out in the late ‘80s. Because of privatization, it's undergoing changes to realize this.
These dwelling units are suitable for young career professionals and new couples because they can financially afford it if they can't go for private properties. These dwelling units have the same amenities in private condominiums. To get this dwelling unit, you need to meet a couple of the eligibility requirements: a 99-year leasehold and a minimum occupancy.
Private properties don't come with any lease. There are two major types of private houses in Singapore: Landed and Non-landed.
These private properties don't have any restrictions or limitations. They also don't come with land titles or leasehold status, earning the term "air space" rather than a land space.
Walk-ups are a new breed of dwelling units known for specifically not having any elevator. They are apartments and condominium buildings that are low-rise in nature, giving the residents an easy time to reach their units even without the convenience of a lift.
An apartment is a small plot of land measuring 4000 square meters. They are usually equipped with lesser recreational facilities.
This type of residential spaces commonly includes recreational facilities and amenities such as swimming pools, fitness gyms, penthouse gardens, and more. A condominium using its few floors as commercial space is called mixed development.
Landed properties are top-tier housing properties in Singapore that are best for privacy, spacious rooms, massive gardens and personalized space. Landed properties often include terrace houses, conservation houses, shop houses, cluster houses, town houses, detached houses, and good class bungalows.
A town house share common features with other units. These may include swimming pools, gardens, gyms, club houses, etc. A town house is a blend, or a hybrid, between a landed terrace property and condominium.
The provisions of law protect these properties because of their significance in Singapore’s rich culture and storied history.
A shop house are comprised of two to three storeys and are commonly displayed through low-rise buildings with narrow frontage but deep rears.
These houses are also known as a “row house” or “link house” and are joined together sharing a common boundary.
These are generally called as bungalows and measures from 400 to 1,400 square meters. They also offer residents with the best quality in privacy living.
These houses are a set of two properties erected side by side and separated only with wall partitions. Each of the hose is identical to the other.
These are houses with a condominium-style appearance and are commonly set in a landed property. It is a hybrid of bungalows, terrace and semi-detached properties.
This residential property measures more than 1,400 square meters. It is said to be the most sought-after dwelling unit in Singapore. A bungalow in this category has no fewer than four car parks, swimming pools, large gardens, tennis/basketball courts, private cinemas, and more. There are just 1,000 good class bungalows across Singapore.
Singapore might be limited by physical land but the various types of properties prove that it can still provide comfortable living spaces for its residents of different ages, classes, and living requirements.
