Foreigners staying in Singapore for extended periods of time may discover that living in a hotel for the length of their stay can be very costly. The alternative answer to this problem is for the foreigners to buy residential properties in Singapore.
In Singapore, expats are not prevented by government agencies from acquiring their own residential properties.
Essentially, the Residential Property Act of Singapore empowers Singapore citizens to acquire residential properties in the country at reasonable prices. Furthermore, the act enables foreigners who are recognized by the government to be capable of of contributing to the economic success of the city-state to purchase residential properties in Singapore.
Non-restricted residential properties can be purchased by foreigners even with no prior sanction from the Singapore government. The following are specific samples of non-restricted residential properties:
- apartment units within a building that is not higher than 6 levels – condominium units in approved condominium development properties under the Planning Act – a lease contract on a restricted residential property; the contract should not exceed seven years
An approval from Singapore’s Minister of Law is needed by foreigners who desire to own all units in an apartment or condominium in an authorized development property.
Likewise, a foreign national who has no prior approval from Singapore’s Minister of Law cannot own residential properties that are classified as restricted.
Under the Residential Property Act of Singapore, the following are classified as restricted residential properties:
- a vacant residential land – town houses, separate or semi-linked homes, or terraced houses built on residential lands – lands not authorized for condominium development under the Planning Act
The expatriate who intends to purchase a restricted residential property must fill out a form and then send this, together with the requisite supporting papers, to the Singapore Land Authority. The agency is accountable for assessing the expatriate’s eligibility to buy a restricted residential property and for granting the approval if it finds the expat’s qualifications satisfactory.
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