How Much Does It Cost to Sell a Condo in Singapore? What Sellers Should Budget For

Key takeaways

• Commission is not fixed. CEA says you are free to negotiate the amount or rate, and you should clarify whether GST is included.
• Commission is paid to the property agency, not the individual agent, once the transaction is completed.
• Conveyancing legal fees are a sale expense. CPF Board names legal fees as an example of the expenses paid after the loan and CPF refund.
• Your loan agreement may include fees or notice terms that affect what it costs to redeem the loan.
• Seller’s Stamp Duty applies only if you sell within the holding period. For property bought on or after 4 July 2025, that period is four years.
• The CPF refund returns to your CPF account. It is not a cost, but it is not cash you can spend either.

Background

Sellers often look at the headline price and the agent’s commission and stop there. In practice, several other items affect what you keep, and some of them, such as the loan and the CPF refund, are paid before anything else.

CPF Board explains that for private properties bought or refinanced on or after 1 September 2002, the selling price is used to pay the outstanding housing loan first, the required CPF refund second, and other sale expenses, for example legal fees, third. CEA’s seller checklist for completed private residential property also asks sellers to check outstanding property tax and stamp duty liability, mortgage liability and redemption, and outstanding MCST fees before issuing an OTP.

This guide brings those items together so you can build a budget. It does not replace the figures your agency, lawyer, bank, CPF Board and IRAS will confirm for your sale.

Latest guidance

The sources were checked on 1 November 2026. CPF Board’s pages on sale proceeds were last updated on 12 June 2026. CEA’s page on engaging a property agent was last updated on 13 May 2026, and its buying or selling page on 18 August 2025. The IRAS Seller’s Stamp Duty declaration form used for the rates below was updated on 4 July 2025.

This article does not report a new policy. Rates and rules can change, so confirm current figures with the relevant agency when you plan to sell.

Who is affected

This guide is for owners preparing to sell a completed private residential property, such as a condominium or apartment, who want to estimate the costs and deductions before agreeing a price.

It is most useful if you plan to use the proceeds for another purchase, if you used CPF savings or a bank loan for the property, or if you bought the property within the last few years. For the wider selling process, see the guide to selling a condo in Singapore.

Who is not affected

This is not a guide to selling an HDB flat, which follows HDB’s own resale process and fees. See the HDB resale page for that route.

Uncompleted properties, commercial and industrial properties, and properties held by companies can involve different taxes and contract terms. This article does not give tax, legal or loan advice for a specific transaction.

What remains unchanged

• The selling price and terms are still agreed between you and the buyer.
• Commission is a private agreement between you and the property agency, not a government rate.
• The gross selling price is not the cash you receive.
• A property agent does not replace your lawyer, bank, CPF Board or IRAS.
• No selling price, timeline or net proceeds figure is guaranteed.

Planning considerations

1. Agree the commission in writing before marketing starts

CEA states that there are no fixed commission rates nor prescribed guidelines on commission amounts, and that you should agree the amount and terms before the agent starts work. The agreed amount can be recorded in CEA’s prescribed estate agency agreement. Ask whether GST is included or excluded: CEA notes that only GST-registered property agencies can charge GST.

Check the type of agreement too. Under an exclusive agreement, which can run for up to three months, CEA explains that you may still be liable to pay commission to the appointed agency even if you sell through another agency or on your own during that period. Commission is paid to the agency, not the agent, once the transaction completes.

2. Get a conveyancing quote early

A conveyancing lawyer acts for you on the legal side of the sale, and CPF Board lists legal fees among the sale expenses paid from the selling price. Fees differ between firms and transactions, so ask for a written quote that sets out what is included and what will be charged separately as disbursements.

3. Check what it will cost to redeem the loan

The outstanding housing loan is paid first from the selling price. Read your loan agreement or letter of offer for any lock-in period, early-repayment fee or notice requirement, and ask your bank to confirm any amount in writing before you agree a completion date. The guide to selling a condo with an outstanding mortgage covers this step in more detail.

4. Treat the CPF refund as a deduction from cash, not a cost

If you used CPF savings for the property, the required CPF refund is paid back to your CPF account after the loan. CPF Board directs members to the What happens if section of the Home ownership dashboard for the required housing refund. If the selling price cannot cover the loan and the CPF refund, CPF Board states that a sale at market value means you only refund the remaining proceeds after the loan, while a sale below market value means you top up the shortfall in cash. Any option monies received from the buyer must still be refunded in cash. See CPF refund when selling property for more.

5. Check whether Seller’s Stamp Duty applies

SSD applies only if you sell within the holding period, and the rate depends on when you bought the property. IRAS calculates it on the selling price or market value, whichever is higher, and states that it is payable within 14 days after the date of sale. The date of sale is generally the date the buyer exercises the Option to Purchase. If you are near the end of a holding period, check the dates with your lawyer before you issue an OTP. The Seller’s Stamp Duty guide explains how the holding period is counted.

6. Clear outstanding property tax and MCST charges

CEA’s seller checklist lists outstanding property tax and outstanding MCST service and maintenance charges as items to check before issuing an OTP. IRAS’s page on selling your property covers paying outstanding tax, ending existing GIRO arrangements and claiming any refunds. Ask your lawyer how these amounts will be settled at completion.

7. Build the budget from net proceeds, then plan the sale

Start from a realistic selling price, then subtract the loan redemption amount, the CPF refund and the costs above. The property sale proceeds calculator gives a first illustration only. If you want help with pricing evidence, buyer positioning and timing, the condo selling page explains how Melvin supports the wider process. Legal, loan and tax matters remain with your lawyer, bank and IRAS.

FAQ

This article provides general educational information. Commission, legal, loan, CPF and tax matters depend on the actual transaction and should be confirmed with your property agency, bank, CPF Board, IRAS or a professional adviser before a binding commitment is made.