Up to date as of 4 Apr 2023: We now have up to date this text to take into consideration different sub-sale transactions up until 17 March 2023 that have been beforehand not registered once we first wrote this text. Thanks to our reader for the suggestions on this.
In early March, we shared on our social media a sub-sale transaction at Fourth Avenue Residences. It was a notable transaction as a result of its S$322k capital achieve. The achieve can be presently the best within the undertaking.
Maybe extra importantly for the vendor, they don’t have to pay the Vendor’s Stamp Responsibility (SSD) because the holding interval is over three years.
What’s a sub-sale?
A sub-sale happens when a property purchased straight from the developer is resold earlier than the undertaking is accomplished.
There are a lot of the reason why individuals could resell their items earlier than the undertaking is accomplished, with one widespread purpose being to make a revenue. However such speculative purchases have led to excessive property costs, prompting the authorities to introduce the SSD round a decade in the past.
Homeowners who’ve offered their properties inside three years might want to pay the SSD. Right here’s the speed:
Interval of possession | SSD charge based mostly on buy value/ market worth (whichever is larger) |
As much as 1 12 months | 12% |
Over 1 12 months, as much as 2 years | 8% |
Over 2 years, as much as 3 years | 4% |
Over 3 years | No SSD payable |
Whereas sub-sales have since decreased for 10 years because the introduction of SSD in 2010, its quantity began growing once more in 2021. Actually, extra just lately, Enterprise Instances reported that the variety of sub-sales in 2022 has hit a 10-year excessive with 765 transactions.
With that, right now we’re going to have a look at the sub-sales thus far this 12 months, up until 17 March 2023.
Rental gainers which might be sub-sales within the first 3 months of 2023
As of this replace, we discovered 132 sub-sale condominium transactions up until 17 March 2023 which have made capital good points.
Apparently, out of those sub-sales, 42 transactions (31.8%) had a holding interval of 5 years. In the meantime, 74 of them (56.1%) had a holding interval of 4 years. The remaining 16 had a holding interval of three years.
Which means most of those sub-sale unit sellers would not have to pay the SSD, which might have eaten into their income.
Once we have a look at the numbers carefully, we discovered that 11 of those sub-sales have really recorded the best capital achieve of their respective tasks. (Do be aware that these are purely based mostly on the acquisition and sale costs, and don’t account for different prices such because the SSD.)
Rental | Measurement (sq ft) | Purchased for, date purchased | Bought for, date offered | Capital achieve | Years held | Annualised return |
Midtown Bay | 743 | S$1.91m
24 Nov 2019 |
S$2m
1 Mar 2023 |
S$92k
(4.8%) |
4 | 1.18% |
Fourth Avenue Residences | 1475 | S$3.51m
26 Nov 2019 |
S$3.83m
22 Feb 2023 |
S$322k
(9.2%) |
4 | 2.22% |
The Tre Ver | 1108 | S$1.78m
11 Might 2019 |
S$2.23m
27 Jan 2023 |
S$444k
(24.9%) |
4 | 5.71% |
The Woodleigh Residences | 700 | S$1.35m
25 Jun 2019 |
S$1.5m
24 Feb 2023 |
S$151k
(11.2%) |
4 | 2.69% |
Amber Park | 743 | S$1.85m
21 Might 2019 |
S$2.08m
7 Feb 2023 |
S$228k
(12.3%) |
4 | 2.95% |
RESIDENCE TWENTY-TWO | 1195 | S$1.88m
31 Dec 2019 |
S$2.4m
2 Feb 2023 |
S$525k
(28%) |
4 | 6.37% |
Treasure at Tampines | 1722 | S$1.92m
20 Aug 2019 |
S$2.6m
12 Jan 2023 |
S$676k
(35.1%) |
4 | 7.82% |
Riverfront Residences | 1680 | S$2.16m
8 Might 2019 |
S$2.75m
6 Mar 2023 |
S$596k
(27.6%) |
4 | 6.29% |
View at Kismis | 667 | S$1.11m
9 Dec 2019 |
S$1.31m
2 Mar 2023 |
S$200k
(18%) |
4 | 4.23% |
Daintree Residence | 710 | S$1.23m
25 Jul 2020 |
S$1.51m
15 Mar 2023 |
S$281k
(22.8%) |
3 | 7.1% |
Ki Residences at Brookvale | 1173 | S$2.23m
5 Dec 2020 |
S$2.61m
27 Feb 2023 |
S$384k
(17.2%) |
3 | 5.45% |
Amongst these prime condominium gainers, 9 of them had a holding interval of 4 years. Compared, two items had a holding interval of lower than three years and thus, have been topic to 4% SSD.

Nonetheless, for these house owners, it most likely made sense to promote inside three years and fork out the SSD. As a result of even after accounting for the SSD, the good points are nonetheless fairly substantial.
Rental | Measurement (sq ft) | Purchased for, date purchased | Bought for, date offered | Capital achieve | Years held | Capital achieve after SSD |
Daintree Residence | 710 | S$1.23m
25 Jul 2020 |
S$1.51m
15 Mar 2023 |
S$281k
(22.8%) |
3 | S$221k |
KI Residences at Brookvale | 1173 | S$2.23m
5 Dec 2020 |
S$2.61m
27 Feb 2023 |
S$384k
(17.2%) |
3 | S$279k |
One rationalization for the good points is the present increase within the property market, because the items are offered when costs are hovering.
Sub-sales have additionally change into a viable choice because of the building delays introduced on by the pandemic. As some tasks have taken greater than three years to finish, the house owners can promote them with out incurring the SSD.
And for the patrons, these items are a lovely choice. Since they’re virtually accomplished, shopping for a sub-sale unit permits them to get a brand-new unit and lower down the ready time.
Condos TOP-ing in 2023
Planning to promote your condominium as a sub-sale? Allow us to provide help to get in contact with a property agent.
In the event you discovered this text useful, 99.co recommends What hidden prices are there when promoting your home? and 4 items at Reflections at Keppel Bay made a loss in January 2023, the largest at S$1m.