CPF Withdrawal Limits for Property: What You Can Actually Use
CPF withdrawal limits for property purchases in Singapore determine exactly how much of your Ordinary Account (OA) and Retirement Account (RA) savings you can deploy toward downpayments and monthly mortgage repayments. For first-time HDB buyers under 55, you can withdraw up to 100% of the purchase price from your OA if the property lease extends beyond 20 years past age 55[1]. Private property buyers face stricter limits: you can use CPF OA up to 80% of the property's valuation or purchase price, whichever is lower, after meeting the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) requirement of 55% of gross income[1].
Understanding these limits is critical because exceeding them can delay your purchase, trigger penalties, or jeopardize your retirement security—which is why Homejourney prioritizes verification and transparency in every transaction. This cluster guide provides specific withdrawal rules for different property types, age groups, and real-world scenarios to help you maximize your CPF while protecting your retirement.
Daily online withdrawal cap: S$50,000[3], meaning large downpayments must be planned across multiple days or submitted via bank instructions. For monthly mortgage repayments, there is no hard cap beyond your OA balance—but your bank and CPF will enforce MSR/TDSR limits, so you cannot pay more than your income permits anyway[1].
HDB Flat Purchases: Maximum CPF OA Withdrawal
HDB flats offer the most generous CPF withdrawal rules in Singapore's property market. For first-time buyers purchasing an HDB resale flat, you can withdraw up to 100% of the purchase price from your OA—provided your OA balance is sufficient and the property's remaining lease lasts at least 20 years beyond your 55th birthday[1][7]. This means a 35-year-old buying a Punggol HDB resale with a 70-year lease can theoretically use pure CPF for the entire purchase if their OA balance covers it.
For BTO (Build-to-Order) flats, the withdrawal limit applies to the 20-25% downpayment required by HDB, which you can fully cover with CPF OA without needing cash[1]. Monthly repayments to HDB are capped by the Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR) of 30% of your gross monthly income—meaning if you earn S$7,500, your HDB loan repayment cannot exceed S$2,250 monthly, whether paid via CPF or cash[1].
Homejourney's mortgage calculator instantly shows you this limit based on your income. To verify your property's lease duration and ensure it meets the 20-year requirement at age 55, check the HDB or URA websites directly before committing to a purchase.
Real Example: 35-Year-Old Punggol HDB Buyer
A 35-year-old purchasing a S$500,000 Punggol HDB resale with a 70-year lease can withdraw S$125,000 (25%) as a CPF OA downpayment and S$2,500/month CPF OA for the HDB loan (assuming income of S$7,500, staying under the 30% MSR). Total OA needed: approximately S$200,000+ over the loan tenure. Since the remaining lease (70 years) extends well beyond age 55 + 20 years, this buyer qualifies for maximum CPF usage.
Private Property Purchases: Lower CPF Limits and TDSR Rules
Private condominiums and executive condominiums follow stricter CPF withdrawal rules designed to protect borrowers from over-leveraging. You can use CPF OA for downpayments up to 80% of the property's valuation or purchase price, whichever is lower[1]. For a S$800,000 private condo with a bank valuation of S$750,000, your CPF OA limit is S$600,000 (80% of S$750,000), not S$640,000 (80% of purchase price).
The TDSR requirement of 55% of gross income applies to all private property loans. This means your total monthly debt servicing (mortgage + other loans) cannot exceed 55% of your gross monthly income. If you earn S$10,000 monthly, your maximum total debt servicing is S$5,500—including your new mortgage, car loans, credit cards, and personal loans[1].
To compare mortgage rates from DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and other major banks offering private property financing, use Homejourney's bank rates page. You can calculate your exact borrowing power and TDSR eligibility instantly with our built-in calculator, then submit one application to receive offers from all participating banks.
Age 55 and Beyond: RA Withdrawal and Property Pledging
At age 55, CPF withdrawal rules shift dramatically. You must set aside your Full Retirement Sum (FRS) of S$220,400 in your Retirement Account (RA)[1][2]. Any CPF OA balance above your RA requirement is automatically transferred to RA, and you can withdraw a minimum of S$5,000 from your OA immediately[4][5].
If you own a property with a lease extending to age 95 or beyond, you can pledge it to CPF and withdraw excess RA funds down to the Basic Retirement Sum (BRS) of S$110,200, freeing up additional cash[3][7]. This strategy allows property owners aged 55+ to access retirement savings while maintaining minimum retirement protection.
For property purchases at age 55+, the same HDB and private property limits apply, but your available CPF is now split between OA (withdrawable immediately) and RA (subject to property pledge rules). Always check your CPF Retirement Dashboard to see exact withdrawal eligibility before making an offer on a property.
Key CPF Withdrawal Limits by Property Type
- HDB Flats: Up to 100% of purchase price from OA; lease must last beyond age 55 by 20+ years[1][7]
- Private Condos/Executive Condos: OA up to 80% of lower valuation/purchase price, post-TDSR[1]
- Age 55+ with Property Pledge: Minimum S$5,000 OA withdrawal; RA excess if property lease to age 95 and above FRS of S$220,400[2][3][4]
Actionable Steps to Check and Use Your CPF Limits
- Log into CPF Retirement Dashboard for OA/RA balance and withdrawal simulator[4]. Visit the official CPF website to verify your exact withdrawal eligibility.
- Verify property lease vs. age on HDB or URA sites; ensure the remaining lease exceeds 20 years at age 55[1]. This is non-negotiable for HDB purchases.
- Calculate mortgage eligibility using Homejourney's bank rates calculator—input your income, CPF data via Singpass for instant eligibility verification across all major banks.
- Apply multi-bank via Homejourney: Compare DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Maybank, and other banks in one go. Submit one application and receive personalized offers from multiple lenders.
- Monitor OA accrual monthly; prioritize CPF over cash for 4% interest edge[1]. Every dollar in CPF earns guaranteed interest, making it a powerful tool for downpayments.
- Plan large withdrawals across multiple days if exceeding S$50,000 daily limit[3]. For downpayments over S$50,000, coordinate with your bank to submit withdrawal requests in advance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with CPF Withdrawal Limits
Mistake 1: Assuming 100% CPF usage for private property. Private property limits are capped at 80% of valuation, not 100%. Many first-time private property buyers are surprised to learn they need additional cash or financing beyond their CPF balance.
Mistake 2: Ignoring lease duration at age 55. An HDB flat with a 60-year lease purchased at age 40 will have only 20 years remaining at age 60—failing to meet the 20+ year requirement at age 55. Always calculate: current lease - (your age at purchase + 20 years) = remaining lease at age 55.
Mistake 3: Overlooking TDSR impact on CPF usage. Even if your CPF balance is sufficient, TDSR limits may reduce your borrowing power. A S$10,000 monthly income caps total debt servicing at S$5,500—your mortgage cannot exceed this, regardless of CPF availability.
Mistake 4: Depleting retirement savings for downpayment. While CPF allows aggressive OA usage, leaving insufficient RA balance at age 55 can jeopardize retirement security. Homejourney recommends consulting a financial advisor before using all available CPF for property purchases.
FAQ: CPF Withdrawal Limits for Property
Q: What is the CPF withdrawal limit for first-time HDB buyers?
A: Up to 100% of the purchase price from OA if your OA balance is sufficient and the property lease extends 20+ years beyond your 55th birthday[1][7]. For example, a 40-year-old buying a Punggol HDB with a 75-year lease can use full CPF if their OA covers the price.
Q: Can I use CPF OA for private property monthly repayments?
A: Yes, up to your OA balance for monthly mortgage payments, subject to TDSR limits of 55% of gross income[1]. Your bank will enforce this cap automatically.
Q: What happens to my CPF when I turn 55 with a property?
A: You must set aside FRS (S$220,400) in RA[1]. If your property lease extends to age 95+, you can pledge it and withdraw excess RA down to BRS (S$110,200), freeing up additional funds[3][7]. Minimum withdrawal from OA is S$5,000[4].
Q: Is the S$50,000 daily withdrawal limit per transaction or per day?
A: It's per day. If you need to withdraw S$150,000 for a downpayment, you must split it across three days or submit via bank instructions[3].
Q: Where can I compare bank loans with CPF usage?
A: Use Homejourney's bank rates page—track SORA rates, calculate eligibility, and apply via Singpass to multiple banks simultaneously. Our Mortgage Brokers provide personalized guidance to optimize your CPF and financing strategy.
Next Steps: Optimize Your CPF for Property Purchase
Master CPF limits with Homejourney for safe, trusted property journeys. Start by calculating your exact withdrawal eligibility and mortgage affordability using our bank rates calculator. Then explore available properties within your budget on Homejourney's property search.
For comprehensive strategies on optimizing CPF across your entire property journey, explore our full pillar guide: CPF Withdrawal Limits for Property: Homejourney 2026 Guide ">CPF Withdrawal Limits for Property: Homejourney 2026 Guide. Related resources include CPF vs Cash for Mortgage: Which is Smarter in 2026? ">CPF vs Cash for Mortgage: Which is Smarter in 2026? and 5 Strategies to Optimize Your Mortgage with CPF | Homejourney ">5 Strategies to Optimize Your Mortgage with CPF.
Ready to apply? Connect with Homejourney Mortgage Brokers via our bank rates page to receive personalized loan offers from DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC, Standard Chartered, Maybank, and more—all in one place.
