Foreigners can finance a Singapore property mainly through local bank loans, international mortgages, or cash/overseas financing, but strict rules on loan-to-value (LTV), income assessment, and stamp duties apply, and they differ significantly from those for Singapore Citizens.[6][1]
This Homejourney guide explains the key Financing Options for Foreign Buyers in Singapore, how they work on the ground in 2026, and what you must prepare so that your purchase is safe, compliant, and financially sound.
How this financing guide fits into your overall buying journey
For foreigners, financing is usually the most stressful part of buying a home or investment unit in Singapore, especially with high prices in prime areas like Orchard, Marina Bay, and District 9–11.
This article is a focused cluster within Homejourney’s broader foreign-buyer series, complementing our main pillar guides such as Step-by-Step Property Buying Process for Foreigners Step-by-Step Property Buying Process for Foreigners | Homejourney 2026 and Types of Properties Foreigners Can Buy in Singapore Types of Properties Foreigners Can Buy in Singapore | Homejourney .
Use this piece to understand the money and loan side, then refer back to those pillar guides for eligibility, legal process, and timelines.
Financing basics for foreign buyers in Singapore
In Singapore, most foreigners will be buying private condominiums, strata-titled apartments, or landed homes (with approval), as HDB flats are generally off-limits to non-residents.[2][6]
The main financing routes are:
- Local bank home loans (the most common option)
- International/private bank mortgages (often for higher-net-worth buyers)
- Overseas financing from your home country
- Cash purchases, including funds brought in under rules like China capital controls and other China forex rules
Unlike Singapore Citizens, foreigners:
- Cannot use CPF for down payments or monthly instalments
- Face the same official LTV caps as locals, but banks may be stricter in practice[6][1]
- Pay a high Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rate on residential property[9]
For up-to-date ABSD rates and examples, refer to Homejourney’s ABSD Stamp Duty Calculator & Guide 2026 ABSD Stamp Duty Calculator & Guide 2026 | Homejourney .
Key financing terms you must understand
Before choosing between financing options for foreign buyers in Singapore, be familiar with these concepts:
Loan-to-Value (LTV)
LTV is the maximum percentage of the property price or value that a bank will lend you.
For Singapore banks, the headline maximum LTV for a first housing loan is usually up to 75% of the purchase price or market value, whichever is lower.[6]
This can be reduced if:
- The loan tenure exceeds 30 years or extends beyond age 65[6]
- The property has a short remaining lease (typically <60–70 years)[6]
- Your income is volatile or documentation is weak
- You already have existing housing loans[1]
Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR)
TDSR is a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) framework that caps the share of your gross monthly income that can go toward servicing all debts, including the new home loan.
Foreigners are assessed under TDSR just like locals, using your verifiable income, liabilities, and, in some cases, a haircut on foreign-sourced income to account for currency risk.
Some private funders that lend only to accredited investors may structure financing outside standard TDSR, but these are niche solutions with higher risk and cost.[1]
Fixed vs floating rate packages
In Singapore, “fixed” home loan packages typically fix the rate for only 2–5 years, after which they convert to a floating package.[6]
Floating packages are often pegged to benchmarks such as:
- Bank’s internal board rate
- Fixed deposit-linked rates
- SORA (Singapore Overnight Rate Average) through specific bank packages[4][6]
Local buyers often refinance just before their fixed period ends; as a foreigner, you should plan for this refinancing step upfront and budget for legal and valuation fees each time.
Main financing options for foreign buyers
1. Local Singapore bank home loans
This is the most common option for foreigners working or residing here, especially around central business hubs like Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar, and Marina Bay, where many expats are based.
Key characteristics:
- LTV up to ~75% for first housing loan, subject to assessment[6]
- Minimum cash down payment of at least 5% of the property price (the rest can be non-CPF cash)
- Assessment under TDSR and credit checks[6][1]
- Rates available as fixed-short-term, floating, or hybrid combinations[4][6]
From experience, banks tend to look more favourably on foreigners who:
- Have been employed in Singapore for >12 months with a stable EP or S Pass
- Credit their salary into a local account
- Can show existing rental history or previous property ownership
You can use Homejourney’s bank rate comparison feature to review indicative SORA-pegged and fixed-rate packages from major banks in one place Bank Rates .
2. International & private bank mortgages
Banks like HSBC offer international mortgage services for foreigners buying property in Singapore, often with additional wealth and priority-banking privileges.[4]
Typical traits of these packages include:
- Higher minimum loan sizes (e.g. SGD 1 million for some premier tiers)[4]
- Choice of multiple currencies, especially for buyers with income in USD, EUR, or GBP
- More flexible income recognition for complex profiles (business owners, multiple jurisdictions)
- Relationship-based pricing and bundled banking products
These options suit high-net-worth individuals buying luxury units in areas like Orchard Boulevard or Sentosa Cove, or those planning to hold multiple properties across countries.
3. Financing from your home country
Some foreign buyers prefer to leverage existing credit lines or mortgages in their home country and pay for the Singapore property in cash.
This can make sense if your domestic interest rates are significantly lower, or if your local bank cannot recognise your overseas business income properly.
However, this adds currency risk: for example, a Euro-based buyer purchasing a SGD 2 million condominium in River Valley must monitor both SGD/EUR exchange and interest rate movements at home.
4. Bridging and short-term private loans
Specialised private lenders in Singapore offer bridging loans or short-term financing, usually secured against property collateral and targeted at accredited investors.[1]
These may:
- Have higher interest rates and shorter tenures (e.g. 3–18 months)[1]
- Be used to cover a shortfall in down payment while waiting for funds from another sale
- Be structured with more flexibility than standard bank mortgages
Such solutions are niche and higher-risk. Homejourney generally advises using them only with professional advice and a clear exit strategy.
China capital controls, forex rules & transferring money for property
For buyers from Mainland China, China capital controls and China forex rules are often the biggest practical obstacle rather than the loan itself.
China residents face annual limits on the amount of foreign currency they can convert and remit out of the country for personal use, which complicates how they transfer money for property purchases overseas.
