For Taiwanese citizens interested in buying property in Singapore, understanding your Taiwan buyer mortgage and Taiwanese loan Singapore options is just as important as choosing the right condo or investment unit.
As a cross-border real estate researcher who has spent years comparing deals in Taipei, Taichung and Singapore districts like River Valley, Novena, and Tanjong Pagar, I’ve seen many Republic of China (ROC) buyers caught out by financing misunderstandings, Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), and bank documentation issues.
This Homejourney guide is designed as a safe, trusted, and definitive 2025 reference for Taiwanese citizens and ROC passport holders planning to finance a purchase in Singapore, whether for own stay or investment.
Table of Contents
- Executive Summary: How Taiwanese Can Safely Finance Singapore Property
- Chapter 1: 2024–2025 Singapore Property & Financing Context for Taiwanese Buyers
- Chapter 2: What Taiwanese Citizens Can Buy in Singapore
- Chapter 3: Key Financing Rules – LTV, TDSR, ABSD for ROC Buyers
- Chapter 4: Main Financing Options for Taiwanese Citizens
- Chapter 5: Step-by-Step Financing Process for Taiwanese Buyers
- Chapter 6: Cost Breakdown, Hidden Charges and Cashflow Planning
- Chapter 7: Strategic Financing Structures for Taiwanese Buyers
- Chapter 8: Common Mistakes ROC Buyers Make – and How to Avoid Them
- Chapter 9: Safe Financing Practices & How Homejourney Protects Buyers
- FAQs: Taiwan Citizen Financing & ROC Buyer Bank Loan Questions
- Next Steps with Homejourney
Executive Summary: How Taiwanese Can Safely Finance Singapore Property
For Taiwanese citizens, Taiwan citizen financing for Singapore property typically means obtaining a bank mortgage from a Singapore bank, supported by Taiwan or global income and assets, and paying substantial ABSD as a foreign buyer.
Key points you must know up front:
- Foreign buyer status: ROC passport holders are treated as foreigners for residential property, with no FTA relief; ABSD for foreigners is currently among the highest tiers in the world.[3]
- What you can buy: Generally private condos and apartments; landed homes and new ECs are heavily restricted to foreigners.[3]
- Loan-to-Value (LTV): Up to 75% LTV for your first housing loan if you meet income and credit criteria, dropping sharply if you already have a housing loan elsewhere.[2][3][6]
- Cash requirement: Minimum 5% of purchase price must be paid in cash (not CPF); the rest of the downpayment must also be in cash for foreigners.[2][3]
- TDSR: Your total monthly debt repayments (worldwide, including Taiwan loans) cannot exceed
- Interest rates (2025): Bank mortgages are broadly in the 3.4%–4.5% p.a. range depending on fixed or floating packages.[3][6]
Because the ABSD for foreigners can be as high as 60% of the purchase price, many Taiwanese buyers work with advisors to structure purchases with a Singaporean spouse, obtain PR, or time their purchase; you should read this together with Homejourney’s foreign buyer guides: Financing Options for Foreign Buyers in Singapore | Homejourney Guide , Singapore ABSD Rates by Nationality 2025: Definitive Homejourney Guide , and Types of Properties Foreigners Can Buy in Singapore | Homejourney .
Important disclaimer: This guide is for general information and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Regulations change, and you should always confirm details with IRAS, MAS, URA, and a licensed financial adviser or lawyer before committing.
Chapter 1: 2024–2025 Singapore Property & Financing Context for Taiwanese Buyers
1.1 Why Taiwanese Are Looking at Singapore Property
In the last five years, Taiwanese investors have increasingly looked beyond Taipei and Taoyuan to diversify into stable, English-speaking markets such as Singapore, especially prime districts like Orchard, River Valley, and CBD fringe areas like Tanjong Pagar and Outram.
Reasons include:
- Political and currency diversification away from NT$ assets.
- Education: many Taiwanese families buy small units near schools like SMU, NUS or international schools in Bukit Timah for children’s study plans.
- Rental yield and stability: Singapore’s rental market in core central areas like Robertson Quay and Novena has historically been resilient due to strong expat demand.[7]
- Strong rule of law and clear regulation, attractive for conservative capital.
If you’ve walked the River Valley Road stretch around Great World and seen the number of Taiwanese students and professionals renting there, you’ll understand why many families ask if buying a one-bedroom unit (around S$1.3–1.6 million in 2025 for newer freehold or 99-year condos) makes long-term sense.
1.2 2025 Market Snapshot & Price Ranges
As of 2025, Singapore’s private residential market remains tight, with prices stabilising after strong increases between 2020 and 2023.[7] In practical terms, Taiwanese buyers typically see:
- Mass-market OCR condos (e.g. Punggol, Sengkang, Jurong): approx. S$1,300–S$1,700 psf for newer units.
- City fringe RCR condos (e.g. Queenstown, Bukit Merah, Geylang): roughly S$1,900–S$2,600 psf depending on age and tenure.
- Core central CCR condos (e.g. Orchard, River Valley, Marina Bay): often S$2,800–S$4,000+ psf for newer, well-located projects.[7]
Homejourney’s Projects Directory and Projects pages consolidate up-to-date project data so Taiwanese buyers can compare real transacted prices, not just developer marketing numbers. We also reference external coverage like Straits Times Housing News and EdgeProp Property News to cross-check market trends.
1.3 Interest Rate Environment in 2025
Singapore home loan rates have risen from the ultra-low 1–2% environment before 2022 to a more normalised range:
- Typical floating packages around 3.4%–4.2% p.a.[3][6]
- Typical fixed packages around 3.8%–4.5% p.a.[3][6]
This makes accurate monthly cashflow planning crucial, especially if you are servicing an existing mortgage in Taiwan. Homejourney’s bank comparison tools at Bank Rates and Mortgage Rates can help ROC buyers benchmark available rates safely.
Chapter 2: What Taiwanese Citizens Can Buy in Singapore
2.1 Foreign Buyer Status of Taiwanese (ROC) Citizens
Taiwanese citizens are treated as foreigners under Singapore’s Residential Property Act, with no special exemptions under Singapore’s network of Free Trade Agreements (which mainly benefit citizens/PRs from countries like the US, Switzerland, Norway, etc.).[3]
This means ROC buyers face:
- Restrictions on landed residential property on mainland Singapore (Sentosa Cove is a limited exception subject to approval).[3]
- Restrictions on HDB flats – foreign individuals generally cannot buy unless under special non-citizen spouse arrangements, where the Singaporean spouse must be the legal owner.
- Full foreigner-rate ABSD on most residential purchases.[3]
2.2 Property Types ROC Buyers Commonly Purchase
Realistically, Taiwanese citizens usually focus on:
- Private condominiums & apartments (most flexible, no SLA approval).[3]
- Fully privatised executive condos (ECs) older than 10 years – allowed for foreigners but limited supply and often in suburban areas.[3]
- Serviced apartments / strata-titled commercial units – subject to different rules and not always suitable as residential homes.
For a more complete overview of what foreigners can and cannot buy, cross-refer to Types of Properties Foreigners Can Buy in Singapore | Homejourney .
2.3 Special Case: Taiwanese with Singapore PR or Spouse
If you are a Taiwanese citizen who has obtained Singapore Permanent Residence, or you are buying with a Singapore citizen spouse, different rules may apply for both eligibility and ABSD.[3]
Examples:
- ROC + Singapore citizen couple may enjoy ABSD remission for one matrimonial home if conditions are met, significantly reducing upfront tax.[3]
- ROC buyer with PR status may get access to HDB resale flats under certain schemes, although HDB loans and CPF usage follow HDB and CPF Board rules.
Because these situations are nuanced and change over time, Homejourney strongly recommends reading Singapore ABSD Rates by Nationality 2025: Definitive Homejourney Guide and consulting a conveyancing lawyer before making decisions.
Chapter 3: Key Financing Rules – LTV, TDSR, ABSD for ROC Buyers
3.1 Loan-to-Value (LTV) Limits for Taiwanese Buyers
Under Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) guidelines, foreigners are subject to the same LTV caps as other buyers; however, banks may apply stricter internal limits for non-residents.
These caps come from MAS rules and market guides used by banks and mortgage brokers in 2025.[2][3][6] Note that individual banks may reduce LTV based on your age, income stability, or if income is fully overseas.
3.2 Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR)
TDSR limits the portion of your gross monthly income that can go towards servicing all debt, including car loans, credit cards and overseas mortgages.
- MAS currently caps TDSR at 55% of gross monthly income for property loans.[2][3][6]
- For Taiwanese buyers, banks will factor in existing Taiwan housing loans and other NT$ obligations, often with an exchange rate buffer.
- Variable income (e.g. bonuses, commission from trading companies in Taoyuan or Kaohsiung) is usually haircut by 20–30% for prudence.
This is where many ROC buyers with high asset wealth but modest taxable income face a bottleneck. Structuring ownership and loans correctly upfront is essential.
3.3 Stamp Duties: BSD & ABSD for Taiwanese
In Singapore, property buyers pay two main stamp duties:
- Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) – payable by all buyers, based on progressive tiers of the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher.[3]
- Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) – extra tax based on residency and number of properties; foreigners like Taiwanese citizens face the highest tier.[3][7]
For exact 2025 ABSD rates by nationality and property count, always use Homejourney’s calculators and guide: ABSD Stamp Duty Calculator and Guide 2025 | Homejourney Singapore or ABSD Stamp Duty Calculator and Guide (2025) | Homejourney Singapore .
Because ABSD is payable in cash (or CPF for eligible buyers) within tight IRAS deadlines, Taiwanese buyers must plan cashflow and remittance timing carefully. It is not financed by the mortgage.
Chapter 4: Main Financing Options for Taiwanese Citizens
4.1 Singapore Bank Mortgage (Standard Option)
The most common ROC buyer bank loan is a standard residential mortgage from a Singapore bank such as DBS, OCBC, UOB, HSBC, or international banks with private banking arms.
Key features for Taiwanese borrowers:
- Currency: Usually denominated in SGD, which reduces FX risk if the property income (rent) is also in SGD.
- Tenor: Up to 30 years or until borrower is 65–75, whichever is earlier, subject to bank policy.
- Packages: Fixed, floating (pegged to SORA), or hybrid packages.[3][6]
- Security: Mortgage secured on the Singapore property; banks may sometimes require higher equity for non-resident Taiwanese with shorter income track records.
