FAQs
The eleven questions I get asked every week.
These are the questions Singaporeans always ask me before we start working together. Real questions. Straight answers.
Q01
Should I sell first or buy first?
Hus says
It's not just a milestone. It's a space to consider your next move.
It depends on your finances, your long-term goals and what you intend to do in future. Some families should stay because their finances aren't ready yet; some should think about right-sizing later, not now. Before deciding the order of operations, it's worth doing a property health check to see where your numbers actually stand. Q02
Can I really afford to upgrade?
Hus says
In some situations, yes. Every homeowner's numbers are different.
I once worked with a couple above 55, close to retirement, who engaged me to right-size and use the proceeds to help their daughters buy investment property. Once I ran the numbers, they didn't need to right-size first: they could upgrade before helping their daughters. The numbers, not assumptions, decide what's possible. Q03
How much cash will I actually receive after selling?
Hus says
The longer you stay in your property, the more accrued interest eats into your future cash proceeds.
CPF is meant for retirement, not property, but the government lets you use it for your mortgage. Every year your CPF sits untouched in your property, it earns accrued interest, and that interest becomes an amount you owe back to your own CPF account when you eventually sell. It's still your money. It just means less cash in hand at the point of sale. Q04
How much CPF do I need to refund?
Hus says
The longer you stay in your property, the more accrued interest eats into your future cash proceeds.
The refund is the CPF you originally used for the property, plus the accrued interest it would have earned had it stayed untouched in your account. It's worth getting the exact figure checked in a property health check rather than estimating it yourself. Q05
Should I use an HDB loan or bank loan?
Hus says
The right loan depends on you, not a one-size-fits-all rule.
Both exist for a reason. Which one is right depends on your CPF position, your income, and your comfort with rate movement. This is exactly the kind of numbers question a property health check is built to answer. Q06
Is now the right time to upgrade?
Hus says
Upgrading shouldn't be about status. It should be about what your next chapter is.
The signal is usually that your lifestyle or family goals no longer fit your current home, not a fixed calendar date. "Right time" is a numbers-and-goals question, not a market-timing one. Q07
Is it better to buy a resale condo or a new launch?
Hus says
It depends on your goal, your timeline, and what you can wait for.
A new launch takes longer to move into, often 2 to 3 years of waiting. A resale is ready sooner. The right answer becomes clear once you know your own timeline and what you can or can't do in the meantime. Q08
Can I retire more comfortably by restructuring my property?
Hus says
Get your highest-quantum home before 54, then right-size into something smaller, fully paid, with cash left over.
At 55, the CPF in your Ordinary Account moves into your Retirement Account, where it's locked for property use. So the general rule is to buy your highest-quantum home before 54, then right-size later into something smaller and fully paid. A fully paid home is a fantastic achievement. Retirement, though, isn't just about a roof; it's also cash flow. Restructuring at the right time can turn a paid-off home into a comfortable retirement with both a roof and cash on hand. Q09
How much do I need upfront?
Hus says
There's no fixed number for how much money you need.
It depends on your income, your CPF grants, and the loan you qualify for. Many buyers don't realise they don't need as much cash upfront as they think. Understand your affordability first, before you make the purchase. Q10
What are the stamp duties and hidden costs?
Hus says
The categories are known. The exact figures depend on your specific transaction.
The costs to plan for include buyer's stamp duty, additional buyer's stamp duty where applicable, legal fees, agent fees, and renovation and moving costs. Rather than quote generic rates that may not apply to your case, I'd rather work out the exact numbers on your specific transaction in a property health check. Q11
What is my HDB worth today?
Hus says
A real number depends on your unit, your floor, your remaining lease, and recent nearby transactions.
Rather than give you a generic figure that doesn't match your unit, I'd offer to work it out together in a property health check. A free valuation tool is on the way here on Justhus; until then, message me and I'll give you a straight number based on your specific home.
Want a straight answer on your own numbers?
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