新加坡置產紀錄 ch. 3 我如何在新加坡買到比原本低30萬新幣的房子｜A SPR’s Property Journal — Ch. 3: How I Managed to Buy a Home in Singapore for S$30K+ Less Than My Original Plan

這次可以順利簽下心目中排名第一的房子，最大的功勞要歸功於我的仲介T。

前文有提到，一開始看房時就有看到這個案子了，但當時總價真的太高，因此喜歡歸喜歡，當下卻完全不敢把這個案件納入考慮，直接從清單中被我劃掉。

天哪我真的議價成功了
更大的驚喜還在後面
好的仲介賣的不是房子，是為客戶創造價值
為什麼我認為這是一個被低估的建案？
好的貸款仲介在買房過程中幫你撐腰
幸運，其實是一種可以累積的能力
買房從來不是一個人的事
I Couldn’t Believe the Negotiation Actually Worked
The Bigger Surprise Came Afterwards
Great Agents Don’t Sell Properties. They Create Value
Why I Believe This Development Was Undervalued
A Good Mortgage Broker Is Just as Important
Luck Is a Skill That Can Be Cultivated
Buying a Home Is Never a Solo Effort

後來，11月又有仲介和我再次推薦了這個案子，認為這個案子是在市場被低估的案件。我其實也認同，但問了仲介是否有議價的可能性，得到的答案很一致：

「沒有。」
「開發商價格很硬。」
「這個案子不太可能談。」

於是我只好又把這個案件擱置到一旁。

天哪我真的議價成功了

後來我告訴T這件事，請T幫我和開發商爭取當時剩下最便宜的一戶 #04-04，看看這個大部分人不會喜歡、市場接受度低的門牌號碼，是不是有機會可以稍微砍個價。但我也沒有抱著太大的希望，畢竟這個案子我從一開始就知道是好產品，而且價格很硬。

T和我進行了幾輪的策略討論，認為可以殺個3萬新幣可能就不錯了。開發商不可能開出低於之前買家的成交價，否則對一開始就上車的買家，就太不公平了。如果真的可以砍3萬新幣，可能就可以考慮接受offer了。

沒想到──後來居然收到消息，T告訴我開發商願意讓步，而且從原本踩得很死的開價，願意讓步新幣130,000（約為台幣325萬）！

我到現在都還記得接到電話時的震驚，原本已經不抱希望的房子，忽然間變成真的有機會買得起。

更大的驚喜還在後面

沒想到更驚喜的還在後面。

原本以為這已經是最好的結果。結果幾天後，T突然通知我，開發商推出了一個新的促銷方案：『一樓到九樓，統一全面促銷價』。而新的價格，竟然比我剛簽約的價格還便宜！？對剛完成簽約的人來說，這其實是一件很尷尬的事情。但T的第一個反應是：立刻幫我跟開發商爭取。

他們知道開發商即將要推出促銷後，馬上第一時間先請開發商幫我保留9樓的單位，再來跟我討論換戶的事情。最後，幾個小時內，我成功從 #04-04的戶別，以更漂亮的價格，換到了更高的9樓。如果以本來9樓這戶的開價，與後來的成交價相比，折價幅度高達新幣310,000（約為台幣775萬）！

突然就讓我可以少奮鬥好幾年。

通常開發商應該是能多賣一戶是一戶，今天如果換成其他仲介，沒有T幫我極力爭取，以這個競爭的程度，我不可能有機會以更便宜的價格，換到9樓的機會。

我自己都覺得太不可思議！甚至跟家人分享時，他們的第一個直覺也是：「是不是詐騙？」，畢竟一般人的認知裡，很少有房子能像買菜一樣，一口氣砍掉幾百萬台幣，更何況是從低樓層換到高樓層。

好的仲介賣的不是房子，是為客戶創造價值

經歷這段買房過程後，我理解一件事──好的仲介賣的從來不是房子，而是資訊差，是談判能力，是替客戶創造原本不存在的選項。很多人以為仲介只是帶看，但真正有價值的仲介，是在關鍵時刻幫你避免錯誤決策，或替你爭取到你自己拿不到的條件。

回頭看整個過程，T幫助我的其實不只是議價，而是：

陪我大量看房與分析市場
對不適合的案子直接勸退，而不是急著成交
對真正值得買的案子全力幫我爭取
在成交後持續協助後續流程

後來甚至在換戶期間，我生了一場大病，連續在家躺了兩三天無法出門。T 還親自到我住處樓下取文件，協助完成換約程序。

這些事情不會出現在成交紀錄上，但卻是真正決定事情能否順利完成的關鍵。
（T也曾在過程中表達「我真的有點難搞」之類的的意思，不過大家都是好朋友，而且我確實也不否認😂）

為什麼我認為這是一個被低估的建案？

很多朋友問我：「為什麼你會認為這個建案價值被低估？」，主要原因如下：

Freehold比Leasehold便宜：一般而言，freehold通常會比leasehold每平方英尺貴上300元新幣左右（約台幣27萬/坪），但在我購入的價格下，這個freehold項目的單價，反而比周邊leasehold的推案每平方英尺便宜近10%。
新案與二手房價差不大： 當時我也看了不少周邊的二手房，結果發現價格並沒有便宜太多，主要是屋主也會參考新建案價格來開價，因此買方未必能從二手市場獲得明顯折扣。加上二手房不像新建案有大量一手單位可以挑選，當時鎖定一個建案，看了好幾個單位，都沒有覺得特別適合的，不是西曬、就是坐向等覺得不適合。
時機剛好出現：由於在新加坡freehold案件不是大眾喜歡的主流，因此當時市場上許多周邊的leasehold銷售速度反而比這個freehold快。如果開發商在規定期間內未完成建造並售出全部住宅單位，會失去ABSD豁免資格，對大型項目來說，這個金額可能是數千萬甚是上億元的金額。為了加速去化，很有可能開發商在這個時刻提供促銷，而我很幸運的剛好遇上了。
稀缺的大面積 Freehold 土地：新加坡是一個土地資源極度有限的國家。近年政府透過 GLS（Government Land Sales）計畫釋出的住宅用地，幾乎清一色都是 leasehold 土地，因此市場上的新建案也大多以 leasehold 為主。如果今天市場上出現freehold 建案，通常是開發商向私人地主收購土地後重新開發而來。但這類案件往往面臨整合困難的問題，許多 freehold 項目因為土地規模較小、產權分散，最後開發出來的社區規模也不大。

然而我購買的這個案子比較特別。開發商取得的是一塊產權完整、面積相當大的 freehold 土地，因此得以規劃成超過 800 戶的大型社區（新加坡人偏好大型社區、種類繁多的公設）。

在新加坡市場裡，同時具備：

Freehold 產權
大型社區規模
完整土地整合

這三個條件的案件其實非常少見，而我認為市場當時並沒有完全反映這種稀缺性。這也是為什麼即使到了今天，我仍然認為它是一個被低估的案子。

好的貸款仲介在買房過程中幫你撐腰

除了T的鼎力相助外，我的貸款仲介也是我的另一位貴人。

我最後找的不是單一銀行的貸款專員，而是貸款仲介，有點像是保險經紀人的概念，他們熟悉各家銀行的政策、條件與審核邏輯，能根據不同人的背景提供更適合的方案。

在IPA的階段時，我也找了幾家不同銀行諮詢，但發現真的較無彈性。後來找到的貸款仲介C，非常熟悉各家銀行的審核標準與操作眉角，順利替我在期限內完成撥貸任務（我在九到十二月間還換了兩次工作，通常銀行核貸會需要看三個月的薪資證明，但C非常專業，幫忙我在波折及緊湊的期限中順利完成撥貸）。

幸運，其實是一種可以累積的能力

這次買房，讓我想起 Naval 的一段話。他說幸運有分成四種：

第一種，是純粹的運氣
第二種，是努力帶來的運氣
第三種，是準備帶來的幸運
第四種，是獨特人格吸引來的幸運。

回頭看這次買房，我當然有運氣的成分。但我也相信，持續看房、研究市場、分析產品，本身就在提高遇見機會的機率。而當機會真的出現時，你必須有能力辨認它，否則即使幸運站在你面前，你也未必會知道那是機會。

買房從來不是一個人的事

這次的經驗讓我深刻體會到：買房絕對不是，只是挑一間喜歡的房子然後簽名付款。

它更像是一個專案，需要市場判斷、產品分析、融資規劃、法律程序以及大量溝通協調。雖然私人住宅不像商用不動產的交易流程那樣複雜，但對大眾而言，這可能是人生花過最大的一筆錢了。

當交易金額動輒數百萬台幣、甚至上千萬台幣時，一個正確的建議，可能替你省下很多錢，相對地，一個錯誤的決定，也可能讓你付出昂貴代價。

因此，如果未來有朋友問我：這次買房最重要的收穫是什麼？我的答案不是建案本身，而是我遇到了對的人，替我在重要關頭，爭取到我自己拿不到的條件，而這往往比找到對的房子，更難能可貴。

P.S.

這篇文章純粹是記錄我自己在新加坡的真實置產經歷。因為這次買房過程中，房產仲介 T 和貸款仲介 C 確實幫了我極大的忙，讓我深深體會到「選對專業團隊」能幫自己省下多少隱形成本。

如果你目前也正有在新加坡置產的規劃，不論是想避開看房盲點、了解財務和現金流、或是面臨較複雜的貸款背景，我都非常樂意分享我的經驗，將當初協助我的專業團隊介紹給你。歡迎和我我聊聊你的需求，或是分享你最近的看房心得。

身為無聊沒事也會一個人到處去看房的女子，我也喜歡聽大家和我分享找房的故事。

➤ 關聯閱讀

If there is one person who deserves the most credit for helping me secure my dream home, it would be my property agent, T.

As I mentioned in my previous article, I had actually viewed this development much earlier in my property search. I loved it immediately, but the asking price was simply too high. No matter how much I liked it, I could not justify the price at the time. So I crossed it off my list and moved on.

A few months later, in November, another agent recommended the project to me again, describing it as a development that was undervalued by the market. I agreed with the investment thesis. However, when I asked whether there was any room for negotiation, I received the same answer repeatedly:

“No.”
“The developer is very firm on pricing.”
“This is not a project where discounts happen.”

So once again, I put the idea aside.

I Couldn’t Believe the Negotiation Actually Worked

Later, I shared the situation with T and asked whether he could try negotiating with the developer for Unit #04-04, the cheapest remaining unit at the time. To be honest, I had very little expectation. I already knew this was a strong project, and strong projects rarely come with meaningful discounts.

We spent several rounds discussing strategy and concluded that if we could secure a discount of around S$30,000, it would already be considered a good outcome. After all, developers generally cannot sell significantly below previous transaction prices without upsetting earlier buyers. If we managed to save S$30,000, I would probably be better off accepting the offer.

Then came the surprise. T called me and told me that the developer was willing to move on price.

Not by S$30,000. Not even by S$50,000.
But by S$130,000. Approximately US$100,000!

I still remember the shock when I received that phone call. A property that I had already given up on suddenly became genuinely affordable.

The Bigger Surprise Came Afterwards

I thought that was the best outcome I could hope for. I was wrong.

A few days later, T contacted me again. The developer had launched a new promotion: all units from Levels 1 to 9 would be offered at a uniform promotional price. The new pricing was actually lower than the price I had just signed for. As you can imagine, that is a rather awkward situation for someone who has only recently committed to a purchase. T’s immediate reaction was not to accept it. It was to negotiate.

As soon as he learned about the upcoming promotion, he asked the developer to reserve a ninth-floor unit for me before discussing the possibility of switching units. Within hours, I successfully moved from Unit #04-04 to a higher-floor unit on Level 9 — at an even better price. Compared with the original asking price of that Level 9 unit, the total discount ultimately reached S$310,000. Approximately US$240,000.

In practical terms, that felt like skipping several years of savings.

Under normal circumstances, developers want to maximise sales, not reshuffle existing buyers into better units at lower prices. Had I been working with a different agent, I doubt this opportunity would ever have existed.

Even today, it still feels surreal. When I told my family what had happened, their first reaction was:

“Are you sure this isn’t some kind of scam?”

After all, people rarely expect property prices to move by hundreds of thousands of dollars as if they were bargaining over groceries.

Great Agents Don’t Sell Properties. They Create Value

This experience taught me something important. The best property agents do not sell properties. They sell information asymmetry, negotiation expertise, and access to opportunities that would not otherwise exist. Many people assume an agent’s job is simply to arrange viewings. In reality, the most valuable agents help clients avoid costly mistakes and secure terms they would never be able to obtain on their own.

Looking back, T’s contribution went far beyond negotiating a discount. He:

Accompanied me through countless viewings and market analyses.
Advised me against unsuitable projects rather than pushing for a quick commission.
Fought hard for opportunities that genuinely made sense.
Continued supporting me long after the deal was signed.

At one point during the unit-switching process, I fell seriously ill and spent several days confined to bed. T personally came to my residence to collect the necessary documents and helped complete the paperwork on my behalf.

These are the kinds of things that never appear in transaction records. Yet they often make the difference between a deal succeeding and falling apart.
(Although, to be fair, T did occasionally hint that I was one of the more demanding clients he had worked with — and he probably wasn’t wrong.😂)

Why I Believe This Development Was Undervalued

Many friends have asked why I considered this project undervalued. There were four key reasons.

Freehold Was Cheaper Than Leasehold: In Singapore, freehold developments typically command a premium over leasehold projects. Yet at my purchase price, this freehold development was trading at nearly a 10% discount on a per-square-foot basis compared with several nearby leasehold launches. That pricing discrepancy immediately caught my attention.
New Launches Were Not Much More Expensive Than Resale Homes: I viewed numerous resale units in the surrounding area. To my surprise, many were not meaningfully cheaper than new launches. Sellers were anchoring their expectations to new-launch pricing, resulting in a relatively narrow price gap. At the same time, resale properties offered far fewer options in terms of layouts, views and orientations. After viewing multiple resale units, I struggled to find one that felt right.
Timing Created an Opportunity: At the time, leasehold projects in the surrounding area were generally selling faster than this freehold development. Singapore’s residential developers face significant tax implications if they fail to complete and sell all units within the prescribed timeline. For a large-scale development, the financial impact can amount to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. Under those circumstances, developers may become more willing to offer promotions to accelerate sales. I happened to be in the right place at the right time.
Large Freehold Land Parcels Are Becoming Increasingly Rare: Singapore is a city-state with extremely limited land supply. Most residential sites released under the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme today are leasehold. As a result, the majority of new launches are also leasehold developments. When freehold projects do emerge, they are often the result of developers acquiring private land from multiple owners and consolidating fragmented sites. This process is challenging and usually results in smaller developments.

The project I purchased was different. The developer acquired a large freehold site with unified ownership, allowing it to create a development of more than 800 units — a feature that appeals to many Singaporean buyers, who generally prefer larger communities with a broader selection of shared facilities and amenities.

In Singapore’s market, developments that combine:

Freehold tenure
Large-scale community living
A substantial, consolidated land parcel

are exceptionally rare. I felt the market was not fully pricing in that scarcity. Even today, I continue to believe that this was one of the most compelling aspects of the investment.

A Good Mortgage Broker Is Just as Important

T was not the only person who played a crucial role in this journey. My mortgage broker, C, was equally important.

Rather than approaching individual banks directly, I worked with a mortgage broker who had relationships across multiple lenders. The role is somewhat similar to an independent insurance broker. They understand the lending criteria, policies and approval processes of different banks, allowing them to recommend the most suitable options based on each client’s circumstances.

In my case, I changed jobs twice between September and December. Most banks prefer borrowers with stable employment histories and at least three months of payslips. Despite the complexity of my situation and the tight deadlines involved, C navigated the process smoothly and secured financing within the required timeframe. Without that support, the transaction could easily have become much more complicated.

Luck Is a Skill That Can Be Cultivated

This experience reminded me of something Naval Ravikant once said. He describes four kinds of luck:

Blind luck.
Luck earned through persistence.
Luck created through preparation.
Luck attracted by one’s unique character and reputation.

Of course, luck played a role in my purchase. But I also believe that constantly viewing properties, studying the market and analysing opportunities increased the likelihood of encountering that luck in the first place. More importantly, when opportunity finally appears, you need the ability to recognise it. Otherwise, luck may be standing right in front of you and you still won’t see it.

Buying a Home Is Never a Solo Effort

This experience taught me that purchasing a property is far more than simply finding a home you like and signing a contract.

It is a project. One that requires market analysis, product evaluation, financing strategy, legal coordination and a great deal of communication. While residential transactions are not as complex as commercial real estate deals, for many people this may be the largest financial commitment they ever make.

When the stakes are that high, one good piece of advice can save you a significant amount of money. Likewise, one poor decision can be extremely costly.

If someone were to ask me today what the most valuable takeaway from this purchase was, my answer would not be the property itself. It would be the people. Because at critical moments, the right professionals helped me secure opportunities and outcomes that I could never have achieved alone.

And in many ways, that is even more valuable than finding the right property.

P.S.

This article is simply a record of my personal property-buying journey in Singapore. Working with T and C showed me just how much value the right professional team can create — not only in terms of money saved, but also in avoiding costly mistakes and navigating a complex process with confidence.

If you are currently exploring property ownership in Singapore, whether you are evaluating projects, thinking through financing options, or dealing with a more complicated borrowing profile, I would be happy to share my experience and introduce the professionals who helped me along the way.

And as someone who genuinely enjoys visiting showflats for fun, I always enjoy hearing other people’s property stories too.

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