Landed properties in Singapore – 4 Charming Variations

Owning a landed property in Singapore is considered a dream for many of us.

Out-of-reach for the majority and often the topic of awe and envy when brought up in conversations.

According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, only 5% of the Singapore population lives in landed properties.

Landed properties in Singapore can be largely categorized into 4 different types. Read on to find out!

Landed properties in Singapore are private properties that are attached directly to the land.

To facilitate, the plot of land that the house sits on belongs to the owner.

They have differing tenures, rules, and regulations that govern them from their non-landed counterparts in the private sector – Strata houses.

Landed properties in Singapore are not just rare but prices are also sky-high.

Given its exclusivity and high price, owning a freehold landed property is a definite sign of luxury, wealth, and a high class of living.

Landed properties in Singapore have varying categories.

These can be largely categorized into Terrace houses, Semi-detached Houses, Good Class Bungalows (GCB), and Cluster houses.

Terrace houses in Singapore are a row of houses with at least 3 units and 2 corner terraces.

Corner terraces are usually priced higher because of the slightly larger frontage.

With the size spanning 8 meters as compared to a middle terrace house with 6 meters frontage. 

Terrace houses are also categorized by shared common walls between houses – Terrace I (Intermediate and Corner) and Terrace II (Intermediate and Corner).

They are also differentiated by their setback requirements.

For Terrace I houses, the setback from the road is based on standard road buffer requirements.

For Terrace II houses, the required setback from the road is standardized as 2 meters and 1 meter for building walls and roofs respectively. 

Land Size

Terrace House I (Intermediate) is the bigger of the two, with a minimum plot size of 150 sqm and a plot width of 6m.

Terrace House I (Corner), meanwhile, has a minimum plot size of 200 sqm and a plot width of 8m. 

Terrace House II (Intermediate) has a minimum plot size of 80 sqm and a minimum plot width of 6m.

Terrace House II (Corner) has the same minimum plot size as an intermediate terrace house but with a larger minimum plot width of 8m. 

Price Range

A terrace house in Singapore is priced on the lower end of the spectrum as compared to other landed properties in Singapore.

But that is not to say it is cheap as it can range from $1 Million ++ to  $7 Million ++ (or higher).

It all depends on the location, structural conditions, and the size of the house.

Semi-detached housing in Singapore has commonly conjoined buildings with a common wall in between.

These properties have various title deeds and are usually different owners. 

However, some properties fall between bungalows and semi-detached housing.

They are known to be linked bungalows and are similar to semi-detached housing in terms of their look.

They are considered to have the same land title.

Owners are usually issued with a strata title deed. This shows the proportion of the land that they own. 

These houses are usually put under mixed landed property and have a maximum site coverage of 45%.

Land Size 

Semi-detached housing has a minimum plot size of 200 square meters or approximately 2,160 square feet. 2-story semi-detached housing has a maximum site coverage of 45%.

Besides, they also have a minimum plot width of 8 meters, unless they are back-to-back semi-detached housing which is 10 meters.

Price Range 

A semi-detached house is usually more costly than a terrace house. It ranges from $2 Million ++ to $9 Million ++ (or higher).

The Good Class Bungalow, GCB for short, belongs to the highest end of landed properties in Singapore.

Most owners of GCBs are the highest income earners.

The stamp duty alone is the price of most mass-market condos in Singapore. 

Land Size 

To be considered a GCB, the property must have at least 1,400 square meters which is approximately 15,070 square feet of land area. 

The bungalow itself is limited to a maximum of two stories in height.  

Price Range 

GCBs are very unique and have a limited supply which explains the price tag.

It is also quite possible for two of them in the same district to fetch prices as much as $10 million apart.

The most expensive GCB would be along Nassim Road in District 10 which was sold for $230 million.

More recently last year, a unit at 40 Nassim Road was sold for $2,977 per square ft, around a total of $175 million.

As the name implies, it is a private property that is built in clusters.

A cluster house in Singapore is a hybrid of a condominium and landed property.

It combines both the privacy and spaciousness of landed properties, with the convenience of condo facilities.

The facilities it offers often include swimming pools, a fitness gym, security guards, BBQ pits, etc.

Land Size 

Cluster housing floor plans have a more standard look than the typical landed properties in Singapore.

Each unit usually has a height of two or more levels, and most of them come with a roof or attics, four to five bedrooms, and basements.

Just like condos, every unit is allocated one or more parking lots.

Price Range 

Cluster houses are more affordable than a typical bungalow.

It is a great alternative for those who want to live on private property but can’t afford the huge price tag of a bungalow.

It is easier to find cluster homes that cost under $2 million.

Both landed properties and strata landed properties are very similar in context.

The main difference is whether or not there’s a strata title. Strata title refers to the ownership devised for a property.

The word “Strata” refers to houses being on different levels.

Take a look at the table below for a comparison between landed property and strata landed property.

–	Landed Properties	Strata Landed Properties
Land	You completely own the land. You can decide how you would like to build your property as long as it is within the guidelines.	You do not own the land. You own a share of the overall land that the development sits on.
Maintainance Fees	You do not have to pay monthly maintenance fees. The only fee that you pay is electrical and water bills.	The cost of maintenance has to be shared among the rest of the residents. This means that each resident has to fork out maintenance fees every month for upkeep.
Security	There is no security for landed properties in Singapore. You are responsible for ensuring that your property is safe and secure.	The owners of strata-landed properties enjoy 24 hours security.
Facilities	No facilities are provided. Even though some landed properties in Singapore are built with pools and gyms, it is usually an exception.	Just like a condo, it usually comes with swimming pools and gyms, and other facilities depending on the location.
Car Park Lots	Depending on the size of the land, they can park multiple cars in the driveway.	There is limited parking. The parking outside is more densely congested than a typical landed property.
Restrictions	You can make use of the land as you deem fit, so long you do not cause any disturbance.	There may be rules regarding the swimming pool, gym, and barbeque pits.

Location beats aesthetics because it’s what influences and impacts a real estate property’s future value.

It is crucial to check out the nearest MRT and bus stations if you do not have your own transport.

Having amenities around you is also a huge driver of market value for a landed property in Singapore.

Check for nearby schools if you have a family, hospitals, markets, shopping malls, and a food court.

These daily necessities should be within reach for convenience.

The prime locations are in Orchard and Bukit Timah as they are in the City center.

Katong and Novena are also good locations with nearby food outlets and an upcoming train line (Katong) being constructed.

At the end of the day, it all depends on what type of landed houses you are looking at as the location varies.

Buying a landed property is a huge financial commitment.

Be sure to work out your finances and seek bank approval before embarking on your landed property hunt.

We hope our guide has given you some insights regarding landed properties in Singapore.