Decision Guide

New Launch vs Resale Condo

A new launch lets you pay slowly for a future home, but you wait years and buy off a showflat. A resale unit you see and move into now, but you pay the balance in full on completion. The trade-off, laid out.

By Ailsa JinCEA Registration Number R071279APropNex Realty Pte. Ltd.Published 2026-09-04

What actually differs

	New launch (uncompleted)	Resale (completed)
Move in / rent out	In ~3–4 years, after TOP	Immediately
How you pay	Progressively, tied to construction stages	~5% on the option, the balance on completion in 8–12 weeks
Loan drawdown	Progressive — interest only on the amount drawn, so early instalments are small	The whole loan is drawn on completion
What you are buying	A unit off a floor plan and a showflat	The actual unit, as it stands
Rent while you wait	None	From the sitting tenancy, or a new one
Condition	Brand new, with the developer’s defects-liability period	May need renovation; general wear and tear
Lease, if 99-year	A fresh 99 years	99 minus the years already run
Price basis	The developer’s launch price	Negotiated against recent transacted prices
Stamp duty (BSD + ABSD)	Same rules — but payable within weeks of signing, years before keys	Same rules, payable on the purchase

Move in / rent out

New launch (uncompleted): In ~3–4 years, after TOP
Resale (completed): Immediately

How you pay

New launch (uncompleted): Progressively, tied to construction stages
Resale (completed): ~5% on the option, the balance on completion in 8–12 weeks

Loan drawdown

New launch (uncompleted): Progressive — interest only on the amount drawn, so early instalments are small
Resale (completed): The whole loan is drawn on completion

What you are buying

New launch (uncompleted): A unit off a floor plan and a showflat
Resale (completed): The actual unit, as it stands

Rent while you wait

New launch (uncompleted): None
Resale (completed): From the sitting tenancy, or a new one

Condition

New launch (uncompleted): Brand new, with the developer’s defects-liability period
Resale (completed): May need renovation; general wear and tear

Lease, if 99-year

New launch (uncompleted): A fresh 99 years
Resale (completed): 99 minus the years already run

Price basis

New launch (uncompleted): The developer’s launch price
Resale (completed): Negotiated against recent transacted prices

Stamp duty (BSD + ABSD)

New launch (uncompleted): Same rules — but payable within weeks of signing, years before keys
Resale (completed): Same rules, payable on the purchase

New launch: the progressive payment schedule

Set by the Housing Developers Rules. The developer may collect each tranche only when that construction stage is certified complete by the project architect or engineer.

1
Option to Purchase — 5%
Booking fee, in cash.
20% before construction starts
2
Sign the S&P, within ~8 weeks — 15%
Plus BSD / ABSD. Running total 20%.
3
Foundation completed — 10%
Running total 30%.
4
Reinforced concrete framework — 10%
Running total 40%.
5
Partition walls — 5%
Running total 45%.
6
Roofing / ceiling — 5%
Running total 50%.
7
Door & window frames, wiring, plastering, plumbing — 5%
Running total 55%.
8
Car parks, roads, drains — 5%
Running total 60%.
9
Temporary Occupation Permit — keys — 25%
Running total 85%.
the last 40% falls due from TOP onward
10
Certificate of Statutory Completion — 15%
About 12 months after TOP. Total 100%.

New launch suits you if

You want a home for later and would rather pay progressively while your money keeps working elsewhere.
You are set for somewhere to live for the next 3–4 years, or your current place is not being sold yet.
You value a brand-new unit, a fresh lease and defects cover, and you are comfortable committing off a floor plan.

Resale suits you if

You need to move in — or start collecting rent — now.
You want to see the exact unit, its light, its outlook and its real size before you sign.
You can fund the balance on completion and would rather negotiate against real transacted prices than a launch price.