Trying to decide whether to sell your HDB or condo this year? The honest answer depends entirely on which one you own. HDB and private property are moving in completely different directions right now, and treating them the same way could cost you real money either way.
This matters if you're weighing a sale, an upgrade, or just watching the market before committing to anything. Able has been fielding this exact question from clients on both sides, HDB owners and condo owners, and the right move looks different depending on which door you're standing behind.
It Depends Which One You Own
Trying to decide whether to sell your HDB or condo this year comes down to one split. For HDB owners, the case for acting sooner is getting stronger. For condo owners, there's less urgency; prices are still climbing, so waiting doesn't cost you the same way.
That split is the real story of 2026, and it's worth understanding before you list either one.
HDB Resale: Why the Five-Year Streak Just Broke
For 20 consecutive quarters, five straight years, the HDB Resale Price Index climbed every single time. If you owned an HDB flat through that run, you were getting wealthier every quarter just by holding it.
That streak has ended. The index dipped 0.1% in Q1 2026, then fell again by 0.3% in Q2, two consecutive quarterly declines for the first time in years. Small numbers on their own, but momentum breaking is rarely announced loudly. It tends to show up quietly first.
Two things are driving this, and it's not just one factor:
Supply is Surging
Roughly 13,480 HDB flats reach their Minimum Occupation Period in 2026, nearly double the 6,970 that did in 2025. That's a lot more sellers entering the market at once, competing for the same pool of buyers. Add in a wave of seniors right-sizing out of larger flats, and inventory is genuinely thicker than it's been in years.
Demand Pressure is Easing too
BTO wait times used to stretch 5 to 6 years, pushing young couples who couldn't wait into the resale market, where they paid a real premium just to move in sooner. That desperation premium is fading. HDB launched 6,900 new BTO units in June 2026 alone, giving buyers an alternative they didn't have a few years ago.
Not All HDB Is Equal: Prime Estates Are Bucking the Trend
This isn't a flat, uniform story. A five-room unit at SkyTerrace @ Dawson recently sold for around $1.7 million, a new benchmark for the most expensive HDB resale transaction to date, even as the broader index cools.
Mature, well-located estates are still commanding premiums. If you're in one of those pockets, the "sell now" urgency applies less to you than it does to a flat in a less established town facing more direct competition from the incoming MOP wave.
Condo and Private Property: Still Climbing
Private residential prices rose 0.9% in Q1 2026, the sixth straight quarter of growth. Outside Central Region condos led that growth at 2.2%, outpacing both the city fringe and prime districts.
If you own a condo, there's genuinely less pressure to rush a sale. The trend is still working in your favour, at least based on current data. That doesn't mean wait indefinitely, but it does mean the calculus is different from an HDB owner watching two consecutive quarters of decline.
Why Financing Conditions Favour Acting Now
The 3-month SORA rate has hovered near 1.0% through early 2026, making this one of the most affordable borrowing windows in years. Whether you're selling to free up capital or selling one property to buy another, cheap financing on the buying side changes the math on the whole transaction, not just the sale itself.
This is exactly the kind of detail an experienced property agent in Singapore should be walking you through before you commit to a listing price or a purchase timeline; the financing environment affects both sides of your move, not just the property you're selling.
Selling HDB to Upgrade to Condo: The Real Numbers
If you're weighing whether to sell your HDB or condo as part of an upgrade rather than a standalone decision, the numbers matter more than the general market mood. An upgrade from HDB to condo isn't just a bigger purchase; it's a completely different set of rules once ABSD and financing enter the picture.
On a $2,000,000 condo purchase, you're looking at roughly $100,000 in minimum cash down payment, about $69,600 in Buyer's Stamp Duty, and potentially $400,000 in Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty if you buy the condo before selling your HDB. That ABSD can be remitted or refunded if you sell your HDB within 6 months of the condo's Temporary Occupation Permit or purchase date, depending on whether it's a new launch or resale.
Given the MOP supply surge covered above, timing this sequence correctly matters more in 2026 than it has in recent years. We've covered the full sell-first-versus-buy-first decision, along with the sequencing details, in our guide on moving from HDB to condo, if you're at that stage of the decision.
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What Could Change the Picture in Late 2026
Markets don't move in straight lines. A few things worth watching through the rest of the year: how much of the 13,480-unit MOP wave actually converts into active listings versus owners holding, whether BTO launch volume keeps pace with demand, and whether private property momentum holds if global rate conditions shift.
None of these is reasons to freeze. They're reasons to check in with someone tracking the data regularly rather than deciding off a headline from six months ago.
Why Sellers Work With Able S.K Toh
Able is a PropNex Gold Achiever working across HDB, condo, landed, and commercial property in Singapore, and walks both HDB sellers and condo sellers through exactly this kind of timing decision, not a generic "now is always a good time to sell" pitch, but a read on where your specific property actually sits against current data.
If you're weighing whether to sell your HDB or condo this year, message Able on WhatsApp for a straight read on your numbers, no pressure. You can also reach him directly through Able Sell Property.
Final Thoughts
If you're on the HDB side, the case to sell your HDB or condo now is real: a broken five-year growth streak, a supply surge, and a fading resale premium. Condo owners have more room to wait, with prices still climbing on solid demand.
Whichever one you're deciding on, the right call depends on your specific estate, unit, and timeline, not the headline number alone. Visit Able Sell Property or reach out to Able directly to talk through where you actually stand before you decide to sell your HDB or condo.
FAQs
Is 2026 a good time to sell your HDB or condo?
It depends on which one you own. HDB resale has softened for two straight quarters after a five-year growth streak. Condo prices are still climbing, so there's less urgency to sell privately.
Why did HDB resale prices drop in 2026?
A supply surge, roughly 13,480 flats reaching MOP, nearly double 2025's number, combined with shorter BTO wait times reducing the resale premium buyers used to pay out of desperation.
Are condo prices still rising in Singapore in 2026?
Yes. Private residential prices rose 0.9% in Q1 2026, the sixth consecutive quarter of growth, led by Outside Central Region condos at 2.2%.
Should I sell my HDB before buying a condo in 2026?
Selling first avoids the second-property ABSD hit, which can run into the hundreds of thousands on a higher-value condo. A remission exists if you sell within 6 months of the condo's purchase or TOP date.
Is now a good time to get a home loan in Singapore?
Financing conditions are favourable, with the 3-month SORA hovering near 1.0%, among the most affordable borrowing windows in recent years.
Do all HDB estates face the same price softening?
No. Prime and mature estates, like the one behind the recent $1.7 million SkyTerrace @ Dawson sale, continue commanding strong prices even as the broader index cools.
