Yes, you can buy a condo before selling your HDB — but the cost depends entirely on your ownership structure and timing. This is one of the most common questions from HDB upgraders, and the answer has significant financial implications.
The ABSD Trap
If you own an HDB (which counts as a residential property) and buy a condo, you are buying a second property. For a Singapore Citizen, that means 20% ABSD. On a S$2M condo, that is S$400,000 in additional tax.
However, if you sell your HDB within 6 months of buying the condo, you can apply for ABSD remission — getting that S$400,000 back. This is called the ABSD remission for replacement property.
The Timing Challenge
The 6-month window sounds generous but is actually tight. You need to: find a buyer for your HDB, complete the sale, buy the condo, and complete the purchase — all within 6 months. In practice, this means you need to have a buyer for your HDB lined up before or very soon after committing to the condo.
Decoupling: The Ownership Structure Strategy
If your HDB is under one spouse’s sole name, the other spouse may be able to buy a condo as a first property (0% ABSD for SC). This is the most cost-effective way to own both an HDB and a condo simultaneously. The key is that the HDB must have been purchased before marriage or under a sole name arrangement. Read more about this in our keep HDB and buy condo guide.
Financial Considerations
1. You need enough cash/CPF for the condo down payment while still servicing the HDB loan.
2. Your TDSR is tighter because the HDB mortgage counts as debt.
3. If you keep both properties, you pay higher property tax (owner-occupier rates no longer apply to your HDB).
Bottom Line
Buying a condo before selling your HDB is possible, but it requires careful planning around the 6-month ABSD remission window and your ownership structure. Speak to a property strategist to model your specific scenario.