Do Leasehold Landed Properties In Singapore Even Make Sense?
If you’ve been browsing landed homes in Singapore and wondering why some look surprisingly “affordable,” you’re not imagining things.
A three-storey corner terrace in District 19 asking $3.4 million?
Meanwhile, a similar-sized freehold one a few streets away is going for $5.8 million?
If you haven’t guessed the reason by now, it’s because of it’s tenure.
Yes, leasehold landed properties are significantly more affordable than their freehold counterparts. And yes, there are real reasons why. The tenure affects resale confidence, loan eligibility over time, and the eventual exit path.
99-year condos are widely accepted by most people and it’s normal. It’s everywhere. Nobody says, “That’s not real ownership.” In fact, some of the most iconic condos in Singapore like D’Leedon, One Pearl Bank and The Sail are all leasehold.
Yet when it comes to landed homes, the bar shifts. The expectation changes because it’s no longer just about living — it’s about legacy.
A freehold landed home isn’t just a roof over your head — it’s a badge of permanence.
That’s why leasehold landed feels like a contradiction. It challenges the unspoken rule that if you’ve made it to landed, it better be forever. Freehold isn’t just a preference, it’s a baseline expectation.
But in today’s market, with prices pushing new highs and fresh inventory increasingly leasehold, the question becomes harder to ignore:
Are leasehold landed properties still worth it?
What the numbers say:
Freehold Landed (Resale) vs Leasehold Landed (Resale)
Freehold Landed (New) vs Leasehold Landed (New)
The data tells a clear story: freehold landed properties consistently command a premium, both in PSF and total price — across both resale and new sales. In 2025 alone, freehold resale averages $2,067 PSF while leasehold trails at $1,432 PSF — a gap of over 30%.
The same holds true for new launches, with freehold hitting $3,000+ PSF. What's more, freehold prices have shown steady appreciation, while leasehold pricing appears to flatten earlier and fluctuate more with supply. Transaction volume also skews heavily toward freehold, reinforcing its status as the preferred choice.
If I Had To Choose Right Now,
Personally? If I had to buy a leasehold landed home today... I’d pass.
Not because it’s a bad buy. Leasehold homes do appreciate especially in the first 10 to 20 years and for the right person, they offer solid upside, better layouts, and more livability per dollar. That’s real.
But let’s be honest, vanity does play a role.
If I’m dropping $6M to $10M on a home, I’m not just buying for utility.
There’s a story I want to tell, to myself, to my peers, maybe even to my in-laws.
And like it or not, “freehold” just sounds better. It carries weight. It signals something, even if the logic is a little fuzzy.
Nobody’s bragging about buying a 99-year house. But tell someone you own a freehold detached in District 10 and watch the eyebrows go up. It’s a subtle flex — and if you’re playing in this league, that social capital matters, whether you say it out loud or not.
and from a pure investment lens, freehold landed consistently outperforms leasehold over the long term — not just because of tenure, but because of perception.
The belief that freehold is more valuable is so widespread, it's become self-fulfilling.
Banks favour it. Buyers prefer it. Supply is tighter. Demand is persistent.
So yes, you might pay more upfront for freehold but that premium often holds or grows over time.
Leasehold, on the other hand, becomes harder to defend the moment the lease dips and the longer you hold, the more that depreciation narrative starts to bite and it’s not because of the math, but because of the market psychology.
But there is a scenario where a leasehold landed would make perfect sense,
When it isn’t your Endgame
If you’re buying with a clear exit in mind, leasehold landed can be a smart, temporary play — but only if you treat it like what it is: a stepping stone, not a forever home.
Maybe you're upgrading from a condo and want space for your kids to run, host family dinners without fighting for parking, or just enjoy the feel of private landed living — without committing $6M to freehold.
Maybe you're planning to stay 5 to 10 years before cashing out, moving overseas, or upgrading to your dream GCB.
In those cases, leasehold gives you:
The space and layout you want now
A lower entry price to control your monthly cash flow
The chance to build equity while enjoying a lifestyle jump
Leasehold landed isn’t about holding long and passing it down.
It’s about getting in, enjoying it, and getting out before the depreciation curve bites.
So yes — leasehold landed can make sense.
But only if you’re using it as a bridge, not an emotional destination. Not every landed home is your Infinity Gauntlet.
Think of it like a Phase 2 Marvel movie, not Endgame, but it gets you there.
Have a question about landed property?
If you’re exploring your first landed home and want a second opinion, whether it’s on layout, value, or rebuild potential. Feel free to drop me a message on WhatsApp, no hard sell, no pressure. Just an honest chat.
