Buying, selling or refinancing a home, shop, office or factory in Singapore? From the Option to Purchase to the day you collect your keys, you'll work directly with your handling lawyer, every step of the way.
*Subject to CPF Board rules and your bank's consent.
Whether it's your first flat, an upgrade for a growing family or the place you'll retire in, getting here took years of saving, planning and decisions. Congratulations on taking this step.
Our job is to make the rest of the journey the easy part: the paperwork, the deadlines and the money, handled properly, so you can focus on the keys and what comes after.
Start your journey with usA property deal runs on deadlines: option expiry, the 15%, CPF approvals, completion. We make sure you always know where things stand and who to ask.
Your questions go straight to the lawyer handling your file. One number, one point of contact, from start to finish.
Deals don't stop at 6pm. Message us whenever something comes up, and we'll pick it up.
Stamp duty, CPF usage and cash outlay worked out in plain English, so there are no surprises on the day.
From $1,800 + GST for HDB and $2,500 + GST** for private property, quoted upfront. CPF can be used*, and your bank's legal subsidy may cover much of it.
From first homes to shophouses, offices and factories, including the CPF, loan and stamp duty work behind them. And when you need a straight answer on a legal question, just ask.
Condos, apartments and landed homes. We check the title and Option, compute your BSD/ABSD and CPF usage, and see you through to completion.
S&P Agreement review and execution, the 15% deposit, progressive payments, and extensions of time when you're still selling your current home.
Redeeming your existing loan, refunding your CPF, and making sure the sale proceeds reach you correctly and on time.
Moving to a better rate, cash-out term loans and equity loans, with your CPF arrangements and bank paperwork handled.
Buying out a co-owner's share, or selling part of yours, to restructure who owns the home. We'll explain the stamp duty, CPF and financing implications first.
ABSD and remission questions for PRs, foreigners and mixed-nationality couples, and purchases through a company.
Shophouses, offices and retail units, bought or sold, including GST on the price, company purchases and commercial financing.
Factories, warehouses and B1/B2 units, including JTC and SLA leasehold properties, with the landlord consents and conditions that come with them.
Tenancy issues, contracts, disputes with a seller or developer, or something you're not sure about. Ask, and we'll tell you where you stand and what to do next.
We act for these banks and finance companies on home loans and refinancing, and for the CPF Board. When we're also acting for your bank, your purchase and your mortgage run through one set of lawyers, and the bank's legal subsidy can often go towards your legal fees.
Bank names are listed for information only. Legal subsidies and panel arrangements depend on each bank's package; ask us what applies to your loan.
WhatsApp a photo of your OTP or loan offer. We confirm the fee and what we need.
Title search, Option review, stamp duty, CPF usage and the cash you'll need.
At our Toa Payoh office. Every document explained before you sign.
CPF, the bank and the other side's lawyers, coordinated and kept on track.
We complete the deal and see the keys handed over, and we're still a message away after.
A few minutes of a normal day, sped up. The same lawyer who meets you is the one reading your Option, checking your title and chasing your deadlines.
Firdaus is a Senior Associate at Lawhub LLC, where he leads a conveyancing team, and an Advocate & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Singapore, admitted in May 2023. His legal career began in December 2020, training in civil, criminal and family litigation before he turned his focus to property.
Since then he has handled everything from first-home HDB purchases to Good Class Bungalows, acting for buyers, sellers, developers, corporate clients, panel banks and the CPF Board. He works through the details clients worry about most, such as CPF usage, stamp duty, bank loan conditions and payment deadlines, and stays the client's point of contact until the keys are handed over.
*Before a notary public, or a consular officer at a Singapore overseas mission.
A sample of the matters Firdaus has worked on. Client details are kept confidential.
Firdaus serves on the executive committee of Jamiyah Singapore and volunteers as a pro bono lawyer with ProBonoSG. On weekends he's usually on a jungle trail in Johor, and when he's not, he's underwater, in the air or up a mountain.
Lawhub's lawyers bring more than 175 years of combined experience across property, banking, family and estate matters. When your matter needs more, the right colleague is down the corridor.
One of our directors drafted HDB's standard Option to Purchase for resale flats, in use since 2003.
Deals move faster when the lawyer picks up. Agents and bankers can reach the handling lawyer directly for the things that keep a deal on track.
You pay 5% when you take the Option. The S&P Agreement follows, and you generally have 3 weeks from receiving it to sign. The rest of the 20% (15%) is due within 8 weeks of the Option date. After that, payments follow construction progress, from foundation to TOP and finally legal completion. Cash payments come first; CPF and your loan take over once those are met.
Expect to pay the Option fee and exercise fee in cash, with Buyer's Stamp Duty due within 14 days of exercise (CPF can usually be used for this, subject to CPF rules). At completion, the balance comes from your loan and CPF. ABSD depends on your citizenship and what else you own, and married couples with mixed citizenship may qualify for remission.
Check when your lock-in period ends and how much notice your current bank needs to redeem. Check too whether your current loan has a rate review clause, and whether redeeming now means paying back (a clawback of) the legal subsidy you received. Then compare the new package, including its own subsidy and clawback terms. Once you accept a new letter of offer, the lawyer handles the discharge of the old mortgage, the new mortgage and any CPF arrangements.
The lawyers explained everything very well, ensuring a clear understanding. They were also very quick in assisting us. One of the lawyers, Mr. Firdaus, helped us figure out the HDB stamp duty and explained the housing details before we confirmed. The lawyer fees are acceptable too.
I had a very positive experience with the law firm. The service was prompt, professional, and efficient throughout. Special thanks to Firdaus for his professionalism, responsiveness, and clear guidance. He was helpful, approachable, and …
I am extremely grateful and thankful for the professional advise and patience from Mr Firdaus.
Firdaus is professional and friendly. Able to advise us on the best recommendations, pros n cons which is very important for us as customers. Keep up the good work.
Professional, knowledgeable and genuinely compassionate throughout the entire process. Mr Firdaus Buhari took the time to explain every step clearly and made a stressful situation feel far more manageable. His attention to detail, …
Our lawyer Firdaus was very helpful at assisting our refinance process, and explained the steps promptly and clearly. Thanks once again, will be sure to look for you for our future legal needs.
Hi Firdaus, thank you for taking the time to explain everything so clearly and for assisting us in completing the requirements. Your support made the process much smoother and we really appreciate your help!
I wish to share my acknowledgments to Mr Firdhaus. He was very friendly, professional and went the extra mile to provide me assurance. He gave me immediate solution when most other lawyers in other firms were providing a standard reply. …
Firdaus was very helpful and knowledgeable, answered all my questions and gave me the peace of mind while navigating the legal process of purchasing a home.
Had a pleasant experience w Firdaus, Aida and the rest of their team for a property purchase. Service was prompt and any external hiccups that arose were addressed quickly. Thank you.
Great experience working with Firdaus Buhari for my property purchase.
First time engaging [previous firm]'s service and I really impressed appreciate the time Mr. Firdaus Buhari have took to explain the legal process to me. It helped me to feel more comfortable and confident. …
5-star rating, no written comment.
Google reviews, shown as written (one firm name redacted). Swipe or use the arrows to browse.
HDB matters from $1,800 + GST, private property from $2,500 + GST**. Fixed and quoted upfront, with no hourly billing on standard conveyancing.
CPF Ordinary Account savings can generally go towards legal fees and stamp duty on a purchase, subject to CPF rules.
Many banks give a legal subsidy on new loans and refinancing that can offset much of the legal cost. Ask what applies to yours.
*Use of CPF savings is subject to CPF Board rules and your bank's consent. **For private resale purchases under $3 million. Fees depend on the transaction and are confirmed in writing when you instruct us.
For a Singapore Citizen buying their first residential property. Enter the purchase price to see an estimate.
You can use your CPF for stamp duty*. CPF can pay it directly, or reimburse you after you've paid in cash, subject to CPF Board approval and your bank's consent.
Indicative only, for a Singapore Citizen's first residential property, based on IRAS's residential BSD rates. Duty is charged on the higher of the price or market value, and is usually payable within 14 days of exercising the Option or signing the S&P Agreement. ABSD and other circumstances can change the amount, so please don't rely on this figure alone. Ask us to confirm before you commit.
| Portion of price | Rate | Duty |
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General information only, not legal advice on your situation. For that, just ask.
As soon as you have the Option to Purchase, and before you exercise it. We check the title and the Option, and confirm your stamp duty and CPF position before you commit.
Generally 3 weeks from when the developer's solicitors send you the Sale & Purchase Agreement. If you need more time, for example because you're still selling your current home, an extension may be possible. See the COH extension question below.
Yes, ordinarily you can, if your CPF Ordinary Account has enough and your bank consents. Any cash portion has to be paid first. We'll work out the split with you.
For a married couple buying their first home together where one spouse is a Singapore Citizen, ABSD can generally be remitted, so none is payable, if the conditions are met. We'll confirm whether it applies to you.
Your property agent usually coordinates the timeline between your sale and your purchase, and we make sure it runs through on the legal side. Allow a gap of at least 3 weeks between your sale completing and your purchase completing, so that the CPF refund from your sale can be credited back to your account. If the dates don't line up, we can help manage the timeline, for example by adjusting the completion date for the sale, the purchase, or both.
COH is the Controller of Housing, the authority that regulates new launch sales by developers. You normally have 3 weeks from receiving the S&P Agreement to sign it. If you need more time, we can apply to the COH to extend that period, usually up to a maximum of 12 weeks from the Option date.
Common reasons include:
Every extension is subject to the COH's approval and isn't guaranteed, though most of the extensions we apply for are granted. The developer's solicitors must also agree, and where you're relying on a sale, the COH usually expects that sale to have been exercised first. If an extension is granted, you'll generally need to sign and pay the 15% on the same day.
On a new launch, the balance 15% of the price is normally due within 8 weeks of the Option date. If your funds or CPF refund won't arrive in time, we can ask the developer's solicitors to extend the payment date. Many developers agree to this interest-free, but it's at the developer's discretion, and some charge interest for the extended period.
Often, yes. If you need more time to sign, you'll usually need more time to pay as well. We first obtain the COH's approval, then write to the developer's solicitors to confirm they have no objection and to agree the extended payment date. We'll tell you early if your dates need both.
It's your right not to go ahead with the purchase. If you let the Option lapse, the Option fee (usually 1% of the price) is forfeited to the seller, and neither side has any further claim against the other.
You can choose not to sign the S&P Agreement. If the Option lapses, 25% of your 5% booking fee is forfeited to the developer and the remaining 75% is refunded to you. In effect, you lose about 1.25% of the purchase price.
Yes, in most cases. CPF can pay the stamp duty directly, or reimburse you after you've paid it in cash, subject to CPF Board approval and your bank's consent where you're taking a loan. As stamp duty is due within 14 days, we'll tell you early which route fits your timeline.
Yes. A lawyer acts on the new mortgage and the discharge of the old one, and handles any CPF arrangements. Banks often give a legal subsidy for this.
In many cases, yes. Documents can be signed overseas*, and payments arranged on your behalf. Tell us where you are and we'll explain the options.
*Before a notary public, or a consular officer at a Singapore overseas mission.
Tell us what you're buying, selling or refinancing. We'll reply personally with the fee and the next steps. Meet us at our Toa Payoh office or by video call.