Can You Really Afford to Upgrade to a Private Property? Here’s What You Need to Know
- Stuart Chng
- Jan 1, 2026
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 9
You may have seen advertisements claiming that HDB owners can upgrade to a condominium or private property without using any of their savings.
Naturally, a few questions come to mind:
Is this actually possible?
Or is it just clever marketing?
And if it’s real, could you qualify?
The honest answer is this: yes, it is possible.
However, many homeowners dismiss the idea immediately because they don’t fully understand the financial mechanics involved. Without clarity, it’s easy to assume such claims are unrealistic.
So the real question is—are you rejecting the idea because it’s impossible, or because you haven’t seen how it works?
Why Knowledge Makes the Difference
There’s a saying worth repeating:
What you don’t know that you don’t know will hurt you more than what you know you don’t know.
Read that again—it’s not a typo.
When it comes to property upgrading, a lack of information often leads people to make assumptions that limit their options. The right knowledge, on the other hand, opens doors to possibilities many homeowners never realised existed.
Who Typically Qualifies for This Strategy?
In my experience, homeowners with a household income of $12,000 and above (In 2026) often have many more options than they think.
My team and I have worked with many families in this income range to:
Understand their true affordability
Structure their finances properly
Upgrade to private properties—all without dipping into their cash savings
This is achieved through strategic property financing methods and ownership structures that have evolved in response to government cooling measures.
Important: This Is Not for Everyone
It’s crucial to be clear—this approach is not suitable for all homeowners.
Before any recommendation is made, a comprehensive six-step financial assessment must be conducted. This ensures:
Affordability is sustainable
Risks are clearly understood
The upgrade does not compromise long-term financial stability
Any responsible property adviser’s role is not to say what clients want to hear, but to present both the opportunities and the risks transparently. Prudence always comes before persuasion.
How a Property Wealth Planner Assesses Your Situation
When evaluating whether an upgrade is feasible, a trained Property Wealth Planner considers factors such as:
Income stability
Existing loan obligations
CPF usage
Cash flow management
Financing structures
Risk buffers and contingency planning
This holistic approach ensures that upgrading is not just achievable—but also safe.
Real Outcomes with Proper Planning
Over the years, I’ve trained thousands of Property Wealth Planners and helped many households achieve more than just a private home upgrade.
Some families were able to:
Own passive-income-generating investment properties
Maintain sufficient emergency funds
Set aside 6 to 8 months of rainy-day reserves to better manage uncertainties
These outcomes are not accidental—they are the result of careful planning, disciplined execution, and informed decision-making.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading to a private property without touching your savings is not a myth—but it’s also not automatic.
It requires:
The right financial profile
The right strategy
And the right advice
If you’ve ever wondered whether upgrading is truly within your reach, the first step isn’t guessing—it’s getting the facts.
Watch this short video to find out exactly what I can help you with.
Need an opinion on your property investment plans, the best buys available or help marketing your properties?
Get a 1-time free 30 min Property Wealth Planning consultation. Schedule one right now.
A PWP consultation includes:
- An in-depth financial affordability assessment and timeline planning
- Highly relevant investment insights
- A clear and customised investment road map
- A curated list of best buys in today's market with good growth potential & minimal risks
- Selecting units with the highest potential in a new launch project
- Advice on marketing and getting a buyer for your property fast
Stuart Chng, Executive Group District Director at Huttons, is a renowned leader and personality in the real estate industry.
He adores music and can play a few instruments decently without upsetting his neighbours. When not doing so, he enjoys pillow fighting with his son and coming up with silly puns which barely amuses his wife.
Professionally, he is a licensed real estate agent, avid investor in options, stocks and real estate, team leader, speaker and columnist for several property newsletters and blogs and is often quoted in media interviews on 938FM, Channel 8, PropertyReport, PropertyGuru and other publications.
Throughout his career, he has helped many clients grow their wealth through selecting great real estate investments and managing their portfolios actively. Read his clients' reviews here.
Stuart has also coached many top million dollar producing agents from top Singapore real estate agencies. Read his agents' reviews here.
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