Shops, offices, industrial units, and shophouses. Buy, sell, or lease with the numbers shown first.
Looking for a commercial property agent in Singapore? I'm Fendy Lee, Senior Chief District Director at Huttons Asia. I help business owners, investors and landlords buy, sell and lease shops, offices, industrial units and shophouses. A commercial unit isn't priced or taxed like a flat. The stamp duty is different. The loan is different. Some costs only show up late if no one points them out. So I put the full bill on the table first. Then we look at units.
Tell me which side of the deal you're on. Here's how I help.
First, tell me why you're buying. Is it for your own business, or to rent out? The answer shapes the search. I shortlist units and check three things: approved use, years left on the lease and yearly running costs. Before any offer, we add up stamp duty, GST and loan costs. You see the cash you really need, not only the price.
Your asking price should rest on what similar units actually sold for. I pull those deals and suggest a price. Then I look for buyers who suit your unit and handle the talks. Own an industrial unit bought less than three years ago? Seller's Stamp Duty may apply, so we check it before you list. GST gets checked early too.
An empty unit costs you money. The wrong tenant can cost you more. I look at the lease length, the type of business, and the rent. Then I market the unit, handle the enquiries, and negotiate the terms with you.
Your space has to fit your business and your budget. I compare units with you. Then we go through the lease line by line before you sign. We check the rent, GST, service charges, the deposit, and what you must hand back at the end.
Buying to rent out? A good price doesn't always mean a good deal. I look at who the tenant is, how long the lease has left, the holding costs, and how easy the unit may be to resell. Then you can judge it against your goal.
Shops depend on foot traffic, the businesses next door, and the approved use. That's true for heartland malls, high-street units, F&B spaces, clinics and showrooms. I check that the use you want is allowed before anything else.
Offices range from units around Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar in the CBD to offices in business hubs outside the city. I compare the location, floor size, maintenance fees and the lease left. I also look at what similar offices nearby rent for.
As an industrial property agent in Singapore, I know B1 and B2 aren't the same. B1 is for clean, light industry. B2 is for heavier industry. A unit's approved use comes first. Then I check the lease left, power supply, floor loading, and truck access. These matter if you plan to run a workshop, a food factory or a warehouse. Areas such as Tai Seng, Ubi, Tampines, Woodlands and Tuas have many industrial units.
A shophouse in Chinatown or Jalan Besar can mix shops, offices and homes in one building. If part of it is approved for residential use, ABSD and other rules may apply to that part. I check the approved use of each floor before we talk price.
The price is only part of the bill. Here's what to expect when you buy, sell or lease.
| Cost | What to know |
|---|---|
| Buyer's Stamp Duty (BSD) | Paid on every purchase. For non-residential property, it runs from 1% to 5%. The 5% rate applies to the part of the price above S$1.5 million. |
| ABSD | Applies to the residential part of a property. An ordinary shop, office or industrial unit isn't residential. A shophouse with a home upstairs may be. |
| Seller's Stamp Duty (SSD) | Applies to industrial property sold within 3 years of buying it. After 3 years, no SSD. Shops and offices don't have SSD. |
| GST | Charged on a sale or lease only when the seller or landlord is GST-registered. For a mixed-use building, it depends on which part is residential. |
| Property tax | Non-residential property is taxed on its annual value. Check the current rate on IRAS. |
| CPF | You can't use CPF to buy a unit approved only for commercial or industrial use. |
| Financing | Banks set their own terms. Loan tenure, interest rates and eligibility depend on the lender, the property and the borrower's financial position. |
| Lease duty | Applies to leases. It is 0.4% of the total rent for a lease of 4 years or less. |
No single answer fits everyone. It depends on your plans, your cash and how sure you are about the location.
| Feature | Buying | Renting |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cash | High: downpayment, stamp duty, GST and fees | Lower: deposit and first rent |
| Ongoing costs | Loan, property tax, maintenance | Rent, GST and service charges |
| Flexibility | Lower | Higher |
| Control | Within approved use | Set by lease and landlord |
| Financing | Bank loan, no CPF | No loan needed |
Compare the total cost over the years you plan to stay. Don't set one month's rent against one month's loan.
Many office leases run two to three years, and bigger spaces can run longer. Ask early if you can renew. If you can, find out whether the rent will be set at market rate or agreed in advance.
Rent is only one line. Ask about GST on the rent, service charges, the security deposit and any rent-free or fit-out period. Lease duty also applies. It is 0.4% of the total rent for a lease of 4 years or less.
We talk about your goal. Buying to use, buying to rent out, selling, or leasing. Your goal decides what we look for.
I check the market. I look at recent sales and rents for similar units, so the price has something solid behind it.
I check the details. Approved use, the lease left, the tenant, and the lease terms.
We negotiate. Price, terms, GST, and timing are all on the table.
We close the deal. I work with your lawyer, your bank and your tax adviser until handover.
Take the time you need. I'd rather you sign once and sign right.
Many commercial buyers pay for the purchase by selling their home. If that's your plan, the timing of both deals matters. I plan the home sale and the commercial purchase together, so you don't end up short on cash or holding two loans.
Not sure which fits? Ask me.
You should know who you're hiring. Here's what I can stand behind.
Tell me what you have in mind. Send me the property type, your budget and your timeline. I'll tell you what to check first and what the next step is. If you're paying for it by selling or upgrading your home, tell me that too. As a property upgrading consultant in Singapore, I can plan both moves together. Whether it's a shop for your business, an investment unit or a tenant for your empty space, we'll go through the details before you decide.
BSD applies to every purchase. For non-residential property, the rates are 1% on the first S$180,000, 2% on the next S$180,000, 3% on the next S$640,000, 4% on the next S$500,000, and 5% on the remaining amount above S$1.5 million. BSD is calculated on the higher of the purchase price or market value. For a S$2 million property, the BSD is S$69,600.
Not on every deal. GST applies when the seller or landlord is GST-registered and the sale or lease is taxable. In a mixed-use building, the treatment depends on which part is residential. A GST-registered buyer may be able to claim it back. Check with your tax adviser before you sign.
No, not for a unit approved only for commercial or industrial use. CPF can be used for residential property under the CPF Housing Scheme. If you're looking at a mixed-use shophouse, the approved use decides what's allowed, so check before you make an offer. Plan for cash and a bank loan instead.
B1 is for clean, light industry. B2 is for heavier industry that may bring more noise, smell or pollution. Every unit has an approved use, so check it first. Then check the lease left, power supply, floor loading and truck access.
It depends on your plans and your cash. Renting suits you if you're testing a location or your space needs may change. Buying suits you if you want long-term control and can handle the upfront costs, the loan and the upkeep. Compare the total cost over the years you plan to stay.
Commission is negotiable. There's no single fixed rate. It depends on the work involved and the type of deal. Get the commission and the payment terms in writing before you sign with any agent. GST may also apply to the fee.