Singapore · HDB bridging
HDB bridging loan in Singapore — complete guide
An HDB bridging loan covers the cash-flow gap between buying a new HDB flat (or private property) and receiving sale proceeds from your existing HDB. It's the most common bridging-loan use case in Singapore — every MAS-regulated bank and finance company offers HDB bridging.
How HDB bridging works
Typical sequence for an HDB upgrader:
- You buy the new property (typically HDB resale or private). Down-payment due at OTP exercise + S&P signing.
- You sell your existing HDB. Sale proceeds arrive at completion, typically 12-20 weeks after S&P signing.
- If new-property completion is before existing-flat sale proceeds arrive, you need bridging to cover the gap.
- Lender disburses the bridging loan at new-property completion, secured against expected sale proceeds.
- When existing-flat sale completes, sale proceeds repay the bridging loan + accrued interest in one shot.
Tenure is almost universally 6 months across SG lenders — short enough that the sale completes inside the window for the vast majority of typical HDB transactions.
Eligibility
- Option to Purchase (OTP) signed on the new property
- Sale and Purchase agreement signed on the existing property OR firm sale arrangement in place
- TDSR / MSR rules apply to the onward mortgage; bridging loan itself usually does not affect TDSR
- Some lenders restrict to existing customers of their mortgage products
Typical fees
- Legal fees (conveyancing): commonly SGD 1,500–3,000
- Valuation fee (if not bundled with onward mortgage): SGD 300–500
- Processing fee: varies by lender, sometimes waived if bundled with onward loan
Key risks
- If your existing flat doesn't complete sale within the tenure window, you may need to extend or refinance — usually at materially higher interest rates
- Interest accrues from disbursement until repayment from sale proceeds
- Lock-in obligations on the onward mortgage may apply
10 lenders offer HDB bridging in Singapore
Source-cited from each lender's published bridging-loan page. Click any lender for full profile + products offered.
Bank (local)
OCBC Bank
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited
Bank (foreign)
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered Bank (Singapore) Limited
Finance company (NBFI)
Hong Leong Finance
Hong Leong Finance Limited
Finance company (NBFI)
Sing Investments & Finance
Sing Investments & Finance Limited
Moneylender (MinLaw-licensed)
Tradition Credit
Tradition Credit Pte Ltd
Frequently asked questions
What is an HDB bridging loan?
A short-term loan that covers the cash-flow gap between buying a new HDB flat and receiving sale proceeds from selling your existing flat. Most lenders offer a 6-month tenure secured against the net sale proceeds of the outgoing flat. Useful for upgraders, downgraders and lateral movers within HDB or HDB-to-private transitions.
Who can apply for an HDB bridging loan?
You typically need: (1) Option to Purchase (OTP) signed on the new property; (2) A firm sale arrangement on your existing HDB (OTP signed or Sale and Purchase agreement executed); (3) Eligibility under the lender's general credit criteria. Some banks restrict bridging facilities to customers also taking the onward mortgage from the same bank.
How much can I borrow?
Typically up to the net sale proceeds you expect to receive from your existing HDB after settling the outstanding mortgage and any CPF refunds. Lenders verify expected proceeds against the OTP/S&P documents from the buyer. There is no fixed cap — it scales with your specific sale.
What is the interest rate on an HDB bridging loan in Singapore?
Singapore bridging-loan rates are not typically published as fixed percentages — they are pegged to the lender's prime/board rate or to SORA, quoted on application. Rates change with monetary conditions. Request a current quote from the lender directly or use the free shortlist tool to be matched with brokers across multiple lenders.
How long is the bridging tenure?
Industry-standard maximum is 6 months from disbursement. Some lenders allow extension at materially higher rates if the existing sale completes late. Plan the OTP and completion timelines carefully to avoid extension scenarios.
What fees should I expect?
Common fees: legal/conveyancing fees (SGD 1,500–3,000 for HDB), valuation fee (SGD 300–500 if not bundled with onward mortgage), and lender-specific processing fees (sometimes waived if bundled with the onward home loan). Confirm specific fees with the lender before signing.
Does the bridging loan affect my TDSR?
The bridging loan itself usually does not count toward TDSR (it's short-term, secured against pending proceeds). However, the onward mortgage on your new HDB does — and lenders consider your overall debt-servicing capacity when approving both facilities together.
Which Singapore lenders offer HDB bridging?
Most MAS-regulated banks (DBS, OCBC, UOB, Standard Chartered, Maybank) and the three MAS-regulated finance companies (Hong Leong Finance, Singapura Finance, Sing Investments & Finance) offer HDB bridging facilities. 10 lenders in total are tracked in the lifeinsurance.com.sg lender library.
Sources
Eligibility, tenure and fee guidance drawn from each MAS-regulated lender's published bridging-loan page. Specific rates and fees are quoted on application and may differ from any general framework. This page is informational only and does not constitute financial advice. For binding rates, contact the lender or use the free shortlist tool.