What Do Property Agents Charge in Singapore?

The question everyone wants answered before they call anyone. Here’s the honest version.

The Short Version

Commission in Singapore is negotiable. There is no fixed rate set by law or by CEA. What you actually pay depends on the agent, the property, the amount of work involved, and how well you negotiate.

That last part is worth sitting with, because you are about to hire someone whose entire job includes negotiating on your behalf.

What’s typical in the resale market:

Private resale (condo and landed) — commonly around 2% of the selling price, paid by the seller.
HDB resale — commonly around 2% for the seller and up to 1% for the buyer.
New launch — usually paid by the developer, which is why buyers don’t pay commission on a new launch.

These are market norms, not rules. You will meet agents quoting below them, and agents quoting above them with a reason.

When Do You Actually Pay?

Only when the transaction completes.

For a seller, that means commission becomes payable when the sale is completed and the proceeds are released — not when you sign the exclusive agreement, not when the option is exercised, and definitely not upfront.

If anyone asks you for commission before your property has sold, stop and ask why. That isn’t how the market works.

For a buyer on an HDB resale flat, your share is usually settled at completion too.

What the Fee Is Supposed to Cover

A good agent is not charging you for putting your home on a portal. That part takes twenty minutes and costs a few hundred dollars.

You are paying for:

Pricing. Getting the number right. Too high and you sit unsold for months while the market moves past you — and a stale listing is one of the most expensive things that can happen to a seller. Too low and you’ve given away money for nothing.

Marketing that reaches real buyers. Photography, floor plans, copy, presentation, and paid distribution where it’s worth paying for.

Qualifying and managing buyers. Every viewing takes your time. The agent’s job is to spend theirs instead, and to keep the tyre-kickers away from your Saturday.

Negotiation. Usually the single most valuable line item, and the hardest to judge in advance. A good negotiator earns their fee on this alone.

Transaction management. OTP, exercise, lawyers, CPF, HDB submissions, timelines, and the sequence of selling and buying without a gap in between.

Why Fees Differ Between Agents

Three honest reasons:

Experience and track record. An agent who sells consistently in your area has buyers already, and buyers already have a reason to take their call. That is worth something.

The work involved. A unique landed property needing a long marketing campaign is a different job from a well-located three-bedroom condo.

What’s included. Some agents quote a low rate and charge separately for photography and advertising. Some quote higher and include everything. Compare the total, not the percentage.

And a fourth, less flattering reason: some agents quote high because nobody pushed back.

What to Ask Any Agent Before You Sign — Including Me

What have you actually sold in my area in the last year? Show me.
What do you think my property is worth, and what’s that based on?
What exactly does your fee include, and what costs extra?
What’s your marketing plan for my home specifically — not for homes in general?
How many other sellers are you currently representing?
What happens if my property doesn’t sell?
What’s the length of the exclusive, and what are the terms?

If an agent can’t answer these plainly, that’s your answer.

“Is a Cheaper Agent Better?”

No, and neither is a more expensive one. The fee is a percentage of a number that the agent partly determines.

An agent at 1.5% who gets you $50,000 less than an agent at 2% has not saved you money. Run the arithmetic on both lines, not one.

Not Sure What Your Next Move Should Be?

You don’t need to have everything figured out before speaking with me. Let’s first understand your current position, your numbers, your family needs and what you’re hoping to achieve.

Perry Siow · CEA Registration No. R006056B
Salesperson with PropNex Realty Pte Ltd · Estate Agent Licence No. L3008022J
+65 9455 6807

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