Buyer guide
EC vs Condo in Singapore
An EC gives you the pool, gym and gated grounds of a condo, priced for eligible families. In return you accept rules on who can buy, how long you live there and who you can sell to. Here is how the two compare, rule by rule.
Last updated 28 Oct 2026
An EC and a private condo, side by side
Both are built and sold by private developers, and both come with condo facilities. The difference is the rules. A private condo is open to every buyer with no conditions on who you are or how long you stay. An EC is for eligible Singapore families, with HDB's conditions attached until it becomes fully private.
| Rule | Executive condo (EC) | Private condo |
|---|---|---|
| Who can buy from the developer | Eligible Singapore families under an HDB scheme | Anyone, including PRs and foreigners |
| Household income ceiling | Yes: S$16,000 a month on older sites, S$18,000 on later ones | None |
| Minimum occupation period | 5 years on sites tendered before 8 May 2026, 10 years after | None |
| Renting out the whole home | Not during the MOP | Allowed |
| Selling | After the MOP, to Citizens and PRs until it is fully private | To anyone |
| Grants | Eligible first-timers may get a CPF Housing Grant | None |
HDB's rules can change and some differ by site, so each project guide spells out the rules for that launch. Confirm them with the developer and HDB before booking.
Who can buy an EC
- Singapore families who qualify under an HDB scheme, such as the Public, Fiancé/Fiancée, Orphans or Joint Singles schemes
- Households earning no more than the site's income ceiling
- Households made up only of PRs, and foreigners, can't buy from the developer
- First-timer families get priority: on the older rules, 70% of homes are set aside for them in the first month
- Second-timers have lower priority while first-timers are served, and some pay a resale levy
If you own an HDB flat, you don't have to sell it before booking an EC, but you must sell it within 6 months of collecting the EC's keys.
Why the rules depend on when the land was sold
HDB changed the EC rules in May 2026. Sites whose land tender closed before 8 May 2026 keep the older rules, and that includes every EC with a guide on this site today. Sites tendered after that date carry the newer rules.
| Rule | Tender closed before 8 May 2026 | Tendered after |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum occupation period | 5 years | 10 years |
| Household income ceiling | S$16,000 a month | S$18,000 a month on later sites |
| Deferred Payment Scheme | Available where the developer offers it | Check the site's conditions |
Living in it and selling it
- During the MOP you live in it: rooms can be rented out if registered with HDB, but not the whole home
- After the MOP you can sell it with no income ceiling for the buyer, who must be a Singapore Citizen or PR until it is fully private
- On the older rules, an EC becomes fully private 10 years after it is completed, and can then be sold to anyone
Which one suits you
If your household qualifies, an EC is usually the more affordable way into a new condo, and the grant can help first-timers further. A private condo makes more sense if you earn above the ceiling, want to rent the whole home out, or want to be free to sell to anyone at any time. Either way, the price you pay comes with stamp duty and is paid in stages while the building goes up.
New launch ECs to look at
Questions buyers ask
Is an EC cheaper than a private condo?
ECs are priced for eligible families, so they usually cost less than private condos nearby. The gap differs by launch, so compare the price list of each.
Can PRs buy an EC?
Not as a household made up only of PRs. A family with at least one Singapore Citizen who qualifies under an HDB scheme can. After the MOP, Citizens and PRs can buy an EC on the resale market.
Can I rent out my EC?
Not the whole home during the MOP. Rooms can be rented out if registered with HDB. After the MOP the whole home can be rented out.
Do I need to sell my HDB flat before buying an EC?
No. You must sell it within 6 months of collecting the EC's keys, subject to HDB's conditions.