Young adults are buying more private homes in Singapore for investment, with banks saying home-loan demand from borrowers under 35 has climbed and some buyers are targeting rental income and price gains. [1]
DBS, UOB and OCBC said loan data pointed to a steady rise in younger borrowers. DBS reported a 40% increase in home loans for borrowers under 35 between 2024 and 2025, while UOB said loan volumes for customers aged 35 and below have grown by more than 15% year on year since 2023. [1]
UOB also said the average loan quantum for this group rose by about 5% a year between 2023 and 2025 and has topped S$1 million over the past two years. Ms Jacquelyn Tan, UOB's head of group personal financial services, said: "The average loan quantum for this group has also risen by about 5 per cent annually between 2023 and 2025, surpassing the $1 million mark over the past two years." [1]
OCBC said the number of singles buying private properties for investment rose 36% in 2025. Banks said younger buyers are drawn by tight rental conditions and possible investment returns, but they warned that joint purchases can create risks if buyers' goals diverge and if both are liable for the mortgage. [1]
Banks also urged young investors to weigh long-term costs, illiquidity and possible interest-rate changes before buying. [1]
One example is Ms Teri Tan, who bought a one-bedroom condominium at The Sail @ Marina Bay in 2021 for about S$1.25 million. She leased out the about 678 sq ft unit while working in New York and collected S$4,800 a month for more than a year. [1]
Tan returned to Singapore in December 2022, lived in the unit for a few months and then rented it out again. In January 2025, she sold the flat for about S$1.25 million and bought a larger about 800 sq ft unit at Pinetree Hill in Ulu Pandan for S$2.1 million, saying both purchases were mainly for investment. [1]
Her new Pinetree Hill unit is expected to be ready in the third quarter of 2026. [1]
