Looking for trusted real estate agents in Singapore? Locallista connects you with vetted local professionals, ranked by reviews. Create a free account to see who they are, read real reviews and get in touch.
Selene did a fantastic job helping me find an apartment. She really understood my style and the kind of things I was looking for, did thorough research, and presented me with a number of good options, and the apartment I ultimately took was perfect for me. She was also really good in the negotiation and liaised well with the landlord's agent, so the transaction was relatively quick and the price felt reasonable. I have had a number of agents in the past and by far she has been the best, and I will be using her again.
I hired Vincente as an agent a few months ago and he helped me find an apartment. My experience was quite good and very satisfying, he was very helpful and knowledgeable about the local market. Overall I am satisfied, although I think he could know more about the requirements of Chinese people.
I’ve used Sebastian numerous times over the 14 years I’ve been in Singapore for my real estate needs. He’s always been very professional, efficient, and a good guy to work with. He’s someone I trust, and I’d use him again.
How much do real estate agents cost in Singapore?
Real price ranges from the jobs our vetted real estate agents actually do. Prices updated August 2026
Land / plot purchase
How much does an agent charge for land or landed property in Singapore?
Landed property is handled at the usual rates, 1% to 2% for the seller and around 1% for a buyer's agent, and because the values are high this is where negotiating the rate is most worth doing: 0.5% on a S$5,000,000 house is S$25,000. Bare land is rare in Singapore and mostly comes through government sales or collective sales rather than an ordinary listing. Foreign buyers should note that landed residential property requires approval from the Singapore Land Authority, which is a real restriction rather than a formality, so establish eligibility before engaging anyone.
Seller commission
1% to 2% of the price
Buyer's agent
around 1% of the price
0.5% on a S$5,000,000 house
about S$25,000
New property developments
How much does a buyer's agent cost for a new launch in Singapore?
Nothing directly. For every new launch condominium in Singapore the developer pays the agent, typically 2% to 3% of the purchase price and up to 5% depending on the project and how hard it is selling. You pay no fee whatsoever, which is why appointing your own agent for a new launch is close to free advice. The honest caveat is that the cost is built into the launch price, and that your agent is paid by the developer, so their incentive is for you to buy this project rather than the right one. Ask them what else they would show you, and judge the answer.
What the buyer pays
nothing
Developer pays the agent
2% to 5% of the price
On a S$1,500,000 unit at 3%
about S$45,000 to the agent
Property search and buying
Does a buyer pay agent commission in Singapore?
Often not, and it depends on what you are buying. On a new launch you pay nothing at all, because the developer pays the agent 2% to 5%. On a private resale the buyer's agent is usually paid out of the seller's commission through co-broking, so you pay zero out of pocket, unless you engage a dedicated buyer's agent who negotiates independently, which is typically 1%. On an HDB resale the buyer is generally expected to pay their own agent about 1%, so around S$5,000 on a S$500,000 flat. Settle this in writing in the Estate Agency Agreement before you view anything.
New launch, paid by developer
you pay nothing
Private resale via co-broking
usually nothing
Dedicated buyer's agent
around 1% of the price
HDB resale buyer's agent
about S$5,000 on S$500,000
Property marketing and viewings
Is marketing included in the agent's commission in Singapore?
Yes. Photography, listing on the portals, the floor plan and running the viewings all sit inside the 1% to 2% the seller pays, and there should be no separate invoice for any of it. That is precisely what the higher end of the range buys, and why private property attracts more than HDB. Before you sign, ask what the marketing plan actually is: how many photographs, whether it includes video or a virtual tour, which portals, and how many viewings a week they expect. An agent who takes 2% and lists three phone photographs is the expensive option, whatever the rate says.
Included in seller commission
1% to 2% of the price
Separate marketing charge
there should be none
On a S$1,200,000 condo at 1.5%
about S$18,000 all in
Property listing and sale
How much commission does a property agent charge in Singapore?
Selling costs the seller 1% to 2% of the price, and the rate is a market norm rather than a regulated one, so it is negotiable. On an HDB resale at S$500,000 that is about S$5,000, and on a S$1,200,000 condo at 1.5% it is S$18,000. Private property sits at the higher end because the marketing is more involved, and agents will often accept 0.5% on a high value or easy sale. One number worth knowing before you shop on rate alone: analysis of CEA transaction records found 64% of registered agents recorded no sale at all in the last twelve months. Who you hire matters more than the fraction of a percent.
Seller commission
1% to 2% of the price
HDB resale at S$500,000
about S$5,000
Condo at S$1,200,000, 1.5%
about S$18,000
High value or simple sale
negotiable to 0.5%
Property valuation
How much does a property valuation cost in Singapore?
An agent's opinion of value is free and comes as part of pitching for your listing, which is worth remembering, since an agent who wants the instruction has a reason to quote you a flattering number. A formal valuation from a licensed valuer is a separate paid job, normally a few hundred dollars, and that is what a bank will require for a mortgage. For HDB there is an official valuation process through HDB itself once an option is granted. Get two or three agent opinions rather than one, and treat the highest as a sales pitch until something supports it.
Agent's opinion of value
free, part of the pitch
Formal valuation report
a few hundred dollars
Selling commission
1% to 2% of the price
Landlord rental listing
How much does a property agent charge a landlord in Singapore?
Letting is priced in months of rent rather than a percentage of value. The landlord pays 0.5 to 1 month's rent, and the length of the lease decides which end you land on: a one year lease is normally half a month, a two year lease a full month. On a S$4,000 a month condo that is S$2,000 to S$4,000. Longer or higher value leases give you room to negotiate. Check whether the fee covers the tenant search only or also the inventory, the handover and the paperwork, because those are where a cheap arrangement quietly becomes your job.
Landlord fee
0.5 to 1 month's rent
One year lease
usually half a month
Two year lease
usually one month
On a S$4,000 a month unit
S$2,000 to S$4,000
Rental search (for tenants)
Does a tenant pay agent fees in Singapore?
Usually not on higher rents. The convention is that the landlord pays, and where the rent is above roughly S$3,500 a month the tenant typically pays nothing because the landlord's agent co-brokes with yours. On lower rents, and on shorter leases, a tenant's agent may charge you half a month to one month's rent instead. On a S$2,500 a month flat that is S$1,250 to S$2,500. Ask the question directly at the first viewing rather than at signing. An agent showing you a unit is not automatically your agent, and the difference matters when it comes to whose interest is being represented.
Higher rents, landlord pays
you pay nothing
Lower rents or short leases
0.5 to 1 month's rent
On a S$2,500 a month flat
S$1,250 to S$2,500
Short-term / holiday rental
Can you do short-term rentals in Singapore, and what does an agent charge?
Read this before budgeting anything. Short-term letting is heavily restricted in Singapore: private residential property has a minimum stay of three consecutive months and HDB flats six months, and letting a home on a nightly basis is an offence with substantial fines. So the Airbnb style arrangement common elsewhere is not something an agent here can legally arrange. What does exist is serviced apartments and corporate housing, which are licensed differently, and ordinary leases at the minimum stay. Agent fees on those follow the normal letting convention of 0.5 to 1 month's rent paid by the landlord.
Nightly holiday letting
not permitted
Minimum stay, private property
three months
Landlord agent fee
0.5 to 1 month's rent
Property contract and lease assistance
Does the agent handle the paperwork in Singapore, and what does it cost?
The agent's side of the paperwork, meaning the option to purchase, the tenancy agreement and the Estate Agency Agreement, is covered by the commission you are already paying. What is not included is the lawyer. Conveyancing on a Singapore purchase is a separate bill, usually a few thousand dollars, and on top of that come the stamp duties, which dwarf the agent's fee on most transactions. Read the Estate Agency Agreement before signing it, particularly the exclusivity period and whether commission is still owed if you find a buyer yourself. Those two clauses are where disputes actually come from.
Agent paperwork
inside the 1% to 2%
Conveyancing lawyer
billed separately
Stamp duties
billed separately by IRAS
Property management
How much does property management cost in Singapore?
Ongoing management is a different arrangement from letting and is charged as a percentage of the rent collected, commonly in the region of 5% to 10% a year, or a flat monthly fee. That is separate from the 0.5 to 1 month's rent paid to find the tenant in the first place. On a S$4,000 a month unit, 8% is about S$320 a month. It is worth it if you are overseas or hold several units and want repairs, inspections and rent collection handled. For one property and a landlord living in Singapore, most people find they are paying for something they could do themselves.
Management, per year
around 5% to 10% of rent
On a S$4,000 a month unit at 8%
about S$320 a month
Tenant find fee, separate
0.5 to 1 month's rent
Property market analysis
How much does property market analysis cost in Singapore?
Nothing, in most cases. Agents provide transaction comparisons and district analysis free as part of winning your business, and much of the underlying data is public: URA publishes private transaction prices and HDB publishes resale prices, both free to search. A paid research report from a dedicated buyer's consultant is a different thing and is charged as advisory, typically around 1% of the purchase price when engaged for a full search. Before paying for analysis, check the free sources, because on Singapore's small and well documented market they answer most questions people are quoted for.
Agent market comparison
free
URA and HDB transaction data
free to search
Dedicated buyer's consultant
around 1% of the price
Property negotiation support
How much does negotiation support cost in Singapore?
It is part of the commission rather than a separate fee, so 1% to 2% for a seller and typically 1% for a dedicated buyer's agent. This is the part of the job worth paying for, and the reason a cheaper agent can cost you more. A 0.25% saving on a S$1,200,000 condo is S$3,000, which one weak negotiation gives back several times over. Watch for dual representation, where one agent acts for both sides. It is not illegal but the conflict is obvious, and if the same person is negotiating against themselves on your behalf, you are not being represented.
Inside seller commission
1% to 2% of the price
Dedicated buyer's agent
around 1% of the price
0.25% on a S$1,200,000 condo
about S$3,000
Tenant screening
Is tenant screening included in the agent's fee in Singapore?
Yes, it sits inside the 0.5 to 1 month's rent the landlord already pays. What you should expect it to include is verifying the tenant's identity and immigration status, checking employment, and confirming that the pass holder is allowed to rent what you are letting. That last point is the one that matters most in Singapore, because letting to someone without valid status carries real consequences for the landlord, not only the tenant. Ask the agent to show you what they actually verified rather than telling you it was done, and keep copies with the tenancy agreement.
Included in landlord fee
0.5 to 1 month's rent
On a S$4,000 a month unit
S$2,000 to S$4,000
Separate screening charge
there should be none
Frequently Asked Questions
What people want to know before hiring real estate agents in Singapore.
How much do real estate agents charge in Singapore?
Sellers in Singapore usually pay their agent 1% to 2% of the price, so on a S$500,000 HDB resale flat that is around S$5,000. Buyers of new launches pay nothing, as the developer pays the agent, and private resale buyers usually pay nothing either, while a dedicated buyer's agent is around 1%. Landlords usually pay 0.5 to 1 month's rent. Commission is negotiable. These are typical figures (updated August 2026) and can change, so agree the fee, and whether GST is on top, in writing.
How many real estate agents does Locallista list in Singapore?
Locallista lists 5 real estate agents in Singapore. Every business is screened before it is listed, and reviews are usually collected by phone from people who have bought, sold or rented with them. Contact details are visible after you sign up; you then speak to the agent directly about your HDB flat, condo or landed home.
Who pays the agent when I rent a home in Singapore?
Usually the landlord, who pays their agent about half a month's rent for a one-year lease and a month for two years. For higher rents the tenant normally pays nothing. For lower rents or short leases, tenants often pay their own agent 0.5 to 1 month's rent, so ask at the start who pays whom. Get it written into the agreement before you view several units with one agent.
What should I check before hiring an estate agent?
Check the agent on the public register of the Council for Estate Agencies (CEA): every property agent must be registered, and the register shows their registration number and agency. Ask them to use the CEA's prescribed estate agency agreement, read the commission and how long you're tied in, and check whether GST is added. For an HDB flat, ask about their recent deals in your town.
What should I avoid when hiring an estate agent?
Don't hand transaction money to the agent: option fees and deposits go to the seller or the seller's lawyer, not into an agent's account. Be wary of an agent who pushes you to sign quickly, or who quotes a selling price far above recent transactions just to win your listing. A separate marketing charge shouldn't appear on top. Check recent prices yourself on the URA and HDB websites.
Can an agent let my home out short term in Singapore?
Not on a nightly or holiday basis. Private homes can't be let for less than three consecutive months, and HDB flats have a longer minimum, so short-stay letting through an agent isn't allowed. An agent can find you a tenant for a regular lease instead, check the tenant's details and handle the tenancy agreement, usually for a fee agreed in writing beforehand.
How do I find a real estate agent I can trust in Singapore?
Read recent reviews and look for repeated comments about realistic pricing, clear communication, honest advice and handling paperwork carefully. On Locallista, reviews are usually collected by phone after the job, and listings are ranked by those scores. Read the reviews, check them on the CEA register, then contact them directly after you sign up.
