Hi, properties purchased in trust is meant to be passed on to a beneficiary (usually a child when he/she turns 21 or older). Even so, the child is now the official title deed owner of the property, not his/her parents (the trustees).
The trustees’ role is to administer the trust and exercise due diligence – if they fail to do so, the beneficiary can in turn sue them for failing to exercise their fiduciary duties when they grow older.
Note also that if the true intention of the trustee is not to buy for the child’s benefit but avoid ABSD and reap the profits, the Commissioner of Stamp Duties may come after you.
Section 33A of the Stamp Duties Act (SDA) has a clause stating that in a situation where a trust is set up, whether directly or indirectly, to relieve any person from any liability to pay duty or to avoid any liability to pay duty, the Commissioner of Stamp Duties may disregard the transaction and recover the duties together with any penalties from the purchaser.
So to answer your query, once a property is purchased in trust, the trustee cannot sell the property as they are not the legal owner of the property – their beneficiary is.
Should we buy an overseas home for living after retirement? Salespeople often market foreign properties as high return investment or affordable luxury homes. The latter appeals to buyers looking for value-for-money homes overseas, either for vacation or for retirement. After all, we work hard all our life and deserve a comfortable living in our golden... [read more]
Everyone Welcome – Because everyone deserves a place to call home
At PropertyGuru, we believe your property journey should not be limited by your race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.
Yet for some renters in Singapore, the search for a home can still come with unnecessary challenges. A YouGov survey of 1,500 Singaporeans found that close to 1 in 4 have faced racial discrimination when trying to rent a property.
While we celebrate multiculturism in Singapore, unconscious biases still influence the rental experience, often putting renters, landlords and property agents alike in uncomfortable situations.
That’s why we introduced the ‘Everyone Welcome’ filter. A simple feature for a strong impact:
✅ To help renters search for homes with confidence ✅ To help landlords attract more interest from renters looking for welcoming homes ✅ To help agents more effectively match renters to landlords
*Note: The Everyone Welcome filter has already been turned on via this link.
❤️Because everyone deserves to feel at home
Though we may look, sound, or live differently, we all long for the same thing: A place to feel safe. To rest. To be ourselves.
Real voices. Honest stories. A call for more inclusion
We know words alone can’t capture what it feels like to be turned away just for being who you are. That’s why we’ve teamed up with storytellers who bring these tough moments to light with empathy, honesty, and sometimes a little humour.
🤝 “No Curry? No Kidding.” with SGAG
<Coming soon on18 June>
We dive into the subtle and not so subtle discrimination behind seemingly harmless words.
🎤 Amusical take on Inclusivity with property agent Rechard Tan
<Coming soon on 23 June>
In this lighthearted musical feature, listen in to how the Everyone Welcome filter can make a renter’s search for a welcoming home a faster and more fuss free experience.
📽️ “An agents quest for fairness in rental housing” with RICE Media
<Coming soon on 1 July>
This documentary follows a minority renter navigating repeated rejections in her search for a home. Alongside her, a property agent witnesses the real-time challenges renters can face from overt discrimination to more subtle forms of biases.
Rather than pointing fingers, this documentary takes an empathetic look at Singapore’s rental ecosystem. It explores the complex mix of personal experiences, cultural norms, and perceptions that shape rental decisions and shows how understanding, action, and allyship can move us toward a more inclusive market.
💚 Together, let’s build a more inclusive rental market
Whether you’re renting or just browsing, turn on the Everyone Welcome filter. Support inclusive listings and be part of a movement that says everyone belongs.
Elderly care is a big topic. Come next year Singapore will attain its super aged status, with 20 percent of citizens aged 65 or older. Some readers sent me questions after reading my last blog post “Overseas retirement – what you don’t know”. They are interested to know the possibilities of retiring in foreign countries.... [read more]
