That home outside Singapore? Good idea, but watch your step

Many Singaporeans are buying property overseas. This has its upsides but also carries risks. Do your homework.

- Ruben Koh

For years, buying a home overseas was seen as the domain of the ultra-wealthy - an indulgence tied to luxury lifestyles or high-yielding property portfolios. But that profile is changing.

Today, more upper-middle-income Singaporeans are entering international markets — not to flip homes or chase speculative gains, but to plan for their children’s education, retirement, or long-term lifestyle flexibility. Some also see it as a hedge against inflation or currency devaluation. While the motivations have matured, the risks remain. So too does the need for realistic planning.

A NEW WAVE OF OVERSEAS BUYERS

We're seeing growing interest from professionals, business owners and families who aren’t just buying for investment, but for practical, life-stage reasons. In some cases, parents are purchasing properties near universities abroad to support their children’s multiyear studies. Others are looking at seasonal homes or retirement bases, drawn by lifestyle familiarity and healthcare access in cities like Melbourne, Perth, Sydney or London. Some view overseas property as a hedge — a way to diversify beyond Singapore’s tightly regulated market.

Who are these Singaporeans? They are not tycoons but relatively well-off, from households earning anything upward of $14,000 a month. We see them looking for properties ranging between $800,000 and $1.5 million.