Can Foreign Buyers Buy a New Launch or Under-Construction Home?

Reviewed 24 October 2026 · Jacky Yong, REN 77674

The show unit makes it easy to picture life there, even though the home is still being built. As a foreign buyer, you may be able to buy it, provided the project and that particular unit qualify. A launch does not automatically offer an easier approval route than a completed home or subsale, and the developer may not handle every approval for you.

Does the project and this unit qualify for your purchase?

Start by asking whether the sale falls under the Housing Development Act (HDA). Where applicable, the developer’s licence and Advertising Permit and Developer Licence (APDL) matter too. The important answer is whether this unit is open to your buyer category and whether state approval is required. A broad “foreigners can buy here” statement does not settle either point. Have both answers confirmed in writing for the unit you are considering.

The actual SPA is where the payment arrangement becomes clear. For a regulated housing sale by a developer with the required licence and APDL, KPKT says no payment may be collected before the SPA is signed. After signing, payments follow the contract and prescribed schedule. A subsale or transaction outside that regulated route uses different documents and payment arrangements.

What are you taking on beyond the launch price?

With a home still under construction, the permitted construction period, progress-payment stages and financing plan shape your commitment. Ask what the contract says if the timeline changes. For a completed home, the actual condition, handover and outstanding charges come into view. Either way, the title, unit eligibility and consent route need to fit before you pay.

To compare the routes, see the new launch and subsale guide. The SPA guide explains the contract questions, and the foreign-buyer guide covers state eligibility for a foreign buyer.

Send Jacky the project and unit type you are considering. He can help gather the unit eligibility and purchase documents. Ask Jacky what to verify before booking

General property information, not legal advice or a guarantee of project completion. Have a conveyancing solicitor review the unit, approvals, contract and payment schedule.

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