How to Compare New Launch Condos: A 5-Step Framework

Information accurate as at October 2026. With more than 40 new launch condos actively selling in Singapore, shortlisting is the hard part. Buyers who rely on showflat impressions alone routinely overpay by 5–10% versus a disciplined comparison. Here is the framework we use when readers ask us to compare projects.

1. Start with PSF — but only within the same district

Price per square foot is the fastest filter, but it is meaningless across regions. A $2,100 psf project in the OCR is expensive; the same figure in the CCR would be a once-in-a-decade outlier. Compare within a district or a one-MRT-stop radius. Our district pages list every active launch with live PSF ranges for exactly this purpose.

2. Adjust for tenure

A 99-year leasehold project should trade at roughly a 10–15% discount to an equivalent freehold neighbour. If a leasehold launch is priced at freehold levels, the developer is pricing in MRT proximity or a new amenity — decide whether that premium is real for you. The freehold vs leasehold guide walks through the maths.

3. Compare absolute quantum, not just PSF

Developers shrink unit sizes to keep headline prices attractive. A $1.4 million "affordable" two-bedder at 570 sq ft costs more per usable foot than a $1.6 million unit at 700 sq ft next door. Always compute the total price against the actual floor plan — floor plans are published on every project page, for example Tembusu Grand.

4. TOP date and payment timeline

A project completing in 2027 versus 2030 changes your cash-flow planning completely under the progressive payment scheme. If you are selling an existing home to fund the purchase, the gap between sale proceeds and construction milestones matters. See OTP vs completed purchase timelines.

5. Developer track record

Defects handling, facility upkeep and resale premium all correlate with the developer. Check the developer profiles for portfolio history before treating two prices as comparable.

Putting it together

Pick three finalists, put them side by side on the compare tool, and stress-test the monthly repayment at 4% interest using the mortgage calculator — even if current rates are lower. If the numbers still work, book showflat viewings for all three on the same weekend and decide with fresh eyes.