What is a Negative Sale of HDB Flat and CPF Refund?
Maelyn Lagman7 October 20244-min read
Homeownership in Singapore is often viewed as a safe investment, a reliable way to grow wealth. But what happens when the value of your HDB flat drops, and you face a "negative sale"? While the term may stir anxiety in most homeowners, a negative sale isn’t necessarily all doom and gloom. In fact, there are hidden benefits that could turn this seemingly unfortunate situation into an unexpected opportunity. Let’s explore why an HDB negative sale might not be the financial disaster it’s made out to be.
Editor’s Note: A negative sale can also happen with private properties, but this article is focused on ‘negative sale’ in an HDB transaction
What is a negative sale?
If the sale proceeds of your property, after clearing off your outstanding mortgage loan, are insufficient to cover the full CPF refunds (Principal Amount used + Accrued Interest), it is what we call a ‘negative sale’ or ‘negative CPF sale’.Here’s an example of how a negative sale occurs:
Selling Price - Outstanding Mortgage - CPF Refunds (Principal CPF + Accrued Interest) = Negative Sale
Selling Price | $420,000 |
Outstanding Mortgage Loan | $250,000 |
Sale Proceeds Left After Paying Off Outstanding Mortgage Loan | $420,000 - $250,000 = $170,000 |
Total CPF Refund (Principal Amount + Accrued Interest) | $150,000 + $40,000 = $190,000 |
Negative Sale (Sale Proceeds Left - Total CPF Refund) | $170,000 - $190,000 = -$20,000 |
So what happens to this $20,000 shortfall due to CPF?
If the sale proceeds (including the deposit) after clearing off your outstanding housing loan are not enough to make the required CPF refund, you do not need to top up the shortfall in cash, provided the property is sold at market value or higher.In other words, the shortfall is waived as long as you have sold the property at market value.