With New Freehold Launches Becoming Rarer in 2026, Will Buyers Have Enough Choices?

It is no secret that freehold properties offer some clear advantages over their 99-year leasehold counterparts, making them a natural choice for buyers who are focused on multi-generational legacy planning or wealth preservation over the longer term. Chief among these strengths is immunity to lease decay, which protects a freehold property from the depreciation that inevitably hits older leasehold homes. 

In 2026, however, the case for buying freehold property extends beyond lease longevity. Fresh private housing supply in Singapore is largely driven by the sale of Government Land Sales (GLS) sites, which are typically 99-year leasehold plots. This leaves the collective sale market as the only avenue for freehold land, but with far fewer deals since the 2017 to 2018 en bloc cycle, new supply has become increasingly limited in the residential segment. 

That said, this is not to say there is a complete lack of freehold launches in the near future, as there are still new projects coming to market.

Have there really been fewer new freehold condominium homes in recent years? 

Apart from a quieter en-bloc sales landscape, another clear sign of tightening freehold supply can also be seen in the declining number of new freehold private residential units and projects launched in recent years. Including those with 999-year leasehold tenures, developers have brought increasingly fewer units and projects offering perpetual ownership to market.

Chart 1: No. of freehold non-landed private residential units and projects launched by developers, including 999-year leasehold (2022 to 7M 2026)

Based on URA developer sales data, about 1,620 freehold homes were launched across 28 non-landed private residential projects in 2022. This held broadly steady at 1,627 units in 2023, although across a smaller pool of 13 projects. Supply then fell to 905 units across 11 projects in 2024, before declining further to 647 units across seven projects in 2025. 

And finally, as of the first seven months of this year, only 293 freehold units have been launched for sale across three projects, including Newport Residences, as well as two smaller boutique projects (Duet@Emily and The Bronze). Clearly, this points to a narrowing pool of new freehold options for buyers, particularly those who prefer newly launched homes over resale properties. 

Yet another reason to consider freehold: The narrowing price gap with leasehold properties

Freehold properties have traditionally commanded a sizeable premium over leasehold homes, but this gap appears to have narrowed significantly as of late. 

Based on URA caveats for new non-landed private residential properties, the median price for freehold homes was $2,497 psf, compared with $1,685 psf for leasehold properties in 1Q 2020. This represented a 48.2% premium for freehold homes. 

Chart 2: Median prices ($psf) for 99-year leasehold and freehold non-landed private residential properties (1Q 2020 – 8M 2026)

By 8M 2026, however, this gap has narrowed sharply. The median price of new leasehold homes had risen to $2,544 psf, while new freehold homes stood at $2,724 psf, which works out to a much smaller difference of about 7.1%.

This narrowing gap could make freehold properties more compelling, if a buyer is considering new private homes based on current median PSF prices. And while freehold homes may still require a higher upfront outlay if they possess a larger floor size, the smaller price gap may still justify the premium needed for perpetual ownership.

More freehold private residential launches to come in 4Q 2026 (Landed homes included!) 

Heading into the final quarter of 2026, condo buyers looking for freehold ownership will still have at least one more option to look out for.

The Serra Residences, by Far East Organization, is currently slated for an October preview. Located along Bassein Road in the Novena area, the 133-unit development will offer two- to five-bedroom layouts, including penthouses, on the former Pastoral View condominium site.

Freehold tenure aside, The Serra Residences also stands out for its city-fringe location and nearby amenities. These include Novena MRT station, shopping malls such as Square 2, Velocity @ Novena Square and United Square, as well as healthcare facilities within the HealthCity Novena medical cluster.

Alternatively, buyers who are open to freehold landed properties can also consider Belgravia Ace by Tong Eng Group. Located in Seletar Hills, the development is set to relaunch in September 2026.

Comprising 107 freehold strata landed homes, Belgravia Ace offers a lower density living environment while remaining within easy reach of amenities such as The Seletar Mall, AMK Hub and Nex. Having obtained its Temporary Occupation Permit in April this year, the development also gives buyers a rare opportunity to secure a freehold landed home that is ready for immediate occupation.

Want to know more about these new launches or other freehold private residential opportunities? Contact your ERA Trusted Advisor today for the latest pricing and project details!