Buying a condo in Singapore isn’t just about getting a roof over your head—it’s a decision that can either set you up for decades of wealth building or lock you into years of regret.
Yet too many buyers still rely on hearsay, glossy brochures, or a friend’s “gut feeling.” That’s why so many end up stuck with properties that underperform.
This playbook is your antidote to guesswork.
It reveals the eleven powerful, research-backed factors that consistently separate winning condos from losing ones.
We’ve distilled insights from thousands of transactions across multiple market cycles into one simple framework that you can apply right away.
Inside, you’ll discover how to avoid costly mistakes that trap your capital, identify the condos most buyers will fight for in the future, and ensure your next home isn’t just a place to live—but an asset that grows alongside you.
Here’s what you’ll uncover:
Project Density: Large-scale developments create stronger transaction momentum and visibility in the resale market.
Healthy Mix of Units: A balanced spread of 2- and 3-bedroom units attracts families and broadens your resale pool.
Facilities & Maintenance: Full, well-maintained facilities with reasonable maintenance fees enhance community living and sustain resale value.
Transaction Volume: High, consistent, profitable turnover signals liquidity, confidence, and resale strength.
Proximity to Reputable Schools: Being within 1–2 km of SAP, Autonomous, or GEP schools ensures consistent demand from family buyers.
Everyday Essentials Triangle: Connectivity, affordable groceries, and local eateries — all within 800m. These everyday conveniences sustain long-term demand.
Lease Lifespan Effect: Avoid condos with 30–60 years left on lease. Use the Lease Lifespan Formula to ensure financing eligibility and resale liquidity.
URA Master Plan: Understand how future zoning, infrastructure, and transformation plans (e.g., new MRT lines, business hubs, green corridors) can drive price uplift.
HDB Upgrader Pool: Analyse nearby HDB clusters and MOP timelines to identify the upgrader demand that will fuel resale prices.
Quantum Play: Ensure the price quantum fits. Align unit type and price range to match the core demand base.
Stack Advantage: Even within a good project, not all stacks perform equally. Factors like facing, layout, and view matter for exit value.
Take a peek
Take a peek
If you think property appreciation is about luck or timing, this playbook will show you the exact science behind why some condos soar while others stagnate.
Who is this playbook for?
This playbook is written for:
HDB upgraders looking to make their first private property purchase.
Families who want both a comfortable home and a smart financial asset.
Busy professionals who want to cut through the noise and focus on data-backed strategies.
Investors who want to avoid costly mistakes and build a portfolio that holds its value.
If you want your next condo to be more than just a home—also to be an appreciating asset—this playbook is for you.
We are Ben and Vann, a husband-and-wife team and the founders of CapStacked.
Beyond being Singapore realtors, we are homeowners, investors, and parents. We know what it means to balance lifestyle choices with financial goals—because we’ve lived it ourselves.
Ben Tan is a seasoned investor who has built a 7-figure portfolio through disciplined stock investing and data-driven analysis. With an MBA and a career at Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, he has led growth programmes that helped partners scale efficiently. He now applies those same capital allocation principles to real estate investing, helping clients optimise their portfolios across both stocks and property.
Vann Lim has over six years of experience in risk management at leading tech firms including Airbnb, Meta, and TikTok. She specialises in identifying and mitigating risks — a skill she brings to real estate, focusing on low-risk, high-reward investments backed by strong fundamentals.
Together, we’ve helped ordinary HDB upgraders become property millionaires—all by applying the same strategies in this playbook.
Case Study 1: Darren & Pei Wen
Darren and Pei Wen were ready to upgrade from their HDB, but they had one major concern—their 4-year-old son’s primary school admission. Pei Wen was an alumna of a reputable school and knew that being within 1 km would significantly increase their son’s chances of getting in.
Using the 11-factor framework, we guided them to a resale condo that not only sat within the 1 km radius of their school of choice, but also met the Everyday Essentials Triangle.
This meant the condo was not just strategically located for school access but also highly desirable for future resale.
Result: Within 4 years, their property appreciated by over $220,000. More importantly, their son secured a spot in the school they had set their hearts on. The family gained both financial upside and peace of mind.
Case Study 2: Jun Hao & Siew Ling
Jun Hao and Siew Ling almost committed to a boutique development that looked attractive on the surface.
But after running the project through our framework—particularly the transaction volume and the Lease Lifespan Formula—it became clear that the numbers didn’t add up. The risks of limited demand and shrinking buyer pools were too high.
Instead, we helped them pivot to a larger development with stronger fundamentals—one that had healthy transaction momentum, a balanced mix of units, and stronger long-term demand.
Result: Their condo went on to become one of the most transacted projects in its district, ensuring strong resale liquidity and buyer interest.
By avoiding the boutique project, they sidestepped a potential $200,000 loss and secured a property that grows in both value and desirability.
Every condo purchase is a fork in the road: one path leads to future regret, the other to future wealth. The difference lies in whether you know these eleven factors—or ignore them.
Here’s the reality: one wrong move could set you back five to ten years in your wealth journey.
That’s not just numbers—it’s the school you can’t afford for your child, the retirement you have to delay, or the opportunities you miss while trying to recover.
Don’t gamble with the biggest financial decision of your life. Arm yourself with the same framework that has helped countless families buy smarter, live better, and sell stronger.
Download the free playbook now—and make sure your next condo takes you forward, not backwards.
