Eight things people say at showflats and family dinners. Some are true. Some will cost you six figures of borrowing power.
Finished the quiz? Here is the short version of every rule it tests. No peeking before you play.
Banks count about 3% of your outstanding card balance as a monthly debt. A S$10,000 balance uses S$300 a month of TDSR room, worth about S$63,000 of loan at 4% over 30 years. An unused card costs nothing, so closing it gains nothing.
For TDSR and MSR, banks must work out your instalment at a 4% medium-term rate floor, or the actual rate if higher. Your real repayment at a lower package rate is smaller, but the test decides how much you can borrow.
Bonus, commission, freelance income, rent and dividends count at 70%.
The 30% Mortgage Servicing Ratio applies to HDB flats and to Executive Condominiums bought directly from a developer. Private property is subject to TDSR only.
A S$1,200 monthly car instalment removes S$1,200 from your TDSR room, roughly S$251,000 of home loan at 4% over 30 years.
75% on a first housing loan, 45% on a second, 35% on a third. Each drops 5 points if the tenure exceeds 30 years (25 for HDB) or runs past age 65.
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bigcarrotlah@gmail.comEstimates based on MAS rules current in 2026. Individual banks apply their own credit assessment, and pledged assets, guarantors and income-weighted average age can change the outcome. Confirm with a bank or mortgage broker before committing.