Freehold vs Leasehold: The Tenure Myth

Everyone says freehold is the safer buy. Then why did 99-year condos grow 40% in five years, while freehold grew 25? Let's talk about what really matters. That's real transaction data. Median resale prices 2021 to 2026. Leasehold condos rose almost 40%. Freehold rose 25. Both grew, one grew faster. Here's one pair. A 99-year condo right on an MRT station grew 42%. A freehold deeper in with no train nearby grew 22%, nearly half. Why? Because buyers pay for daily life, the train to work, the mall downstairs, the school nearby. Usage is every single day. And here's the structural part. Much of our leasehold supply sits on prime connected land near stations and town centers. Many freehold pockets sit further in away from the action. To be fair, freehold still grew and where freehold land is truly scarce and demand is deep, it held pace. Tenure isn't worthless, it's just not first. So here's the pocket rule, holding under 10 years with plenty of lease left, Buy demand, location, transport schools. Tenure is a tiebreaker, not the screen. So stop filtering by tenure first. Start with how you'll live and who buys after you.