Short answer
To buy a shophouse in Singapore, define your use and budget, shortlist buildings, verify URA approved use and SLA tenure, survey the structure, review leases, confirm stamp duties and financing, then proceed to an option and completion with a lawyer. Commercial and conservation shophouses differ in rules and price.
Reviewed November 2026.
Buying steps
| Step | What to do | Authority / source |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Brief | Decide use: own business, rent out, or hold | Your adviser |
| 2. Shortlist | Review commercial and conservation shophouses for sale | Agents, portals |
| 3. Verify use | Confirm URA approved use and conservation status | URA |
| 4. Verify title | Check tenure and encumbrances | SLA, your lawyer |
| 5. Survey | Structural, party-wall and M&E survey | Qualified surveyor |
| 6. Tenancy | Review leases, rent and covenant | Seller documents |
| 7. Costs | Stamp duties, GST where applicable, legal fees | IRAS |
| 8. Finance | Confirm loan terms and servicing rules | Banks, MAS |
| 9. Complete | Option, exercise, completion | Your lawyer |
Commercial shophouse for sale vs residential shophouse for sale
A commercial shophouse for sale is zoned for commercial use such as F&B, retail or office, and is generally outside ABSD. A residential shophouse for sale is approved for residential use and is subject to residential-property rules, including ABSD and landed-property restrictions. Mixed-use buildings combine both, so confirm the approved use of each floor.
Conservation shophouse for sale in Singapore
Conservation shophouses sit within URA conservation areas, so façade and key features are protected and works need approval. This supports scarcity but adds restoration responsibility. Read our URA buyer manual before offering.
Sources and further reading
- URA – Urban Redevelopment Authority — REALIS, conservation guidelines, approved use
- IRAS – Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore — Stamp duties, ABSD, property tax, GST
- SLA – Singapore Land Authority — Land titles and tenure
- MAS – Monetary Authority of Singapore — Property loan rules
Figures and rules change; confirm current details with the source before transacting. See also all investment and market pages.