The Business Times
business-time-50
THE LEVEL GROUND
·
SUBSCRIBERS

Migrants key to Singapore private housing’s long-term health amid low births

More foreigners becoming PRs and citizens can support demand for private homes

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
Leslie Yee

Leslie Yee

Published Mon, Mar 16, 2026 · 11:56 AM
阅读简体中文版 (beta)
    • The low birth rate among residents and an ageing population pose challenges for the private housing market.
    • The low birth rate among residents and an ageing population pose challenges for the private housing market. PHOTO: BT FILE

    [SINGAPORE] Amid wars raging, buyers snapped up 90 per cent of the units – 410 out of 455 in total – at GuocoLand’s River Modern in the River Valley area during the 99-year leasehold condo project’s launch on Mar 7. The average selling price was S$3,266 per square foot.

    Aided by low interest rates, housing demand in safe haven Singapore is resilient. Still, while homebuyers appear unfazed by war, should they fear the acute shortage of babies?

    In 2025, the resident total fertility rate per female hit a record low of 0.87 based on a preliminary figure. The total fertility rate was 1.24 in 2015, and 0.97 in 2024.

    Singapore residential propertyprivate home salesResidentialimmigrantsbirth rateDemographicsFertilityThe Level Ground

    TRENDING NOW

    Longest-serving chief minister Taib Mahmud’s legacy looms large over Sarawak as a family feud over his estate threatens to expose skeleton’s in the eastern state’s political closet.

    On the board but frozen out: The Taib family feud tearing Sarawak construction giant apart

    Thailand’s target is to export seven million tonnes of rice globally in 2026, but the Middle East war has turned the world topsy-turvy with supply disruptions, high oil prices and economic uncertainty.

    Thai and Vietnamese farmers may stop planting rice because of the Iran war. Here’s why

    Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Tan Kiat How said the government is working with partners who have access to Anthropic's Mythos to understand its capabilities.

    MAS convenes bank CEOs over AI cyberthreats; boards told to own risks, not leave to IT teams

    Electric vehicles and the changed dynamics of mainstream and luxury car segments mean Certificates of Entitlement should not be used to classify cars.

    Is it time to scrap COE categories for cars? 

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More