A) Housing and Development Board (HDB)
Singapore is known for having real estate properties by the Housing and Development Board (HDB), with 80% of the population of Singapore comprising the owners of this flats. Only citizens of Singapore and permanent residents are allowed to purchase HDB flats. Below is the classification of the HDB flats, with the living room considered as one of the rooms. For more information on the Housing and Development Board, please visit the HDB website.

- 2 Rm (2-room HDB Flat). 1 bedroom with a floor area of about 45 sq m or 485 sq ft.
- 3 Rm (3-room HDB Flat). 2 bedrooms with a floor area of about 70 sq m or 754 sq ft.
- 4 Rm (4-room HDB Flat). 3 bedrooms with a floor area of about 90 sq m or 969 sq ft.
- 5 Rm (5-room HDB Flat). 3 bedrooms with a floor area of about 110 sq m or 1,184 sq ft.
- EA (Executive Apartment). 3/4 bedrooms with floor area of about 150 sq m or 1,615 sq ft.
- EM (Executive Mansionette). Same as Executive apartment, except it has two levels.
- 6 Rm (6 room HDB Flat). Jumbo flat joined by two 3-room flats

B) Condominium / Private Apartment
Condominiums and apartments have varied sizes and locations, each according to the design of the owner. They have good quality furnishings, landscaping, parking for tenants, recreational facilities including a clubhouse, gym, playground for kids, tennis and squash courts, sometimes even a golf course. They also have round-the-clock security surveillance, home automated systems, and intercom systems. They offer studio units, one-bedroom units up to four-bedroom units, and penthouses, with areas ranging from 500 square feet to 8000 square feet.

- Apartment – small houses built side by side with each other with a common for parking and such.
- Condo (Condominiums) - an apartment with recreational facilities.
- Duplex - an apartment divided into two, with separate entrances
- HiRise (High rise Apartment) - Apartments with no facilities
- LoRise (Low rise Apartment) - Apartments with no facilities
- Mansionette – an apartment with two levels, or double storey. 
- Penthouse – the biggest unit in a condo or apartment block that is usually found on the top floor.
- TownHouse – a house with a lot share that shares the same compound or facilities (if any).
- Walk Up - a low rise apartment without a lift, have to walk up using the stairs.

C) Landed Property
The regular landed property in Singapore is known for its private gardens and garages. It is quite hard for a foreigner to own a private residence in Singapore, with all the restrictions and approvals that they need to get. Kindly visit the website of Singapore Land Authority for more information.

- Bungalow. A single house, with no other separate house attachments surrounded by a fence.
- Semi-Detached. A pair of houses joined together by its side.
- Inter Terrace (Intermediate Terrace House). A row of houses in a chain, joined side to side
- Corner Terrace (Corner Terrace House). The last house in the row of houses of a terrace house

D) Others
- Colonial House: a bungalow type of house built before the war during the British colonial times.
- Conservation House: a Shop House which is destined to be conserved
- Black and White House: A house made during the pre-war British colonial times, painted with white external walls and black wood supports.
- Heritage House: A house designed to reflect Asian heritage and culture, predominantly with Balinese highlights. This house is most preferred by expatriates.

Billy Chen
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