Best Condo in Singapore? How to Judge One, With Dated Examples (2026)
There is no single best condo in Singapore, only the best one for you. Eight criteria that matter, a simple scorecard, and dated examples of condos that illustrate each one.
Search for the best condo in Singapore and you will find plenty of lists, each ranking projects on its own terms. The honest answer is that there is no single best condo, only the best condo for a particular buyer, budget and plan. A family with two primary-school children, a single professional and an investor would each pick differently, and all three could be right.
This guide gives you a framework instead: eight criteria that separate good condos from ordinary ones, a scorecard you can use at any showflat or viewing, and dated examples of projects that illustrate each criterion. None of this is a ranking. The examples are based on publicly reported information as at September 2026.
Eight criteria for the best condo in Singapore
Information is accurate as of September 2026; examples are illustrations, not rankings.
1. Location and transport
Walking time to an MRT station matters more than any single facility, both for daily life and for future buyers. Integrated developments, with a station, mall or bus interchange downstairs, take this furthest. Examples include Watertown, above Waterway Point and linked to Punggol MRT (992 units, completed 2017, according to EdgeProp), Sengkang Grand Residences with Sengkang Grand Mall and a bus interchange, and Parktown Residence in Tampines North, integrated with a mall and a future Cross Island Line station. Our condo near MRT guide explains how to measure “near”, and our integrated condo list covers more examples.
2. Price against comparables
A good condo at the wrong price is a poor buy. Compare the psf and quantum of similar units nearby over the last 12 months. For instance, Watertown averaged about S$1,733 psf over the 12 months to September 2026 on EdgeProp, while Parktown Residence was later reported at an average of about S$2,484 psf as a new launch. The gap reflects age and lease as much as quality. Our psf explainer shows how to compare fairly.
3. Tenure and age
Freehold and newer 99-year condos hold up better on CPF usage and financing than old leasehold ones. Leedon Green in District 10, a freehold project of 638 units completed in 2023, averaged about S$2,880 psf over the past 12 months on EdgeProp: tenure and a prime location both carry a price. See our freehold condo guide.
4. Layouts and efficiency
Two units with the same area can live very differently. Look for regular room shapes, limited wasted space in corridors, AC ledges and voids, and storage that fits your family. Our floor plan guide covers what to check.
5. Developer track record
Look at the developer’s completed projects: build quality, defect handling and how estates have aged. Industry awards are one signal among many. EdgeProp reported, for example, that Piermont Grand in Punggol won the Top Executive Condominium award at the EdgeProp Excellence Awards 2023. Visit completed projects by the same developer if you can.
6. Facilities and running costs
Larger developments can offer more facilities and spread fixed costs over more units, while boutique projects offer privacy but may have higher fees per unit. Ask about maintenance fees and the sinking fund before you commit; our maintenance fee guide explains how they are set.
7. Evidence of buyer demand
Strong sales at launch, or steady resale transactions, suggest the market values a project. Pinery Residences in Tampines West sold about 92.5% of its 588 units on its March 2026 launch weekend at an average of about S$2,546 psf, according to EdgeProp, and the EC Rivelle Tampines was reported fully sold within a month of its end-March 2026 launch. Demand is a useful signal but not proof of value; popular launches can still be priced high.
8. Fit with your household
This decides everything else. Schools within 1 km, room for parents, a home office, or a unit you could rent out later: write down your must-haves before visiting a showflat. Our new launch vs resale guide helps if you are upgrading from an HDB flat.
A simple scorecard for any condo
| Criterion | What to check | Weight for you (1–3) |
|---|---|---|
| Transport | Minutes to the MRT on foot, lines served, future lines | |
| Price | psf and quantum vs similar units nearby, last 12 months | |
| Tenure and age | Freehold or years of lease left; CPF and loan impact | |
| Layout | Room shapes, usable area, storage, facing | |
| Developer | Completed projects, defect handling | |
| Running costs | Maintenance fee, sinking fund, facilities you will use | |
| Demand | Launch take-up or resale volume | |
| Fit | Schools, work, family, plans for 5–15 years |
Weight each criterion, score each project out of five, and multiply. The total will not be perfect, but it forces an honest comparison and stops a beautiful showflat from doing the deciding. Bring our showflat checklist along.
Common mistakes when hunting for the best condo
- Trusting rankings. Lists of the “best” condos rarely match your budget and commute.
- Comparing psf across unit sizes. Small units carry higher psf; compare like with like.
- Ignoring the lease. A cheaper old leasehold unit can cost more in the long run.
- Forgetting the full cost. Stamp duty, legal fees and renovation add up. See our cost of owning a condo guide.
How LinkTown Residences measures up
Applying the same criteria to LinkTown Residences (Hougang Central Residences), with the caveat that prices, layouts and facilities are not yet released:
- Transport: planned direct link to Hougang MRT on the North-East Line, set to become an NEL–CRL interchange around 2030, with a new bus interchange on site.
- Price: analysts expect about S$2,500 to S$2,600 psf, an estimate only, in line with recent OCR integrated launches and well above older Hougang resale condos such as Regentville (about S$1,128 psf, 12-month average on EdgeProp, September 2026).
- Tenure: 99-year leasehold, as for all GLS sites.
- Developers: a joint venture of CapitaLand Development (50%), UOL Group (40%) and Kheng Leong (10%), with the mall owned by CICT.
- Fit: suited to buyers who want to stay in the north-east with an interchange and mall downstairs; less suited to those who need freehold or the lowest psf.
Related guides: Woodsvale, Executive Condominium Singapore, Price of EC in Singapore.
Our LinkTown Residences review sets out the pros and cons in full.
Examples are based on publicly reported information (EdgeProp project pages and news) as at September 2026, are not a ranking, and may differ from other sources. LinkTown Residences prices are analyst estimates; launch is expected in early 2027 (UOL’s August 2026 results guide a 2H 2027 launch). Published by an independent licensed salesperson, not the developer.
