Buying Process · 2026
How to check a property's past transactions: a URA caveat guide
By Winfred Quek · 10 minute read · Last reviewed October 2026
Facts verified: October 2026 · Sources linked below
Key Takeaways
- • Private transaction records are held in URA REALIS, which requires a subscription; HDB resale transactions are published on data.gov.sg.
- • A caveat is a notice lodged with the Singapore Land Authority to register an interest in a property.
- • Compare on a per square foot basis and adjust for floor, facing, size and lease, not just the headline price.
- • Transaction records show the price paid, which can be compared with an asking price.
- • Recent sales are generally more relevant than older sales in a moving market.
Asking prices are not transaction prices. Transaction records show what was paid for comparable units. Singapore government agencies publish much of this data.
Where Do You Find Private Property Transaction Data?
For private residential property, the source is the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). URA publishes property price data, and individual private transaction records are available through its REALIS system, which requires a subscription.
Private transaction records typically show the following fields, depending on the source:
- The transacted price, what the buyer actually paid.
- The date of the transaction, where the source shows it.
- The area of the unit, usually in square metres and square feet.
- The floor band, often shown as a range rather than the exact storey, for privacy.
- The tenure, freehold or leasehold, and the project name.
From price and area you compute the price per square foot, the single most useful comparison metric. A $1.6M sale of a 900 square foot unit is roughly $1,778 per square foot; that number is comparable across units in a way a raw price is not.
Where Do You Find HDB Resale Transaction Data?
For HDB flats, data.gov.sg publishes resale flat transaction records, searchable by town, flat type, block and month. The data covers the resale price for each transaction.
HDB resale records typically show the town, the block, the flat type (3 room, 4 room, and so on), the floor area, the remaining lease, and the resale price.
| Property type | Official source | Key fields | URA property data (REALIS for individual transactions) | HDB flat | data.gov.sg resale flat transactions |
|---|
Check the data directly on the official portals linked below.
What Is a Caveat?
A caveat is a notice lodged with the Singapore Land Authority by a party with an interest in a property, typically the buyer, to register and protect that interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is URA transaction data free to access?
URA publishes property price data on its free property data pages. Individual private transaction records are held in its REALIS system, which requires a subscription.
FREE · 30 MINUTES · NO COMMITMENT
Have your shortlist checked against the transaction data
We run the URA caveat and HDB resale comparables for the units you are considering and tell you whether the asking price stands up. You leave with a defensible offer number.
Winfred Quek · CEA R073319H · Crestbrick
Related reading
- What is a caveat and why does it matter when buying?
- How long does it take to buy a condo in Singapore?
- Conveyancing in Singapore: what your property lawyer does
- Common mistakes that delay a property completion
Winfred Quek is an Associate Marketing Consultant at Crestbrick Pte Ltd, advising Singapore upgraders, investors, and family offices. CEA R073319H. The information on this page is general and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or mortgage advice.
How does this apply to your own numbers?
General rules only take you so far. What actually decides your move is your financing, your timeline, and what you already own. A Property Portfolio Analysis maps your real position, so you are deciding on your own figures rather than a rule of thumb.
Book a free 30 minute call WhatsApp Winfred