SINGAPORE – At least 40 new private home sales, mostly in the prime districts, were inked on the evening of Feb 14, as some buyers rushed to bring forward their purchases before buyer’s stamp duties (BSD) are raised the next day, according to ERA Realty Network.

Sources from several property brokerages told The Straits Times that some condo buyers, following the Budget speech by Finance Minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday, were chasing sellers for options to purchase (OTPs) to be granted that very day to avoid higher BSD.