Loan tenure is the period over which a loan is repaid, and together with the amount borrowed and the interest rate it determines both the size of each monthly instalment and the total interest paid.
Key takeaways
- For the same amount borrowed, a longer tenure means a smaller monthly payment but a higher total interest bill.
- An HDB concessionary loan runs for up to 25 years; a bank loan runs for up to 30 years on an HDB flat and up to 35 years on private residential property.
- The lowest Loan-to-Value limit applies where the tenure exceeds 30 years — or 25 years for an HDB flat — or where the loan period runs past the borrower’s age of 65.
- Tenure is one of the factors a lender weighs in setting the LTV granted, alongside existing loans and credit facilities and the instalment as a share of gross monthly income.
- Tenure appears on the property loan fact sheet along with the total repayment amount and the repayment schedule.
How tenure changes the numbers
Stretching a loan over more years spreads the principal across more instalments, so each payment is smaller. It also leaves a balance outstanding for longer, so interest accrues for more periods and the total repaid is larger. A shorter tenure inverts both effects: a heavier monthly commitment, but less interest overall.
Maximum tenures on Singapore home loans
- HDB concessionary loan — up to 25 years
- Bank loan on an HDB flat — up to 30 years
- Bank loan on private residential property — up to 35 years
Tenure and the LTV limit
Tenure feeds directly into how much can be borrowed. Where the loan tenure exceeds 30 years, or 25 years for an HDB flat, or where the loan period extends beyond the borrower’s age of 65, the lowest LTV limit in the band applies — 55% instead of 75% for a borrower with no other outstanding housing loan, and lower again where housing loans are already outstanding.
Key loan tenure figures
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Maximum tenure — HDB concessionary loan | 25 years |
| Maximum tenure — bank loan on an HDB flat | 30 years |
| Maximum tenure — bank loan on private property | 35 years |
| Tenure trigger for the lowest LTV limit | over 30 years (25 for HDB flats) |
| Age trigger for the lowest LTV limit | loan running past age 65 |
Figures as at 2026. Source: MoneySense.
Worked example
A SGD 90,000 car loan at 2.5% p.a. on a flat rate costs SGD 1,687.50 a month over five years, with SGD 11,250 of interest. Stretched to seven years the monthly payment drops to SGD 1,258.93, but the interest rises to SGD 15,750 — SGD 4,500 more for the same amount borrowed.
Related terms
All Singapore glossary terms →Related calculator
Compare monthly repayments and total interest across different loan tenures.
This page is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice. All figures and worked examples are estimates for illustrative purposes, are subject to change, and do not reflect any individual’s circumstances. Always refer to MoneySense and seek independent professional advice before making any financial decisions.