Singapore Property Auctions Hit Five-Year High of 292 in H1 2026 as Mortgagee Sales Surge 30.9%

Of the 292 properties listed for auction in the first half of 2026, 74 per cent were mortgagee sales, totalling 216 properties and representing a 30.9 per cent increase from the second half of 2025. Owner sales accounted for 18.2 per cent at 53 properties, down by 14 from the previous half. The remainder comprised court auctions, trustee sales, strata title management committee sales and liquidation company sales.

Chen Ziping, head of auctions and sales at ETC, said the increase in mortgagee sales in the first half was mainly due to the overall tightening of the financing environment, including loan standards, review processes and compliance requirements, as well as rising borrowing costs over the past one to two years.

Owner sales continued to decline because the resale market remained stable, allowing borrowers to recover through forced collection and sell on the open market instead. “Overall, this trend reflects a market that remains healthy and selective, rather than a sign of market distress,” she said.

Among all property types, residential properties made up the largest share at 49.3 per cent. Industrial properties accounted for 29.8 per cent, followed by retail at 15.8 per cent, office at 3.8 per cent and shophouses at 1.4 per cent.

Separately, Knight Frank observed a similar upward trend. According to its data, 157 properties were put up for auction in the second quarter, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of increase. Including the first quarter’s 148 properties, a total of 305 properties were listed for auction in the first half of 2026.

In the first half of the year, 13 residential and industrial properties were successfully auctioned, with transaction volumes similar to the second half of last year and total transaction value reaching S$27.67 million.

In the second quarter, 109 properties listed were mortgagee sales and another 32 were owner sales. Nine properties were successfully sold at auction. Excluding one court auction where the transaction price was not disclosed, the remaining properties fetched a total of S$14 million, translating to a success rate of 5.7 per cent.

Chen Zhiqun, head of auctions and sales at Knight Frank, said that successfully auctioned properties included both residential and industrial assets. Buyers were primarily seeking value-for-money properties, while business owners were looking to purchase premises for their operations.

“Despite economic uncertainty and continued geopolitical tensions, the overall property auction market environment remains cautious, with buyers being more selective. However, value-driven demand remains significant,” said Chen Ziping. “Buyers are mainly seeking properties at lower entry prices, with redevelopment potential, or those that can be used immediately.”

She predicts the auction market will remain stable in the second half of 2026, with total transaction values rising steadily. However, macroeconomic and geopolitical factors may keep buyers cautious, potentially suppressing growth in transaction volumes.