Things to note for purchasing shophouses

1) Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are eligible to buy residential-zoned shophouses. Foreigners will need to get approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) to acquire the property for residential-zoned shophouses.

2) Singaporeans, Permanent Residents are Foreigners will not need to get the LDAU’s approval when purchasing a commercial shophouse.

3) If you buy a shophouse with mixed commercial and residential use, the residential component will be subject to ABSD

4) While this Gazetted conservation status of a shophouse makes it a draw for investors as it is a stamp of rarity, it is a double-edged sword.
Different districts have different regulations on what you can or cannot do to the building. Shophouses in the Historic Districts are in the oldest locations in Singapore — Boat Quay, Chinatown, Kampong Glam and Little India — and must be retained and restored in their entirety.