"I'll think about it when I'm ready."

It's a phrase many of us in our 20s say - especially when it comes to buying a home. And honestly? It makes sense. Between figuring out your career, navigating adulthood, and maybe even still living with your parents, property feels like a later thing.

But here's the part no one tells you:

If you wait until you feel ready, you might already be too late.

In Singapore's ever-evolving housing market, your first home isn't something you stumble into - it's something you prepare for. Even if you're not buying today, the decisions you don't make now could cost you your options, your confidence, and even your dream home later.

This isn't an article about buying a house right now.

It's about recognising that everyone has to start somewhere - and why now is actually the smartest time to do just that.

Here's some of the points we will unpack:

Still think you're not ready?

Let's take a deeper look - your future self will thank you for it.

Here's the irony: most people only realise they're late when it starts to hurt.

By the time you're "ready" - emotionally, financially, mentally - the market may have shifted. Prices may have gone up. Loan rules may have changed. Your eligibility for that dream BTO or executive Condo? It might no longer apply.

That's the tricky part about property in Singapore. The system rewards those who prepare early, not just those who can afford it. It is all about having a strong first home strategy. So while you might think you're years away from needing to worry, what you do - or don't do - today quietly determines the options you'll have tomorrow.

Think of it like planting a tree.

You don't wait until you need shade before you plant one. You plant it years ahead - and the ones who do? They're the ones sitting comfortably while others scramble in the sun.

Now, ask yourself this:

Do you want to be the one leading - or the one catching up?

We often follow trends. We watch others buy, then start exploring ourselves. But by the time a move becomes "mainstream," the prices have already adjusted. The golden window has quietly closed.

Take a simple example:

A private property that cost $1,000,000 twenty years ago? Today, it's easily worth more than $2,000,000. A HDB that cost $230,000 is $640,000 twenty years later. That's not a fluke - that's the trajectory. Property values in Singapore have consistently risen, and while they may be ups and downs in the short term, the long-term direction is clear.

So if you think waiting means you're playing it safe, think again.

What you're really doing is letting the value of your money shrink while the price of what you want keeps growing.

Planning ahead doesn't mean rushing in.

It means choosing to be ahead of the curve - rather than behind it.

We often think planning starts when you hit some invisible milestone - a certain salary, a relationship status, or a magical feeling of "readiness." But here's the truth: no one ever feels 100% ready. Not even the people who've already bought their first home.

Maybe you've seen a friend post about collecting keys to their BTO, or heard of someone your age buying a condo. And you wonder, "How did they even get there?"

The answer might surprise you - most of them didn't start with a full plan or perfect finances. In fact, my friends who have become homeowners didn't even know what they were doing exactly. They just started.

The common thread?

They didn't wait for perfect conditions. They took small steps - asking questions, exploring showflats, budgeting for the first time, attending seminars - long before any property was in sight.

And the earlier they began, the more prepared they were when the opportunity came knocking.

In fact, not knowing is exactly why you should start early. Because the sooner you begin exploring, asking questions, and mapping things out, the more time you have to make informed, confident decisions later.

"Clarity comes from movement, not from waiting."

Even if your CPF feels like a mystery, your savings aren't quite there, or you don't know your ABSD from your TDSR - that's okay. Everyone starts from confusion. But those who take one small step now will find themselves five steps ahead later.

Waiting feels safe. It feels responsible.

"I'll save more first."

"Let's just wait for prices to drop more."

"Interest rates will probably drop even further right?"

These sound like logical, sensible reasons to pause. But here's what most people don't realise:

Waiting passively comes with its own price - and it's often more expensive than taking strategic action.

Take a closer look at Singapore's property trends, and a clear pattern emerges.

The longer people wait without a clear plan, the more they end up chasing the market. What seems unaffordable today often slips even further out of reach - not because the property changed, but because prices steadily climbed while they hesitated.

And it's happening across the board: Resale HDB flats, new launch condos, Executive Condominiums - each hitting record-breaking highs year after year.

Then there's inflation - the slow, silent eraser of your savings. Every year, your money loses value. So even if you're diligently putting money aside, that pot is quietly shrinking in purchasing power. Without actively growing your finances, the home that feels out of reach today may feel even more unaffordable five years from now.

That's why our deputy CEO, Kelvin Fong advocates the SAUE principle:

Save - Accumulate - Upgrade - Enjoy

Notice it doesn't say "Save and Wait." It says Save and Accumulate, meaning you're actively growing your resources while waiting for the right moment.

In Kelvin's approach, "Save" means saving into a property, not just parking your money in a bank. It's about channelling your income into an asset that works for you over time - be it through regular mortgage payments or smart entry into the market.

Waiting should never be passive. "Accumulate" means you're actively growing your resources while preparing to upgrade. Many people think they're playing it safe by sitting on the sidelines, but in reality? They're quietly falling behind.

"By the time it feels right, the best window may already be gone."

This isn't about rushing into a purchase. It's about recognising that time isn't neutral. It either works for you, or it works against you. And with the right strategy, even your waiting period can be a wealth-building one.

Here's the part most people don't realise - you don't need to buy a property to start preparing for one.

In fact, the smartest thing you can do in your 20s is to use this time to gather knowledge, build habits, and gain clarity. These aren't grand moves. They're small, simple actions that can snowball into serious readiness later.

So, what can you actually do now?

1. Understand the landscape

Get familiar with the essentials: What's the difference between an Executive Condo and a private condo? Should you consider resale or new launches, leasehold or freehold? What exactly is a BTO, and are you eligible?

It might seem overwhelming at first, but knowing these basics puts you ahead of the curve, empowering you to make smarter decisions when the time comes.

2. Know your numbers

You don't have to buy right now to start crunching numbers. Use affordability calculators to gauge what you can comfortably manage, check your CPF balances to understand your resources, and get familiar with loan terms like TDSR and MSR. Understanding your financial standing early removes the guesswork - and puts you firmly in control of your future property decisions.

3. Start saving - strategically

Saving for a home isn't about passively setting money aside and hoping it'll be enough for your dream home one day. It's about taking intentional steps - consistently saving, automating your finances, and actively finding ways to grow your resources. Remember what we mentioned earlier: Save, Accumulate, Upgrade, Enjoy. It's a mindset shift - from waiting to preparing. Because every dollar you save intentionally today lays the groundwork for future growth, upgrades, and eventually, the lifestyle you aspire to.

4. Build financial hygiene

Check your credit score. Clear unnecessary debt. Build an emergency fund. These steps may not win likes on Instagram, but they form the crucial foundation you'll need to secure financing confidently when it's your time to buy.

5. Speak to a PropNex Advisor

Planning doesn't have to be a solo journey. PropNex agents aren't just there to help you transact - they're trained to guide you through the entire thought process, even if you're years away from buying. Whether it's breaking down your affordability, walking you through CPF usage, or simply answering your "silly questions," having someone in your corner makes a world of difference.

"Your first property decision shouldn't start with panic - it should start with a plan."

Because when opportunity knocks, it's those who've quietly prepared who get to open the door with confidence.

Let's flip the question.

We've talked about what happens when you do start planning early. But what if you don't?

What if you keep putting it off until you "feel ready"?

What if you wait until everyone around you starts buying, then scramble to catch up?

What if your dream home shows up - perfect location, great price, near your future kid's school - but you're not ready to act?

Here's the tough truth:

The cost of not planning often doesn't hit you all at once. It shows up slowly, as missed chances.

You may not even realise what you've lost - until it's too late to get it back.

Maybe it's watching prices climb while your savings can't keep pace.

Or maybe it's settling for a second-best option, not because you wanted to - but because it's the only one left.

And the worst part? You might end up making rushed decisions out of panic and FOMO, not clarity. That's when real regrets start to form.

"Planning gives you time to think. Waiting forces you to react."

We're not saying buy a house tomorrow. But by choosing not to plan, you leave your future self scrambling - and paying the price for decisions you didn't make.

If I could go back and tell my 23-year-old self one thing, it would be this:

"Start thinking about your future home now - not because you need to buy immediately, but because one day you'll wish you had more options. Planning doesn't tie you down. It sets you free."

And if you're in your 20s reading this, just know - you're not behind, and you don't need to have it all figured out. But starting early, even with small steps, makes all the difference. I promise, your future self will thank you.

Let's be real - no one expects you to have it all figured out in your 20s.

But here's the thing: you don't need to.

You just need to start.

Start by learning. Start by asking questions. Start by getting curious about how the system works and what's possible for you. Because every small step you take - understanding your CPF, exploring housing options, speaking to someone who's been there - is a seed planted for the future.

"Confidence doesn't come from knowing everything - it comes from knowing enough to take the next step."

This is about being ahead of your peers or racing to buy a home.

It's about building a life on your own terms - one smart, intentional step at a time.

So, don't wait until you're 'ready.'

Get ready - now.

Your dream home isn't built in a day.

It's built in the choices you make long before the keys are in your hand.

And if you're in your 30s, 40s, or beyond - it's never too late to start. The best time to plant the seed may have been yesterday, but the second-best time is still today.

That's why we created the Property Wealth System (PWS) - not to push you into buying, but to give you a safe space to learn, explore, and map out your future. Whether you're years away from your first home or just starting to consider it, attending PWS at least once in your lifetime is something you'll thank yourself for. It's not just about buying property - it's about gaining clarity on what's possible, setting a benchmark for your future decisions, and understanding the steps you can take even before you feel ready.

It's not just about property. It's about perspective. Once you see what's possible, you'll start moving with purpose - not pressure.

Learn more about PWS here - because planning ahead isn't pressure. It's power.