Property sales website PropertyGuru, which conducted an online questionnaire survey of more than 1,000 Singaporeans between June and July, found that 64 per cent of respondents intend to buy a property, with 45 per cent of them planning to do so in the next two years, up from 38 per cent in the first half of this year.

The survey also revealed that pre-purchased HDB flats remain the top choice for nationals; another 25 per cent want to buy resale HDB flats; and 15 per cent want to buy newly launched non-landed private homes.

PropertyGuru Singapore regional manager Tan Chee Kwan said that more nationals are planning to buy homes in the near future, probably because of the government's increased housing supply and the fact that about 100,000 private and pre-purchase HDB flats are expected to be completed in the next two years.

However, inflation, increased living expenses and property prices are the main factors affecting nationals' home purchases. More than half of the countrymen said they would defer their home-buying plans until inflation slows down.

Nearly 60 per cent will delay their home purchase plans if mortgage rates continue to rise. At the same time, if mortgage rates do not fall, about 30% said they would not sell their property for the time being.