There is good news for Singaporeans who want to purchase flats as the Housing and Development Board (HDB) launched 3,739 flats for sale today in the first Build-to-Order (BTO) and Re-Offer of Balance Flats (ROF) exercise of 2019. This includes 3,162 BTO units and 577 ROF units across various towns/estates.
“This is the first tranche of 15,000 BTO flats to be launched in 2019. A wide selection of flats, ranging from 2-room Flexi to Three-Generation (3Gen) flats, is offered to meet the diverse housing needs of first-timers, second-timer families, multi-generation families, elderly and singles,” said HDB in the press release.
The 3,162 BTO flats on offer are spread across five projects. Three projects are in the non-mature towns of Jurong West and Sengkang, while another two are in the mature town of Kallang Whampoa.
The five projects are Boon Lay Glade, Jurong West Jewel, Fernvale Vines, Kallang Breeze and Towner Crest.
The prices of the flats range from SGD95,000 for a 2-room Flexi in the Boon Lay area to about SGD523,000 for a 4-room in Kallang Whampoa.
New HDB flats are priced with a generous subsidy, taking into account factors such as location, flat attributes and prevailing market conditions.
“Eligible first-timer families can enjoy up to SGD80,000 of housing grants, comprising the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) (up to SGD40,000) and the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) (up to SGD40,000),” said HDB.
“With these grants, flat buyers could pay as little as SGD15,000 for a 2-room Flexi flat, SGD110,000 for a 3-room flat, SGD197,000 for a 4-room flat, and SGD333,000 for a 5-room flat,” it added.
Priority will be given to the first-timer families in flat allocation. Married/courting couples who wish to live together with their parents can apply for a 3Gen flat in Jurong West or Sengkang. Applicants who wish to live close to their parents or married children in the same BTO project can submit a joint application under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS).
In addition to the BTO flats, HDB will also offer 577 unselected flats from the May 2018 Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise. They comprise 173 units of 2-room Flexi, 166 units of 3-room, 129 units of 4-room, 10 units of 5-room, 96 units of 3Gen and 3 units of executive flats across various towns/estates.
HDB will set aside at least 95 per cent of the flat supply for first-timer families and up to 5 per cent for second-timer families. Elderly may apply if they meet the prevailing eligibility conditions to buy a 2-room Flexi flat.
ROF flats come in a wide range of flat types, locations and selling prices. About 13 per cent are already completed and the rest are under construction. Eligible families with more urgent housing needs and/or who are less particular about location and attributes may wish to apply.
Application for new flats launched in the February 2019 BTO and ROF exercise can be submitted online on the HDB InfoWEB from today to February 18. However, they will only be able to take part in either the BTO or ROF exercise, not both.
Applicants who wish to take up an HDB housing loan for their flat purchase need to produce a valid HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter when they book a flat, except for young couples who are eligible for deferment of income assessment.
The next HDB flat launch will be in May. This exercise will offer about 3,400 flats in Kallang Whampoa, Tengah and Woodlands.