SINGAPORE - The Housing Development Board (HDB) launched 3,995 BTO flats today out of the 16,900 figure planned for this year.
This comprises of Studio Apartments (SAs), 2-room to 5-room flats, as well as Three-Generation (3Gen) flats to cater to first-timers, second-timers, multi-generation families, elderly and singles. These flats are located in the non-mature estates of Bukit Batok and Hougang, and the mature town of Geylang.
Starting from this exercise, flat applicants who intend to take out an HDB housing loan will also need to produce a valid HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter at the point of booking a flat.
Previously, home buyers only needed to produce the HLE letter four months after the booking, when they signed the Agreement for Lease.
This move helps flat buyers cushion any disappointment if they have to cancel their flat application due to insufficient purchasing funds.
First-time buyers can also make use of the Additional CPF Housing grant (AHG) and the Special CPF Housing Grant which are capped at $40,000 and $20,000 respectively.
These two grants will allow them to purchase 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-room flats from $13,000, $108,000, $220,000 and $340,000 respectively.
Eligible first-timer singles can apply for a 2-room flat in West Edge @ Bukit Batok, Buangkok ParkVista and Buangkok Tropica.
Married or courting couples who wish to live with their parents can apply for a 3Gen flat at West Rock @ Bukit Batok, West Edge @ Bukit Batok, MacPherson Spring, Buangkok ParkVista or Buangkok Tropica under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS).
HDB has set aside 15 per cent of any SAs, 2- and 3-room flats in this launch for parents who wish to apply for a flat under MGPS. The same number of 2-room and bigger flats will be set aside in the same BTO project for their married children.
Those who wish to apply can submit their applications online on the HDB Info WEB from today to Feb 17, Tuesday. Applicants are only allowed to apply for one flat type in one town.
The next launch will be in May. HDB will offer around 4.040 BTO flats in Clementi, Punggol North, Sembawang and Tampines. There will also be 4.000 to 5,000 flats up for a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats exercise.