Application for HDB Build-To-Order Flats in Singapore

It can be quite jittery for first time home buyers in Singapore, especially young couples applying for BTO flats. Here is a list of steps you can take before making your application.

1. Check your income eligibility. Check if you're eligible to apply for BTO based on your combined monthly gross income. BTO applications have a current income ceiling of $8,000, but the Government is studying the possibility of increasing it to $10,000. This just means there's more people vying for a limited supply of flats. :(

2. Subscribe to HDB alerts. HDB will inform you via email and/or SMS (depending on your preference) on the upcoming BTO launches and the application period.

3. Check out the launches, not just for that month, but also in the subsequent months where available, so you can make a more informed choice. In the month of April, there were launches in Sengkang, Punggol, Hougang and Woodlands. Then in May, there's Pasir Ris, Tampines, Punggol and Woodlands coming up.

4. Check out the location of the site, best is if you can do a recce of the place personally. Be sure to check out the nearest amenities and public transport available. Most BTO sites are located far from the city, so accessibility becomes a key concern.

5. Look at the number of flats supplied for each launch. We all know that BTO flats are highly popular and often oversubscribed. The number of flats offered may be one of your considerations to help increase your chance of getting the flat.

6. Decide on what size of flats you want. Depending on your future needs, you may choose to apply for SA (studio apartment), 2R, 3R, 4R or 5R flats. Not every BTO launch can accommodate all the sizes.

7. Check out the price range of the flats. This can be found on the HDB website. For the flats at Sengkang, the price ranges between $280,000 and $370,000 for a 4-room flat.

8. Take a virtual tour of the flats. From the video, it seems that the new flats are really small compared to current resale flats.

9. Different BTO sites offer either standard or premium flats. Standard flats come with minimal fittings in kitchen and bathrooms. In other areas, floor tiles are excluded. Premium flats are fitted with quality finishes so you don't need to spend so much on renovations. Obviously, you need to pay more for premium flats, about $20,000 more or so.

10. Read through the financing schemes/loans/grants applicable to you. It's cheaper to get a HDB loan at a much lower interest rate than getting a bank loan. With a HDB loan, you need to pay 10% downpayment using your CPF and/or cash.

11. Check your CPF account to see how much you have in your CPF that can be used for downpayment.

12. Use the loan calculator function to see how much of the remaining amount you need to pay by instalments.

13. You can check the demand for the flats once the application period begins. Based the April launches, the flats in Punggol were 6-7x oversubscribed and those in Sengkang/Hougang were about 2-3x oversubscribed.

When you're finally ready to apply, you need to

1. Visit HDB website to apply.

2. In the application form, check 'co-applicant' if your SO (significant other) is co-paying for the flat. 'Occupier' means your SO will be residing in the same flat, but not required to co-pay for it.

3. If you and your SO are not married yet, choose the fiance/fiancee option under the drop down. Don't write anything in the 'spouse' box.

4. After you're done with the application, proceed to pay $10 admin fee. This admin fee applies to every single time you make a new application.

5. Finally, wait and hope you are successful in the balloting exercise. Typically it takes about 3 weeks or so for the results to be announced. You can check the application results here.

Good luck! :)

Source by Belinda Foo