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Hey Zesties๐
I've been seeing some #bto posts on Lemon8 and it inspired me to share my own story and to provide some tips & tricks to those who are still trying to get a BTO flat!
So yes, I really tried 8 times to secure a BTO flat with my partner and since #hdb releases 4 launches per year, it basically took us 2 years to secure our flat๐ข
We first started trying in Aug 2020 and tried every single quarter until we secured my flat in May 2022, and the project we eventually secured was a PLH (Prime Location Housing) Flat called Ghim Moh Ascent in Buona Vista!
So some tips on how to secure your BTO based on my experience:
โจ๏ธ๐ญ. ๐๐ป๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐โจ๏ธ
We were very firm on wanting to stay in a more centrally located place and were initially against the idea of a PLH flat due to the lengthier MOP period and the subsidy recovery. However, after we tried multiple times and failed to secure a unit, we re-evaluated our priorities and eventually balloted for a PLH unit.
โจ๏ธ๐ฎ. ๐๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฑโจ๏ธ
HDB shows the daily updated application rates so if you're a first timer, you can just check the first timers application rate nearer to the end of the application period and opt for the one with the lowest application rate so you have the highest chance of securing a unit!
โจ๏ธ๐ฏ. ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ผ๐ป-๐บ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ ๐๐ป๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐น๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ปโจ๏ธ
On our 6th try, we really wanted to secure a unit so we tried for a non-mature estate, Tengah, in Nov 2021 and got a queue no. of approx. 3x the no. of units available๐ญ. We thought there was no hope as we did not hear any news until around Aug 2022 when we suddenly got an appointment slot (for leftover low-floor units๐ ). We didn't go to the appointment for that application since we had continued to apply for subsequent launches and had gotten a queue no. for our May 2022 BTO application! However, I believe that this might no longer be possible from August 2023 onwards, where first-time homebuyers who register one non-selection will be relegated to second-timer status for a year.
โจ๏ธ๐ฐ. ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐น๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐โจ๏ธ
We did a review of our past applications and realised that we would have a much higher chance at securing a unit if we had opted for a 3-room flat for those projects, instead of opting for a 4 room flat. I know a smaller space isn't ideal for younger couples, but neither is applying for BTO flats for 2 years and then waiting for 6 years after for the flat to be constructed (which is our situation now๐ฃ), so you just have to weigh your priorities! On our 7th try, we became more desperate and were willing to compromise on space to secure a unit, but unfortunately as it was a smaller project, we didn't manage to get a queue no. then.
โจ๏ธ๐ฑ. ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐พ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐โจ๏ธ
On our 8th try, I found out about the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS) which is where the child applies for a 2-room Flexi or bigger flat, and the parent applies for a 2-room Flexi or 3 room flat. HDB reserves up to 15% of randomised units in a project for MGPS, so applicants have 1 additional ballot under MGPS. Having the additional ballot worked to our benefit as we managed to get BOTH a decent MGPS queue no. & a public queue no. on our 8th try!๐ BTW!! You don't have to be married to qualify for this scheme, you can apply via the fiancรฉ-fiancรฉe scheme together with one of your parents!
โจ๏ธ๐ฒ. ๐๐ผ๐ป'๐ ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฝ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒโจ๏ธ
HDB has stated that it remains on track to launch a total of 100,000 flats from 2021 to 2025 and will roll out more flats with waiting times of under three years from 2024. This means that there will be more flats released every launch, so don't give up trying!!!โบ๏ธ
Hope these tips will prove helpful to some of you who are applying for your own BTOs! Feel free to comment below if you have any questions & I'll do my best to answer based on what I know~ All the best with your BTO journeys Zesties๐๐ฅฐ
#hdbsg #hdbbto #btosg #btoguide #tipsandhacks #advice #AdultingTips