I GOT MY BTO ON MY 8TH TRY

Hey Zesties🍋

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 flat😢

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:

✨️𝟭. 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀✨️

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.

✨️𝟮. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝘄 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱✨️

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!

✨️𝟯. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻✨️

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 available😭. 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 units😅). 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.

✨️𝟰. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲𝘀✨️

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 now😣), 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.

✨️𝟱. 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀✨️

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!😌 BTW!! You don't have to be married to qualify for this scheme, you can apply via the fiancé-fiancée scheme together with one of your parents!

✨️𝟲. 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲✨️

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!!!☺️

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 Zesties🎉🥰

#hdbsg #hdbbto #btosg #btoguide #tipsandhacks #advice #AdultingTips