Applying for a HDB Flat in Singapore

As many of you are aware of, in land scarce Singapore, applying for public housing in Singapore requires up to 5 years in advance. Not many people will get their desired flat on the first attempt, and even if they do, they have to wait around 3-5 years for the construction of the flat.

If you are interested in applying for a HDB flat, here's a step by step guide on how you can do that.

The following article is written by guest blogger Teck Chong. 

Couples looking to settle down and wanting to get a HDB flat?

I have written a simple dummy guide to provide the step by step procedures to apply your love nest.

1    1. Check HDB website for any upcoming sales launch. The screenshot below is an example of an upcoming BTO sale launches in Nov 2012. Tip: You can sign up for HDB’s newsletter so that you will be kept up to date with the latest happenings in HDB.

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/BuyingNewFlatFlatsonOffer?OpenDocument

You and your partner can decide on which location to choose and size of your flat. There are various priority schemes which home seekers can utilize to increase their chances of getting a desirable queue number.

The priority schemes are Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS), Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), Third-Child Priority (TCP) Scheme, Tenants Priority Scheme (TPS) and Ageing-in-Place Priority Scheme (APPS).

For the detail explanation of each scheme, http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/BuyingNewFlatPriority?OpenDocument#TCP

At the same time, there are some of the things that you need check before deciding on the flats

-          Check you and your partner’s eligibility to buy

-          Check loan eligibility

-          Check your fee payment capability

There are some questionnaires in the HDB website which will provide some guidance on your eligibility.
http://services2.hdb.gov.sg/webapp/BP13EligCheck/BP13SHome?strSystem=CHECK  (Eligibility to buy)
http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/HLHDBWho?OpenDocument (Loan Eligibility)

The period of sale application will be disseminated to the public via news, email or other social media. Once the sale application is open to the public, home seekers will have about a week to decide and apply for the town that they desire. Upon applying for the flat, you need to pay a non-refundable administrative fee of $10 via cashcard or credit card.

      2.       Once the application window closes, applicants must wait at least 3 weeks before they will receive a queue number to invite them to select their flats. If you are not assigned any queue number, it means that you are unsuccessful in the balloting. If your queue number is out of the range of the flat supply, fret not. There are people who will give up their chance because their desired unit is being taken up.

      3.       If you have a queue number, HDB will send an invitation letter to you with the appointment date to select your flat. In the invitation package, there are brochures, application forms and some guidelines for your information. Do read through them carefully because buying a house is a huge investment. Make no mistakes! While waiting for your appointment date, you can check out the units that are taken via HDB’s website. The information is updated real time.

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10321p.nsf/w/BuyingNewFlatShortlistedApplicants?OpenDocument

       4.        Nearing the date of your flat selection, remember to check the units available for selection and decide which unit you would like to choose as your dream home. There are many factors that you have to consider for selecting a flat:

-          Afternoon sun

-          Level of the unit

-          Price

-          Floor layout

-          Proximity to the lift and the staircase

-          View of the unit

-          Noise

        5.        It is advisable to select at least 2 units just in case before your turn comes, so that you won’t panic if your unit is selected. Remember to head down to the BTO site to do some ground survey before you make any decisions because you might get some inspiration when you are actually on the site. In addition, you got to decide whether you would prefer HDB to build the flooring and door for you. All these are up to each individual to decide but of course, there is a fee attached to it. Different BTO will have different price.

        6.        On the selection date, please head down to HDB hub early so that you can orientate yourself so that you wouldn’t miss your queue number. Remember to bring the necessary documents to prevent any hiccups or delay.

      When we were at HDB hub, we were feeling very nervous because we were afraid that our dream unit was being taken away by other families. When our queue number was called, we were called into a room where by a sale officer will process your application. He/she will check through the documents quickly followed by asking which unit do you want and he will reserve for you first. After signing many documents and explanation, we need to go up to level 3 to pay SGD2,000 option fee by NETS or cash and head back to the room. The sale officer will then ask you to confirm the actual unit that you want because the decision is irreversible. (Make your decision wisely and once you decided, stick with it!) The whole procedure for flat selection is done.

  

       7.        HDB will invite you down again within 4 months to sign the lease agreement and you will have to pay a 5%/10% of your flat price as down payment via your CPF or cash. 

      

      Hope that gave you a clearer insight into how HDB application in Singapore works. It will all be worth it when you get your dream home.

      

      Good luck! (: