What makes a BTO flat different?
A Build-To-Order (BTO) flat is a brand-new HDB unit that is only built after enough buyers sign up during a launch exercise. You pre-order at a subsidised price — typically 20–30% below comparable resale units — but the trade-off is time: waiting periods run 3 to 5 years.
BTO price bands (2026, indicative)
Indicative launch prices for a 4-room BTO flat, by estate type, before any grant is applied — not an official HDB table.
| Estate type | 4-room BTO (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-mature | From $450,000 | Cheapest BTO launches; longer waits common |
| Mature | $450,000 – $600,000+ | Popular locations; ballots more competitive |
| Plus / Prime | $450,000 – $700,000+ | 10 years-year MOP + subsidy clawback on resale |
These price bands are our estimates, not an official HDB table: HDB prices each project individually at launch and publishes no standing price band. The 10 years-year Minimum Occupation Period for Plus and Prime flats is HDB's own, stated in its sales-launch press releases. See our editorial policy.
Grants for BTO buyers
BTO buyers can tap the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) of up to $120,000 for families (up to $60,000 for singles), subject to the income ceiling of $9,000/month (families) or $4,500/month (singles). Unlike resale, BTO buyers cannot claim the CPF Housing Grant or the Proximity Housing Grant. Second-timer families buying a 2- or 3-room BTO flat can instead claim the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant of $15,000 — HDB's own Step-Up grant page states it applies to a new flat bought from HDB as well as a resale flat.
Use the CPF Grant Checker → for your full eligibility, or read the EHG eligibility guide and the full 2026 grant guide.
BTO vs resale — which is cheaper after grants?
The answer depends on your timeline. BTO wins on upfront price and maximum subsidy; resale wins on speed and stacks more grants. See the full breakdown in our BTO vs Resale 2026 guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HDB loan or a bank loan better for a BTO flat?
The HDB loan is currently 2.6%, reviewed quarterly and not legally guaranteed, with no lock-in and no minimum cash downpayment — it has held at 2.6% since 1999, but HDB can change it. Bank loans can be lower (often ~2.5–3.5%) but float and can rise — MAS requires lenders to stress-test you at a 4% floor (this floor is not yet confirmed against a primary MAS source). Use the comparison in your results to see both side by side.
Can PRs and foreigners buy a BTO flat?
Foreigners cannot buy HDB flats. PRs can only buy resale HDB flats (after 3 years of PR, with an eligible SPR household) using a bank loan. They are generally not eligible for the HDB concessionary loan, and are not eligible for the EHG, which HDB and CPF Board limit to Singapore Citizen households.
Does this include CPF grants?
Yes — we show an EHG estimate based on your income and household type. For your full grant picture (EHG, CPF Housing Grant, Proximity Grant, Step-Up), use the CPF Grant Checker →.
Why does my self-employed income reduce my loan?
HDB and banks assess variable income (self-employed, commissions, bonuses) more conservatively, applying a 30% haircut and averaging over 1–2 years. Your approved loan may be lower than a salaried buyer with the same headline income.
Sources for the figures on this page
Every figure above is taken from the source named here on the date shown. Figures marked as estimates are reconstructed, not published by the authority.
- Bank loan Loan-to-Value limit, no outstanding housing loan; Age past which the lower LTV limit applies; Bank loan Loan-to-Value limit, lower tier; Bank loan maximum tenure, HDB flat — MAS — Rules for New Housing Loans: Loan Tenure and Loan-To-Value Limits verified 2026-08-20
- EHG income ceiling, families; EHG income ceiling, singles; Enhanced CPF Housing Grant maximum, families; Enhanced CPF Housing Grant maximum, singles — CPF Board — A guide to the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and Proximity Housing Grant verified 2026-06-27
- HDB concessionary loan Loan-to-Value limit — MND & HDB — Measures to Cool the HDB Resale Market and Provide More Support for First-Time Home Buyers (19 August 2024) verified 2026-08-20
- HDB concessionary housing loan interest rate — CPF interest rates from 1 July to 30 September 2026 verified 2026-08-20
- Minimum Occupation Period, Plus and Prime flats — HDB — HDB Launches 10,209 Flats in the July 2025 BTO and SBF Sales Exercises (23 July 2025) verified 2026-08-20
- Mortgage Servicing Ratio cap; Total Debt Servicing Ratio cap — MAS — Rules for New Housing Loans: MSR and TDSR Rules verified 2026-08-20
- Step-Up CPF Housing Grant, second-timer families — HDB — Step-Up CPF Housing Grant (Families) verified 2026-08-20