In the most recent HDB sales exercise where 4,571 new Build-to-order (BTO) units were launched in 3 estates, the units in Ang Mo Kio were most popular, with more than 13 first-timers vying for each of the 235 four-room units. November’s launch is HDB’s last and biggest for 2019.
4-room BTO units in Ang Mo Kio most popular with first-timers
Yio Chu Kang Beacon, Ang Mo Kio BTO in November 2019. Picture: HDB
The 4-room units in Ang Mo Kio were among the largest offered in the estate in terms of size. In Tampines, the larger flats were also in demand with 11 applicants for each of the 193 five-room and 218 four-room flats.
The 3-room flats in both estates were however less hotly contested, with only 2 applicants for each of the 87 three-room units in Ang Mo Kio and 3 for each of the 90 similar units in Tampines. Prices of a 4-room flat in Ang Mo Kio start from $451,000 while a 5-room units in Tampines starts from $508,000. The new BTO flats here will also be near MRT stations.
Map view of the BTO available in Ang Mo Kio for November 2019 launch. Picture: HDB
Fewer applicants were going for the BTO flats in Tengah, even the larger ones. There were about 2 applicants vying for each of the 4- and 5-room flats in this relatively new estate. The 3-room units had only an application rate of 0.7, which may be good news for the applicants as it increases their chances of securing a unit.
2-room units in mature estates undersubscribed
Even though Ang Mo Kio and Tampines are mature estates usually popular with applicants and even on the resale market, the 2-room flexi units in the recent launch were undersubscribed with application rates of only 0.1 in Tengah and 0.3 in Ang Mo Kio and Tengah.
There was also 3,599 Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) units in 14 mature estates such as Bishan and Clementi as well as 11 non-mature estates such as Bukit Panjang and Punggol. The larger pool of options made available this round may have taken some attention away from the less popular units.
Plantation Village, Tengah BTO for November 2019. Picture: HDB
The latest policy changes have however also widened the pool eligible applicants. Higher grants and higher-income ceilings for first-timers combined with higher median household incomes may have also meant more applicants could now afford larger units.
See more: Biggest HDB launch of 2019 includes new flats in AMK, Tampines and Tengah
