Decision Guide

Buying a BTO / New HDB Flat: The Process

A BTO is a 3–4 year commitment before you get keys, and the flat classification — Standard, Plus or Prime — locks your MOP and resale terms for up to a decade.

From ballot to keys

1
HFE letter
Apply on the HDB Flat Portal before the sales exercise opens.
2
Apply in a BTO exercise
Pick projects and flat types during the ~1-week application window.
3
Ballot result & queue number
A computer ballot sets your booking order.
4
Booking appointment
Select an available unit and pay the option fee.
~4 months to Agreement for Lease
5
Sign the Agreement for Lease
Pay the down payment (less grants) and stamp duty.
~3–4 year build
6
Build
Construction takes about 3–4 years; some projects are shorter.
7
Collect keys
Pay any remaining down payment; the mortgage starts; your MOP starts.

Standard vs Plus vs Prime

The Oct 2024 classification. Location and subsidy go up; so do the restrictions.

	Standard	Plus	Prime
MOP	5 years	10 years	10 years
Subsidy clawback on resale	None	% of resale price / valuation	Higher % of resale price / valuation
Rent out whole flat (after MOP)	Allowed	Not allowed	Not allowed
Resale buyer conditions	Standard	Must meet the BTO income ceiling; citizen household	Same as Plus

MOP

Standard: 5 years
Plus: 10 years
Prime: 10 years

Subsidy clawback on resale

Standard: None
Plus: % of resale price / valuation
Prime: Higher % of resale price / valuation

Rent out whole flat (after MOP)

Standard: Allowed
Plus: Not allowed
Prime: Not allowed

Resale buyer conditions

Standard: Standard
Plus: Must meet the BTO income ceiling; citizen household
Prime: Same as Plus

The clawback percentage is fixed and published when each Plus / Prime project launches.

Option fee by flat type

Flat type	Option fee
2-room Flexi	S$500
3-room	S$1,000
4-room, 5-room, 3Gen	S$2,000

2-room Flexi

Option fee: S$500

3-room

Option fee: S$1,000

4-room, 5-room, 3Gen

Option fee: S$2,000

The option fee counts towards your down payment at the Agreement for Lease.

The money, in order

Option fee at booking → down payment (up to 25%, CPF and/or cash) at the Agreement for Lease.
The Staggered Down Payment Scheme splits the down payment between the Agreement for Lease and key collection, for eligible first-timers.
Stamp duty is on the purchase price and is usually payable from CPF.
Estimate your grant with the grant estimator; the income ceiling to buy a BTO flat is now $16,000.

Published 2026-09-01