Decision Guide
Buying an HDB Resale Flat: The Full Process
Every step from the HFE letter to the keys — HDB's official resale procedure, the deadlines that bind you, and the cash you need at each stage.
The purchase, end to end
- 1Get your HFE letterApply for the HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter on the HDB Flat Portal. It confirms your eligibility to buy, your grant amount, and how much HDB will lend you. It is valid for 9 months, and you cannot submit the resale application without it.
- 2Find a flat and check the quotaBefore committing, check that the block still has room under the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP), and for PR households the Singapore PR (SPR) quota. A full quota blocks the sale outright.
- 3Get the Option to Purchase (OTP) and pay the Option FeeYou and the seller agree a price and the seller grants the OTP. The Option Fee is any sum from $1 to $1,000, mutually agreed — it counts towards the deposit.
- 4Submit the Request for Value (RFV)If you will use an HDB loan or CPF, submit the Request for Value with page 1 of the OTP by the next working day after the Option date. Wait for the outcome before you exercise.
- 5Exercise the OTP and pay the Exercise FeeWithin the 21-day Option Period, sign to exercise. The Option Fee and the Exercise Fee together are the deposit, capped at $5,000 in total.
- 6Pay the stamp dutyBuyer's Stamp Duty — and ABSD if it applies to you — is due within 14 days of exercising the OTP. Use the purchase-cost calculator to size it first.
- 7Submit the resale applicationYou and the seller each submit your portion on My Flat Dashboard, within the days stated on page 4 of the OTP and within 7 days of each other.
- 8HDB accepts; endorse and payOnce HDB accepts the application, both parties endorse the resale documents online and pay the outstanding fees. HDB's approval follows.
- 9CompletionAbout 8 weeks after HDB accepts the application: pay the balance, complete the legal transfer, collect the keys. Your Minimum Occupation Period starts on this date.
The clock — deadlines that bind you
| Step | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| HFE letter validity | 9 months from issue |
| Request for Value — submit | By the next working day after the Option date |
| Request for Value — outcome valid | 3 months (submit the resale application within this window) |
| OTP Option Period (time to exercise) | 21 calendar days |
| Stamp duty payment | Within 14 days of exercising the OTP |
| Resale application — both portions | Within 7 calendar days of each other |
| HDB acceptance to completion | About 8 weeks |
Source: HDB, buying procedure for resale flats (hdb.gov.sg), September 2026.
What each date locks in
The dates are not just admin — each one fixes something you cannot change later.
| Milestone | What it fixes |
|---|---|
| Exercise date | Your Buyer's Stamp Duty / ABSD rate and property count |
| Resale application submission date | The EIP / SPR quota check and the valuation used |
| Completion date | MOP start; the deadline to have sold a previous property, if that applies to you |
The money, stage by stage
| Item | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Option Fee | $1 – $1,000 (agreed) | On getting the OTP |
| Exercise Fee | Balance of the deposit; Option + Exercise ≤ $5,000 | On exercising the OTP |
| Buyer's Stamp Duty (+ ABSD if it applies) | IRAS rates on price or value, whichever is higher | Within 14 days of exercising |
| Downpayment balance | 25% of price/value; with a bank loan at least 5% must be cash, the rest CPF; with an HDB loan it can be fully CPF | By completion |
| Resale application fee | $40 (1- & 2-room) or $80 (3-room and bigger), per party | On submitting the application |
| Legal / conveyancing fees | HDB solicitors (scaled to price, usually lower) or a private law firm | By completion |
| Agent's commission (if you engage one) | Market rate — not regulated. Agree it and put it in writing | On completion |
HDB charges an administrative fee for the Request for Value (about $120). A bank loan needs a separate private valuation. Confirm every figure on hdb.gov.sg and iras.gov.sg.
Before you commit to an OTP
- HFE letter in hand — the resale application cannot be submitted without it.
- Financing decided — an HDB loan needs the HFE letter and a Letter of Offer; a bank loan needs an Approval-in-Principle before you exercise.
- EIP / SPR quota checked for that exact block — a full quota stops the sale.
- Request for Value timing — miss the next-working-day window and you may not be able to use CPF or an HDB loan on that OTP.
Published 2026-09-01