HDB launches 8,748 new flats in May

A TOTAL of 8,748 new HDB flats were launched for sale on Thursday across 25 towns or estates.

These are under the Housing & Development Board's Build-to-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats exercise for the month of May. They comprise 4,802 BTO units and 3,946 SBF units.

This second BTO launch for this year brings the total number of BTO flats offered this year to 8,858 units. Together with the 3,946 balance flats on offer, HDB has launched a total of 12,804 flats for sale in the first half of 2017.

The 4,802 BTO flats on offer are spread across six projects. Three are in the non-mature towns of Woodlands and Yishun, while another three are in the mature towns or estates of Bidadari (Toa Payoh) and Geylang.

The 3,946 balance flats under the May exercise are located in 11 non-mature towns and 14 mature towns or estates. They comprise 693 units of 2-room Flexi, 938 units of 3-room, 1,305 units of 4-room, 967 units of 5-room, 26 units of 3Gen and 17 units of executive flats. A majority of the flats offered under the SBF exercise are reserved for first-timer families.

Application for these new flats closes on May 24, HDB said on Thursday.

From May onwards, HDB will implement the Deferred Downpayment Scheme (DDS), under which elderly flat owners aged 55 years and above who move to a smaller 2-room Flexi or 3-room uncompleted flat may defer the downpayment on their new flat until they collect their keys.

Flat buyers may also make use of the new Temporary Loan Scheme (TLS), if they require a temporary loan to bridge their finances while selling their existing flat.