HDB launches over 6,700 new flats, including units in Tengah, Kallang Whampoa

SINGAPORE'S Housing Board launched 6,753 flats in its second sales exercise of the year on Wednesday, including new homes in the upcoming forest town of Tengah as well as the mature town of Kallang Whampoa.

From this exercise onwards, eager home buyers can also find out the results of their Build-to-Order (BTO) flat ballot in three weeks, instead of six weeks previously.

In addition, families who are living in public rental flats but had previously bought a BTO flat can now get a S$15,000 grant when they apply for a two-room flexi or three-room flat in non-mature estates.

In this round, there are 3,485 BTO flats, spread across four projects in three towns.

Prices start from S$86,000 for a two-room flexi flat in Woodlands to S$562,000 for a four-room flat in Kallang Whampoa, excluding grants.

The bulk of the BTO flats are in Plantation District in the upcoming "forest" town of Tengah in western Singapore, with 1,193 units on offer. Another 987 units will be at the newly launched Garden District.(please see amendment note)

There are also 3,268 balance flats on offer, spread across various towns.

About 28 per cent of these are already completed, while the rest are under construction.

HDB is also announcing upcoming BTO projects six months in advance, instead of the usual three, to help buyers plan ahead.

In August, it will offer 3,300 flats in Punggol and Tampines. There will also be a concurrent Re-Offer of Balance Flats (ROF) exercise.

In November, there will be about 4,500 flats in Ang Mo Kio, Tampines and Tengah. Of these, the flats in two Tengah projects will have a shorter waiting time of about two to three years, instead of the usual three to four. There will also be another Sales of Balance Flats exercise then.

In addition, from June, flat buyers will have an option to book unselected ROF units from an open pool at any time of the year. More details will be announced at a later date.

THE STRAITS TIMES

Amendment note: It was reported that "The bulk of the new flats are in the new Garden District in Tengah - with 1,193 units on offer. Another 987 units will be at the nearby Plantation District." This sentence is incorrect as Plantation district has 1,193 units on offer, while Garden district has 987 units.