HDB launches over 7,000 flats for sale in November

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has launched 7,214 flats for sale in November.

The government agency announced on Nov 13 that there are 3,802 Build-To-Order (BTO) units offered across five estates - Tengah, Yishun, Sengkang and Sembawang, as well as the mature township of Tampines. Under the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, there are 3,412 flats available across various estates.

The BTO project in Tengah, called Plantation Grove, marks the first HDB estate in the new township. Located along Bukit Batok Road, it is the first of five such housing districts to be developed in Tengah. The HDB district is located near two upcoming Jurong Region Line MRT stations. The new line will open in three stages starting 2026.

The HDB has envisioned Tengah as a “Forest Town”, to be designed with green, sustainable and smart features. Plantation Grove is located in the Plantation District. Autonomous vehicles will also be piloted in the district, to provide last-mile solutions to residents, HDB says. One prominent feature of the Plantation District is the Plantation Farmway, which will feature spaces that foster community gardening and farming.

In Sembawang, Sengkang and Yishun, HDB will offer BTO flats at shorter waiting times, about two to three years from the point of application. It can take up to four years in typical applications.

First-time families will be given higher priority for such flats, with at least 95% of the four-room and larger unit types set aside for them. This is an increase from the current quota of at least 85% in non-mature estates. These flats will come with floor finishes, internal doors and sanitary fittings to cut time required for renovation works, enabling homebuyers to move in sooner.

Meanwhile, of the 3,412 SBF flats, at least 95% of the supply for three-room and larger units are set aside for first-time families. Punggol has the largest number of flats, at 494 units, followed by Toa Payoh, at 491 units, and Tampines at 388 units. Overall, there are 1,564 units for sale in non-mature estates, compared to 1,848 units for sale in mature estates.

Applications for the flats can be submitted online on the HDB InfoWEB from Nov 13 to 19.

In February 2019, HDB will offer about 3,100 flats in Jurong West, Kallang Whampoa and Sengkang.