Oct 2025 BTO launch draws over 31,000 applicants, with Bukit Merah projects leading demand
Berlayar Residences and Redhill Peaks together pulled in 8,376 applications, or 55% of total Prime flat applications (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) launched 9,144 flats for sale under the October 2025 Build-to-Order (BTO) exercise, which began on Oct 15 and closes tonight (Oct 22) at 11:59pm.
As of 5pm on Oct 22, the new flats had attracted 31,095 applicants, translating to an overall application rate of 3.4 times (see Table 1). While this is lower than the 4.2 times recorded in July 2025’s BTO exercise — which offered 5,547 flats — the total number of applicants this round is 34.3% higher, according to Lee Sze Teck, senior director of data analytics at Huttons Asia.
“The figures show that demand remains healthy, even though the overall application rate has moderated,” observes Kelvin Fong, CEO of PropNex.
Bukit Merah projects dominate Prime flat demand
The 10 BTO projects launched span Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Jurong East, Sengkang, Toa Payoh, and Yishun.
Of these, Prime flats proved most popular, with 3,787 units drawing 15,132 applications, accounting for nearly 49% of all applications. The strongest response came from the two Bukit Merah projects — Berlayar Residences and Redhill Peaks — which together pulled in 8,376 applications, or 55% of total Prime flat applications.
The two developments achieved a combined application rate of 4.4 times, among the highest for Prime flats in Bukit Merah in recent years (see Table 2).
Fong notes the results are unsurprising given Bukit Merah’s enduring appeal. “Berlayar Residences is located in the upcoming Greater Southern Waterfront precinct and within walking distance to Telok Blangah MRT station,” he says. “Buyers were likely drawn to both the convenience and the long-term transformation potential of the area.”
Applicants also appeared undeterred by the subsidy recovery rates of 14% for Berlayar Residences and 12% for Redhill Peaks.
“Berlayar Residences offers the first-mover advantage of being the earliest HDB flats in the Greater Southern Waterfront,” adds Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at Realion (OrangeTee & ETC). “With few resale options nearby and private condos costing upwards of $2 million, it’s an attractive entry point for buyers.”
Bishan Terraces shines as first Prime BTO in Bishan
Another top performer was Bishan Terraces, a 538-unit Prime project that achieved an application rate of 3.8 times with 2,058 total applicants. “Notably, this is the first Prime BTO project in Bishan,” says PropNex.
Buyers were drawn to its location near Bishan MRT station, the town centre, and popular schools such as Raffles Institution, Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary), and Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary and Secondary.
Fong notes that the recent announcement under the Draft Master Plan — which will see Bishan developed into a new business hub with 200,000 sqm (over 2.15 million sq ft) of office space, a new hawker centre, and a revamped bus interchange and polyclinic — likely boosted the project’s attractiveness.
Meanwhile, Mount Pleasant Crest in Toa Payoh, another Prime project, registered an application rate of 3.5 times. Its relatively lower demand may be linked to its longer waiting time of 59 months (almost five years) and fewer nearby amenities, says Fong.
Oak Ville @ AMK underperforms among Plus projects
Plus projects see mixed response; Oak Ville @ AMK underperforms
Among the Plus projects, Oak Ville @ AMK saw the lowest application rate of the exercise at 1.4 times, a surprising outcome given Ang Mo Kio’s usual popularity.
PropNex attributes the weaker showing to tighter resale and rental restrictions attached to Plus flats, such as a 7% subsidy recovery rate upon resale and a 10-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) — similar to those for Prime projects.
“Some buyers may feel the project doesn’t warrant Plus classification,” Fong observes. “It’s over a 15-minute walk from Yio Chu Kang or Ang Mo Kio MRT stations, with few amenities nearby.”
For comparison, the previous Plus project in Ang Mo Kio — Central Trio @ AMK, launched in October 2024 — achieved a much stronger application rate of 7.9 times due to its proximity to the town centre, PropNex points out.
Chencharu Grove was also the most sought-after project for 5-room flats, drawing over 4,000 applications (Picture: HDB)
Standard flats remain popular, with Yishun projects leading
Standard flats in Bedok, Jurong East, Sengkang, and Yishun all performed well, each seeing application rates more than three times.
The most popular were Chencharu Grove and Yishun Glade, which drew over 5,200 applicants for 1,395 units, reflecting an application rate of about 3.8 times.
“The shorter waiting time of under three years likely appealed to buyers,” says Fong. “Being a Standard project also means a shorter five-year MOP, allowing homeowners to sell earlier than those in Prime or Plus flats.”
Chencharu Grove, located near Khatib MRT station, is close to several schools — including Peiying Primary, Naval Base Primary and Secondary, and Chung Cheng High (Yishun) — and an upcoming mixed-use development at Chencharu Close.
It was also the most sought-after project for 5-room flats, drawing over 4,000 applications, notes SRI’s Mohan Sandrasegeran.
Stronger demand from singles boosts 2-room Flexi flats
The 2-room Flexi category continued to see strong demand, with 10,560 applications for 2,923 flats, reflecting an application rate of 3.6 times — the highest since October 2024.
Huttons’ Lee attributes this to policy changes implemented a year ago, which allow first-timer singles to apply for 2-room Flexi flats in any location, as well as the Family Care Scheme. “Since the relaxation, application rates have remained high,” he says.
The highest number of 2-room Flexi applicants — over 2,700 — was recorded at Berlayar Residences and Redhill Peaks in Bukit Merah, resulting in an application rate of 3.8 times for this category.
“Applicants who are unsuccessful this round can look forward to the February 2026 BTO exercise,” says PropNex’s Fong. HDB will launch about 4,600 flats across six projects in Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Tampines, and Toa Payoh.
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