One in four BTO flats in February launch to come with shorter waiting times
About 25% of the 4,700 flats slated for the February 2026 Build-to-Order sales exercise will be offered under the Shorter Waiting Time scheme (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
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HDB announced on Jan 31 that about 25% of the 4,700 flats slated for the February 2026 Build-to-Order (BTO) sales exercise will be offered under the Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) scheme. A total of 1,316 flats under the SWT scheme will have a waiting time of less than three years.
“By introducing more SWT flats, HDB aims to attract first-time buyers who might otherwise turn to the resale market due to urgency, thereby helping to stabilise resale prices that have been climbing in recent years,” says Eugene Lim, key executive officer of ERA Singapore.
Traditionally, BTO projects take about three to five years to complete, depending on site conditions and design complexity, Lim adds. In contrast, SWT projects typically begin construction nine months to a year ahead of launch, enabling faster delivery once flats are offered for sale.
“Coupled with more efficient designs and streamlined construction processes, this approach gives HDB greater flexibility to calibrate housing supply in response to demand, underscoring Singapore’s agile and forward-looking approach to public housing delivery,” he observes.
Alongside the February BTO launch, the government will also offer more than 4,300 flats in a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise — a 40% increase from the 3,000 units previously committed.
HDB will launch a total of 4,692 BTO flats across six projects in the February sales exercise.
Shorter waiting times across selected projects
Among the SWT offerings, Tampines Bliss will have the shortest waiting time of one year and 11 months, making it one of the fastest SWT projects to be completed since the scheme was introduced in 2018.
The other two SWT projects are Tampines Nova and Sembawang Deck, with waiting times of two years and eight months and two years and nine months, respectively. In addition, Kim Keat Crest in Toa Payoh — although not classified as an SWT project — will have a relatively short waiting time of three years and one month.
Bordered by Tampines Avenue 2 and Tampines Street 22, Tampines Bliss will comprise 284 units across three 10-storey residential blocks. The project will offer a mix of three- and four-room flats (Artist's impression: HDB)
Tampines Bliss (1 year and 11 months)
Bordered by Tampines Avenue 2 and Tampines Street 22, Tampines Bliss will comprise 284 units across three 10-storey residential blocks. The project will offer a mix of three- and four-room flats.
Facilities within the development include children’s playgrounds, fitness areas and a therapeutic garden, along with an eating house and a preschool. A green corridor within the project will link residents to the Tampines Park Connector, Bedok Reservoir Park and Pasir Ris Town Park.
Nearby amenities include the Tampines Round Market & Food Centre and Simei Park. The project also enjoys convenient public transport access, with both Tampines MRT station on the East–West Line and Tampines East MRT station on the Downtown Line within easy reach.
Located in the heart of Tampines Central, Tampines Nova will comprise two 14-storey residential blocks, with 255 two-room flexi and four-room flats (Artist's impression: HDB)
Tampines Nova (2 years and 8 months)
Located in the heart of Tampines Central, Tampines Nova will comprise two 14-storey residential blocks with 255 units of two-room flexi and four-room flats.
The project will feature a central courtyard with children’s playgrounds and fitness corners, as well as a rooftop garden for community gardening. A preschool will also be located within the development.
Residents will enjoy proximity to retail and lifestyle amenities, including Century Square, Tampines Mall, and Tampines 1. The area is well connected via cycling paths that link Sun Plaza Park, Tampines Boulevard Park, Tampines Central Park, and Sungei Tampines. Tampines Bus Interchange and Tampines MRT station are also nearby.
Sembawang Deck will offer 777 units across four residential blocks ranging from 20 to 25 storeys, with a mix of two-room flexi, three-room, four-room and five-room flats (Artist's impression: HDB)
Sembawang Deck (2 years and 9 months)
Located in the new Sembawang North housing area and bounded by Admiralty Street and Admiralty Lane, Sembawang Deck will offer 777 units across four residential blocks ranging from 20 to 25 storeys. The project will feature a mix of two-room flexi, three-room, four-room and five-room flats.
Amenities within the development include a preschool, eating house, minimart and shops. Nearby amenities include Sembawang Mart and Sun Plaza. Bukit Canberra — an integrated sports and community hub next to Sembawang MRT station — is also a short bus ride away.
Residents can also look forward to more amenities in the vicinity, including a new neighbourhood centre and a one-hectare Community Avenue park with playgrounds and fitness stations.
Kim Keat Crest will comprise four residential blocks of between 26 and 30 storeys, offering 1,151 units of two-room flexi, three-room and four-room flats (Artist's impressions: HDB)
Kim Keat Crest (3 years and 1 month)
Bounded by Kim Keat Avenue and Toa Payoh East, Kim Keat Crest will comprise four residential blocks of between 26 and 30 storeys, offering 1,151 units of two-room flexi, three-room and four-room flats. A rental block will also be located within the project.
Amenities include a minimart, eating house and shops, with additional dining and retail options available at nearby Kim Keat Palm Market & Food Centre, Toa Payoh Vista Market and Toa Payoh Town Centre.
Residents will also benefit from the upcoming Toa Payoh Integrated Development, which will feature sports facilities, a polyclinic, the relocated Toa Payoh Library and a revamped town park. Potong Pasir MRT station on the North–East Line and Toa Payoh MRT station on the North–South Line are both a short bus ride away.
More offerings in well-established, sought-after estates
Based on recent BTO launches, most SWT flats are typically associated with standard flats in less central locations, notes Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group. “The shorter timelines can help offset drawbacks such as fewer amenities or being farther from transport nodes and the city centre,” she says.
However, Sun notes that launching SWT flats in mature estates is less common. “It is therefore surprising to see these offerings in a well-established and highly sought-after estate like Tampines, which already has extensive amenities.”
Lee Sze Teck, senior director of data analytics at Huttons Asia, says Tampines Bliss is likely to be the most attractive SWT project due to its short waiting time. “But with only 248 units, competition will be stiff, with first-timer application rates likely to exceed five,” he adds.
Lee also expects strong demand for Tampines Nova, which he believes will be classified as a Plus project. “Application rates from first-timers may exceed four,” he says.
Although Kim Keat Crest is far from the MRT station, it has a waiting time of three years and one month, making it attractive to buyers, notes Lee. Likewise, it’s expected to be a Plus project.
With more SWT flats being offered in mature estates, Sun believes this could signal a broader and more lasting shift in HDB’s supply strategy. “If sustained, this will have a meaningful impact on secondary-market demand and resale prices,” she notes.
Narrowing traditional advantage of resale flats
Shorter waiting times in desirable locations could narrow the traditional advantage of resale flats, particularly for buyers seeking immediate occupation. “This fundamentally alters market dynamics,” says Sun. “As a result, older and less well-located resale flats may face greater price pressure, while newly MOP flats in prime locations are likely to remain resilient.”
Lim adds that the move underscores the government’s continued commitment to providing timely housing options for households with more immediate needs, such as young couples and growing families. It also reduces reliance on interim housing arrangements such as renting, which can erode savings.
“Importantly, the shorter waiting period does not come at the expense of estate quality,” Lim says. “These projects will continue to be supported by essential amenities, reinforcing HDB’s objective of delivering not just homes, but well-planned and liveable neighbourhoods.”
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