HDB launches 7 new BTO projects and enhances Special CPF housing grant

The Housing and Development Board launched seven BTO projects today, offering 4,191 new flats. 

The flats are being offered in two non-mature towns of Choa Chu Kang and Punggol, and three mature towns of Bukit Merah, Clementi and Geylang. 

The projects in the non-mature estates are Keat Hong Axis, Punggol Opal and Waterway Cascadia. 

Those in the mature towns are Clementi Gateway, Depot Heights, Telok Blangah Ridgeview and GreenTops @ Sims Place.

A 3-room flat at Keat Hong Axis in the non-mature estate of Choa Chu Kang will cost from $151,000 without grants and from $116,000 with grants, while a similar (3-room) flat at Clementi Gateway in the mature estate of Clementi will cost from $301,000 without grants and from $271,000 with grants. 

This is the fourth BTO launch this year and HDB says it remains on track to launch 25,000 flats this year. 

HDB says to ensure first-timers continue to enjoy priority in flat allocation, at least 95 percent of the BTO flat supply (excluding Studio Apartments) in mature towns and 85 percent in the non-mature towns will be set aside for them. 

Eligible first-timer households can also enjoy various housing grants to help them own a new BTO flat. 

In September 2012, HDB will offer 3,700 new BTO flats for sale in Ang Mo Kio, Choa Chu Kang, Kallang Whampoa, Tampines and Woodlands. 

More information is available on the HDB InfoWEB. 

HDB will also offer 3,000 flats in a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise. 

The balance flats will have good geographical spread and comprise flats from both mature and non-mature estates. 

Applications for the new flats launched can be submitted online from today, 31 July 2012 to 6 Aug 2012.

For enquiries, the public can:
a) Log on to esales.hdb.gov.sg; or
b) E-mail hdbsales@hdb.gov.sg; or
c) Visit the HDB Sales Office to speak with our Customer Service Officers during office hours (Mon to Fri 8 am to 5 pm, Saturday 8 am to 1 pm).

Also with effect from the July BTO launch, HDB will extend the Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) (of $20,000) for first-timer households earning $1,500 and below, to include purchases of 3-room standard flats in non-mature estates. 

This special grant was introduced in March last year to help first-timer low income households own their homes - and could only be used for the purchase of a 2-room standard flat in non-mature estates. 

HDB says the enhancement will expand the options available to low-income households who need more space, and can afford a larger flat, with the help of government subsidies. 

So, together with the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG), households earning $1,500 and below can now enjoy total housing grants of $60,000 for the purchase of 2-room or 3-room standard flats in non-mature estates from HDB.