The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has launched 4,993 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats for sale under its August exercise.

These new flats come from seven projects in both mature and non-mature estates in Singapore - namely Ang Mo Kio, Bukit Merah, Choa Chu Kang, Jurong East, Tampines and Woodlands.

Bukit Merah BTO flats have been selected to be under the Prime Location Housing (PLH) model. 

HDB buyers of Alexandra Vale or Havelock Hillside BTO flats must commit to the 10-year minimum occupation period. The cost of these PLH BTO flats start from S$370,000 for a 3-room flat from S$531,000 for a 4-room flat excluding housing grants.

Alexandra Vale project is located along Alexandra View near the Redhill MRT station. There will be a total of 782 BTO units comprising 600 4-room flats and 182 3-roomers across 2 residential blocks ranging from 41 to 50 storeys high. To ensure an inclusive living environment, 2-room rental flats will be constructed in one of the blocks.

Havelock Hillside project will be built along Havelock Road near the Havelock MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line. It will comprise 2 residential blocks at 42-and 45-storeys tall, with a total of 869 units made up of 698 4-room flats and 171 3-roomers.

As PLH flats owners enjoy additional subsidies, they will have to return to HDB a fixed 6 per cent of the resale price or valuation, whichever is higher, upon the sale of their flats in the future.

Elsewhere in Jurong East which falls under the non-mature estates, flat prices start from S$97,000 for a two-room Flexi flat and S$188,000 for a three-room flat in Woodlands.

At Choa Chu Kang, a four-room flat start from S$277,000 and S$390,000 for a five-room flat.

With the revision in HDB policy for non-mature estates, at least 85 per cent of the 3-room BTO flats and 95 per cent of 4-room units and larger will be set aside for first-timer families, up from current levels of at least 70 per cent and 85 per cent, respectively.

First timer singles will stand a higher chance to secure non-senior 2-room flexi flats because HDB will allocate up to 65 per cent for them, an increase from 50 per cent currently.

BTO projects in Choa Chu Kang, Tampines and Woodlands, which have the shortest waiting times at 3.8 years or less.

ERA Realty Network’s head of research and consultancy Nicholas Mak predicts Woodlands BTO flats will be oversubscribed as it is only 200-metre away from the Woodlands South MRT along the Thomson East-Coast Line.

The deadline for submitting your BTO application is on 5 September 2022, Monday.

HDB said that applicants will be shortlisted using a computer ballot instead of a first-come-first-served basis.