Over 7,500 HDB flats launched in latest sale

[reporter2]

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/7500-hdb-flats-launched-including-the-first-ones-in-tampines-north

7,500 HDB flats launched, including the first ones in Tampines North

It is HDB's last Build To Order-cum-Sale of Balance Flats exercise for the year

By Claire Huang

[email protected]@ClaireHuangBT

26 Nov


THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Tuesday launched its last Build To Order (BTO)-cum-Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises for the year.

This last launch for 2014, which includes Tampines North's first housing project featuring the first three-generation (3Gen) flats in a mature town, comprises 7,568 flats in all, from a mix of mature and non-mature towns.

The HDB said it will offer 4,277 BTO flats across six projects in the non-mature towns of Sembawang, Sengkang, Yishun and the mature town of Tampines.

Tampines GreenRidges, the first housing development in Tampines North, will be the first Tampines precinct to feature a pneumatic waste conveyance system, an automated waste-collection system that promises clean and fuss-free waste disposal.

Under the BTO exercise, first-timers will continue to enjoy priority in the allocation of flats. Eligible first-timer singles have the option of applying for two-room flats in Anchorvale Fields, Blossom Spring@Yishun, Meadow Spring@Yishun or Sun Breeze.

HDB said: "Married/courting couples who wish to live together with their parent or parents can apply for a 3Gen flat in Tampines GreenRidges, where such flats will be offered in a mature town for the first time."

Under the November SBF exercise, HDB will offer 3,291 balance flats in 11 non-mature and 15 mature towns. Flats offered under this exercise are reserved for families, but at least 95 per cent of the supply of these flats (excluding studio apartments) will be set aside for first-timers.

About 27 per cent of SBF flats are already completed; the remaining 73 per cent are being built.

The Enhancement of Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) will also kick in under these exercises.

Under this scheme, up to 30 per cent of the flat supply for first-timer families and up to 15 per cent of that for second-timer families will be set aside for those who want to live with or be near their parents or married child.

The launch brings the total BTO flat supply in 2014 to 22,455 units, in line with the HDB's commitment to launch 22,400 BTO flats for sale this year.

Together with the 6,674 balance flats offered under the May and November 2014 SBF exercises, HDB has offered a total of 29,129 flats for sale to Singaporeans in 2014.

The HDB InfoWEB will take applications for the flats launched in these exercises from now until Dec 1.

Applicants can apply for only one flat type/category in one town/estate, under either the BTO or SBF exercise.

Next year, the HDB plans to launch four BTO exercises, with a total of 16,900 new flats. It will conduct quarterly sales launches starting in February; that month, it will offer about 3,940 flats in Bukit Batok, Geylang and Hougang.

Eugene Lim, the key executive officer at ERA Realty, said response for Tampines North is likely to be positive, and that flats in and around regional centres can command a good price in the resale market.

He added that it is "good news" that HDB is scaling down its BTO programme in 2015, as the bulk of the back log in demand among first-timers has been cleared.

For the SBF launch, Mr Lim expects the usual high number of applications for flats located in mature estates.

"In general, the SBF launches have a strong following because the waiting time for these flats is shorter, as most of them are already well under construction," he said.

[reporter2]

http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/wednesday/premium/top-the-news/story/over-7500-hdb-flats-launched-latest-sale-20141126

Over 7,500 HDB flats launched in latest sale

Units under two schemes include 3,028 in sought-after mature estates

Published on Nov 26, 2014 1:08 AM

By Yeo Sam Jo


THOSE eyeing new flats in mature estates will have a wealth of options after the Housing Board launched its latest round of flat sales yesterday.

Over 7,500 units under the Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) schemes went on sale, with 3,028 located in the sought-after mature estates.

Of the 4,277 BTO units put on sale across six projects in Tampines, Sengkang, Sembawang and Yishun, 1,947 are located in two projects in the upcoming Tampines North district.

Flat buyers are likely to make a beeline for these units given that they are located in a mature estate, experts said.

"All the linkages and facilities there are already established," said ERA Realty key executive officer Eugene Lim. "The value of flats there is also likely to hold in the resale market."

One of the projects, Tampines GreenRidges, will offer 3Gen flats for multi-generation families - a first for a mature town.

Prices of these flats start at $407,000 without grants, and $397,000 with grants.

Also on sale are 3,291 SBF units, which span both mature estates like Bukit Merah and non-mature estates such as Punggol.

SBF units are either balance flats from earlier BTO launches, surplus Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme replacement flats, or repurchased flats.

Changes to the Married Child Priority Scheme are kicking in with these launches. Announced last week, the enhanced scheme will set aside up to a third of new flats for married children and their parents who apply to live with or near one another.

Priority will be given to two groups under the scheme: Parents and married children who apply to live under one roof, and parents who own flats in mature estates and apply for BTO flats near their married children in non-mature estates.

But this is unlikely to drive up demand significantly for 3Gen flats and flats in non-mature estates, said experts.

"A lot of elderly parents live in mature estates and would not want to uproot themselves," said R'ST Research director Ong Kah Seng, adding that the take-up for 3Gen flats might be lukewarm as many young couples prefer privacy. "There is also the perception that 3Gen flats might be too small."

As of 5pm yesterday, the overall application rate for the Tampines BTO flats was 0.4, with 825 applicants going for 1,947 units.

Personal financial consultant Eddie Su and his fiancee Cheryl Ng, both 25, are looking to buy a five-room SBF unit in Tampines.

"We are getting married next year so we want our own place sooner," said Mr Su, referring to the shorter waiting period for SBF units compared with BTO flats.

The latest launch brings the number of new flats put up for sale this year to 29,129, down from 33,568 last year.

Applications have to be submitted by midnight on Dec 1.

[email protected]

[reporter2]

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/real-estate/7500-hdb-flats-launched-including-the-first-ones-in-tampines-north

7,500 HDB flats launched, including the first ones in Tampines North

It is HDB's last Build To Order-cum-Sale of Balance Flats exercise for the year

By Claire Huang

[email protected]@ClaireHuangBT

26 Nov


THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) on Tuesday launched its last Build To Order (BTO)-cum-Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises for the year.

This last launch for 2014, which includes Tampines North's first housing project featuring the first three-generation (3Gen) flats in a mature town, comprises 7,568 flats in all, from a mix of mature and non-mature towns.

The HDB said it will offer 4,277 BTO flats across six projects in the non-mature towns of Sembawang, Sengkang, Yishun and the mature town of Tampines.

Tampines GreenRidges, the first housing development in Tampines North, will be the first Tampines precinct to feature a pneumatic waste conveyance system, an automated waste-collection system that promises clean and fuss-free waste disposal.

Under the BTO exercise, first-timers will continue to enjoy priority in the allocation of flats. Eligible first-timer singles have the option of applying for two-room flats in Anchorvale Fields, Blossom Spring@Yishun, Meadow Spring@Yishun or Sun Breeze.

HDB said: "Married/courting couples who wish to live together with their parent or parents can apply for a 3Gen flat in Tampines GreenRidges, where such flats will be offered in a mature town for the first time."

Under the November SBF exercise, HDB will offer 3,291 balance flats in 11 non-mature and 15 mature towns. Flats offered under this exercise are reserved for families, but at least 95 per cent of the supply of these flats (excluding studio apartments) will be set aside for first-timers.

About 27 per cent of SBF flats are already completed; the remaining 73 per cent are being built.

The Enhancement of Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) will also kick in under these exercises.

Under this scheme, up to 30 per cent of the flat supply for first-timer families and up to 15 per cent of that for second-timer families will be set aside for those who want to live with or be near their parents or married child.

The launch brings the total BTO flat supply in 2014 to 22,455 units, in line with the HDB's commitment to launch 22,400 BTO flats for sale this year.

Together with the 6,674 balance flats offered under the May and November 2014 SBF exercises, HDB has offered a total of 29,129 flats for sale to Singaporeans in 2014.

The HDB InfoWEB will take applications for the flats launched in these exercises from now until Dec 1.

Applicants can apply for only one flat type/category in one town/estate, under either the BTO or SBF exercise.

Next year, the HDB plans to launch four BTO exercises, with a total of 16,900 new flats. It will conduct quarterly sales launches starting in February; that month, it will offer about 3,940 flats in Bukit Batok, Geylang and Hougang.

Eugene Lim, the key executive officer at ERA Realty, said response for Tampines North is likely to be positive, and that flats in and around regional centres can command a good price in the resale market.

He added that it is "good news" that HDB is scaling down its BTO programme in 2015, as the bulk of the back log in demand among first-timers has been cleared.

For the SBF launch, Mr Lim expects the usual high number of applications for flats located in mature estates.

"In general, the SBF launches have a strong following because the waiting time for these flats is shorter, as most of them are already well under construction," he said.