http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/...16740,00.html?

Published January 18, 2012

First-time BTO buyers off to good start: Khaw


FIRST-time application rates for Built To Order flats (BTO) is currently 1.5, similar to the rate of 1.6 in the November BTO. Citing these figures on his blog yesterday, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan noted that first-time BTO flat buyers are off to an auspicious start this year.

'Both are good rates; they mean that practically all will get a chance to choose a unit,' he said, adding that the goal to help young couples get their first homes is coming true.

A first-timer refers to an applicant who has never bought an HDB flat directly from HDB, nor received a CPF Housing Grant. The January BTO launch which offered 4,000 new flats in several towns will close shortly, he added. 'We can now move on to better help the second-timers,' Mr Khaw said.

The application rate for this group is 23.9, compared to 25.9 in the November BTO. He added that he hopes to announce changes to BTO balloting rules for the next BTO launch in March.