November 2022 HDB BTO review – Tengah

Singapore’s newest HDB town and former military restricted area, Tengah, is launching 2,077 flats across two BTO projects along Tengah Garden Avenue in the Garden District, making up around 20% of the total units offered in the November 2022 HDB BTO launch. 

The flat types offered are 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room. 

HDB previously launched two projects totalling 1,273 units in Tengah in February 2022, which means the November 2022 launch might be easy to ballot for, due to the large number of flats.  

November 2022 Tengah HDB BTO: At a glance

Location	Tengah Garden Avenue
Classification	Non-mature estate
Flat types and number of units	2,0777 units of 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room
Number of blocks	18
Price range for a 4-room flat	S$307k – S$397k
Estimated waiting time	3 years 4 months
Estimated completion date	Q1 2027
Nearest MRT	Hong Kah MRT and Tengah Plantation MRT
Notable amenities	Tengah Boulevard Bus Interchange, Tengah Polyclinic, Jurong Polyclinic, Tengah Town Centre, Central Park

 

November 2022 Tengah HDB BTO: Price range

Here are the price ranges excluding grants:

Flat type	Price range
2-room Flexi (Type 1)	S$111k – S$139k
2-room Flexi (Type 2)	S$144k – S$174k
3-room	S$214k – S$262k
4-room	S$307k – S$397k
5-room	S$428k – S$536k

Estimated downpayment, monthly instalment and income 

Based on these price ranges, we can estimate the downpayment, monthly instalments and household income needed to pay for the November 2022 Tengah BTO flat. These estimates are based on the following assumptions:

• An HDB loan is taken, maximising the 80% loan-to-value (LTV), given the latest round of cooling measures
• The loan tenure is 25 years, with a current interest rate of 2.6%
• There is no other housing loan to service

Let’s put this into better focus by taking the median of the price ranges, without accounting for CPF grants or savings. A mortgage calculator will also be used to work out the math.

Do note that for public housing, only up to 30% of your monthly household income can be used to service your home loan. This is called the Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR). A stress-test interest rate of 3% will also be considered to calculate the MSR and (essentially how much you can borrow from the bank).

By taking this into account, we can then find the estimated household monthly income needed for the flat.

Flat type	Median price	Loan amount (80%)	Min. downpayment (20%)	Estimated monthly instalment at 2.6% interest rate	Estimated monthly household income with 3% stress-test interest rate
2-room Flexi (Type 1)	S$125,000	S$100,000	S$25,000	S$453.67	S$1,580.70
2-room Flexi (Type 2)	S$159,000	S$127,200	S$31,800	S$577.07	S$2,010.67
3-room	S$238,000	S$190,400	S$47,600	S$863.79	S$3,009.67
4-room	S$352,000	S$281,600	S$70,400	S$1,277.53	S$4,451.27
5-room	S$482,000	S$385,600	S$96,400	S$1,749.35	S$6,095.20

Check your affordability with 99.co’s affordability calculator.

November 2022 Tengah HDB BTO: The Pros

Accessibility 

*Disclaimer: Walking, public transport rides, and driving durations are based on Google Maps estimates. Actual times may vary.

The main thing that makes up for Tengah’s ulu status is its direct access to the MRT. Hong Kah MRT (JS4) is right beside the BTO plot, while Tengah Plantation MRT (JE1) will be within walking distance. Both stations connect to Jurong East MRT in less than seven stops and have estimated opening dates of 2027 and 2028, respectively. 

Tengah Boulevard Bus Interchange at the intersection of Tengah Park Avenue and Tengah Boulevard is currently under construction.

If you commute by car, you will have direct access to the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) and Jurong via Tengah Boulevard in just under 5 minutes, with a new road interchange at PIE and Jurong Canal Drive ready by 2027.

The Tengah estate is poised to be a beacon of modern living within Singapore, integrating eco-friendly practices and smart technology into its infrastructure. This forward-thinking approach is not only expected to enhance the quality of life for its residents but also to set a precedent for future developments.

With the inclusion of electric vehicle charging stations and a centralized cooling system, Tengah is not just offering a place to live but a glimpse into the future of sustainable urban habitats. The initial cost may be higher, but the long-term benefits and cost savings from such green initiatives are likely to be significant.

Moreover, as the estate matures and more amenities become available, the convenience factor will only increase, potentially leading to a higher demand for these flats in the resale market.

Amenities

There will be commercial amenities such as shops, a supermarket, restaurants and an eating house at Garden Waterfront I. At the same time, given how new the area is, it will take sometime before these amenities are available. 

Meanwhile, there’s a Giant at Jurong West Street 41 and Avenue 1 (around an 8-minute walk away) and an NTUC Fairprice within a 10-minute walk. 

As the Tengah projects are relatively close to the Bukit Batok 2022 BTO launch, you can travel a little further to access the same amenities. 

Drive to Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre (a 5-minute drive), where you’ll find the standard heartland shopping centre housing a wet market, FairPrice, 24-hour Sheng Siong, clinics, banks, bakeries and a coffee shop serving up a variety of local dishes.  

West Mall is a 6-minute drive away, where you can find Cold Storage and a range of eateries. Fairprice Finest can be found at Le Quest Shopping Mall, which is also a 6-minute drive away. 

If you prefer the atmosphere and selection of a wet market, Bukit Gombak Neighbourhood Centre is an 8-minute drive away. There, you can buy fresh produce as well as dine at the hawker centre. 

Healthcare

Two health and medical care centres are poised to be built near the BTO plot, and a neighbourhood centre with an integrated polyclinic will be located along Tengah Park Avenue, just two streets away.  

The nearest hospital will be Ng Teng Fong General Hospital in Jurong East.

As Tengah continues to develop into a full-fledged residential estate, there will be more grocery and dining options within walking distance. 

Green spaces

The nearest green space would be Bukit Batok Central Park (a 6-minute drive away), a small linear park with jogging tracks, a pavilion and various playgrounds for children. 

Bukit Batok Town Park is slightly further away, clocking in a 10-minute drive by car. There, you can take in glorious views of Little Guilin, a towering granite rock encapsulated by a lake and surrounded by lush greenery.

Also a 10-minute drive away lies Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore’s third and newest national garden. It’s a sprawling 90-hectare verdant space with three zones – Lakeside Garden, Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden. Explore the garden’s rich biodiversity and thriving fauna, or head to Passion Wave to enjoy a range of water sports such as kayaking, dragon boating, rafting and windsurfing.  

HDB plans to have forest and nature themes featured front and centre in the planning of the Tengah estate, so you can expect to see lush nature in the form of several parks as well as Tengah Pond in the future. 

November 2022 Tengah HDB BTO: The Cons

Lack of immediate amenities

As we mentioned above, Tengah is still in its infancy stages of estate development, so amenities in the immediate vicinity are few and far between. 

However, it’ll probably have a plethora of child-related amenities such as playgrounds, childcare and primary schools, as its first few groups of residents will likely be couples and families with young children. 

In fact, both Garden Waterfront I & II will have childcare centres within the development. 

Schools

Tengah is still a relatively new town, but there are schools in the vicinity where parents can send their children. A primary school has been proposed to be built beside the BTO plot, within a 3-5 minute walk. 

• Shuqun Primary School (1km)
• Jurong Primary School (1.1km)
• Rulang Primary School (1.3km)
• Hong Kah Secondary School (420m)
• Hua Yi Secondary School (590m)
• Jurongville Secondary School (610m) 
• Dulwich College (3.2km)

*The distance of schools is an approximation.

Currently, there’s only one primary school that’ll be built in Tengah, beside the BTO sites. 

According to the URA Master Plan, there are six other sites around the area marked out for educational institutions, but it will take a few years for it to come to fruition. If the schools aren’t completed by the time you receive the keys to your flat, it means that you’ll have to go up against other parents when balloting for the Primary One registration in the neighbouring estates of Jurong and Bukit Batok. 

Prices of some flat types are slightly more expensive than Bukit Batok 2022 BTO launch

When we compare the price ranges of the Tengah projects with the Bukit Batok project in the same launch, the prices of some flat types are generally more expensive despite the severe lack of established amenities. 

For instance, 5-room flats at Tengah are priced from S$428k to S$536k. On the other hand, 5-room flats at Bukit Batok are priced lower at S$405k – S$522k. 

This might be because the new town has a myriad of smart technology incorporated into it, such as EV charging stations for electric vehicles, a smart waste management system and AI-enabled monitoring of the town. 

A subscription-based centralised cooling system also eliminates the need for bulky air-conditioning compressor units. 

While the cooling system will be cheaper and more sustainable in the long run, Tengah residents may be footing the bill for such developments in the initial stages, which explains the higher estimated BTO price.

See also: Tengah Garden Residences

November 2022 Tengah HDB BTO: Price appreciation

Tengah has no price data at this point since all projects are still under construction, with the first BTO flats only hitting the resale market in 2028. 

Instead, we’ll look at the price of 3-, 4- and 5-room HDBs near the Tengah plot. 

3-room flats saw a price appreciation of 32.01% over the last five years, while 4-room flats came in slightly lower at 31.5%. 5-room flats had the lowest (but still decent) appreciation, at 27.74%.

In terms of investment, the Tengah BTOs present a unique opportunity. While the current lack of amenities might deter some, the planned developments and the government’s commitment to transforming Tengah into a “Forest Town” filled with green spaces and smart living features make it an attractive long-term prospect.

The potential for significant price appreciation, as seen in the surrounding areas, is an enticing factor for buyers looking to invest in a property that will grow in value. The strategic location near the Jurong Innovation District further bolsters the likelihood of a robust appreciation in property prices, making the Tengah BTOs a smart buy for both first-time homeowners and seasoned investors.

With the rise of developments such as the Jurong Innovation District and Tengah’s proximity to it, property prices of the BTO projects should rise along with it. 

November 2022 Tengah HDB BTO: Conclusion

If you don’t mind moving in while the estate is still under development and waiting for amenities to be established, you can opt for the Tengah BTOs. 

The projects are also great for those who are tired of constantly being turned down during balloting since there are a large number of units up for grabs which means it’ll be easier to get a flat, especially a 5-room unit if you’re looking for more living space.  

You’ll also get bragging rights for living in the newest Singapore estate that comes with all the bells and whistles, such as being able to pre-cool or turn off your aircon remotely via the SP Utilities App. 

If you’re looking for a neighbourhood nearby with 5-room flats and already-established amenities, look no further than the Bukit Batok 2022 BTO project that’s coming up in the same launch. 

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Will you apply for the November 2022 Tengah BTO? Let us know in the comments section below. 

If you found this article helpful, check out our overview of the November 2022 BTO projects.

• Bukit Batok November 2022 BTO
• Kallang/ Whampoa November 2022 BTO
• Queenstown November 2022 BTO
• Yishun November 2022 BTO