{"id":15455,"date":"2021-04-19T09:04:27","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T01:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/blog\/singapore\/?p=15455"},"modified":"2024-08-27T18:22:18","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T10:22:18","slug":"bto-hdb-application-terms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/bto-hdb-application-terms\/","title":{"rendered":"HDB BTO application terms you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BTO-ing is more than just paying a S$10 fee for your desired project, crossing your fingers and hoping for the best. If it\u2019s your first foray into the property market, your HDB BTO<\/a> application would be the start of a learning curve. There\u2019s a lot of technical jargon to wrap your head around, from PLH, HFE to MSR.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Not to worry, though, here’s a crash course to make your BTO journey a smoother one!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"HDB<\/a>\r\n
HDB BTO application is more than just filling in a form. Credit: Herman Wu<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP)<\/b><\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Commonly referred to as the “racial quota”, the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) was introduced in 1989 as the government’s way of ensuring that races don’t become segregated in our public housing estates. This might happen if, say, Tampines<\/a> becomes a mecca for Muslim food.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So the Housing & Development Board (HDB) has in place a racial quota. The quota specifies the maximum number of units in any given HDB block<\/a> that can be occupied by a certain race.<\/strong> A block with 100 units might have a racial quota of 76 Chinese, 19 Malay and 15 Indian\/Others. Note that the number (110) is greater than the units available, which indicates a bit of leeway in the mix of races for each block.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Racial quota is strictly enforced, and affects BTO applicants during the flat selection process.<\/span> For example, if your queue number is within the flat supply of your project, but the racial quota for your race has been filled before it’s your turn to choose your flat, your flat selection appointment with HDB will be cancelled immediately.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So even if there are empty flats in a particular block, you may not get to book a flat if the quota for your ethnicity has been reached.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Rest assured that this voided HDB BTO application will not be counted as a rejection on your part.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

HDB BTO application balloting system<\/b><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What’s this queue number thing, you may ask? HDB manages its application process through a computerised balloting system that randomly assigns applicants with a queue number. The applicants are then invited to select a flat in the order of the queue number.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As HDB issues queue numbers beyond the flat supply available to account for dropouts during the flat selection process, there are two situations to take note of:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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  1. Your queue number is within the flat supply for your project<\/span><\/strong>. Congratulations! You’re assured of a flat if the racial quota for your race has not been filled. The lower your queue number, the greater the choice of units.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Your queue number exceeds the flat supply for your project.<\/span><\/strong> To get the chance to pick a flat, you’ll have to count on there being enough dropouts<\/a>. The racial quota still applies.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    HDB gives priority to first-time applicants and applicants under certain priority\u00a0schemes<\/a>, offering them additional chances to score a low queue number in the balloting process. For instance, a first-timer couple applicant would receive two chances on the ballot compared to one for second-timers.<\/p>\r\n

    \"HDB<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    By the way, most BTO flats released are also reserved for first-timers. Here are the exact percentages, which differ for mature and non-mature estates<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Non-mature estates<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    3-room:<\/strong> First-timer applicants are allocated at least 85% of the flat supply, up from 70%. On the other hand, second-timer applicants are allocated the remaining 15%, down from 30%.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    4-\/ 5-room\/ 3Gen:<\/strong> First-timer applicants are allocated at least 95% of the flat supply, up from 85%. In comparison, second-timer applicants are allocated the remaining 5%, down from 15%.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    For BTO projects with shorter waiting time<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    4-\/ 5-room\/ 3Gen:<\/strong> First-timer applicants are allocated 95% of the flat supply, while second-timer applicants are allocated the remaining 5%.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    If there’s a mix of BTO projects with normal and shorter waiting times in the same estate, the quota for 4-room and bigger flats will be computed based on the weighted average of the projects offered.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n

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    HDB flats for sale<\/h4><\/div>\n
    See all listings<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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    \n \"647\n <\/div>\n
    \n
    647 Jalan Tenaga<\/div>\n
    Singapore 410647 \u00b7 D14<\/div>\n
    \n
    \n \"bedroom\"\n 3<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
    \n \"bathroom\"\n 2<\/span>\n <\/div>\n
    \n 1,432 sqft<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
    S$ 850,000<\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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