Overview: A major BTO launch to refresh Singapore’s public housing options
Singapore’s Housing & Development Board (HDB) kicked off the October BTO exercise with a record-breaking sale of 9,144 flats. The launch introduces two new estates and broadens the geographic reach of public housing, spanning Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Jurong East, Sengkang, Toa Payoh, and Yishun. Among the offerings are Mount Pleasant and Berlayar, the first flats in the Mount Pleasant Crest and Berlayar Residences projects respectively, signaling continued expansion into prime locations.
New estates bring fresh housing options: Mount Pleasant and Berlayar
Mount Pleasant Crest sits on Thomson Road in Toa Payoh and will house 1,350 two-room flexi, three-room, and four-room flats, plus 270 public rental flats. The Bundled features include an option for open-concept “white flats” without partition walls for eligible buyers. The wait for these flats runs about four years and 11 months, with price ranges from $209,000 for two-room flexi units to $787,000 for larger four-room units (before grants).
Berlayar Residences, the first project in the new Berlayar estate along the Greater Southern Waterfront, comprises 870 units across two-, three-, and four-room configurations. The site is nestled between Telok Blangah and Labrador Park MRT stations, and the projected waiting time is about four years and eight months. Prices range broadly, from about $218,000 for a two-room flexi to $788,000 for a four-room flat (before grants). The Berlayar project will be part of a larger mix that includes 7,000 HDB flats and 3,000 private homes in the development plan.
Subsidy clawbacks signal policy levers for new flats
HDB uses subsidy clawback rates to reflect additional subsidies granted for specific projects. Berlayar Residences features a 14% clawback—the highest so far—while Mount Pleasant Crest in Toa Payoh and Redhill Peaks in Bukit Merah carry a 12% rate. Bishan Terraces has a 10% clawback. The Oak Ville @ AMK, a Plus project with 1,425 units at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, has a 7% clawback and a 10-year minimum occupation period (MOP). In contrast, five projects fall under Standard classification with no subsidy recovery obligation and a five-year MOP.
Other projects with shorter waits and varied features
Besides the new estates, several projects offer shorter waiting times: Chencharu Grove and Yishun Glade in Yishun (Standard projects) provide a combined 1,395 units with waits around two years and seven months; Fernvale Plains in Sengkang is an 830-unit Standard project with a wait of about two years and eight months and 207 community care apartments for seniors. Ping Yi Court in Bedok has 862 units with an expected wait of about two years and nine months.
Family Care Scheme and application timeline
From October, the Family Care Scheme expands to allow joint applications for two units in the same BTO project with parents, benefiting families with multiple needy members. In July, first-timer singles received priority access within the single-buyer quota for two-room flexi flats near their parents. Applications for the October exercise close at 11.59pm on October 22 via the HDB Flat Portal.
What to expect in the February cycle
Looking ahead, HDB plans about 4,600 flats in the February sale, spanning Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Tampines, and Toa Payoh, with approximately 3,000 balance flats also on offer. This continuing supply helps maintain housing options across diverse budgets and family sizes.
Why price and location matter for buyers
Across the new and existing BTO projects, the price ranges reflect the varied locations, sizes, and subsidy schemes. Buyers weighing two-room flexi flats near MRT stations, like those in Berlayar and Mount Pleasant, should consider proximity to transport, long-term value, and the impact of MOPs and clawback rates on resale. For resale-curious buyers, recent Toa Payoh three- and four-room prices provide context for prospective price growth.
How to proceed
Interested applicants should prepare their finances, consult the HDB Flat Portal for the latest eligibility criteria, and submit applications before the deadline. The ongoing changes in schemes such as the Family Care Scheme offer additional routes to secure a suitable home for multi-generational households.
