Kim Keat Crest BTO Review: Ideal for families with good schools

Kim Keat Crest BTO was launched in the HDB BTO February 2026 sales exercise.
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If you are considering balloting for Kim Keat Crest, you are looking at a project that offers a rare entry point into one of Singapore’s most iconic and central mature estates. This development is situated on the site of the former Toa Payoh Golf Range, bounded by Kim Keat Avenue and Toa Payoh East. Kim Keat Crest BTO was launched in the February 2026 BTO sales exercise.

It is a large-scale project featuring 5 residential blocks (4 for sale, 1 for rental) rising up to 30 storeys. Its “Plus” classification reflects its highly desirable city-fringe location, which balances high demand with a set of restrictions designed to keep the estate inclusive for the long term.

  1. 1. Transport
  2. 2. Site Layout and Block Orientation
  3. 3. Noise from PIE
  4. 4. Unit Selection
  5. 5. Schools
  6. 6. Amenities
  7. 7. Kim Keat Crest BTO Price
  8. 8. Waiting Time
  9. 9. Toa Payoh East’s Future Transformation (2030s)

Kim Keat Crest BTO is a strategically located “Plus” model development that offers a rare entry point into the mature Toa Payoh estate at a significant discount, balanced by a 10-year MOP. It is the ideal choice for families prioritising rapid move-in times and proximity to elite schools over immediate MRT access.

Transport

The most critical detail for your daily commute is that Kim Keat Crest is not within easy walking distance of an MRT station. Unlike the “Prime” Redhill Peaks BTO, you will be reliant on Toa Payoh’s extensive feeder bus network.

Expect a 10-to-15-minute bus ride to reach Toa Payoh MRT (North-South Line) or about 10 minutes to Potong Pasir MRT (North-East Line). While this adds a step to your journey, the site is exceptionally well-connected for drivers, with immediate access to the PIE and CTE, allowing for a sub-15-minute drive to the city centre during off-peak hours.

Given its location on the eastern edge of Toa Payoh, your choice of unit will significantly dictate your daily comfort, particularly regarding noise and sun exposure.

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Kim Keat Crest BTO site plan - the BTO was launched in the HDB BTO February 2026 sales exercise.

Site Layout and Block Orientation

The development consists of five residential blocks, with heights ranging between 26 and 30 storeys. A major advantage for this site is that most units feature a North-South orientation. This is highly desirable in Singapore as it avoids the intense direct afternoon sun (West sun) for the living and bedroom areas.

Blocks 146A, 147A, and 148A are the taller residential blocks that offer the best chance for unblocked views, especially on higher floors.

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Noise from PIE

The most significant environmental factor for Kim Keat Crest is its proximity to the Pan Island Expressway (PIE). While the site is not directly adjacent to the highway, the roar of traffic from the south and east can carry, particularly for units in Block 148A and the southern-facing stacks of Block 147A.

If you are sensitive to noise, you should prioritise “inner” stacks that face the central landscaped courtyard or the Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP). While the MSCP itself can act as a noise buffer for lower-floor units, be aware that units directly facing the car park may experience “light sha” (headlight glare) and engine noise during peak hours.

Unit Selection

  • 2-room Flexi (Type 1) :58
  • 2-room Flexi (Type 2) :219
  • 3-room :87
  • 4-room :787
  • Total:1,151

For the best views, choose high-floor units (above the 15th storey) in Block 146A facing the Kallang River. These units provide a sense of openness that is rare in a mature estate like Toa Payoh.

For peace and quiet, choose units in Block 144A or 144B, which are tucked further away from the main road (Toa Payoh East) and the PIE. Stacks facing the communal green spaces will offer a more tranquil environment.

For privacy, go with “corner” BTO units. They are the gold standard to avoid corridor foot traffic. In Kim Keat Crest, several 4-room BTO stacks are designed as corner units with minimal shared walls.

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Schools

For families, the location is a significant “win” due to its proximity to Pei Chun Public School, a highly sought-after Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school. Other reputable institutions within the 1km radius include First Toa Payoh Primary and St. Andrew’s Junior School.

Amenities

In terms of lifestyle, you are positioned near the Kallang River, offering scenic jogging routes along the park connector. The development itself will be self-sufficient with an on-site preschool, eating house, and minimart.

Furthermore, you are a short distance from the upcoming Toa Payoh Integrated Development, which will house a new polyclinic, a library, and revamped sports facilities by the time you move in.

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Kim Keat Crest BTO was launched in the HDB BTO February 2026 sales exercise.

Kim Keat Crest BTO Price

  • 2-Room Flexi (Type 1): $203,000 - $253,000
  • 2-Room Flexi (Type 2): $229,000 - $304,000
  • 3-Room: $356,000 - $450,000
  • 4-Room: $455,000 - $624,000

As a Plus model flat, Kim Keat Crest BTO comes with a 10-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) and a 6% subsidy clawback on the resale price. This means you cannot rent out the whole flat even after 10 years (only spare rooms).

However, the trade-off is the pricing: 4-room HDB flats here start from approximately $338,000 before grants—a massive discount compared to the million-dollar resale flats just a few streets away.

Waiting Time

Additionally, this project boasts a relatively short waiting time of 37 months (3 years and 1 month), which is quite efficient for a mature estate project of this scale.

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New Integrated Development in Toa Payoh to Open in 2030

Toa Payoh East’s Future Transformation (2030s)

By 2036—the year you would likely be eligible to sell after your 10-year MOP—the area will have transitioned from a quiet pocket of Toa Payoh East into a high-tech, integrated lifestyle hub.

The primary transformation you will witness is the completion of the Toa Payoh Integrated Development (TPID) by 2030. This massive 12-hectare project, located just a short distance from your home, will replace the ageing town facilities with a world-class 10,000-seater stadium, an aquatics centre with four indoor pools, and a sprawling indoor sports hall.

For you, this means having a premier regional library and a modernised polyclinic within a five-minute transit, significantly increasing the “liveability” score of your location.

Furthermore, the Kallang River rejuvenation will be a defining feature of your neighbourhood’s future. Under the URA Master Plan, the stretch of the river fronting St. Andrew’s Village and your estate will be enhanced with “outdoor classrooms,” new seating decks, and a seamless 10km cycling path.

Toa Payoh Integrated Development

A key milestone to watch for is the 2027 completion of the cycling bridge over the PIE, which will allow you to cycle from your doorstep to the City Centre in under 30 minutes without ever having to cross a major road.

Finally, the redevelopment of the former Toa Payoh Golf Range (where your flat is located) is only the beginning. By 2036, the entire precinct will be fully built out with over 1,000 new residential units and refreshed commercial nodes. This influx of younger families will likely trigger an upgrade of the surrounding “heartland” shops and coffee shops, transitioning them into more contemporary lifestyle offerings.

While the 6% subsidy clawback will apply when you sell, the sheer scale of these upgrades suggests that Toa Payoh East will remain a high-demand “Plus” location with resilient capital values.

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