How to Increase HDB BTO Chances: Why is it so hard to get BTO?

Getting a public housing HDB BTO in Singapore is akin to striking the Toto or 4D lottery. Tales of couples trying seven, eight, or nine BTOs are aplenty. Some of them got huge queue numbers. Some didn't even get a chance at all.

Why is it so difficult to get a BTO in Singapore? Two reasons. First, subsidised HDB BTOs are already heavily oversubscribed. Second, it doesn't help that it's purely by ballot-only basis (randomised like Toto to be fair, basically).

However, there are ways to increase your chances at getting a HDB BTO. You will need a low queue number, lady luck on your side, and lots of research and reading up.

Ready? Here are nine ways to help you get a HDB BTO with more than just luck.

• Check that you're eligible for HDB BTO before applying
• Choose non-mature estate
• Stay near your parents' house
• Apply for same BTO project with your parents
• Get pregnant or have children
• Or, have even more children
• Apply after your divorce
• Apply if you're living in a HDB rental flat
• Unsuccessful BTO application: You get an extra ballot next time

Read Also: HDB November BTO 2022 Is Now Open

Make sure you are eligible for a HDB BTO

To apply for a HDB BTO flat, you have to meet a set of eligibility criteria set out by HDB. Here, the eligibility criteria for a fiance and fiancee applying for HDB BTO:

• Applicant 1: Singaporean Citizen
• Applicant 2: Singaporean Citizen or Permanent Resident (PR)
• 21 years old and above
• Monthly income: $7,000 (2-room flexi)
• Monthly income: $7,000 or $14,000 (3-room)
• Monthly income: $14,000 (4-room and 5-room)
• Cannot own any other private property in Singapore and overseas
• Did not just sell another private property in the recent 30 months

So, if your grandfather or grandmother left their HDB in your name, you will not be eligible to apply HDB BTO.

There are also other eligibility criteria for:

• Married Couples
• Parents with Children
• Multi-Generation Families
• Orphan Siblings
• Families with Foreigner spouse, parents, or children

Choose a non-mature HDB estate 

Select an estate in a non-mature town, one that is less sought after. Examples from the recent November BTO 2022 launch saw non-mature estates such as Bukit Batok, Tengah, and Yishun.

Non-mature estates are likely to be further from the Orchard shopping belt or the Central Business District (CBD), and could also be a distance away from the nearest MRT. However, these units also tend to be more affordable.

These non-mature estates make sense if you primarily work from home, and are spending way lesser time in the office and more time at home. Living closer to the heart of Singapore might not be the biggest consideration going forward.

Stay near your parents (or with your parents)

Improve your chances by applying for a project that is within 4 km of the HDB flat or private residential property that your parents are living in. You can measure this based on the block in the project that is nearest to your parents’ address.

If your parents own more than one property, the property which they reside in will be the one used for the proximity reference. 

This scheme is called the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS). It will require your parents (all owners of the property) to join you at HDB Hub in Toa Payoh to confirm they are aware you're applying for this priority scheme, confirm their addresses, and sign paperwork.

That means, if you currently aren't on talking terms or can't meet your estranged parents, this scheme might not work out for you.

There is a quota set aside just for applicants under the MCPS. Up to 30 per cent of BTO and SBF units are reserved for first-timer families that apply under the MCPS and up to 15 per cent of BTO units (3 per cent of SBF units) are reserved for second-timer families. 

Do note that if you apply under the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), after collecting the keys, your parents who helped you qualify for the scheme must continue to live within 4 km of your new flat throughout the Minimum Occupancy Period (MOP).

Apply for BTO together your parents

If your parents are looking to get a new HDB flat, or if you would like to stay near your parents within the same estate, you can actually apply for two flats in a BTO project through a joint application with your parents. This is only possible if the BTO project offers 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats.

If successfully balloted, both parents and married child will have the opportunity to choose flats on the same floor or elsewhere within the BTO project, from a pool of pre-identified flats.

This priority scheme is called the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme. Up to 15 per cent of the 2-room Flexi or 3-room flats are set aside for parents that apply under this scheme. A corresponding number of 2-room Flexi or larger flats will similarly be set aside for the married child. 

You will receive three queue numbers: 

• One queue number under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme: Both households can choose their flats together
• Two queue numbers under the Public Scheme: Choose a flat as a public applicant

You can decide if you want to book the flats jointly under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS) or as public applicants depending on the ballot results.

Read More: Is A Condo or HDB Better? Condo Owners Share Their Regrets

Higher BTO chances if you’re pregnant or have children

Couples that already have children (that are Singapore Citizens aged 18 years old or below) or have a baby on the way can consider applying for a BTO. To apply for this scheme, you must be a first-timer applying as a married couple. 

This priority scheme is called the Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS). Up to 30 per cent of BTO units are allocated to applicants under the PPS.

Higher BTO chances when you have more children  

In Singapore, our fertility rate fell to a historic low of 1.1 in 2020. This is far from the replacement figure of 2.1 in developed countries. To help encourage the formation of larger families, the HDB has available the Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS).

Up to 5 per cent of BTO flats are allocated for applications under this scheme. 

If you and your spouse have more than two children, you can tap on the TCPS to improve your BTO ballot chances.

To apply, your family must consist of at least three children. The third child must be a Singapore Citizen while the other children have to be either a Singapore Citizen or a Singapore Permanent Resident. 

Do keep in mind that the children who helped you to qualify for the TCPS must continue to live with you in the new flat. That means if your children live with their grandparents for childcare or because it's nearer to a good school, this scheme might not work for you.

Apply even after a divorce or failed marriage

A failed marriage or divorce is never the end of the world. You can still be a homeowner and create your own dream home. 

If you have a child in tow, you can tap on the Assistance scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/Widowed parents) (ASSIST) which is targeted at divorced or widowed persons with children.

Up to 5 per cent of BTO 2-room Flexi and 3-room flats in non-mature estates are set aside under ASSIST. However, this quota is shared with the 30 per cent quota set aside for second-timers. 

Under this scheme, you must have at least one child aged 18 years old or under and you must not have acquired any interest in an HDB flat or private residential property (except for your matrimonial flat or property), after the date of divorce or separation or demise of your spouse.

Upgrade from HDB rental to HDB BTO

Singapore’s rental market saw a rise in HDB rental prices of a whopping 20.9 per cent this year in 2022.

If you and your family have been living in an HDB public rental flat for at least two years, you can consider making the leap to become a homeowner by applying for a BTO flat. 

This priority scheme is called the Tenants’ Priority Scheme (TPS). Up to 10 per cent of 2-room Flexi and 3-room BTO units are set aside for those applying under the TPS.

BTO First-Timer Priority

If you are applying for a BTO flat, be sure to make the most of your first application. 

First-timer applicants enjoy privileges and priority in flat allocation, as your housing needs are more pressing. HDB sets aside more flats for first-timers during sales launches and gives first-timers an additional ballot chance.

First-timers get two ballot chances while second-timer applicants get one single ballot chance.

However, the queue number to book a flat is randomly generated for flat applicants who are successful in the ballot, with no priority or privilege given. 

Unsuccessful BTO Application: You get an extra ballot next time

Don’t be disheartened by failed attempts to get a queue number for your BTO application. There will continue to be new BTO sales launches every quarter. Should you be unsuccessful in your BTO application at least twice for a home in a non-mature estate, you will get an additional ballot chance per subsequent application.

If all else fails, you can always consider applying for other types of HDB housing such as resale flats or Sale of Balance Flats (SBF).

This article first appeared on Singsaver, edited by Home and Decor.