HDB is launching two new housing projects, namely Compassvale Pearl in Sengkang and Punggol Sapphire in Punggol, under the Build-To-Order (BTO) System today. There are altogether 1,485 Premium flats, comprising 1,096 4-room and 389 5-room flats offered under this sales exercise.

2         In addition, flat buyers can look forward to more BTO projects from Jun to Dec 2008. These projects will be located in towns such as Punggol, Sengkang, Bukit Panjang and Woodlands. More details will be provided when the projects are launched. Together with today's launch, the total BTO supply planned for 2008 will be about 8,400 units, surpassing the number of BTO flats launched in the whole of 2007 (6,000 units) and 2006 (2,400 units). HDB will continue to monitor the market situation closely, to ensure that there is adequate and affordable supply of public housing.

Compassvale Pearl

3         Compassvale Pearl is a development with 420 flats, comprising 336 units of 4-room and 84 units of 5-room Premium flats.

4         The project is situated at the junction of Punggol Road and Compassvale Drive, and is well served by Ranggung and Kangkar LRT stations, Sengkang MRT/LRT station and a bus interchange. Located nearby are commercial facilities such as Rivervale Plaza and educational institutions such as Sengkang Secondary School.

5         HDB is also piloting a new water closet layout in Compassvale Pearl. This “concept toilet” consists of separate cubicles for the shower room and WC, and a shared wash basin located just outside the cubicle. It allows for the concurrent use of the facilities by different members in the household. HDB will evaluate public response to this pilot design before determining if there would be wider implementation.

Punggol Sapphire

6         Punggol Sapphire is a development with 1,065 flats, comprising 760 units of 4-room, 282 units of 5-room Premium flats and 23 units of 5-room loft units.

7         The project is situated along Punggol Field and is a short walking distance away from the future Town Centre and Punggol MRT/LRT station. It is uniquely designed and oriented to provide each unit with maximum vantage views of the surroundings. With green balconies or planters extending from the living room in more than half of the units, residents will have the luxury to experience vertical gardening.

Application Procedures

8         Applications for the new flats can be submitted online from 22 May 08 (Thurs) to 4 Jun 08 (Wed). More information on the 2 developments and details of the applications procedures can be found at Annexes 1 and 2.

Enquiries

9         For enquiries, the public can:

- e-mail hdbsales@hdb.gov.sg;
- call the Sales/Resale Customer Service Line at 1800-866 3066 from Mon to Fri - 8 am to 5 pm; or
- visit the HDB Sales Office to speak with our Customer Service Officers during office hours from Mon to Fri - 8 am to 5 pm and on Saturday - 8 am to 1 pm.

INFORMATION ON COMPASSVALE PEARL & PUNGGOL SAPPHIRE

A) Distribution of Flats

Housing Development (Contract)	Flat Type	Floor Area (sqm)	Internal Floor Area (sqm)	No. of units	Indicative Price Range ($)
Compassvale Pearl (Sengkang N2 C4) Premium Flats	4-room	95 - 100	90 - 92	336	$216,000 - $269,000
	5-room	115 - 121	110 - 113	84	$308,000 - $367,000
Punggol Sapphire (Punggol C17 & 18) Premium Flats	4-room	93 -100	90 - 94	760	$234,000 - $305,000
	5-room	112 -117	110 -113	282	$329,000 - $396,000
	5-room loft unit	148 -149	120	23	$442,000 - $477,000

Note:

1) Floor area refers to the estimated area of the whole apartment, inclusive of the area of the air-conditioner ledge, bay window, planter and balcony (where applicable).

2) Internal floor area refers to the estimated area of the apartment computed based on the centre line of the apartment wall.

3) The indicative prices do not include the cost of optional components. Actual selling prices will vary according to the attributes of the individual units at the time of selection.

The map of Compassvale Pearl attached (111KB)
The perspective of Compassvale Pearl attached (27KB)
The map of Punggol Sapphire attached (147KB)
The perspective of Punggol Sapphire attached (173KB)

Buyers of the Premium flats can opt for internal timber doors to be installed in their flats. The cost of the optional component (see table below) will be added to the selling price of the flat.

Optional Component	Indicative Costs
Compassvale Pearl*	$1,890
Punggol Sapphire	$1,890

Note: * A new water closet layout is piloted in Compassvale Pearl. The doors for the two cubicles and access from the service yard will be provided.

Location : Habitat Forum, BizFour, 3rd Storey, HDB Hub
Exhibition period : 22 May to 4 Jun 2008

Opening hours : 8 am to 5 pm (Weekdays)
8 am to 1 pm (Saturday)
Closed on Public Holidays and Sundays



         Households interested in buying a flat in Compassvale Pearl can submit their application online at HDB’s InfoWEB at www.hdb.gov.sg between 22 May 2008 (Thurs) and 4 Jun 2008 (Wed). The administrative fee of $10 is payable by cashcard or credit card (Master Card / Visa). Those without internet access can visit HDB Hub or any of HDB’s Branch Offices to submit their application via the e-Stations or Internet PCs that are available for use.
2         Each household can submit only one application and must indicate the development i.e. Compassvale Pearl or Punggol Sapphire, and the flat type (4-room or 5-room) that they are applying for.

3         From the May 08 BTO exercise, HDB will retain particulars of applicants participating in BTO and Balloting exercises (BE) in the system. Applicants who wish to submit applications for subsequent BTO/BE exercises need only extract the information using their SingPass or SPIN with their previous BTO registration number, and update changes to their particulars submitted previously, if any.

Eligibility Conditions

4         The monthly household income ceiling for the purchase of the 4-room and 5-room Premium flats is $8,000. Applicants must also satisfy the other eligibility conditions such as citizenship, family nucleus and non-ownership of private property.

5         First-timer households can also apply for the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) of up to $30,000. To qualify, first-timer households must have been in continuous employment over the last 24 months at the date of the flat application, and have an average gross monthly income not exceeding $4,000 over the same period.

6         Applicants who meet the conditions of the Third Child Priority Scheme (TCPS) or Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) can request for priority allocation under these schemes. Applications under the Resettlement/Relocation (REN/RH) and Grassroots Organisation (GRO) Schemes require recommendations from the appropriate authorities managing the schemes.

7         Upon the close of the application period, HDB will assess the subscription rates of each housing development before inviting applicants for the selection of flats in the respective housing developments. Applicant’s queue position to book a flat will be determined by computer ballot. Applicants will be informed of their queue position in mid Jul 2008.

8         The selection exercise will commence from early Aug 2008. An option fee of $2,000 is payable upon selection of a 4-room or 5-room flat and may be paid by cash/cheque/NETS.

9         Selection of flats by the applicants with queue numbers exceeding the flat supply would be subject to availability of flat supply or ethnic quota when their turns are due. They can check the availability of flats on the HDB InfoWeb or via teletext before turning up at the HDB Sales Office on the appointed date for the selection.

10         After completion of the selection exercise, HDB will assess the take-up rate of Compassvale Pearl and Punggol Sapphire before deciding whether to proceed to call the building tender for the development.

11         Once it is confirmed that the development has met the desired take-up rate and proceeds for tender, HDB will arrange for the applicants to sign the Agreement for Lease within 4 months from the date of selection of the flats.

12         Applicants must pay 10% of the selling price of the flat as downpayment at the time of signing the Agreement for Lease, by CPF and/or cash. First-timer applicants, i.e. married couples as well as those applying under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme, can pay the 10% downpayment in 2 instalments under the Staggered Downpayment Scheme (SDS) if at least one of the partners is aged 30 years or younger. The first 5% will be collected when the applicant signs the Agreement for Lease and the balance 5% when the buyer takes possession of his new flat.

13         Applicants who intend to take an HDB loan must obtain an HDB Loan Eligibility letter before they exercise the Option To Purchase for the HDB flat by signing the Agreement for Lease. For the applicants who are taking a bank loan, they will have to pay 5% cash payment to HDB. They will also have to obtain a Letter of Offer from the bank before they can exercise the Option To Purchase for the HDB flat.

14         Applicants who do not sign the Agreement for Lease or reject the flat after selection will have their applications cancelled and the option fee forfeited. If the applicant rejects the flat after signing the Agreement for Lease, the forfeiture will be 5% of the selling price of the flat.