Frequently Asked Questions on Sales Exercises

Find out the answers to some commonly asked questions by flat applicants at the different stages of a sales exercise. Buyers must have a valid HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter before they may apply for a flat in our sales exercises.

Before a sales exercise

Q1: What do I need to participate in a sales exercise?

All potential flat buyers must obtain a valid HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter before you can apply for a new flat in our sales exercises.

The HFE letter provides buyers with a comprehensive assessment of your eligibility for a flat purchase, as well as for any housing grant and/ or HDB housing loan. Second-timers will also be informed on the resale levy/ premium payable for the purchase of a subsidised flat from HDB.

During the application period of a sales exercise, buyers with a valid HFE letter may apply for a flat online at the HDB Flat Portal. Read our procedures to buy a new flat for more information.

 

Q2: How do I apply for an HFE letter?

You may apply for an HFE letter online via the HDB Flat Portal. There are 2 steps to apply for an HFE letter:

  • Step 1: Check Preliminary HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE). Get a quick overview of your eligibility to buy an HDB flat, receive CPF housing grants, and take up an HDB housing loan. This preliminary assessment guides your financial planning. To submit the HFE letter application, applicants must complete and submit Step 2.  
  • Step 2: Apply for HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter. Complete and submit Step 2 within 30 calendar days of Step 1 and submit all required documents. The processing time is about a month, after we have received the full set of required documents.

You may view our step-by-step guide or videos on the HFE letter application.

 

Q3: When should I apply for an HFE letter if I wish to participate in a sales exercise?

You must have a valid HFE letter before you may participate in our sales exercises. We encourage all prospective flat applicants to apply for an HFE letter early as the HFE letter is valid for 9 months.

Processing time takes approximately one month after we receive all required documents, though it may take longer before and during the month of a sales exercise due to high application volumes.

To prioritise our resources, the ‘Apply for HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter’ e-Service will be suspended during the application period of a sales exercise.

 

Q4: Where can I find information on the upcoming sales exercises?

Visit the HDB Flat Portal for information on our upcoming Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise, such as the flat types, number of units and town map of the projects to be offered. The supply will be subject to review, as project details are firmed up closer to the sales exercise date. Prices of the flats and additional details including the projects’ classification categories will be posted during the sales exercise.

For flats offered during a Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, details on the flats for sale will only be made available via HDB Flat Portal during the sales exercise.

If you wish to receive email notifications on the launch of our sales exercises, subscribe to HDB e-Alerts.

 

Q5:  How do I work out a budget to finance the flat purchase?

The budget is based on your available funds to pay for the flat purchase, namely:

  • Amount of housing loan from HDB or a financial institution;
  • CPF savings in the Ordinary Account;
  • CPF housing grants (if eligible); and
  • Cash savings

Read about how you may budget for a flat purchase, and use our calculators to work out your budget before you commit to a flat purchase.

 

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During a sales exercise

Q1: I have an approved HFE letter. Can I apply for any new flats in this sales exercise?

All eligible flat buyers with a valid HFE letter showing an approved outcome that confirms their eligibility to buy a new flat may apply for a flat online at the HDB Flat Portal during the sales exercise application period. You can only apply for flat types you are eligible for, as indicated in your approved HFE letter.

 

Q2:  The HFE letter application e-Service is unavailable. How can I apply for HFE and participate in this sales exercise?

From July 2025, the ‘Apply for HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter’ e-Service will be temporarily unavailable during the sales exercise application period. This will enable us to channel our resources to provide a smoother flat application experience for flat buyers during the exercise.

This will not affect flat buyers with a valid HFE letter, or those who have already submitted an HFE letter application prior to the sales exercise.

Flat buyers who have yet to apply for an HFE letter may apply for one when the ‘Apply for HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) Letter’ e-Service resumes. They may then apply for a new flat in our subsequent sales exercises with a valid HFE letter.

 

Q3: How do I apply for a flat in this sales exercise?

All eligible flat buyers with a valid HFE letter can apply for a flat online at the HDB Flat Portal during the application period. Applicants must pay a non-refundable administrative fee of $10 by credit card (MasterCard/ Visa) or by scanning the QR code using any of the supported mobile payment apps.

HDB will place all eligible applications through a computerised ballot to determine the queue order to book the flats. Successful applicants will be invited to book a flat based on their balloted queue position.

 

Q4: I am interested in more than 1 town or flat type. Can I submit more than 1 application in a sales exercise?

No. You may only submit 1 application for 1 town and flat type in a sales exercise. If a sales exercise comprises both a BTO and an SBF exercise, you may apply for either the BTO exercise or the SBF exercise, but not both.

 

Q5: How do I find the number of applications received in this sales exercise? How do I check if I have submitted my flat application?

You may check the number of applications received in a sales exercise, under the ‘Application status’ section of the ‘Application’ page.

To check your flat application status, log in to My Flat Dashboard.

 

Q6: How do I find out if I meet the proximity condition of 4 km to qualify for the Family Care Scheme (FCS) (Proximity)?

You can use the ‘Distance Enquiry for FCS’ e-Service to check whether you meet the proximity condition for FCS (Proximity). This e-Service is available during the application period of each sales exercise.

 

Q7: How do I opt for Deferred Income Assessment in the application form?

You need not opt for the Deferred Income Assessment when you submit the flat application. If you are eligible for it, you will be informed during your flat booking appointment.

 

Q8: What are priority schemes and how do I apply for them?

Priority schemes enhance your chances in the computer ballot for flats offered in the Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises. Flat buyers may select 1 priority scheme when submitting their flat application to enhance their chances in the ballot. HDB will assess and inform you about your eligibility after you have submitted your flat application.

Learn more about the different types of priority schemes available.

 

Q9: How do I make changes after submitting a flat application?

You may log in to the HDB Flat Portal to update your correspondence address, contact details, or priority scheme request (if applicable) at no charge.

To change your preferred town or flat type, you must cancel your existing flat application and re-apply online during the sales exercise application period with the payment of an administrative fee of $10 (inclusive of GST).

 

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After a sales exercise

Q1: When will I be notified of the ballot results? How will I be notified?

You will receive an email notification to log in to the HDB Flat Portal to check the ballot results within 2 months after the application period has closed. The timeline to release the ballot results differs for each sales exercise and is dependent on the flat supply that was on offer.

 

Q2: How do I cancel my flat application?

To cancel your flat application after the sales exercise application period, please submit a request via MyRequest@HDB. The relevant financial forfeitures and consequences upon the cancellation of the flat application will apply, depending on the stage of your flat application.

Once a flat application is cancelled, it cannot be reinstated. If you cancel your flat application after you have booked a flat, your HFE letter that was used for the flat application will also be cancelled.

 

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