Modes of Sale

Our modes of sale are as follows:

  • Build-To-Order (BTO)
  • Sale of Balance Flats (SBF)
  • Open booking of flats

Visit the HDB Flat Portal to find out more about the current and upcoming sales launches. Details such as flat types and pricing, will be available on the portal during the sales launch. If you wish to be notified of the sales launches, subscribe to HDB eAlert Service. You may also read our frequently asked questions on sales launches.

Applicants may be eligible for the various priority schemes to increase their chances of getting a flat. Nevertheless, to discourage repeated non-selection of flats and prioritise other applicants who are in urgent need to buy a flat, application restrictions will apply if you choose not to book a BTO or SBF flat twice when you are invited to do so. You may refer to our priority schemes section for more information.

Build-To-Order (BTO)

The BTO system offers you flexibility in location and timing of your flat purchase. A BTO sales launch offers a range of flat types across a few towns.

How the BTO process works

The flat types offered are typically 2-room Flexi, 3-, 4-, 5-room flats, and 3Gen flats. You may apply for your preferred flat type and town, and balloting will be conducted to determine whether your flat application is successful.

First-timer families enjoy higher priority for BTO flats. In cases where the applicants comprise a first-timer and second-timer, the couple will be treated as a first-timer family, with the same priority benefits and privileges.

Here is an overview of the BTO process:

Overview of BTO process

Distribution of flat supply

More new flats are allocated to first-timers as they have a more pressing need for a home.

For seniors, at least 40%# of the 2-room Flexi flats will be set aside for them. Within this, half will be set aside for eligible seniors under the Senior Priority Scheme (SPS). Those who are unsuccessful under the seniors quota will be included in a second round of balloting alongside non-seniors for the balance flat supply. Any unused seniors quota will be distributed among the other households.

# Subject to a minimum of 100 units for each BTO project

For second-timers, up to 15% of the public flat supply will be set aside for them. If there are more second-timers than the flat supply set aside for them, not all second-timers will be successful in their flat application, in keeping second-timers within the flat supply set aside for them.

BTO flat distribution for non-seniors in non-mature estates

Flat Type First-timer Second-timer
Families (PPS) Families (MCPS)* Other families Singles Families (ASSIST) Families (MCPS)* Other families
2-room Flexi 5% 5% 10% 65% 5% 5% 5%
3-room 30% 30% 25% NA 5% 5% 5%
4- and 5-room 30% 30% 35% NA NA 3% 2%
PPS – Parenthood Priority Scheme
MCPS – Married Child Priority Scheme
ASSIST – Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/Widowed Parents)
* Within the MCPS quota, first priority is given to:
  • Applicants who apply for a flat under the MCPS (with parents/ married child) to live together with their parents/ married child
  • Parents who own a flat in a mature estate and are applying for a flat in a non-mature estate to live closer to their married child

BTO flat distribution for non-seniors in mature estates

Flat Type First-timer Second-timer
Families (PPS) Families (MCPS)* Other families Families (MCPS)* Other families
2-room Flexi to 5-room 30% 30% 35% 3% 2%
PPS – Parenthood Priority Scheme
MCPS – Married Child Priority Scheme
* Within the MCPS quota, first priority is given to applicants who apply for a flat under the MCPS (with parents/ married child) to live together with their parents/ married child

BTO flat distribution for projects with shorter waiting time

Flat Type First-timer Second-timer
Families (PPS) Families (MCPS)* Other families Families (MCPS)* Other families
4-room and bigger flats 30% 30% 35% 3% 2%
PPS – Parenthood Priority Scheme
MCPS – Married Child Priority Scheme
ASSIST – Assistance Scheme for Second-Timers (Divorced/Widowed Parents)
* Within the MCPS quota, first priority is given to applicants who apply for a flat under the MCPS (with parents/ married child) to live together with their parents/ married child

Allocation of ballot chances

Applicant's Status No. of Ballot Chance
First-timer family/ couple 2
Second-timer family 1
Single 1

Additional ballot chances after 2 unsuccessful applications

First-timer family/couple will get an additional chance in applying for a BTO flat in the non-mature estates, if their first 2 applications for a BTO flat in the non-mature estates were unsuccessful.
No. of Previous Unsuccessful Applications

(For BTO flats in non-mature estates)

 Additional Chances

(+1 per application after 2 unsuccessful applications)

 Total

(Additional chances + 2 first-timer chances)
0 to 1 0 2
2 1 3
3 2 4
4 3 5

An application is considered unsuccessful if the applicant is not invited to book a flat, i.e. not shortlisted to book a flat or the flats have been fully taken up before the balloted queue number is due.

There are no additional ballot chances for unsuccessful BTO applications in the mature estates as the supply is limited.

Sale of Balance Flats (SBF)

SBF sales launches give you the opportunity to apply for balance flats from earlier BTO sales launches, surplus Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) replacement flats, repurchased flats, etc.

How the SBF process works

A SBF exercise offers a wide range of flat types, locations, and prices. The flat types offered are typically 2-room Flexi, 3-, 4-, 5-room, Executive flats, and 3Gen flats. The flats are usually already under construction, near completion or completed.

There is often strong interest in SBF flats, and the chances of getting a flat is slim. For a better chance to secure a flat, please apply for a BTO flat in the non-mature estates.

First-timer families enjoy higher priority for new flats. In cases where the applicants comprise a first-timer and second-timer, the couple will be treated as a first-timer family, with the same priority benefits and privileges.

Here is an overview of the SBF process:

Overview of SBF process

Distribution of flat supply

More flats are allocated to first-timers as they have a more pressing need for a home.

For seniors, at least 40% of the 2-room Flexi flats will be set aside for them. Within this, half will be set aside for eligible seniors under the Senior Priority Scheme (SPS). Those who are unsuccessful under the seniors quota will be included in a second round of balloting alongside non-seniors for the balance flat supply. Any unused seniors quota will be distributed among the other households.

For second-timers, up to 15% of the public flat supply will be set aside for them. If there are more second-timers than the flat supply set aside for them, not all second-timers will be successful in their flat application, in keeping second-timers within the flat supply set aside for them.

SBF flat distribution for non-seniors in non-mature estates

Flat Type First-Timer Second-Timer
Families (PPS) Families (MCPS)^ Singles Other families Families (MCPS)^ Other families
2-room Flexi flat 50% 30% 5% 10% 3% 2%
3-room and bigger 50% 30% NA 15% 3% 2%
PPS – Parenthood Priority Scheme
MCPS – Married Child Priority Scheme
^ Within the MCPS quota, first priority is given to applicants who apply for a flat under the MCPS (with parents/ married child) to live together with their parents/ married child

SBF flat distribution for non-seniors in mature estates

Flat Type First-Timer Second-Timer
Families (PPS) Families (MCPS)^ Other families Families (MCPS)^ Other families
2-room Flexi and bigger 50% 30% 15% 3% 2%
PPS – Parenthood Priority Scheme
MCPS – Married Child Priority Scheme
^ Within the MCPS quota, first priority is given to applicants who apply for a flat under the MCPS (with parents/ married child) to live together with their parents/ married child

If there are fewer than 20 units available for public application, all of the flats will be set aside for first-timer applicants. Second-timer applicants will only be invited to book a flat if there are any flats remaining after all of the first-timers have been invited to book a flat.

Allocation of ballot chances

Type of Family No. of Ballot Chances
First-timer family/ couple 2
Second-timer family 1
Single 1

Additional ballot chances after 2 unsuccessful applications

Additional chances are not given for SBF sales launches as the supply of these flats is limited.

Open booking of flats

The open booking of flats offers unselected flats from past SBF exercises. Flat buyers can apply online anytime and receive a queue number for flat booking on a first-come-first-served basis, and book a flat as early as the next working day, where possible.

Fresh supply of flats will be made available for open booking twice a year. To allow time for the preparation work, online applications will be suspended prior to each inject of fresh supply of flats or when all the flats are booked.

Here is an overview of the process:

obf-infographic