Written Answer by Ministry of National Development on first-time buyers of BTO flats

Jan 8, 2018

Mr Desmond Choo: To ask the Minister for National Development 

(a) what is the average percentage of buyers of BTO flats in mature estates who are first-timers; and

(b) whether the Ministry will consider extending the Special Housing Grant (SHG) to first-timer buyers with parents who live within 2km of BTO flats in mature estates.

Answer:

HDB sets aside a large proportion of the new public flat supply for first-timer families. On average, about 8 in 10 buyers of BTO flats in the mature estates are first-timers.

The Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) is intended to help lower- to middle-income households own their first home. To encourage financial prudence, the SHG is limited to the purchase of new 4-room and smaller HDB flats in the non-mature estates. There are currently no plans to extend the SHG to the purchase of flats in the mature estates. Eligible first-timer households can continue to enjoy up to $40,000 in the Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG) when they purchase a flat in the mature estates.