Singaporeans are no strangers to a ballot. We (or more accurately, our parents) ballot for our primary school placements, and we grow up to ballot for our Build-To-Order (BTO) flats as adults. Buying a BTO is a rite of passage for most Singaporean couples, yet it can also be a process that takes multiple tries before you successfully ballot for one.
If you are already planning to live with or near your or your spouse’s parents, you can use the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS) and the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) to increase your BTO ballot chances. For those who aren’t, perhaps you may wish to consider doing after reading this article.
Read Also: How Much Can You Save By Opting For A BTO Flat Over A Resale Flat
What Is The Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) and Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS)?
The MCPS and MGPS are both intended to encourage families to live near each other and support each other communally. These two schemes, unlike most HDB schemes, are also available to second-time buyers.
Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS)
Under the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), your parents do not get a new BTO flat. Either they move in with you in your new BTO flat or they remain in their existing residence. The MCPS caters to couples who want to move near their parents’ residence (within 4 km) or want their parents to move in with them into the BTO flat.
Up to 30% of the units will be reserved for first-timer families under MCPS and up to 15% for second-timer families.
Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS)
Under the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS), both you and your parents are applying for new BTOs in the same estate, one for yourself and one for your parents. Your parents can apply for 2-room or 3-room BTO flat while you can apply for all flat sizes, 2-room and above.
For balloting purposes, you will be given 3 chances in total, one under MGPS (which covers both yours and your parents’), one for your own application, one for your parents’ application. Thus, it is possible to end up in a scenario where your parents successfully balloted and you didn’t or vice versa. Only if you are successful under the MGPS ballot would both your and your parents’ application be considered jointly.
Up to 15% of 2-room or 3-room flats is reserved for MGPS (with a minimum of 20 units) for the parents and a corresponding number of units will be reserved for MGPS for the married/ engaged couple. The percentage allocation for units reserved for MGPS (couples) will be lower, for example, 20 units of 2-room and 3-room flats are reserved for MGPS (parents) and thus, 20 units of all flat types (out of the total of 1000 units in the BTO launch) are reserved for MGPS (couples). This would be a flat allocation of 2% for MGPS (couples).
| No. of ballots | Flat allocation | |
| Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS) | 2 (one under Public Scheme, one jointly under MGPS, the third is for your parents under Public Scheme) | Up to 15% of 2-room or 3-room flats reserved for parents and corresponding the number for units allocated for couples. |
| Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) | 2 (one under MCPS, one under Public Scheme) | Up to 30%. |
You Can Stack The Ballot Chances With Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS)
If you are married with a child or expecting a child and first-time buyers, you are eligible for the Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS). This gives you an additional ballot chance under PPS and up to 30% of BTO units are reserved for PPS.
PPS is the only priority scheme that allows you to apply in conjunction with other priority schemes, meaning that you get an additional chance to ballot under PPS.
Read Also: Frustrated With Waiting For Your BTO To Be Ready? Here’s How Provisional Housing Scheme Can Help You
You Can Also Stack The Ballot Chances With First Timer Privileges
If you are first-time buyer, you automatically get 2 ballot chances, one more than a second-timer. Additionally, you get additional ballot chances if you have been unsuccessful twice or more when applying to non-mature estates, (i.e. you didn’t win the ballot or all the flats were all taken up before your queue number was due).
The highest number of ballot chances you can accumulate as a first-timer in your first BTO application is 4:
| No. of ballots | Flat allocation | |
| First-buyer privilege | 2, excluding any additional chances due to previous unsuccessful applications | Up to 35%, excluding MCPS and PPS. |
| Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) or Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS) | 1 | Up to 30% for MCPS. |
| Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS) | 1 | Up to 30%. |
Note: As long as one spouse is a first-time buyer, you are considered a first-timer family.
Read Also: Complete Guide To The New Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) For First-Time BTO & Resale Flat Buyers
Your Chances Are Higher If You Live With Your Parents In The Same Household
Due to the way the priority schemes are structured and the consequent flat allocations, living with your parents in the same household or living near your parents’ existing residence (under MCPS) gives you a better chance of a successful BTO application. Not only do you have more ballot chances, you are also more likely to get a better flat allocation.
Alternatively, if you are planning to live with your parent, you can consider applying for 3Gen BTO flats which tends to be less subscribed than other flat types, increasing your odds for a successful application.
Regardless of whether you are applying under the MCPS or MGPS, living with or near your parents means that you are eligible for the Proximity Housing Grant.
All in all, there are many incentives for couples to consider living with or near their parents.
Read Also: Guide To Understanding The HDB Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)
Listen to our podcast, where we have in-depth discussions on finance topics that matter to you.
