LATEST: HDB and Sale of Balance Flats is now open for balloting! Applications close on 19 November 2359hrs. All the best!
For this final HDB Built-To-Order (BTO) sales launch of 2018, there are 3,796 BTO flats available in five locations across Singapore – Tampines, Sengkang, Yishun, Sembawang and Tengah, the first new town in Singapore in 20 years (the last on being Punggol).
Tampines is the only Mature estate in this sales launch, so those who are seeking to maximise your Special CPF Housing Grant have the other four Non-Mature estates to choose from.
Read Also: Complete Guide To HDB Housing Grants In Singapore
Ever since we at DollarsAndSense pioneered BTO location analysis articles, we’ve been heartened by your response and are glad to have played a part in selecting the home of your dreams. For those who have yet to successfully ballot for a flat, here is our in-depth take on November 2018’s HDB BTO sales launch.
If you aren’t sure about how to go about applying for your BTO flat, you can refer to our comprehensive Step-By-Step Guide To Buying Your First BTO Flat.
# 1 Tampines – 1,086 Units (2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room & 5-room)
Location: Next to Temasek Polytechnic, Along Bedok Reservoir Road. Nearest MRT Station: Tampines West (Downtown Line)
Source: HDB
Around 1,080 flats will be available for balloting in this Tampines development, in sizes of ranging from 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats.
Our Analysis:
As you can see, this BTO development is just a stone’s throw away from the Tampines West MRT station, which you can use to access other MRT interchanges like Tampines (1 stop away, connecting to East-West Line), MacPherson (5 stops away, connecting to Circle Line), and eventually, Sungei Bedok (6 stops away, connecting to the Thomson-East Coast Line).
Tampines town centre is less than 2 kilometres away, giving residents access to a full-suite of amenities, including 3 shopping malls and Our Tampines Hub, which houses a hawker centre, the Tampines Regional Library, a swimming pool, and many other sports facilities.
Tampines SAFRA and the Tampines Round (Wet) Market is also within walking distance. Whenever you want to immerse yourself in nature, you have scenic Bedok Reservoir close by.
Connectivity is pretty good, with convenient access to the Pan-Island Expressway as well as Bartley Road East (through Tampines Avenue 1), though Bedok Reservoir Road and Tampines Avenue 1 can be pretty congested during peak hours.
In terms of schools, you would be within walking distance from Temasek Polytechnic, as well as being within 20 minutes on public transport to the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College East, and plenty of secondary and primary schools.
# 2 Sembawang – 310 Units (3-room, 4-room & 5-room)
Location: Along Canberra Crescent, Between Sembawang MRT Station And Future Canberra MRT Station
Source: HDB
This development in Sembawang is roughly equidistant from the existing Sembawang MRT station and the upcoming Canberra MRT, which is slated for completion in December 2019.
This surrounding area is home to other BTO developments launched previously, many of which still had substantial balance units. So if you’re eyeing a flat in this locality and prefer to get your flat sooner, applying for the Sales Of Balance flats might be an option worth considering.
Our Analysis:
Even though classified as a Non-Mature estate, Sembawang is a pretty developed area, with a town centre cluster with a modest shopping centre (Sun Plaza), a public library, and Bukit Canberra, an upcoming 12-hectare Sports and Community Hub that will house a polyclinic, a senior care centre, sports facilities, a hawker centre, swimming pools.
If you work in the northern region of Singapore, or would like your abode to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then this location might just be for you. If prices of flats significantly lower that , a unit here could offer great value in the long-term.
Read Also: 5 Ways To Spend Less On Your First BTO Flat
# 3 Sengkang – 330 Units (4-room & 5-room)
Location: Between Fernvale Lane & Yio Chu Kang Road
Source: HDB
This modestly-sized development in Sengkang West has 330 units of 4-room and 5-room sizes. It is situated next to The Topiary, a 99-year Executive Condominium.
Our Analysis:
Sengkang is a new town that has seen much new developments each year. There is a newly renovated shopping mall, a government hospital and polyclinic, a fully-functioning LRT system that runs around the estate, and plenty of schools dotted all around – including NTUC First Campus My First Skool’s 2,500 square metre mega pre-school.
This BTO development is situated on the outskirts of Sengkang West, and more than 3km from Sengkang MRT station, where the majority of the abovementioned amenities are located.
The trade-off of enjoying this sanctuary away from the maddening crowd is an increase in travel time any time you want to leave home. The silver lining is that for drivers, the location does give convenient access to both Seletar Expressway (4 streets away) and Central Expressway (through Yio Chu Kang Road).
# 4 Tengah – 1,620 Units (2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room & 3Gen)
Location: Near Bukit Batok West Avenue 6
Source: HDB
Tengah would be the first new town in Singapore in 20 years. The site of Tengah estate is bounded by Bukit Batok Road, Brickland Road, as well as Kranji Expressway and Pan-Island Expressway.
Our Analysis:
As the first batch of flats in Tengah to be launched, would-be residents would have to bear with dust and noise from later BTO projects for a few years, as well as the inconvenience of not having the full promised suite of amenities and facilities until the town gets built up.
On the plus side, if Tengah town does fulfil its potential as a lush, car-lite town of the future, then early adopters would be the first few homeowners to fulfil the Minimum Occupancy Period (MOP) and be allowed to sell their flats, presumably at a decent profit.
The development is about equidistant (1.4 kilometres) from Bukit Batok MRT and Bukit Gombak MRT stations and about 2 kilometres from Chinese Garden MRT. Starting from 2026, the 24 kilometre long Jurong Region Line will begin operations in phases. Accessibility for residents of Tengah estate will be greatly improved then, with new stations dotting Tengah estate.
# 5 Yishun – 456 Units (3-room, 4-room & 5-room)
Location: Corner of Yishun Avenue 8 & Yishun Avenue 1
Source: HDB
Yishun continues to be a popular site for new HDB BTO launches – with the past two launches in May and August having new projects in Yishun available for selection.
This is a medium-sized development, with homes in the sizes of 3-room, 4-room and 5-room.
Our Analysis:
As we’ve observed with Yishun BTOs, even though Yishun is classified as a non-mature estate, the town is actually pretty well-established and developed. Residents enjoy the amenities of a mature estate, such as markets, schools, parks and the Khoo Teck Puat hospital. The expansion of Northpoint into Northpoint City means there are plenty of food and shopping options for would-be Yishun residents.
This development is situated on the fringes of Yishun, more than 2 kilometres away from Yishun MRT.
If you work in the northern region of Singapore, or would like your abode to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then this location might make sense. If prices for these two developments are significantly lower, a unit here could offer great value in the long-term.
Maximise The Grants You Are Eligible For
As mentioned, you should also consider the various grants that you may be eligible for, since the selection of your flat may affect the amount of grants that you are entitled to.
Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Renovate My HDB BTO Flat?
LATEST: HDB and Sale of Balance Flats is now open for balloting! Applications close on 19 November 2359hrs. All the best!
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