Types of Grants for Buying an HDB Resale Flat for a Single

Last Updated on 2019-07-21 , 4:50 pm

It seems like I’m the best person to write on this ultimate guide to buying an HDB resale flat for a single.

Not that I don’t enjoy singlehood but you know… the questions that your relatives ask sometimes can be annoying. (Dear relatives, read that? Stop being annoying. A million thanks from me. 谢谢.)

Anyhow, let’s get to it.

Before that, if you’re a couple looking to buy a new BTO, here’s a video we’ve done for that topic:

Do note that this guide is only for resale flats: for singles wanting to get a BTO, let’s leave that for another article.

There are two types of categories we’re talking about here:

A. Single Singapore citizens who are below the age of 35

B. Buying with other singles under the Joint Singles Scheme or Orphans Scheme

Okay, 来来, let’s look at the details one category at a time. For now, we will look at point A.

A. Single Singapore citizens who are below the age of 35

All the single ladies and gentlemen, put your hands up! If you’re a first-time single Singapore Citizen who is 35 years old and above, you might be eligible for the following CPF Housing Grant(s):

• Singles Grant
• Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG)

Singles Grant

Based on the type of housing, you will get different tiers of grants. For example,

2 to 4-room resale flats – $25,000

5-room resale flats – $20,000

So, what’s next? Eligibility right?

• $6,000 if buying a resale flat under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme
• $12,000 if buying a resale flat under other schemes

Remaining lease of flat must also be at least 30 years.

Okay okay, don’t pull your hair. Things are always easier to understand when you put them into context. Here’s one:

Chio Bu is a 40-year-old single Singapore Citizen and her monthly salary is $2,800. She’s planning to buy a 3-room HDB resale flat under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme. What will her grant be?

So she fulfills the age (above 35), monthly salary (below $6,000) and buying a 3-room HDB resale flat. Therefore, her grant amount is $25,000. Got it?

If you still don’t, then maybe you’re just a visual learner. Look:

Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG)

Everyone likes additional benefits, don’t we? So here’s one for the single people. On top of your grant, you might be eligible for CPF Housing Grant.

The amount ranges from $2,500 to $20,000 and it targets those who don’t earn a lot of money (like me). Here’s the breakdown:

But there’s 2 other points to take note:

You must have worked continuously for 12 months prior to the flat application, and still be employed at the point of the flat application (okay, fair enough).

And the average monthly income for the 12 months before the flat application must not exceed $2,500 (Yeah, I’m sure it won’t exceed. Singapore bosses won’t suddenly promote your pay from $1,800 to $4000. Unless… it’s some shady business. Just saying.)

I hope it wasn’t too much to take in because we’re not done. 50% left to go.

B. Buying with other singles under the Joint Singles Scheme or Orphans Scheme 

I’ve got a friend who used to say, “Eh, let’s just buy a house together when we’re 35 and be single for the rest of our lives.” So if you’re like her, then this section is for you and your bestie.

Eligible first-timers aged 35 and above may receive:

• Singles Grant
• Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG)

Joint Singles Grant

But before we get into the nitty-gritty, to qualify for the housing grant, at least one of the persons buying the resale flat must be a first-time applicant.

Here’s more.

You and your other flat applicants must not:

Own any of the following properties whether locally or overseas, or have disposed of any such properties in the 30 months before your resale flat application:

• Private residential property (including HUDC flats and ECs)
• House, Building or Land
• Be buying a 1-room flat or flat that has been announced for SERS

Your average gross monthly household income must not exceed $12,000 and you must purchase a 2-room flat or bigger. I cannot imagine squeezing with my bestie in a 1-room flat anyway.

Here’s the breakdown of the grant:

And that signals story time.

Yan Dao is 37 years old and has a monthly salary of $2,400. Ah Piao is 35 years old and earns $3,000 every month. Buey Sai is 36 years old and has a monthly salary of $2,500. They are all Singapore Citizens and want to jointly buy an HDB 4-room resale flat under the Joint Singles Scheme. What will their grant be?

Again, all 3 are above 35, their joint income did not exceed $12,000 and they are buying a 4-room resale flat. Their grant amount would be $50,000 ($25,000 x 2). 了解吗?

Additional CPF Housing Grant (AHG)

Then, there’s also the additional grant to make you smile a little. The amount is up to $40,000 and the aim is to help those lower to middle-income singles. Very much like the additional CPF housing grant we saw under point A.

Just that the amount and breakdown are different:

But before that, there’s also some criteria to fulfill:

You and your bestie(s) must be in continuous employment for 12 months before the flat application, and still employed during the flat application.

The average household monthly income for the 12 months before the flat application must also not exceed $5,000.

The End.

That’s why there’s a saying that goes, “Adulthood is like looking both ways before you cross the road and then getting hit by an airplane.”

Adulthood is also losing all your money before you even know it. Goody Feed welcomes you to adulthood if you haven’t been officially welcomed just yet! 🙂