After a crazy 2020, 2021’s first HDB BTO launch is a sign that the world goes on turning no matter what disasters strike.
To give you something to discuss over CNY gatherings, here’s the lowdown on the Feb 2021 BTO offerings in Bidadari, Boon Keng, Tengah and Bukit Batok.
BTO applications are now open, and you can apply anytime from now until the end of 10 Feb 2021.
HDB BTO launch Feb 2021 overview
|
Bidadari |
Boon Keng |
Bukit Batok |
Tengah |
|
|
Project name |
Alkaff Breeze, Bartley GreenRise, ParkEdge @ Bidadari |
McNair Heights |
West Hill, Harmony Village |
Parc Woods |
|
Estate type |
Mature |
Mature |
Non-mature |
Non-mature |
|
Nearest MRT station |
Woodleigh / Bartley |
Boon Keng |
Bukit Gombak |
Tengah Plantation (opening in 2027) |
|
Units available |
~1,200 |
~620 |
~1,120 |
~760 |
|
Flat types |
3-room, 4-room, 5-room |
2-room flexi- 3-room-, 4-room |
Community Care Apartments, 2-room flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room |
2-room flexi, 3-room, 4-room |
|
Starting price (4-room) |
$464,000 |
$532,000 |
$260,000 |
$298,000 |
In the upcoming BTO exercise, there are units from two mature estates up for grabs:
- Kallang/Whampoa (ie. Boon Keng): McNair Heights
- Toa Payoh (i.e. Bidadari): Alkaff Breeze, Bartley GreenRise, ParkEdge @ Bidadari
Both are expected to be heavily oversubscribed as they’re in accessible areas on or near the city fringe. That said, the Bidadari one has double the units so you might have a better chance of obtaining a queue number.
In addition, there are two housing projects in so-called non-mature estates:
- Bukit Batok: West Hill, Harmony Village
- Tengah: Parc Woods
The Bukit Batok launch is in a fairly established estate, non-mature status notwithstanding, but Tengah is in a new town currently undergoing development in what is currently a no-mans’-land of construction.
Bidadari BTO (Feb 2021)
|
Toa Payoh (Bidadari) fact sheet (Feb 2021 launch) |
|
|
Project name |
Alkaff Breeze, Bartley GreenRise, ParkEdge @ Bidadari |
|
Starting price (3-room) |
$312,000 |
|
Starting price (4-room) |
$464,000 |
|
Starting price (5-room) |
$611,000 |
|
Nearest MRT |
Bartley MRT (400m) / Woodleigh MRT (650m) |
|
Nearest shopping malls |
The Poiz Centre, MacPherson Mall, The Woodleigh Mall |
|
Nearby schools |
Maris Stella High School, Bartley Secondary School, Cedar Primary School, Cedar Girls’ Secondary School |
|
Nearby amenities |
PUB Recreation Club, Potong Pasir Community Club |
City-fringe Bidadari is an example of a location that lets you enjoy all the pleasures of living in a heartland estate, while still being close enough to the city centre to not make you tear your hair out when going to town.
The Feb 2021 BTO project will be located in the Bidadari area, which if you recall was actually the former site of a cemetery. Despite its past, this BTO project is likely to be oversubscribed, as a convenient location still trumps superstition in Singapore.
The BTO project is actually split into three separate building projects on different plots of land:
- Bartley GreenRise is the northernmost project, right next to Bartley MRT station and Maris Stella. It consists of 387 units of 3-room and 4-room flats.
- ParkEdge @ Bidadari is slightly further in, about 7 to 10 minutes’ walk from Bartley MRT station, and consists of 476 units of 4-room and 5-room flats.
- Alkaff Breeze is the southernmost project, closer to the purple line — about 9 minutes’ walk from Woodleigh MRT — along Upper Aljunied Road. It consists of 353 units of 4-room and 5- room flats.
Starting from $464,000 for a 4-room, this project is looking really pricey, but people are nonetheless going to rush for it due to its location.
Despite being officially located in a mature estate, the BTO estates’ surrounding area is still undergoing development, hence there might be a non-mature estate feel for a couple of years. The nearest major shopping mall is Serangoon Nex, an MRT stop away.
Boon Keng BTO (Kallang/Whampoa, Feb 2021)
|
Kallang/Whampoa (Boon Keng) fact sheet (Feb 2021 launch) |
|
|
Road name |
Balestier Road |
|
Starting price (2-room Flexi, 40 year lease) |
$117,000 |
|
Starting price (3-room) |
$359,000 |
|
Starting price (4-room) |
$532,000 |
|
Nearest MRT |
Boon Keng MRT (800m) |
|
Nearest shopping malls |
City Square Mall, Bendemeer Shopping Mall, Mustafa Centre |
|
Nearby schools |
Hong Wen School, Bendemeer Secondary School, Bendemeer Primary School |
|
Nearby amenities |
Civil Service Club @ Tessonsohn, Kallang Community Club |
The new Kallang/Whampoa BTO project, called McNair Heights, is going to be hot property. It’s located about 10 minutes’ walk from Boon Keng MRT on the North East Line — only 15 minutes to the CBD.
The city fringe location is as good as it gets. The project is located on Balestier Road, with lots of famous eateries located nearby. It also enjoys easy access to Serangoon Road which takes you down to Little India and then Rochor/Bugis.
Although Boon Keng is a rather old and sleepy estate, it’s only a short walk or drive to City Square Mall at Farrer Park, where you can do your grocery shopping and whatnot. As a bonus, Mustafa Centre is within easy reach too.
The BTO flats will also be located near Sungei Whampoa, which is served by a park connector that can take you either straight to town or to the east.
But unless you are very very lucky, it’s going to be tough to get hold of one of these flats. And, starting from $532,000 for a 4-room, these flats are going to be pretty darned expensive too.
Bukit Batok BTO (Feb 2021)
|
Bukit Batok fact sheet (Feb 2021 launch) |
|
|
Road name |
Bukit Batok West Ave 5 |
|
Starting price (Community Care Apartments, 30 year lease) |
$52,000 |
|
Starting price (2-room Flexi) |
$101,000 |
|
Starting price (3-room) |
$175,000 |
|
Starting price (4-room) |
$260,000 |
|
Starting price (5-room) |
$384,000 |
|
Nearest MRT |
Bukit Gombak MRT (1.4km) |
|
Nearest shopping malls |
West Mall |
|
Nearby schools |
Dunearn Secondary School, Dazhong Primary School |
|
Nearby amenities |
Civil Service Club @ Bukit Batok, Hong Kah North Community Club, Bukit Batok Community Club, Bukit Batok Community Library |
For those who are balking at the price of the first two BTO projects, Bukit Batok is a cheaper option. The Bukit Batok launch is split into two projects:
- West Hill @ Bukit Batok: 962 units of 2- to 5-room flats
- Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok: HDB’s first Community Care Apartments, a new short-lease flat type targeted at seniors
The former will be located about 17 minutes’ walk from Bukit Gombak MRT, which for most is just a little too far to be within comfortable walking distance.
If the distance doesn’t scare you, you can also hike to West Mall and Bukit Batok MRT in 18 minutes. On the bright side, the Jurong East shopping district is a short distance away.
Overall, unless you work at Jurong East or Tuas, the location isn’t super convenient and ambitious parents won’t find any elite schools here. It is, however, a decent choice for those who are looking for a quiet suburban life in a peaceful neighbourhood at an affordable price.
Tengah BTO (Feb 2021)
|
Tengah fact sheet (Feb 2021 launch) |
|
|
Road name |
Tengah Boulevard (under construction) |
|
Starting price (2-room Flexi) |
$110,000 |
|
Starting price (3-room) |
$209,000 |
|
Starting price (4-room) |
$298,000 |
|
Nearest MRT |
Tengah Plantation MRT (opening 2027) |
|
Nearest shopping malls |
West Mall |
|
Nearby schools |
Dulwich College, Millennia Institute, Dazhong Primary School, Dunearn Secondary School |
|
Nearby amenities |
Civil Service Club @ Bukit Batok, Bukit Batok Community Club, Bukit Batok Community Library, Bukit Batok Swimming Complex |
If you’ve been following the last few BTO launches, you’d have noticed that the once non-existent Tengah keeps popping up lately. The current one is called Parc Woods @ Tengah.
Tengah, a patch of land west of Bukit Batok, is being developed from scratch into a residential area. As a new under-construction estate, Tengah is going to suffer pretty much the same fate as Punggol — construction everywhere and, in the first few years at least, a rather lacklustre roster of amenities and quality food options.
Like most brand new estates, Tengah is likely to be populated mainly by young families and newly-BTO-ed couples who are future-oriented and prepared to wait for the area to be developed.
If you belong to that group, you might be able to benefit from childcare and other kid-related amenities likely to spring up to meet demand. If that does not sound like your thing, however, the area does not have much to offer other than low prices.
What’s next?
For those hoping to boost their chances of getting allocated a BTO flat, the Bukit Batok and Bidadari launches both have over 1,000 units each. That being said, Bidadari is likely to be heavily oversubscribed due to its location and the fact that it’s a mature estate.
Tengah is the new Punggol, with flats being released at almost every launch. If you urgently need a flat, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get one in Tengah, either at this launch or the next.
In order to buy a BTO flat, you’ll have to submit a ballot for your desired flat before the deadline. You’ll find out in about a month whether you’ve been successful or not. (Check out our step-by-step guide to buying a BTO flat.)
When you receive the good news that you’ve successfully balloted for a flat, then you can start applying for a home loan, either from a bank or the HDB. To save a bit of money, remember to compare home loan interest rates, which can be done right here on MoneySmart.
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