HDB BTO Oct 2024 Review: Locations, Prices, Application Rates, and More

The 2024 Build-to-Order (BTO) season is going out with a bang. The Oct 2024 BTO launch will be the last one of the year, and will offer 8,573 flats across a whopping 15 projects and 9 towns. That’s the biggest number of projects launched in a single BTO exercise to date. In this exercise, we’re also looking at:

• The first HDB flats in Bayshore and an integrated development in Kembangan
• The first open-concept “white flats” in Kallang/Whampoa, without partitions or beams
• The first flats under the new classification scheme, which includes Plus flats
• The first time singles above 35 years old can apply for new 2-room Flexi flats in all locations, instead of just non-mature estates

It’s an exciting time to be shopping around for a BTO flat, but it can also be overwhelming. To help you out, here’s all you need to know about the flat locations, expected application rates, prices, and more.

Note: Applications for the Oct 2024 sales exercise close on 23 Oct 2024, 1159 pm.

Have you applied for your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter? HDB advises you to submit your application and all required documents by 15 Sep 2024 if you intend to apply for a BTO flat this Oct 2024. Missed their deadline? Go apply for your HFE letter anyway (you’ll need to use Singpass to log in) so you’ll be ready for the next launch.

 

HDB BTO Oct 2024 Review: Locations, Prices, Application Rates, and More

1. 1. What’s on offer at the Oct 2024 BTO launch?
   2. [Standard] West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok (Bukit Batok)
   3. [Standard] Taman Jurong Skyline (Jurong West)
   4. [Standard] Costa Riviera I and II (Pasir Ris)
   5. [Standard] Fernvale Oasis and Fernvale Sails (Sengkang)
   6. [Standard] Marsiling Ridge (Woodlands)
   7. [Plus] Kallang View and Towner Breeze (Kallang/Whampoa)
   8. [Plus] Central Trio @ AMK (Ang Mo Kio)
   9. [Plus] Bayshore Vista and Bayshore Palms (​​Bedok)
   10. [Plus] Kembangan Wave (​​Bedok)
   11. [Plus] Merpati Alcove (Geylang)
   12. [Prime] Crawford Heights (Kallang/Whampoa)
   13. What are the differences between Standard, Plus, and Prime flat?
   14. HDB BTO Oct 2024 Review: Which is the best Oct 2024 BTO?

 

1. What’s on offer at the Oct 2024 BTO launch?

For the last BTO launch of 2024, we’re looking at 15 projects in 9 locations: Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bukit Batok, Jurong West, Geylang, Kallang/Whampoa, Pasir Ris, Sengkang and Woodlands. Here’s a breakdown of how they’re classified:

• Standard: Bukit Batok, Jurong West, Pasir Ris, Sengkang and Woodlands (4,988 flats, 58% of the flats in the Oct 2024 launch)
• Plus: Kallang/Whampoa, Ang Mo Kio, Bedok (Bayshore and Kembangan) and Geylang (3,273 flats, 38% of the flats in the Oct 2024 launch)
• Prime: Kallang/Whampoa (312 flats, 4% of the flats in the Oct 2024 launch)

Here’s a more detailed summary of all the Oct 2024 HDB BTO flat types, classification, their minimum occupancy periods (MOP), and their prices:

Town	Project	Flat type	Selling price (excluding grants)	Transacted prices of resale flats nearby
Standard Projects (MOP: 5 years)
Bukit Batok	West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok (689 units)	2-room Flexi	From $140,000	$303,000 – $380,000
		3-room	From $247,000	$450,000 – $488,000
		4-room	From $335,000	$555,000 – $648,888
		5-room	From $496,000	$630,000 – $828,888
		3Gen	From $529,000	–
Jurong West	Taman Jurong Skyline (1,844 units)	2-room Flexi	From $109,000	$305,000 – $355,000
		3-room	From $209,000	$450,000 – $480,000
		4-room	From $290,000	$563,000 – $680,000
		5-room	From $427,000	$680,000 – $712,888
		3Gen	From $465,000	–
Pasir Ris	Costa Riviera I & II (276 + 491 units)	2-room Flexi	From $194,000	$388,000 – $430,000
		3-room	From $329,000	$525,000 – $540,888
		4-room	From $481,000	$612,000 – $745,000
		5-room	From $635,000	$825,000 – $843,000
		3Gen	From $644,000	–
Sengkang	Fernvale Oasis (851 units) Fernvale Sails (545 units)	2-room Flexi	From $126,000	–
		3-room	From $277,000	$440,000 – $515,000
		4-room	From $324,000	$526,000 – $668,000
		5-room	From $465,000	$640,000 – $790,000
Woodlands	Marsiling Ridge (292 units)	4-room	From $329,000	$560,000 – $696,000
		5-room	From $488,000	$680,000 – $826,000
Plus Projects (MOP: 10 years)
Ang Mo Kio	Central Trio @ AMK (422 units)	2-room Flexi	From $187,000	–
		4-room	From $481,000	$740,000 – $915,888
Bedok	Bayshore Vista (734 units) Bayshore Palms (710 units) Kembangan Wave (348 units)	2-room Flexi	From $190,000	–
		3-room	From $369,000	$605,000 – $663,000
		4-room	From $453,000	$728,000 – $930,000
Geylang	Merpati Alcove (433 units)	CCA+ (30-year Lease)	From $102,000	–
		4-room	From $530,000	$878,000 – $1,080,000
Kallang / Whampoa	Kallang View (271 units) Towner Breeze (355 units)	2-room Flexi	From $216,000	–
		3-room	From $388,000	$780,000 – $820,000
		4-room	From $522,000	$868,000 – $1,200,000
Prime Projects (MOP: 10 years)
Kallang / Whampoa	Crawford Heights (312 units)	3-room	From $390,000	–
		4-room	From $568,000	$890,000 – $938,000

We’re getting a bit of everything in the Oct 2024 BTO sales exercise, from 2-room Flexi flats that singles will be eyeing to 3Gen flats for families. To make sense of all that’s on offer, in this article, we’re going to review the Oct 2024  BTO projects in terms of:

• Who it’s best for: Families with school-going kids, seniors, nature-lovers, and more.
• Location: Generally, we assume the more central the better. Most Singaporeans don’t like to live somewhere too ulu, and all of us need to go to town for catch-ups, work and more. We’ll also let you know if the towns are under the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) model, because those come with a 10-year minimum occupancy period (MOP) and stricter rental conditions.
• Amenities: We look at the nearest MRT station(s), nearby schools, shopping malls, markets and other amenities. 
• Date of completion: The sooner it’s done, the better.
• Price: The lower the better. Prices for the Oct 2024 BTO launch haven’t been released yet at the time of writing, but we’ll dig up recent (within the past year) BTO projects in the same town for a rough idea of prices we can expect. Take these with a pinch of salt! If there were no projects in that town in the past year, we’ll leave out the Price rating until HDB releases the actual prices.
• Resale value: The higher the better. We reference the transacted prices of resale flats nearby as reported by HDB.
  • Additional resources: View the latest HDB resale statistics from Q1 2024 and check the resale flat prices for individual units sold within the past 2 years using HDB’s Resale Flat Prices service.
• Application rate: The lower the better—there’s no point in a great flat that you can’t even get because it’s so oversubscribed. The application rate is calculated by taking the number of applicants divided by the number of flats available. Simply, it reflects the number of applicants vying for 1 unit. If the application rate is 3, there are 3 applicants vying for 1 unit.

View our HDB BTO rating rubric.

One more thing…sun direction is also a factor you might want to consider. Look out for when HDB releases detailed site plans of each of the projects. East- and west-facing units will be at the sun’s mercy, while north- and south-facing flats will be the least affected by direct sunlight.

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2. [Standard] West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok (Bukit Batok)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.1) Best for: ☑ Families ☐ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★☆☆	Along Bukit Batok Road and Bukit Batok West Avenue 8. 30 minutes to the city centre by car, a little under an hour by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Tengah Park MRT Station, which is opening in 2028
Amenities	★★★☆☆ (16 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Dulwich College, Millennia Institute, Eden School (Special Education), Princess Elizabeth Primary School & MK@Princess Elizabeth, Bukit Batok Secondary School, Dunearn Secondary School
	★★★☆☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Le Quest Shopping Mall, Bukit Gombak Sports Hall, Hong Kah North Community Club, Bukit Gombak Stadium, Little Guilin, West Mall, Bukit Batok Swimming Complex, Bukit Batok Park Connector, Bukit Batok Polyclinic
Date of completion	★★★★★	Q3 2027 (estimated waiting time: 24 months)
Prices	★★★★☆	2-room Flexi: $49,000 – $217,000 (including short lease units) 3-room: $247,000 – $329,000 4-room: $335,000 – $445,000 5-room: $496,000 – $597,000 3Gen: $529,000 – $606,000
Resale value	★★☆☆☆	2-room Flexi: $303,000 – $380,000 3-room: $450,000 – $488,000 4-room: $555,000 – $648,888 5-room: $630,000 – $828,888
Application rates	★★☆☆☆	2-room Flexi First-timers: 2.0 Second-timers: 4.5
		3-room First-timers: 1.5 Second-timers: 12.2
		4-room First-timers: 2.5 Second-timers: 23.3
		5-room/3Gen First-timers: 2.9 Second-timers: 44.1

Location

One of 3 projects classified as Standard flats this Oct 2024 BTO launch, West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok is situated between Bukit Batok Road and Bukit Batok West Avenue 8. Despite its name, West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok isn’t very close to Bukit Batok MRT station, which is between 20 – 30 minutes away by bus or on foot. It’s closest to the upcoming Tengah Park MRT Station, which is opening in 2028.

Looking at the map, I feel like this project is more Tengah than Bukit Batok, so it has an air of ulu-ness about it. On the plus side, there are a number of parks and Bukit Batok Park Connector for the nature lovers out there to thrive in.

Amenities

The closest shopping mall is Le Quest Shopping Mall, which is a 10 to 15-minute walk away. If you head over to Bukit Batok MRT, there’s also West Mall. Unfortunately due to the distance, these shopping options are not the most convenient, and neither do they fulfil ultra urban shopping needs. If you love shopping in the city, this project is not for you.

West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok has a good number of schools nearby, including Princess Elizabeth Primary School, Bukit Batok Secondary School, and Dulwich College right beside it, so it’s a decent choice for families aiming to send their kids to nearby schools.

Prices and waiting time

West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok has one of the shortest waiting times this Oct 2024 BTO launch, with the estimated compilation date set for Q3 2027. You’ll wait around 2 years for the flat to be built. It’s also quite affordably priced, with a 4-room unit starting from $335,000—not surprising given that this is classified as a Standard project, which we can expect will carry the lowest prices. On the other end of the spectrum, a 4-room flat at Crawford Heights, a Prime project, starts from $568,000.

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3. [Standard] Taman Jurong Skyline (Jurong West)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Taman Jurong Skyline (Jurong West)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.4) Best for: ☑ Families ☐ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★★☆	Along Yung Ho Walk, facing Jurong Lake Gardens. 20 minutes to the city centre by car, 45 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Lakeside MRT Station (15 minutes away by bus)
Amenities	★★★★★ (25 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Jurong Secondary School, Lakeside Primary School, Yuan Ching Secondary School, Boon Lay Garden Primary School, Rulang Primary School, Yuhua Secondary School, Shuqun Primary School & MK@Shuqun, Fuhua Secondary School, River valley High School
	★★☆☆☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Jurong Lake Gardens, SuperBowl Jurong, ActiveSG Sport Village @ Jurong Town, Taman Jurong Shopping Centre, Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre, Taman Jurong Community Club
Date of completion	★☆☆☆☆	Q4 2029 (estimated waiting time: 52 months)
Prices	★★★★★	2-room Flexi: $37,000 – $194,000 (including short lease units) 3-room: $209,000 – $306,000 4-room: $290,000 – $434,000 5-room: $427,000 – $598,000 3Gen: $465,000 – $598,000
Resale value	★★☆☆☆	2-room Flexi: $305,000 – $355,000 3-room: $450,000 – $480,000 4-room: $563,000 – $680,000 5-room: $680,000 – $712,888
Application rates	★★★★★	2-room Flexi First-timers: 0.0 Second-timers: 0.2
		3-room First-timers: 0.5  Second-timers: 4.2
		4-room First-timers: 0.3  Second-timers: 5.3
		5-room/3Gen First-timers: 0.3  Second-timers: 8.5

Location

Taman Jurong Skyline is named as such because these 40-storey flats will serve as a backdrop to the Jurong Lake Gardens beside them. Yup, that means that some of these units will also have scenic views of the lake. Expect those units to be snapped up fast.

As beautiful as its views may be, a huge drawback of this project is its distance from any MRT station. The nearest station is Lakeside MRT Station on the East-West line, and even that is about 15 minutes away by bus. This is a location for those seeking an escape from urban life, and is not for anyone prioritising accessibility.

Amenities

I just talked about how inaccessible the location of Taman Jurong Skyline is, but that does not mean it’s inconvenient. Within its 40-story complexes, you can look forward to commercial units on the first floor, including a supermarket, eating house, and shops, a preschool on the second floor, and a roof garden with playgrounds and fitness facilities on the top floor.

These facilities are much needed, because the nearest shopping centre, Taman Jurong Shopping Centre, is a good 15-minute bus ride away. On the bright side, you’ve got SuperBowl Jurong nearby for bowling aficionados. There will also be health and medical care facilities located right next to the project, adjacent to St Andrew’s Nursing Home (Taman Jurong).

The nearest school is Jurong Secondary School, which is about an 8-minute walk away from the project. After that, the nearest schools are closer to Lakeside MRT Station than they are to Taman Jurong Skyline. So if you’re thinking of starting a family and have this picturesque vision of your kids walking to a school nearby, be prepared they’d need to take a bus to school instead.

Prices and waiting time

Taman Jurong Skyline is the biggest project in this launch with 1,844 units on offer, including a small number of larger 3Gen flats. If you and your family have your heart set on a 3Gen flat, Taman Jurong Skyline is one of your 2 options for this BTO exercise, the other being Costa Riviera II in Pasir Ris.

This project is one of the most affordable in the Oct 2024 BTO launch, with 4-room units starting from a low $290,000. However, you can expect to wait over 4 years for this flat to be completed, with the estimated completion date slated for Q4 2029.

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4. [Standard] Costa Riviera I and II (Pasir Ris)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Costa Riviera I and II (Pasir Ris)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.1) Best for: ☑ Families ☐ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★★☆	Along Pasir Ris Drive 3. 30 minutes to the city centre by car, around 40 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Pasir Ris MRT Station
Amenities	★★★☆☆ (15 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Elias Park Primary School & upcoming MK @ Elias Park, Meridian Secondary School, Maltri School (Special Education), Loyang View Secondary School, Casuarina Primary School & MK @ Casuarina, Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School, Hai Sing Catholic School, Park View Primary School,  Tampines Meridian Junior College
	★★★★★	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Pasir Ris Mall, White Sands, Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, Pasir Ris Sports Centre, Aranda Country Club, Downtown East, Elias Mall
Date of completion	★★★★☆	Q3 2028 (estimated waiting time: 37 months for Costa Riviera I and 38 months for Costa Riviera II)
Prices	★☆☆☆☆	2-room Flexi: $65,000 – $288,000 (including short lease units) 3-room: $329,000 – $411,000 4-room: $481,000 – $595,000 5-room: $635,000 – $736,000 3Gen: $644,000 – $753,000
Resale value	★★★☆☆	2-room Flexi: $388,000 – $430,000 3-room: $525,000 – $540,888 4-room: $612,000 – $745,000 5-room: $825,000 – $843,000
Application rates	★★☆☆☆	2-room Flexi First-timers: 0.8 Second-timers: 1.2
		3-room First-timers: 2.1  Second-timers: 22.0
		4-room First-timers: 2.8 Second-timers: 25.6
		5-room/3Gen First-timers: 5.1  Second-timers: 111.6

Location and amenities

Costa Riviera I and II is in a great location if you prioritise accessibility. It’s a short walk to Pasir Ris MRT Station and Pasir Ris Bus Interchange. Here, you’ll also be able to access Pasir Ris Mall, White Sands, Pasir Ris Central Hawker Centre, and Pasir Ris Public Library easily. 

For recreation, Aranda Country Club and Downtown East are nearby options. You can also walk over to Pasir Ris Sports Centre to get a workout in, or visit Pasir Town Park as a more nature-focused recreation option.

The nearest schools are Elias Park Primary School and Hai Sing Catholic School. There are also other schools like Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School and Tampines Meridian Junior College further out that you can access by bus.

All in all, Costa Riviera I and II are among the most accessible and conveniently located projects this Oct 2024 BTO sales exercise—especially when you consider that they are classified as Standard flats.

Prices and waiting time

Here’s the catch: Costa Riviera I and II are pricier than other Standard flats. 4-room units start from $481,000, which is higher than I’d expect for a Standard flat. I mean, 4-room units in  Kembangan Wave (Bedok) start from $453,000, and that’s classified as a Plus project.

On the plus side, Costa Riviera I and II will be ready fast. You can expect them to be completed in Q3 2028, with a waiting time of around 37 or 38 months.

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5. [Standard] Fernvale Oasis and Fernvale Sails (Sengkang)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Fernvale Oasis and Fernvale Sails (Sengkang)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.1) Best for: ☑ Families ☑ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★☆☆☆	Fernvale Oasis: Between Fernvale Road and Fernvale Street. Fernvale Sails: Between Fernvale Link and Fernvale Close. 30 minutes to the city centre by car, 45 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT/LRT stations: Thanggam LRT Station, Kupang LRT Station, Layar LRT Station, Fernvale LRT Station, Sengkang MRT/LRT Station
Amenities	★★★☆☆ (19 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Fern Green Primary School & MK @ Fern Green, Sengkang Green Primary School & MK @ Sengkang Green, Fernvale Primary School & MK @ Fernvale, Pei Hwa Secondary School, Ancho Green Primary School & MK @ Anchor Green, Nan Chiau High School
	★★★☆☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Seletar Mall, Fernvale Market and Food Centre, Sengkang Grand Mall, Sengkang Grand Mall, Seletar Airport, Sengkang Riverside Park, Anchorvale Community Club, Sengkang Sports Centre, Anchorvale Village, Punggol Park Connector, Sengkang Hockey Stadium, various proposed medical, recreational and sports facilities
Date of completion	★★★★★	Fernvale Oasis: Q2 2028 (estimated waiting time: 33 months) Fernvale Sails: Q4 2027 (estimated waiting time: 27 months)
Prices	★★★★☆	2-room Flexi: $44,000 – $240,000 (including short lease units) 3-room: $277,000 – $370,000 4-room: $324,000 – $474,000 5-room: $465,000 – $640,000
Resale value	★★☆☆☆	3-room: $440,000 – $515,000 4-room: $526,000 – $668,000 5-room: $640,000 – $790,000
Application rates	★★★☆☆	2-room Flexi First-timers: 0.7 Second-timers: 1.5
		3-room First-timers: 2.5  Second-timers: 18.8
		4-room First-timers: 2.0  Second-timers: 14.6
		5-room First-timers: 1.7  Second-timers: 24.3

Location

Fernvale Oasis and Fernvale Sails are 2 separate projects, but we’ll review them together because they are located pretty close to each other. Fernvale Oasis is located nearest to Thanggam LRT Station, while Fernvale Sails is a bit further south near Layar LRT Station. You’ll need to take the LRTs to Sengkang MRT Station to travel anywhere else in the island anyway, so this isn’t going to make a big difference.

Amenities

Seletar Mall is the closest shopping centre to the 2 projects, with Fernvale Sails being slightly closer to it. Beyond that though, don’t expect much by way of retail therapy. This is a project closer to nature than it is to urban city living. On the other hand, that makes it ideal for nature walks and recreation, with Sengkang Riverside Park and Punggol Park Connector located nearby. There’s also Sengkang Sports Centre and Sengkang Hockey Stadium for those who prefer exercising indoors.

If you’re worried about accessibility to things like supermarkets and food options, Fernvale Sails might pique your interest more. The project will conveniently integrate a supermarket, F&B outlets, a preschool, residents’ network centre, and an Active Ageing Centre (Care) within it. While Fernvale Oasis won’t have the supermarket and F&B outlets within the project, it will also have a preschool, senior care centre, and residents’ network centre. This makes both projects great options for seniors.

The nearest schools are Fern Green Primary School, Sengkang Green Primary School, and Pei Hwa Secondary School. These are short walks or bus rides away. There are also a number of other schools a little further out, so couples who want to start families will have a good number of nearby options.  

Prices and waiting time

Can’t wait for your BTO? Good news. Aside from West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok, Fernvale Oasis and Fernvale Sails are the only 2 projects this Oct 2024 BTO exercise that have waiting times of less than 3 years. Fernvale Sails will be completed first, and is expected in Q4 2027. Fernvale Oasis will follow in Q2 2028 with an estimated waiting time of 33 months.

Prices are relatively low too. A 4-room unit at Fernvale Oasis starts from $324,000, while that for Fernvale Sails starts from $358,000. These prices are fairly comparable to West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok. If you have a lower budget, check out Taman Jurong Skyline at Jurong West instead.

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6. [Standard] Marsiling Ridge (Woodlands)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Marsiling Ridge (Woodlands)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.3) Best for: ☑ Families ☐ Seniors ☐ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★☆☆	Along Woodlands Centre Road. 30 minutes to the city centre by car, just under an hour by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Marsiling MRT Station
Amenities	★★★★★ (27 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Marsiling Primary School, Marsiling Secondary School, Woodlands Secondary School, Fuchun Secondary School, Fuchun Primary School, Si Ling Primary School, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Sports School
	★★★☆☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Checkpoint, Admiralty Park, Causeway point, Woodlands Civic Centre, Woodlands Sports Centre, Woodlands Checkpoint, Marsiling Park
Date of completion	★★★☆☆	Q1 2029 (estimated waiting time: 43 months)
Prices	★★★★☆	4-room: $329,000 – $457,000 5-room: $488,000 – $616,000
Resale value	★★☆☆☆	4-room: $560,000 – $696,000 5-room: $680,000 – $826,000
Application rates	★★★☆☆	4-room First-timers: 2.4  Second-timers: 27.9
		5-room First-timers: 2.2  Second-timers: 30.8

Location

Marsiling Ridge is an 8-minute walk away from Marsiling MRT Station, making it one of the more accessible BTO projects in this Oct 2024 sales exercise. It’s also a 15-minute bus ride from Woodlands MRT Station, which adjoins the bustling Causeway Point should you need to get your shopping done.

Marsiling Ridge is located way up north—so far up that it’s just a 20-minute bus ride away from Woodlands Checkpoint. So if you visit Johor Bahru so much you call it your second home, this project might just be the winner for your first.

Amenities

Families are going to be spoilt for choice because there’s a plethora of schools in the area, including Marsiling Primary and Secondary Schools, Woodlands Secondary School, and Republic Polytechnic. You can also make use of the nearby Marsiling Park and, slightly further out, Admiralty Park for green spaces. If you prefer indoor recreation, Woodlands Sports Centre is in the vicinity too.

The one thing Marsiling Ridge doesn’t have easy access to is a shopping mall. You’d need to take a bus or take one stop on the MRT to Woodlands MRT Station for Causeway Point. However, for grocery needs, you can stock up at the FairPrice located at Marsiling MRT.

Prices and waiting time

Prices for the Marsiling Ridge flats are, well, quite standard for Standard flats. The price for a 4-room unit starts from $329,000, which makes it comparable to Fernvale Oasis at $324,000 or West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok at $335,000. I feel that the Marsiling area is more developed than the area West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok is in (which, as mentioned, is more Tengah than Bukit Batok), so Marsiling Ridge is pretty bang for your buck.

A downside is that you can expect a fairly long wait for Marsiling Ridge. These flats are expected to be completed in Q1 2029, with an estimated waiting time of 43 months.

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7. [Plus] Kallang View and Towner Breeze (Kallang/Whampoa)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Kallang View and Towner Breeze (Kallang/Whampoa)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (2.9) Best for: ☑ Families ☐ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★★★	Kallang View: Along Upper Boon Keng Road. Towner Breeze: Along May Road and Central Expressway. 10 minutes to the city centre by car, just under 30 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Geylang Bahru MRT Station (Kallang View) / Boon Keng MRT Station (Towner Breeze)
Amenities	★★☆☆☆ (10 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Bendemeer Primary School, Bendemeer Secondary School, Hong Wen School, Dunearn High School, St Andrew’s School
	★★☆☆☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, Kallang Park Connector, Geylang West Community Club, Kallang Riverside Park
Date of completion	★★☆☆☆	Kallang View: Q1 2029 (estimated waiting time: 43 months) Towner Breeze: Q2 2029 (estimated waiting time: 48 months)
Prices	★☆☆☆☆	Kallang View 3-room: $388,000 – $497,000 4-room: $539,000 – $698,000 Towner Breeze 2-room Flexi: $72,000 – $328,000 (including short lease units) 4-room: $522,000 – $727,000
Resale value	★★★★★	3-room: $780,000 – $820,000 4-room: $868,000 – $1,200,000
Application rates	★★★☆☆	2-room Flexi First-timers: 0.7 Second-timers: 0.6
		3-room First-timers: 0.7  Second-timers: 20.1
		4-room First-timers: 2.1  Second-timers:27.5

Location

Kallang View and Towner Breeze are 2 separate projects, but we’re going to review them together because they share roughly the same location. And it’s a good one—both of these projects are in a central part of the island. It’d take you just about 10 minutes to drive to the city from home if you lived here. With that kind of proximity to the CBD, it’s no wonder these projects are classified as Plus. 

As far as public transport goes, Towner Breeze is a 10-minute walk from Boon Keng MRT station while Kallang View is just a 5 to 10 minute walk to Geylang Bahru MRT Station—pretty good connectivity even if you don’t own a car.

Amenities

You might be wondering why these projects aren’t classified as Prime instead, given their, well, prime location. One reason could be the lack of amenities. Kallang View is a short walk from Geylang West Community Club and Kallang Basin Swimming Complex, but you’ll be struggling to find a nearby shopping mall. One option could be MacPherson Mall, but that’s a half-hour journey away via public transport. Over at Towner Breeze, Shaw Plaza and Balestier Plaza are a 15 minute walk away on foot. 

If you’re worried about getting food and such, don’t. Kallang View will include a café, preschool, and residents’ network centre in the project itself, while Towner Breeze will have a preschool and an eating house on the first floor.

Kallang View and Towner Breeze don’t have a lot of schools nearby. The nearest to the former project is Bendemeer Primary School, which you can probably reach in about 20 minutes via bus. Towner Breeze is located next to Hong Wen School and is fairly close to Bendemeer Secondary School, but beyond that the sparse population of schools prevails.

What you do get at these projects is green spaces. Kallang Park Connector and Kallang Riverside Park are near Kallang View, and Towner Breeze overlooks Sungei Whampoa with the Whampoa Park Connector running along it. These give you ample opportunity to spend time outside, and make the flats a great place to escape the city while still remaining near it. If you live here, you could be an urbanite by day and suburbanite by night.

Prices and waiting time

The waiting time for these projects is on the longer side, at an estimated 43 (Kallang View) or 48 (Towner Breeze) months. You can expect them to be completed only in Q1 or Q2 of 2029 respectively.

4-room units start from $539,000 for Kallang View and $522,000 for Towner Breeze, which is not surprising to me given the central location of these projects. I do want to point out that the resale value for transacted flats nearby is an astonishing $868,000 – $1,200,000 for 4-room flats. Before you get too excited though, remember that HDB will claw back 6 – 8% since these are Plus projects. Also, the MOP is 10 years instead of 5 years—you can only sell your flat after 10 years of living in it.

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8. [Plus] Central Trio @ AMK (Ang Mo Kio)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Central Trio @ AMK (Ang Mo Kio)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (2.7) Best for: ☑ Families ☐ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★☆☆	Along Ang Mo Kio Central 3. 20 minutes to the city centre by car, 40 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Yio Chu Kang MRT Station or Ang Mo Kio MRT Station (15-minute walk)
Amenities	★★★★☆ (23 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Mayflower Primary School & MK @ Mayflower, Yio Chu Kang Secondary School, Anderson Serangoon Junior College, Nanyang Polytechnic, Presbyterian High School, Anderson Secondary School, Jing Shan Primary School & MK @ Jing Shan, Deyi Secondary School, Teck Ghee Primary School, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ Primary and Secondary School
	★★★★☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Ang Mo Kio Public Library, Ang Mo Kio Polyclinic, Ang Mo Kio Park Connector, Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex, Town Centre, Cheng San Community Club, AMK Hub, Yio Chu Kang Swimming Complex, Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, Yio Chu Kang Squash and Tennis Centre, Yio Chu Kang Stadium
Date of completion	★☆☆☆☆	Q3 2030 (estimated waiting time: 59 months)
Prices	★★☆☆☆	2-room Flexi: $62,000 – $288,000 (including short lease units) 4-room: $481,000 – $603,000
Resale value	★★★★☆	4-room: $740,000 – $915,888
Application rates	★☆☆☆☆	2-room Flexi First-timers: 0.8 Second-timers: 1.8
		4-room First-timers: 3.3  Second-timers: 42.2

Location

Central Trio @ AMK is located at the midpoint between Yio Chu Kang MRT Station and Ang Mo Kio MRT Station, which on one hand gives you access to both, but on the other hand also means neither is really near near. Both are a 15-minute walk away.

Amenities

Ang Mo Kio is a well-developed area, so there’s no shortage of amenities nearby. The most obvious is Ang Mo Kio Public Library, which you can practically call your neighbour if you live at Central Trio @ AMK. There are also plenty of sports facilities in the area, including Ang Mo Kio Swimming Complex, Yio Chu Kang Swimming Complex, Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall, Yio Chu Kang Squash and Tennis Centre, and Yio Chu Kang Stadium.

If you want to visit a shopping mall, the nearest major one is AMK Hub, which you can take a 15-minute stroll to. I know, that isn’t as near as one might hope, but it’s also not the worst.

Central Trio @ AMK is a great option for families, with tons of schools nearby. Notable ones include Mayflower Primary School, Anderson Serangoon Junior College, Nanyang Polytechnic, Presbyterian High School, and CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ Primary and Secondary School. The project itself will also have children’s playgrounds, fitness zones, and a preschool within it, so families can enjoy some family exercise/playtime sessions at your convenience. 

Prices and waiting time

I bet you can guess that prices are going to be steeper here, given Central Trio @ AMK’s good location, various amenities and schools nearby. You’d be right—prices for a 4-room unit start from $481,000 and go up to $603,000. Generally speaking, that sum could get you a 5-room unit in one of the Standard projects instead.

Central Trio @ AMK is also going to be a long wait—59 months. These flats are only going to be completed around Q2 2030—that’s a whole different decade! Good things take time, as they say.

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9. [Plus] Bayshore Vista and Bayshore Palms (​​Bedok)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Bayshore Vista and Bayshore Palms (​​Bedok)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.4) Best for: ☑ Families ☐ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★★☆	Along Bayshore Drive, Bayshore Street, and Bayshore Walk. 15 to 20 minutes to the city centre by car, 30 to 40 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Bayshore MRT Station
Amenities	★★★☆☆ (16 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Temasek Secondary School, Temasek Primary School & MK @ Temasek, Temasek Junior College, Bedok Green Primary School, Bedok View Secondary School, Anglican High School
	★★★☆☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: East Coast Park, Bedok Community Centre, Bedok Mall, Djitsun Mall Bedok, Bedok Interchange and Hawker Centre, various proposed medical and sports facilities upcoming
Date of completion	★★★★★	Bayshore Vista: Q2 2029 (estimated waiting time: 45 months) Bayshore Palms: Q2 2029 (estimated waiting time: 47 months)
Prices	★★☆☆☆	2-room Flexi: $67,000 – $340,000 (including short lease units) 3-room: $369,000 – $476,000 4-room: $495,000 – $694,000
Resale value	★★★★☆	3-room: $605,000 – $663,000 4-room: $728,000 – $930,000
Application rates	★★★☆☆	2-room Flexi First-timers: 0.3 Second-timers: 0.7
		3-room First-timers: 1.3  Second-timers: 44.8
		4-room First-timers: 2.1  Second-timers: 23.8

Location

Bayshore Vista and Bayshore Palms are exciting projects in this Oct 2024 BTO sales exercise because they are the first 2 projects ever in the new Bayshore estate in Bedok. The Bayshore estate will offer 3 hectares of new parks with a heritage trail, providing you with waterfront recreational spaces and highlighting the area’s historic coastline.

The projects are just opposite the road from each other and are about a 10-minute walk from Bayshore MRT Station. This station is 8 MRT stops from Marina Bay and about 5 from Changi Airport. That’s fairly good connectivity you get while still enjoying waterfront views.

To make the most of those views, some of the 4-room units in these projects will feature full-height windows. Quite the premium experience for an HDB flat.

Amenities

When I first saw the map of these Bayshore projects, I began wondering why they were classified as Plus flats. The area is currently sparse with its amenities. Aside from Siglap Community Club and Temasek Secondary School, the other facilities and amenities in the area are all “proposed”. Meaning they are slated for development, but as of yet do not physically exist.

If you choose Bayshore as your home, you’re banking on the fact that you’ve tons of amenities on the way. Bayshore is expected to be fully developed by the mid-2030s—we’re talking shops, eateries, supermarkets, medical facilities, sports and recreational facilities, and the like. Now, that might seem off—I’m paying more for facilities that haven’t even been built yet? Shouldn’t these Bayshore flats be considered up and coming as Standard flats instead, just like Tengah? 

Well, I have 3 thoughts about that. Firstly, you’re paying for the waterfront views too. Secondly, these projects are only going to be completed in Q2 2029 anyway. By the time your BTO renovations are done, it might very well be 2030 and a good number of those facilities should be up and running soon. And thirdly, HDB is not going to leave you high and dry. Bayshore Palms will feature a 2-storey social and commercial block with an eating house, preschool, and additional shops, while Bayshore Vista will offer a supermarket, eating house, preschool, playgrounds, and fitness facilities, all integrated into the pedestrian-friendly Transit Priority Corridor along Bayshore Drive.

Prices and waiting time

The price of a 4-room flat is between $495,000 – $683,000 at ​​Bayshore Palms, and increases to $514,000 – $694,000 at Bayshore Vista. These are not low prices for a 4-room flat. You’re also going to be waiting 45 to 47 months for your flat to be completed, which is on the longer side. If you’re considering the Bayshore projects, make sure you really like the location. Otherwise, that’s quite a bit of time and money wasted.

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10. [Plus] Kembangan Wave (​​Bedok)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Kembangan Wave (​​Bedok)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.3) Best for: ☐ Families ☑ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★★★	Along Jalan Kembangan. 20 minutes to the city centre by car or public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Kembangan MRT Station
Amenities	★★★☆☆ (15 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Telok Kurau Primary School, Fengshan Primary School & MK @ Fengshan, Yu Neng Primary School, Red Swastika School, Bedok Green Secondary School
	★★★★☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Sims Avenue Park Connector, Siglap Park Connector, Bedok Community Centre, Bedok Mall, Djitsun Mall Bedok, Bedok Interchange and Hawker Centre, and the 5-storey integrated development it is a part of
Date of completion	★★★☆☆	Q4 2028 (estimated waiting time: 41 months)
Prices	★☆☆☆☆	2-room Flexi: $64,000 – $285,000 (including short lease units) 4-room: $453,000 – $592,000
Resale value	★★★★☆	4-room: $728,000 – $930,000
Application rates	★★★☆☆	2-room Flexi First-timers: 0.3 Second-timers: 0.7
		4-room First-timers: 2.1  Second-timers: 23.8

Location

Kembangan Wave is conveniently located right next to Kembangan MRT Station. While this station isn’t very happening, it does put you in a good position to access the places that are—Paya Lebar Quarter at Paya Lebar MRT is just 2 stops away, and you could even take the train 4 stops in the opposite direction to visit Jewel at Changi Airport.

Amenities

Like the Bayshore projects, Kembangan Wave falls short on amenities. There isn’t much by way of sports facilities, shopping malls, recreational facilities, or even schools nearby. Instead, the area is mainly populated with green spaces and park connectors like the Sims Avenue Park Connector and Siglap Park Connector.

It’s a rather quiet area, but remember that you’re just a few MRT stops away from the bustling Paya Lear Quarter (which might even be too noisy for some) and a few more stops from the CBD. Couple that with the fact that you live right next to the MRT station, and I think Kembangan Wave is a fantastic middle ground. You get the best of both worlds—a quiet escape into nature to call your home, but also proximity to the city centre.

But what about getting food, or buying groceries? Great news. The project features a 5-storey integrated development that will include a Community Club and amenities such as an eating house, supermarket, shops, a kidney dialysis centre, an outpatient healthcare facility, a community plaza, a covered basketball court, and a rooftop garden with an outdoor sheltered fitness area. Pretty much all you need. The medical facilities available also make it a great choice for seniors who want a quiet place to stay but with healthcare easily within reach.

Prices and waiting time

41 months for Kembangan Wave sounds like a long wait, but it’s still under 4 years. These flats will be ready in Q4 2028.

While they aren’t the most affordable compared to Standard flats, the prices are not out of the ordinary for Plus ones. A 4-room unit starts from $453,000 and can go up to $592,000.

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11. [Plus] Merpati Alcove (Geylang)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Merpati Alcove (Geylang)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★★☆ (3.7) Best for: ☐ Families ☑ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★★★	Along Merpati Road. 15 minutes to the city centre by car and 30 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Mattar MRT Station
Amenities	★★★☆☆ (15 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Canossa Catholic Primary School, St. Margaret’s Primary School (holding site), Geylang Methodist School
	★★★★☆	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: Pelton Canal Park Connector, Balam Park Connector, MacPherson Community Club, MacPherson Market & Food Centre, Circuit Road Hawker Centre, Geylang East Park, Geylang East Swimming Complex
Date of completion	★★★☆☆	Q1 2029 (estimated waiting time: 44 months)
Prices	★☆☆☆☆	Community Care Apartment: $68,000 – $139,000 (15 to 35 year leases) 4-room: $530,000 – $647,000
Resale value	★★★★★	4-room: $878,000 – $1,080,000
Application rates	★★★★★	Community Care Apartments: 0.7
		4-room First-timers: 1.4  Second-timers: 15.0

Location

Merpati Alcove is located right beside Mattar MRT Station, making it very convenient to travel to and from via public transport. It’s quite close to the city centre as well—you can drive to the CBD in just 15 to 20 minutes, or take no longer than half an hour if you go via train.

Amenities

If there was an award for Best BTO Project for Seniors for this sales exercise in Oct 2024, it would go to Merpati Alcove. The project is offering 433 units, of which more than half (265) are Community Care Apartments (CCA) designed for senior-friendly living, with on-site social activities and customised care services. Block 136A will feature communal spaces on each floor and a dedicated CCA Activity Centre, along with elderly fitness stations to encourage active ageing.

The Merpati Alcove project is located near Pelton Canal, which is flanked by Pelton Canal Park Connector and Balam Park Connector. It’s also got Aljunied Park and a new proposed park in its vicinity, so you have plenty of options to go and enjoy the great outdoors.

For cheap and good food, visit the Circuit Road Hawker Centre or MacPherson Market & Food Centre nearby. But if you want to eat slightly more atas food, say, from a restaurant in a shopping centre, you’ll need to take the train or drive out somewhere. There aren’t any major malls in the nearby area.

The nearest school is Canossa Catholic Primary School, which is practically next to the project. The next nearest is St. Margaret’s Primary School, but this is just a holding site. While there are more schools nearby, I wouldn’t say that I’d be impressed by the selection if I were a parent looking to enrol my kid in a school close to home.

Prices and waiting time

With 4-room units starting from $530,000, Merpati Alcove comes at a premium even for a Plus flat. Recall that 4-room units start from $453,000 at Kembangan Wave and $481,000 at Central Trio @ AMK, for example.

Not only will the flats here cost you money—they’ll also cost you time. You’ll be waiting almost 4 years for Merpati Alcove to be completed—its estimated completion date is in Q1 2029, with a waiting time of around 44 months.

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12. [Prime] Crawford Heights (Kallang/Whampoa)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO Review

Kembangan Wave (​​Bedok)—Oct 2024 HDB BTO
Overall rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.3) Best for: ☐ Families ☑ Seniors ☑ Nature-lovers
Location	★★★★★	Along  North Bridge Road and Crawford Street. 10 minutes to the city centre by car and 20 minutes by public transport.
		Nearest MRT station: Lavender MRT Station
Amenities	★★☆☆☆ (10 nearby schools on HDB’s map)	Nearby schools: Farrer Park Primary School & MK @ Farrer Park, Hong Wen School, Bendemeer Primary School (disclaimer: none of these is within walkable distance)
	★★★★★	Nearby shopping malls, markets and other amenities: North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre, Golden Plaza Sultan, Golden Mile Food Centre, Kampong Glam Community Club,  ICA Building, Kitchener Complex, Jalan Besar Plaza, Mustafa Centre, City Square Mall, Centrium Square, Jalan Besar Stadium and Swimming Complex, Sim Lim Tower, Marina Promenade, Kallang Riverside Park, Singapore Sports Hub, Singapore Indoor Stadium, Marina Reservoir
Date of completion	★☆☆☆☆	Q3 2029 (estimated waiting time: 50 months)
Prices	★☆☆☆☆	3-room: $390,000 – $523,000 4-room: $568,000 – $759,000
Resale value	★★★★★	4-room: $890,000 – $938,000
Application rates	★★★☆☆	3-room First-timers: 0.7  Second-timers: 20.1
		4-room First-timers: 2.1  Second-timers: 27.5

Did we save the best for the last? Crawford Heights is certainly the project I’m most excited about this BTO sales exercise in Oct 2024. No, not because it’s the only project classified as Prime, but because these flats will pilot the new “white flats” concept. These flats will be built without partitions and beams, creating an open concept living space. I’ve always thought it wasteful how HDB builds flats with walls to demarcate rooms, only to have the owners tear them down upon receiving their keys. It seems to be a trend, and HDB must think so too since they introduced this scheme. Time will tell if it’s successful, but it all starts with Crawford Heights.

Location

Needless to say, the only Prime project this Oct 2024 sales launch has the most central location of all the projects. It’s located near Lavender MRT Station, just 20 minutes from the city centre by public transport and 10 minutes if you drive.

However, the flats themselves are not right next to the nearest MRT station, Lavender . They’re located across the Rochor Canal, in fact, and it’ll take you 5 to 10 minutes to get to the MRT. In this sense, the location is not the most convenient.

Amenities

Amenities abound at Crawford Heights. Get your grub at North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre or Golden Mile Food Centre, walk along the waterfront at Marina Promenade, stay active at Jalan Besar Stadium and Swimming Complex, and shop till you drop at the trifecta that is Mustafa Centre, City Square Mall, and Centrium Square. Across Nicoll Highway, you’ll find the Singapore Sports Hub and Singapore Indoor Stadium for any concerts you might want to attend.

In the project itself, you’ll also get a preschool, residents’ network centre, and recreational spaces like a roof garden atop the Multi-Storey Car Park (MCSP), playground, and fitness stations.

The only thing that Crawford Heights doesn’t have a lot of in its vicinity? Schools. The nearest (Farrer Park Primary School) is about 2 km away, and the others are so far out that I wouldn’t say they’re even in the Lavender area anymore.

Prices and waiting time

It’s no surprise that Crawford Heights is coming with the biggest price tag during this Ot 2024 BTO sales exercise. A 4-room unit starts from $568,000, which is more expensive than a large 3Gen flat in West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok ($529,000).

Don’t forget that when it comes to selling this flat, you have to wait out the 10-year MOP. While median resale prices for this area are sky high ($848,000 for 4-rooms!), HDB will also take 9% of your flat’s resale or valuation price, whichever is higher, in their subsidy clawback.

Crawford Heights is also coming with a long waiting time of 50 months, with the estimated completion date in Q3 2029.

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13. What are the differences between Standard, Plus, and Prime flat?

The Oct 2024 BTO sales exercise is the first BTO launch with the new flat classification system in place. TLDR; as we go from Standard to Plus to Prime, both prices and restrictions increase. Here’s a summary. 

	Standard	Plus	Prime
Subsidies	Significant market discounts	More subsidies, in addition to significant market discounts	Most subsidies, in addition to significant market discounts
Subsidy recovery upon resale of flat	No	Yes, 6 – 8% for Oct 2024 launch: – 6%: Central Trio @ AMK, Kembangan Wave – 7% Bayshore Vista, Bayshore Palms – 8%: Merpati Alcove, Kallang View, Towner Breeze	Yes, 9% for Oct 2024 launch
Minimum occupation period (MOP)	5 years	10 years	10 years
Resale of flat	Allowed after MOP, with tighter resale conditions for Plus and Prime flats
Investment in private residential property	Allowed after MOP
Renting out of whole flat	Allowed after MOP	Not allowed	Not allowed
Renting out of spare rooms	Allowed for 3-room or bigger flats
Singles’ eligibility to purchase	– New flats: 2-room flats only – Resale flats: All flat types except 3Gen		2-room flats only
Projects in the Oct 2024 BTO launch	– Bukit Batok: West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok – Jurong West: Taman Jurong Skyline – Pasir Ris: Costa Riviera I and II – Sengkang: Fernvale Oasis – Sengkang: Fernvale Sails – Woodlands: Marsiling Ridge	– Kallang/Whampoa: Kallang View, Towner Breeze – Ang Mo Kio: Central Trio @ AMK – Bedok: Bayshore Vista, Bayshore Palms, Kembangan Wave – Geylang: Merpati Alcove	Kallang/Whampoa: Crawford Heights

Source: HDB

If you plan on renting out your flat in its entirety, you must get a Standard flat. Similarly, if you plan on selling your flat after just 5 years, you have to get a Standard flat for the 5-year MOP.

Otherwise, feel free to choose the Plus and Prime flats for their choicier locations. Just be aware of the restrictions and remember that HDB will claw back 6 – 9% of the flat’s resale or valuation price, whichever is higher.

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14. HDB BTO Oct 2024 Review: Which is the best Oct 2024 BTO?

It might seem like a cop-out answer, but the reality is that the ideal BTO to apply for is the one that aligns with your individual preferences.

Although we offer a rating system with a numerical score, I suggest you don’t pay too much attention to the number. It represents the overall score across all the factors we’ve discussed, including location, amenities, prices, resale value and application rate. But the reality is that some of these factors are going to mean more to you than others. For example, the Ang Mo Kio project has a score of just 2.7, but it’s the most popular based on application rates—probably due to its location.

Most importantly, consider the factors that matter the most to you in your new home. Don’t enjoy long walks to the MRT? Look for one that’s located right next to a station. Planning to start a family? Then maybe a BTO surrounded by schools should be at the top of your list.

Here’s a quick round-up of the Oct 2024 BTO projects to get you started:

• Closest to city centre: Crawford Heights, Kallang View, Towner Breeze, Kembangan Wave, Merpati Alcove
• For waterfront views: Taman Jurong Skyline, Bayshore Vista and Bayshore Palms 
• Most affordable: Taman Jurong Skyline, West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok, Fernvale Oasis, Fernvale Sails, Marsiling Ridge
• Closest to MRT: Kembangan Wave, Merpati Alcove, Costa Riviera I and II,  Marsiling Ridge
• Best for JB-trippers: Marsiling Ridge
• Most number of schools nearby: Taman Jurong Skyline, Marsiling Ridge, Fernvale Oasis, Fernvale Sails, Central Trio @ AMK Central Trio @ AMK
• Shortest waiting time: Fernvale Oasis, Fernvale Sails, West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok (all less than 3 years)
• Biggest units (5-room/3Gen): West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok, Taman Jurong Skyline, Costa Riviera II, Fernvale Oasis, Fernvale Sails, Marsiling Ridge
• Community Care Apartments (for seniors): Merpati Alcove
• Lowest application rates (based on 4-room flat rates for first-timer families as of 21 Oct 2024): Taman Jurong Skyline, Merpati Alcove (see below)

Town	4-room flat application rate for first-timer families as of 21 Oct 2024
Ang Mo Kio – Central Trio @ AMK (Plus)	3.3
Pasir Ris – Costa Riviera I (Standard) – Costa Riviera II (Standard)	2.8
Bukit Batok – West BrickVille @ Bukit Batok (Standard)	2.5
Woodlands – Marsiling Ridge (Standard)	2.4
Bedok – Bayshore Vista (Plus) – Bayshore Palms (Plus) – Kembangan Wave (Plus)	2.1
Kallang/Whampoa – Kallang View (Plus) – Towner Breeze (Plus) – Crawford Heights (Prime)	2.1
Sengkang – Fernvale Oasis (Standard) – Fernvale Sails (Standard)	2.0
Geylang – Merpati Alcove (Plus)	1.4
Jurong West – Taman Jurong Skyline (Standard)	0.3

Source: HDB

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Our rating rubric for HDB BTO flat reviews

Our rating rubric for HDB BTO flat reviews
Location (centrality and accessibility)	– 5 stars: Takes less than 30 minutes to reach the city centre both by car and by public transport (e.g. Queenstown) – 3 or 4 stars: Takes less than 30 minutes by car but 30-59 minutes by public transport. (e.g. Hougang, Bedok) – 1 or 2 stars: Takes 30 minutes or longer by car and an hour or longer by public transport. (e.g. Choa Chu Kang) We’re harsher if the promised “short walk to the nearby MRT station” is actually a 20-minute trek through the sweltering sun.
Amenities	– 5 stars: 25 or more nearby schools – 4 stars: 20 to 24 nearby schools – 3 stars: 15 to 19 nearby schools – 2 stars: 10 to 14 nearby schools – 1 star: Fewer than 10 schools nearby For standardisation, we look at the nearby schools as shown on HDB’s full map of each BTO development.
	We award 0.5 to 1 star (depending on how large/major it is and the proximity) each for an existing nearby shopping mall, hawker centre or market, sports centre, hospital, nature park, key transport hub.
Date of completion	We consider the estimated waiting time. – 5 stars: 36 months or less – 4 stars: 37 – 40 months – 3 stars: 41 – 44 months – 2 stars: 45 – 48 months – 1 star: More than 48 months
Prices	For simplicity, we consider the starting price of a 4-room flat. – 5 stars: Below $300,000 – 4 stars: $300,000 to $349,999 – 3 stars: $350,000 to $399,999 – 2 stars: $400,000 to $449,999 – 1 star: $450,000 or higher
Resale value	We consider the starting resale price of a 4-room flat. – 5 stars: $800,000 or higher – 4 stars: $700,000 to $799,999 – 3 stars: $600,000 to $699,999 – 2 stars: $500,000 to $599,999 – 1 star: Lower than $500,000
Application rates (based on application rate data from HDB)	We consider the first-timer family application rates of a 4-room flat. – 5 stars: Less than 1.5 – 4 stars: 1.5 to 1.9 – 3 stars: 2.0 to 2.4 – 2 stars: 2.5 to 2.9 – 1 star: 3.0 and above Note: The average BTO application rate for a 4-room flat from Feb to Jun 2024 was 1.85.

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