Why are singles’ BTO application rates still so high?

Why are singles’ application rates so high?

Property analysts say attractive prices and locations have driven up demand, while sociologists point to broader demographic changes and shifting societal expectations.

Two-room flexi BTO flats are popular among singles because they are more affordable than resale flats or private property, said Eugene Lim, key executive officer of property agency ERA Singapore.

In the recent June launch, two-room flexi flats were priced from $139,000 to $247,000, before grants.

In comparison, such flats were sold on the resale market at around $360,000 on average between 2025 and the first half of 2026, Lim noted.

Kelvin Fong, chief executive of PropNex, added that BTO flats also offer a fresh lease and typically require less maintenance and renovation than older resale flats.

To meet demand, HDB has been building a substantial number of two-room flexi flats in some projects, including those in sought-after locations.

In the June sales exercise, 816 units, or 41 per cent, of the 1,976 flats in Berlayar Rise were two-room flexi units. They are located in the new Berlayar estate in Telok Blangah Road that will form part of the Greater Southern Waterfront.

In the upcoming sales launch in October, which is typically the largest launch of the year, nearly half of the planned Bayshore flats in Bedok – 1,240 out of 2,500 units – will be two-room flexi flats.

However, two-room flexi flats are first allocated to seniors, then singles, who can book up to 65 per cent of the remaining flats.

More people are also remaining single, which could be contributing to high singles’ application rates.

The five-yearly General Household Survey, published on June 30, showed that more Singapore residents in their 30s have stayed single over the past five years.

Nearly one in four men (24.4 per cent) aged 35 to 39 was single in 2025, up from 22.6 per cent in 2020. For women in the same age bracket, the proportion of singles rose slightly from 19.3 per cent to 20.3 per cent in the same period.

HDB’s Sample Household Survey, published in November 2025, also showed that most singles who intend to move out of their current homes would prefer to buy a home, rather than rent or live with other people.

The Government is reviewing the minimum age of 35 at which singles can purchase flats. But as it does so, the sustained demand from this group of buyers raises the question of when it can realistically make a move.

What would it take to adjust the singles’ age floor?

Some have argued for a lower age floor so singles under 35 can own their own homes, while others say doing so could mean greater competition for two-room flexi BTO flats.

National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said in January that any policy move would depend on market conditions. Demand will go up if eligibility conditions are loosened, he noted, adding that waiting times for flats could be longer and fewer applicants would be successful if supply cannot keep up.

Observers agree that any policy changes to widen eligibility conditions could intensify competition.

Sociologist Chua Beng Huat said: “Given the oversubscription, there seems to be little reason to lower the age eligibility, since it can always be argued that those who are older are not fully provided for and lowering the age ceiling will only increase the demand pressure.”

It will also put more pressure on HDB to build more and faster, which may not be feasible, added the emeritus professor at the NUS Department of Sociology and Anthropology.

The question, then, is when market conditions would allow such a move to be feasible.

The singles’ application rate could be considered stable if it is close to the overall rate for the entire sales launch, said Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at property firm Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group.

“If supply meets demand, the application rates will drop naturally,” she said. The overall rate was 3.2 in the June exercise.

In short, until application rates ease and supply catches up with demand, the case for lowering the singles’ age floor is likely to remain constrained by practical considerations – ultimately, whether HDB can build enough homes to keep pace with demand.