{"id":78948,"date":"2026-08-23T23:29:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-23T15:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=78948"},"modified":"2026-08-23T23:29:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-23T15:29:00","slug":"higher-income-ceiling-for-bto-flats-and-ecs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=78948","title":{"rendered":"Higher income ceiling for BTO flats and ECs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/live-national-day-rally-2026-lawrence-wong-august-23?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\"><b>Follow our live coverage here.<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->The income ceiling for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will be increased to $16,000 for families and $8,000 for singles, so more Singaporean couples can have access to subsidised public housing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For buyers of new executive condominiums (ECs), it will be increased to $18,000, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in his National Day Rally speech on Aug 23.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The current income ceiling for BTO flats is $14,000 for families and $7,000 for singles. It is $16,000 for new ECs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">For HDB buyers, this will take effect for those applying for an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter from Aug 24.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The new EC income ceiling will apply to developments with land sale tender closing dates from Aug 24. It will not apply to balance units in existing ECs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Explaining the increase, PM Wong noted that Singaporeans have been marrying later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cBy the time they settle down, many are further along in their careers and earning more. So more young couples are crossing the current income ceilings,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cWe want to ensure that the vast majority of Singaporean couples can continue to have access to subsidised public housing.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:960 \/ 930\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/316d3e4ad9ee8c1f885bea885abf9236785ceed149654957e24a39d2bb9d6e1d?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/316d3e4ad9ee8c1f885bea885abf9236785ceed149654957e24a39d2bb9d6e1d?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/316d3e4ad9ee8c1f885bea885abf9236785ceed149654957e24a39d2bb9d6e1d?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/316d3e4ad9ee8c1f885bea885abf9236785ceed149654957e24a39d2bb9d6e1d\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/316d3e4ad9ee8c1f885bea885abf9236785ceed149654957e24a39d2bb9d6e1d\" alt=\"New income ceilings for families.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The monthly household income ceiling for BTO flats was last raised in September 2019 \u2013 from $12,000 to $14,000 for families, and from $6,000 to $7,000 for singles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The Ministry of National Development (MND) and HDB said on Aug 23 that the higher income ceiling will also apply to those buying an HDB resale flat with the CPF Housing Grant and Singles Grant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The CPF Housing Grant gives up to $80,000 for first-timer families buying a two- to four-room resale flat, and up to $50,000 for those buying a five-room or larger resale flat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Singles are eligible for <!-- -->$40,000<!-- --> in grants when buying a two- to four-room resale flat, and $25,000 for a five-room or larger resale flat, under the Singles Grant.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"portrait inline-media-wrapper\" style=\"--aspect-article-portrait:960 \/ 1128\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a5f2019d0de9e659193a7cd3872178f78ca3e7db89ae46dc889281c851e77dee?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a5f2019d0de9e659193a7cd3872178f78ca3e7db89ae46dc889281c851e77dee?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px and max-width: 3999px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a5f2019d0de9e659193a7cd3872178f78ca3e7db89ae46dc889281c851e77dee?w=900\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 4000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a5f2019d0de9e659193a7cd3872178f78ca3e7db89ae46dc889281c851e77dee\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/a5f2019d0de9e659193a7cd3872178f78ca3e7db89ae46dc889281c851e77dee\" alt=\"New income ceilings for singles.\" class=\"aspect-portrait flex items-start shrink-0 portrait article-portrait object-contain mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Eligible buyers under the new income ceiling can also get an HDB housing loan for a new or resale flat.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat first said in August 2025 the BTO income ceiling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/bto-income-ceiling-age-floor-for-singles-being-reviewed-chee-hong-tat?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">was being reviewed<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He said then that when the policy change is made, \u201cwe will not end up with a situation where there is insufficient supply\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In May, he added that HDB <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/housing\/hdb-likely-to-exceed-initial-55000-flat-target-from-2025-to-2027-chee-hong-tat?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">will likely exceed its target of launching 55,000 BTO flats<\/span><\/a> from 2025 to 2027, as current trends show a strong demand for housing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">PM Wong said \u201cencouraging results\u201d have been seen from the Government\u2019s efforts to ramp up housing supply.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Success rates for booking BTO flats are higher, waiting times are shorter and the resale market has stabilised, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">HDB resale prices declined in the second quarter of 2026. They dipped for the first time in close to seven years in the first quarter of the year.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Household income ceilings for BTO flats, ECs to be increased | NDR 2026\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OH-Me3Th2mM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In 2025, the median household market income for resident households was $12,446, up from $9,099 in 2020, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/community\/about-1-in-7-spore-families-have-income-of-at-least-30k-a-month-share-almost-doubled-in-5-years?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">General Household Survey released by the Department of Statistics in June<\/span><\/a>. Market income refers to income from employment and non-employment sources, such as rental and investment earnings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The income ceiling for the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme, which is currently the same as that for singles, will be raised. The same applies to schemes for second-timer families such as the Fresh Start Housing Scheme and Step-Up CPF Housing Grant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Schemes for seniors such as the Lease Buyback Scheme, Silver Housing Bonus and community care apartments, will also see the income ceiling increased.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"font-primary-headline-md-semibold\" data-testid=\"article-subhead-test-id\">First-timer families with children get more help to secure a flat<\/h2>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">During his Rally speech, PM Wong also said first-timer families with children will get one additional ballot chance for every child they have or are expecting, to significantly improve their chances of getting a flat in BTO or Sale of Balance Flat exercises.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This will take effect from the February 2027 BTO sales exercise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Noting that married or engaged couples already have priority access, PM Wong added: \u201cBut once you have children, I believe you should receive even greater priority.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Currently, eligible families under the First-Timer (Parents and Married Couples) category receive three ballot chances. They also get first priority under the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme when applying for a four-room or smaller BTO flat in Standard projects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Those who have been unsuccessful in two or more BTO applications for Standard flats \u2013 those with a five-year minimum occupation period and no subsidy clawback upon resale \u2013 get an extra ballot chance for each subsequent application.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The overall ballot chances for this category are capped at five.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">There is no cap on the ballot chances first-timer families with children can receive for every child they have.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">PM Wong added: \u201cSo the more children you have, the more ballot chances you will receive \u2013 because we want to help these growing families secure a home sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">MND and HDB said that the next BTO sales exercise will be held in November instead of October, to give buyers enough time to review their housing plans and apply for an HFE letter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">They advised buyers who are keen to participate in the upcoming exercise to apply for an HFE letter by Sept 25.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">HDB is expected to roll out about 7,960 flats in Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengah, Toa Payoh and Yishun in the next exercise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/housing\/age-eligibility-for-community-care-apartments-to-go-down-from-65-to-55-service-fees-lowered?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\">Assisted living flats<\/span><\/a>, also known as community care apartments, will also be offered in Toa Payoh. These flats come with senior-friendly fittings, such as wheelchair-accessible bathrooms and other health and community services.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"More Singaporeans eligible for subsidised housing | NDR 2026\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/LdrinRaNYM0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"text-primary font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/more-childcare-leave-bto-income-ceiling-raised-10-highlights-from-pm-wongs-national-day-rally-speech?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><span class=\"inline font-tertiary-body-baseline-regular\" data-testid=\"typography-test-id\"><b>READ NEXT: 10 highlights from PM Wong\u2019s National Day Rally speech<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<center><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/politics\/ndr-2026-higher-income-ceiling-for-bto-flats-ecs-more-ballot-chances-for-first-timers-with-kids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><br \/>\n<center\/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE \u2013 The income ceiling for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will be increased to $16,000 for families and $8,000 for singles,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":78951,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-78948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=78948"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/78948\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/78951"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=78948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=78948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=78948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}