1. Get your HFE letter first

Before you do anything else — before viewing flats, before applying for a BTO — apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter. It consolidates your eligibility, grant entitlement and loan estimate into one document and is now a prerequisite for both BTO applications and resale purchases.

2. Check your eligibility scheme

Confirm which scheme you're buying under (Public Scheme with family, Fiance/Fiancee Scheme, Single Singapore Citizen Scheme, Joint Singles Scheme, etc.) as this determines your income ceiling, grant eligibility and minimum age requirements.

3. Set a realistic budget

  • Work out your CPF Ordinary Account balance and how much can go towards the downpayment.
  • Use a TDSR/MSR calculator to see your maximum loan quantum before you fall in love with a flat you can't finance.
  • Budget separately for BSD (and ABSD if applicable), legal fees, valuation fees, and renovation — these are on top of the purchase price.

4. Decide BTO, SBF or resale

See our BTO vs Resale guide for the full trade-off. Your timeline and how badly you need a specific location should drive this decision more than price alone.

5. Line up your grants

Check eligibility for the Family Grant, Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG), and Proximity Housing Grant if buying resale near parents — these can be worth well over $100,000 combined for eligible lower- and middle-income first-timer households.

Common mistake

Many first-timers view resale flats and even negotiate Cash-Over-Valuation before checking their HFE letter or confirming grant eligibility. Sort your paperwork first — it protects your bargaining position and your deposit.

6. Understand the resale timeline (if buying resale)

Budget roughly 8–12 weeks from exercising the Option to Purchase (OTP) to key collection, covering the HDB resale application, approval, and the standard completion period. See our HDB Process Timeline for a week-by-week breakdown.