HDB Properties Cheat Sheet for RES Exam Revision

Public Scheme (BTO/SBF): Applicants must be at least 21 years old. Family nucleus required: married couples, fiancé/fiancée, parents with children, or singles aged 35+. Income ceiling: S$14,000/month for families, S$7,000/month for singles. Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG): Up to S$80,000 for first-timers buying 4-room or smaller BTO/resale flats. Tiered by income: families earning ≤S$2,000 get full S$80,000; decreases gradually to S$0 at S$9,000 income. Proximity Housing Grant (PHG): S$30,000 for living with/near parents/children. Must live within 4km or same town. Singles Grant: Up to S$25,000 for first-timer singles buying resale flats. These figures are highly testable—memorize the exact amounts and income thresholds.

Standard MOP: 5 years from key collection before owners can sell, sublet entire flat, or purchase private property. Clock starts from date of key collection, not date of purchase. MOP applies to: All new flats (BTO/SBF), resale flats purchased with CPF Housing Grant, and Executive Condominiums (ECs). Partial subletting: Allowed after occupying flat for minimum occupation period, subject to HDB approval. Exceptions: Owners can retain HDB flat and buy private property after MOP if they meet eligibility conditions. Premium flats: Some may have longer MOP periods (up to 10 years for prime location flats introduced in 2021). Resale flats without grants: No MOP if purchased without CPF Housing Grant—owners can sell immediately. This is a common exam trap; verify grant usage to determine MOP applicability.

Option to Purchase (OTP): Buyer pays option fee (negotiable, typically S$1,000-S$5,000). OTP valid for 21 days (3 weeks). Exercise of OTP: Buyer pays option exercise fee to make up 5% of purchase price (minus option fee already paid). Must exercise within OTP validity. Resale Application: Submit to HDB within 14 days of exercising OTP. HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter: Valid for 6 months; obtain before signing OTP recommended. Completion timeline: Typically 8-10 weeks from resale application to completion appointment. Resale levy: Payable by sellers who previously purchased subsidized flat and are buying another. First flat: S$15,000 (3-room or smaller), S$30,000 (4-room), S$45,000 (5-room or larger). Second subsequent flat: S$50,000 flat rate. Memorize these amounts and timelines precisely.

Valuation Limit (VL): Lower of purchase price or market valuation. Determines maximum CPF withdrawable. Withdrawal Limit (WL): Up to 100% of VL using CPF Ordinary Account (OA), subject to conditions. Basic Retirement Sum (BRS): Must set aside BRS + interest in CPF accounts. As of 2024, BRS is S$99,400 (amount increases annually). Remaining lease requirement: HDB flat's remaining lease must cover youngest buyer to age 95. If not, CPF usage pro-rated. Monthly installments: Can use CPF OA for monthly mortgage payments. Accrued interest: Must refund CPF principal + accrued interest (computed at 2.5% per annum) when selling flat. Interest compounds, so amount refunded exceeds withdrawal. These CPF rules are frequently tested—understand the interplay between VL, WL, and BRS.

HDB Loan LTV: Up to 85% of purchase price or valuation (whichever lower). Bank Loan LTV: Up to 75% for HDB flats. HDB Loan interest rate: 2.6% per annum (pegged at 0.1% above CPF OA rate of 2.5%). Rate is stable. Bank loan rates: Variable (SORA/FHR-based); typically higher but can be lower during promotional periods. Mortgage Servicing Ratio (MSR): Monthly mortgage payment ≤30% of gross monthly income (applies to both HDB and bank loans for HDB flats). HDB Loan eligibility: Average gross monthly household income ≤S$14,000. No income ceiling for bank loans. Lock-in period: HDB loans have no lock-in; bank loans typically 2-3 years. Legal/valuation fees: Lower for HDB loans. Know the 85% vs 75% LTV distinction and the 30% MSR rule cold.

Purpose: Maintain ethnic balance in HDB estates. Prevents formation of racial enclaves. Two limits: Neighbourhood limit (broader area) and block limit (specific block). Neighbourhood limits: Chinese 84%, Malay 25%, Indian/Others 13%. Block limits: Chinese 87%, Malay 25%, Indian/Others 13%. Application: Applies to both buying and selling. If quota reached, buyers of that ethnic group cannot purchase in that block/neighbourhood. SPR Quota: Singapore Permanent Residents face additional quota: 5% at neighbourhood level, 8% at block level. Checking: Buyers must check HDB's online portal for quota status before committing. Exemptions: None—applies to all HDB resale transactions. Memorize the exact percentages; they appear regularly in exam questions.

Flat types: 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room, 3Gen (multi-generation). Executive flats: Larger flats (130-150 sqm); no longer built since 1990s. Executive Condominiums (ECs): Hybrid public-private housing. 5-year MOP, then can sell to SPRs/foreigners. After 10 years, fully privatized. DBSS (Design, Build and Sell Scheme): Discontinued since 2012. Developed by private developers on HDB land. Premium flats: Located in prime/mature estates. Subsidies clawed back upon resale (subsidy recovery of up to 80% of resale price gain for first resale). Community Care Apartments (CCAs): Studio apartments for vulnerable elderly. Rental flats: Public rental for low-income families; not eligible for purchase. Understand the differences between EC privatization timeline and premium flat subsidy recovery mechanisms.

Citizenship requirement: At least one owner must be Singapore Citizen for new flats. SPRs can buy resale flats (subject to SPR quota). Foreigners: Cannot buy HDB flats except in limited circumstances (e.g., inheriting). Ownership transfer: Permitted via inclusion/removal of owners, transfer between co-owners, or outright transfer. Subject to eligibility and MOP rules. Matrimonial proceedings: Court may order transfer of flat ownership during divorce. Inheritance: Beneficiaries inheriting HDB flat must meet eligibility or dispose within stipulated time. Change in family nucleus: Owners must inform HDB of changes (e.g., marriage, divorce, death). Joint tenancy vs Tenancy-in-common: Joint tenancy has right of survivorship; tenancy-in-common allows unequal shares and no automatic survivorship. These ownership nuances appear in scenario-based questions—understand when transfers are permitted.

Whole flat subletting: Allowed only after completing MOP. Minimum rental period: 6 months. Must register tenancy with HDB. Bedroom subletting: Allowed after occupying flat for minimum period. Can rent up to 3 bedrooms (must retain at least one bedroom). No minimum rental period for bedrooms. Tenant eligibility: No citizenship restrictions for renting HDB flats. Owner-occupation: At least one owner must be listed in household and ordinarily reside in flat. Airbnb/short-term: Strictly prohibited. HDB flats cannot be used for short-term accommodation (less than 6 months). Penalties: Fines up to S$200,000 and/or imprisonment up to 12 months for unauthorized subletting. Registration: Must submit tenant details to HDB within stipulated timeframe. Short-term rental prohibition is heavily tested—remember the 6-month minimum rule.

Income ceilings: S$14,000 (families), S$7,000 (singles). EHG maximum: S$80,000. PHG: S$30,000. Singles Grant: S$25,000. MOP: 5 years standard. OTP validity: 21 days. Resale application: Within 14 days of OTP exercise. HLE validity: 6 months. Resale levy: S$15,000/S$30,000/S$45,000 (first); S$50,000 (subsequent). BRS 2024: S$99,400. HDB Loan LTV: 85%. Bank Loan LTV: 75%. MSR: 30%. HDB Loan rate: 2.6%. EIP neighbourhood: 84%/25%/13%. EIP block: 87%/25%/13%. SPR quota: 5%/8%. EC privatization: 10 years. Minimum rental: 6 months (whole flat). These numbers are exam gold—drill them until automatic. The Prepare app offers 162 HDB-focused practice questions across all 13 RES exam topics, helping you test recall of these critical figures under exam conditions.