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HDB for singles – what to consider before buying a home

Learn about the available housing options and the CPF housing grants that make your homeownership journey as a single more affordable.

8 Jan 2025

SOURCE: CPF Board

young lady playing with her dog at her home

In a nutshell:

Singles can now apply for 2-room Flexi flats across all BTO projects with the new HDB flat classification from October 2024.
You will need to be at least 35 years old to apply for a BTO or resale flat as a single – apply for a HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter to understand your housing options and eligibility for CPF housing grants.
Use the CPF Home Purchase Planner to ensure your home purchase decision supports your future financial goals.

With the implementation of the new HDB flat classification from October 2024, singles in Singapore are now offered more housing choices, including BTO flats previously classified under mature estates.

With more choices, and greater affordability with CPF housing grants, here’s a guide to help single homeowners like you make informed decisions that align with your financial goals.

HDB flat options for singles

1. New BTO flats

If you’re single, you can now apply for 2-room Flexi flats (99-year lease) for Standard, Plus and Prime housing projects in all locations. Prior to October 2024, you could only apply for new flats in non-mature estates.

A 2-room Flexi flat mainly features:

Main living/dining area
1 x bedroom
1 x bathroom
Kitchen
Household shelter

Because of their smaller size, these BTO flats are more affordable, however, they come with more restrictions (which will be mentioned later) and include a longer waiting time.

Did you know?

From mid-2025, the new Family Care Scheme (FCS), will allow singles (and married children) to get priority access if they are applying for BTO to live near or with their parents.

The FCS will replace the current priority schemes like the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS), Senior Priority Scheme (SPS), and Multi-Generation Priority Scheme (MGPS).

2. Resale flats

You can purchase all flat types (excluding 3Gen flats) in the resale market.

However, the costs associated with a resale HDB flat are more than a BTO flat. You will also need to factor in renovation expenses, as an older flat may require a more extensive (and expensive!) renovation.

Despite this, there is still demand for resale flats, as buyers have more options in terms of the location and size of the flat. The purchase process is also quicker – it can take as little as a month from the point of sale to moving into the flat itself.

Eligibility criteria

Flat type	New Flat (2-room Flexi) Resale Prime¹ Flat	Resale (Unclassified², Standard and Plus) Flats
Citizenship	Must be a Singapore Citizen (SC)
Age	At least 35 years old	At least 35 years old (unmarried or divorced) At least 21 years old (widowed or an orphan)*
Monthly household income	$7,000	None

_{[1] Prime flats include Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) flats sold before October 2024 sales exercise. The eligibility criteria for resale Prime flats follow the prevailing BTO eligibility criteria.

[2] Unclassified resale flats refer to flats sold before October 2024 sales exercise and not classified as Standard, Plus or Prime.}

_{*At least 1 of your deceased parents was a Singapore Citizen, or Singaporean Permanent Resident}

Tip

Apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter to get a better understanding of your housing and financial options. You will know upfront if you are eligible to buy a new or resale flat, receive CPF housing grants, and get an HDB housing loan.

3. Executive Condominiums (ECs)

ECs are strata-titled apartments which are built and sold by property developers to eligible Singaporean households. As a single, you can buy a new EC – only if you’re 35 years and above, and under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS).

It’s important to note that ECs are usually much more costly than BTO and resale flats. You are also not eligible for any housing grants if you purchase an EC as a single.

CPF housing grants

Buying a flat on your own

If you’re thinking of buying an HDB BTO or resale flat, check if you’re eligible for any CPF housing grants. Do note that if you apply for a BTO flat as a sole owner, you will have to pay an additional $15,000 (incorporated in the flat price), so that the subsidy received is commensurate with that for one party.

Buying a flat with up to three other singles

You can apply for a flat by forming a household of 2 to 4 singles, all of whom must be Singaporean citizens and at least 35 years.

Here’s a quick overview:

Find out more about the eligibility conditions and CPF housing grants you can apply for.

Note: HDB housing grants for singles are only eligible for first-time applicants.

What if you get married after buying a flat as a single

If you are now married or planning to get married, having received a CPF housing grant for singles previously, you may be eligible for a Top-Up Grant. The amount depends on whether the house you bought as a single is from HDB or the resale market.

If you bought a 2-room or 2-room Flexi flat from HDB – $40,000
If you bought a resale flat – the prevailing Family Grant amount minus the Singles Grant amount you had previously received for your resale flat

Plan with the Home Purchase Planner

No matter your life stage — whether you're single, married with dependants, or a dual-income couple without kids — it's essential to align your housing decisions with your goals for financial independence, quality living, and long-term security. As buying a home is likely the single largest purchase of your life, it’s crucial to also consider the impact of your home purchase on your long-term finances and retirement.

A handy tool you can check out is the CPF Home Purchase Planner – which allows you to plan your home purchase with your retirement in mind.

3 key features:

Suitable for all homebuyers – whether you are buying your first or next home
Holistic assessment of your financial situation – allows you to estimate your home purchase budget based on your current income, savings, monthly expenses and sales proceeds if you have an existing property to sell
Visualise the impact on your retirement: Understand how your home purchase affects your future CPF savings/payouts, allowing you to plan for your desired retirement lifestyle.

Start planning today!

Information in this article is accurate as at the date of publication.