November BTO Draws 35,603 Applicants for 7,964 Flats, the Highest Rate Since 2022, With Toa Payoh and Tengah Leading
Higher income ceilings brought far more buyers into HDB’s last Build-To-Order exercise of 2026. When applications closed on 11 November, 35,603 applicants had applied for 7,964 flats, or 4.5 for every flat. That is the highest overall rate since August 2022 and the largest number of applicants since October 2024. Four-room flats at Toa Payoh Hillside and Tengah’s Plantation Dew were the most contested.
Applicants
Applicants per Flat
Median First-Timer Rate, 3-Room and Up
BTO Flats Launched in 2026
Why Demand Jumped
This exercise opened on 4 November, the first under the new monthly household income ceiling of S$16,000 for families and S$8,000 for singles, up from S$14,000 and S$7,000. National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said the rise was expected, because more Singaporeans are now eligible.
Among first-timer families applying for three-room and larger flats, the median application rate was 2.6, almost double the 1.4 recorded in June. The June exercise drew about 22,600 applicants, and February about 14,000. Analysts also credit the choice of popular, well-located towns such as Toa Payoh and Bayshore.
Project by Project
| Project | Type | Key Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Toa Payoh Hillside | Prime, near Caldecott MRT | Over 6 first-timers per four-room flat (584 units); most expensive four-room at S$832,000 |
| Plantation Dew, Tengah | Standard | Four-room over 5 times subscribed; 1,619 applicants for 178 two-room flexi flats |
| Bayshore Oasis and Bayshore Sails | Plus, 9% subsidy recovery | 3.1 first-timers per four-room flat; 10,293 applicants for 2,492 flats in total |
| Sembawang Anchor | Standard, wait under 3 years | Four-room and five-room first-timer rates below one |
Rates for first-timer applicants as at 11 November. Sources: HDB, The Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao.
Toa Payoh Hillside drew buyers despite Prime conditions: a 10-year minimum occupation period and an 11 per cent subsidy clawback on resale. Realion’s Christine Sun pointed to nearby schools such as CHIJ and the mature estate. In Tengah, PropNex’s Kelvin Fong linked the strong response to pent-up demand, as the last Tengah launch was in October 2023. Singles applying for two-room flexi flats at Plantation Dew faced more than 18 applicants per unit, the highest singles rate this round. At Sembawang Anchor, the distance to the MRT station, a 15 to 20 minute walk, appears to have deterred buyers, which means first-timers there have a very good chance of picking a unit.
Community Care Apartments Recover
The 256 community care apartments at Toa Payoh Hillside drew 509 applicants, a rate of 2.0. Earlier projects in Bedok, Geylang and Sengkang each drew fewer than one applicant per unit. Two changes this year helped: the minimum age was lowered from 65 to 55, and the monthly basic service package at Toa Payoh Hillside was cut to between S$61 and S$71. Prices start from S$151,000 before grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people applied in the November 2026 BTO exercise?
35,603 applicants for 7,964 flats, or 4.5 per flat, as at 11 November.
Which projects were most popular?
Four-room flats at Toa Payoh Hillside and Plantation Dew in Tengah, and two-room flexi flats at Plantation Dew for singles.
When can successful applicants book a flat?
Those with a queue number can expect to book at HDB Hub between March and June 2027.
What changed for community care apartments?
The minimum age fell from 65 to 55 and the monthly service fee was reduced, and the Toa Payoh project drew 2.0 applicants per unit.
When is the next BTO exercise?
February 2027, with about 4,300 flats in Bishan, Tampines, Tengah and Toa Payoh.
Missed out in this BTO exercise?
I can help you weigh the February 2027 launch against resale flats in the same towns.