The Housing Development Board (HDB) has unveiled its third Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise for 2026, offering 7,964 new flats across six towns: Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengah, Toa Payoh, and Yishun. This brings the total number of new flats launched this year to 23,928, fewer than the 29,975 flats in 2025 but more than the 21,225 in 2024.
The recent increase in the income ceiling for BTO eligibility is anticipated to drive demand. From August 2026, the income ceiling was raised to S$16,000 for families and S$8,000 for singles, allowing buyers to secure loans up to S$909,372 and purchase flats up to S$1.212m. This change is expected to benefit middle-income families and higher-earning dual-income couples without children, expanding the pool of eligible buyers.
The introduction of Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) flats and White flat layouts in Tengah is expected to enhance demand. White flats offer design flexibility, appealing to buyers looking for customisable living spaces. SWT flats, with a shorter minimum occupation period, allow buyers to sell their flats sooner, potentially upgrading to private housing faster.
Among the most anticipated projects are Bayshore Oasis and Bayshore Sails in Bedok, Toa Payoh Hillside, and Merpati Meadow in Geylang. These projects are expected to attract strong interest due to their prime locations, amenities, and unique features.
Conversely, projects like Plantation Dew in Tengah and Chencharu Acres in Yishun may see moderate demand, whilst Sembawang Anchor could experience softer interest due to the high number of flats already launched in the area this year.
