Most prospective homeowners will consider their HDB grant eligibility and the amount of CPF housing grants they can get when buying an HDB flat. For first-timers eyeing a flat in Singapore, CPF housing grants will help to make homes more ‘affordable,’ especially if you’re buying a resale flat.
The new property cooling measures announced in August 2024 extended more support to first-time flat buyers in the lower-to-middle income group. The maximum Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) amount was increased to $120,000 for families (up from the previous $80,000) and $60,000 for singles (up from $40,000). Additionally, the HDB loan LTV limit was tightened to 75%.
With so many CPF Housing Grant eligibility criteria, applying for one can get pretty confusing. With a focus on HDB first-timer grant eligibility and amounts – comprising at least one Singapore Citizen (SC), the other spouse a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) – we’ll explain in this article everything you need to know about CPF Grants, including BTO grant eligibility and grants for resale flats, and how you can qualify for them.
How to Buy an HDB Flat (Watch Video)
Not sure if you’re eligible for an HDB flat? Here’s a quick video on HDB eligibility. Alternatively, you can apply for your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter, and you will be informed of your HDB eligibility, eligible HDB loan amount and grant amounts (if any). Ready to read about HDB grants? Here’s a table of contents:
- Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Families) (EHG)
- CPF Housing Grants for Resale Flats (Families)
- Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)
- Step-Up CPF Housing Grant (Families) (SUHG)
- CPF Housing Grant (Family Grant)
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CPF Housing Grant Eligibility for Couples and Families
| HDB Housing Grant | It can be used to buy this type of HDB flat |
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Families) (EHG) | BTO and resale flats |
| CPF Housing Grant for Resale Flats (Families) | Resale flats |
| Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) | Resale flats |
| Step-Up CPF Housing Grant (Families) (SUHG) | If you currently own a 2-room flat that was bought from HDB after October 1955 or a resale HDB flat with a CPF Housing Grant, you’re eligible to buy a 3-room BTO or resale flat If you currently live in a public rental flat, you’re eligible to buy a BTO flat (2-room Flexi or 3-room) and a resale flat (2-room or 3-room) |
| CPF Housing Grant (Family Grant) | Executive Condominium (EC) unit |
1. Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (Families) (EHG)
| Income ceiling | CPF grant calculation amount |
| Not more than $1,500 | $120,000 |
| $1,501 to $2,000 | $110,000 |
| $2,001 to $2,500 | $105,000 |
| $2,501 to $3,000 | $95,000 |
| $3,001 to $3,500 | $90,000 |
| $3,501 to $4,000 | $80,000 |
| $4,001 to $4,500 | $70,000 |
| $4,501 to $5,000 | $65,000 |
| $5,001 to $5,500 | $55,000 |
| $5,501 to $6,000 | $50,000 |
| $6,001 to $6,500 | $40,000 |
| $6,501 to $7,000 | $30,000 |
| $7,001 to $7,500 | $25,000 |
| $7,501 to $8,000 | $20,000 |
| $8,001 to $8,500 | $10,000 |
| $8,501 to $9,000 | $5,000 |
The EHG amount is progressive and tiered based on household income. You must qualify for the CPF Housing Grants for resale flats before applying for the EHG.
In the fourth round of property cooling measures since December 2021, the EHG was increased to provide more support to first-timer families and singles. This comes on the back of the increasing resale flat prices and resilient demand.
The latest round of cooling measures are expected to dampen HDB resale flat demand in the short term and make resale flats more affordable.
CPF Housing Grant Eligibility for EHG
| Applicant profile | HDB first-timer grant eligibility for couples and families who haven’t previously received a CPF Grant |
| Employment | One applicant must’ve worked continuously for at least 12 months before applying for the HFE letter |
| Remaining lease of the HDB flat | More than 20 years, and long enough to cover the younger spouse up to 95 years old |
| Existing/recent ownership/interest in Singapore property other than an HDB flat | Must not have owned or had an interest in local or overseas private property and Must not have disposed of private property at least 30 months before applying |
HDB First-timer Grant Eligibility: Who Is Considered a First-timer for HDB Flats?
- Not the current owner of, hasn’t sold, and hasn’t been a recipient of any CPF Grant for the purchase of a flat bought directly from HDB, a Design, Build & Sell Scheme (DBSS) flat, or an EC bought from the developer
- Hasn’t sold an HDB flat with re-housing benefits under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), or received other housing subsidies, including enjoying SERS benefits or the privatisation of Housing and Urban Company (HUDC) estate
Interest in property happens when you:
- Buy a property
- Obtain it as a gift
- Inherit it
- Own, acquire, or dispose of it through an intermediary
Read more about the CPF Housing Grant eligibility conditions for fiancé and fiancées, married couples and/or parent(s) with children (relevant for the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant (SUHG)), multi-generation families, and non-residents (relevant for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)).
2. CPF Housing Grant for Resale Flats (Families)
First-timer SC-SC couples
$80,000
$50,000
First-timer SC-SPR couples
$70,000
$40,000
First- and second-timer SC-SC couples
$40,000
$25,000
CPF Housing Grant Eligibility for Resale Flats (Families)
| Applicant profile | First-timer couples and families, or First-timer SCs whose spouses previously received CPF Grant |
| Income ceiling | $14,000, or $21,000 if purchasing with an extended or multi-generation family |
| Remaining lease of the HDB flat | More than 20 years |
| Existing/recent ownership/interest in Singapore property other than an HDB flat | Must not have owned or had an interest in local or overseas private property and Must not have disposed of private property at least 30 months before applying for the HFE letter Must not be buying an HDB flat announced for SERS |
3. Proximity Housing Grant (Families) (PHG)
| Living with your parents/child | $30,000 |
| Living within 4km of your parents/child | $20,000 |
PHG Eligibility
| Applicant profile | Couples and families who haven’t previously received the PHG |
| Remaining lease of the HDB flat | More than 20 years |
| Existing/recent ownership/interest in Singapore property other than an HDB flat | Must not have owned or had an interest in local or overseas private property and Must not have disposed of private property at least 30 months before applying for the HFE letter |
Read our full review of the PHG.
4. Step-Up CPF Housing Grant (Families) (SUHG)
| Applicant profile | Couples and families who’ve taken one housing subsidy |
| Income ceiling | $7,000 |
| Remaining lease of the HDB flat | More than 20 years |
| Existing/recent ownership/interest in Singapore property other than an HDB flat | Must not have owned or had an interest in local or overseas private property and Must not have disposed of private property at least 30 months before applying for the HFE letter |
5. CPF Housing Grant (Family Grant) for Executive Condominiums (ECs)
$10,000 or lower
$30,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,001 to $11,000
$20,000
$10,000
$10,000
$11,001 to $12,000
$10,000
None
$5,000
SC-SPR households who apply for the CPF Housing Grant can receive an additional $10,000 when the SPR converts to an SC by applying for the Citizen Top-Up housing subsidy within six months of eligibility.
Looking for Resale HDB Flats/EC Units for Sale?
And that’s it for HDB first-timer grant eligibility and grant amounts you can receive for the different types of HDB flats. If you do not intend to apply for a BTO flat, you can find your dream resale HDB flat or EC unit for sale on PropertyGuru now.
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