Advertisement

BTO Prices Have Gone Up, But Have They Necessarily Become More Expensive?

PropertyGuru Editorial Team
BTO Prices Have Gone Up, But Have They Necessarily Become More Expensive?
I know what you’re thinking. If Build-to-Order (BTO) flat prices have gone up, then by definition, aren’t they more expensive?
Well, yes. From a strictly numerical perspective, they have indeed become more expensive. This is the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2008 to 2018:
HDB estate
CAGR of BTO prices (3-room flat)
Bukit Batok
1.18%
Bukit Panjang
1.49%
Choa Chu Kang
2.74%
Jurong West
3.55%
Punggol
2.24%
Sembawang
0.56%
Sengkang
4.28%
Woodlands
1.63%
Yishun
1.01%

How did we get this?

For this comparison, we used the historical price data from 2008 to 2018. We used 1) the earliest and latest BTO prices within those 10 years and 2) the average of the minimum and maximum BTO selling prices for 3-room units (before grants).
Then, we calculated the CAGR over 10 years, following this formula: CAGR = (latest BTO price/earliest BTO price)^(1/10)-1
This calculation gives you a snapshot of how BTO prices have been trending over the past decade, but of course, there are limitations as well. After all, not every estate gets new flats each year, and the unit mix of BTOs launched varies each time.
So, let’s deep dive into two particular estates: Punggol and Yishun. Although Punggol is a fairly young estate while Yishun is mature, both of them are known to be on the cheaper end of scale, and have had a healthy number of launches in those 10 years.

Punggol BTO prices from 2008 to 2018

Here’s the how the BTO launch prices for Punggol have moved from 2008 to 2018. The prices listed are the average of the minimum and maximum selling prices. Further, if there were no launches in a particular year, the price was assumed to be the same as the previous year.
2008
94,500
173,000
275,000
366,500
2009
101,500
169,500
278,000
370,500
2010
101,500
193,500
309,500
394,000
2011
98,000
196,000
323,500
409,500
2012
117,000
205,000
319,500
405,500
2013
111,000
204,000
328,000
430,000
2014
110,500
189,000
309,500
381,500
2015
114,500
198,000
324,500
426,500
2016
110,000
186,500
311,000
413,500
2017
110,000
186,500
317,000
395,500
2018
130,500
216,000
324,000
441,000
CAGR
3.28%
2.24%
1.65%
1.87%
As you can see the CAGR of a Punggol BTO over a 10-year period ranges from 1.65% to 3.28%.
Now, let’s look at Yishun.

Yishun BTO prices from 2008 to 2018

2011
174,500
265,000
329,000
2012
183,500
292,000
359,500
2013
96,500
192,000
286,000
354,500
2014
98,000
163,000
279,000
374,000
2015
98,000
163,000
279,000
374,000
2016
101,000
173,000
274,000
374,000
2017
95,000
167,000
271,000
354,500
2018
103,500
193,000
282,500
369,500
CAGR
1.41%
1.45%
0.92%
1.67%
The data shows that the CAGR for the Yishun area is even lower, ranging from 0.92% to 1.67%.
No doubt, this might seem suspiciously low based on the prices listed above. But remember, exponential growth is never intuitive (which is also why many people underestimate the power of long-term compounding).
So, back to our original question. Have BTOs become more expensive? That depends on your definition of the word “expensive”.

Defining the Word “Expensive”

Yes, BTO prices have indeed increased (although probably by much less than you might have thought). So, if we define the word “expensive” as “having increased in price” – an absolute measure – then yes, BTOs have become more expensive.
But if we define “expensive” as being less affordable – a relative measure – then the answer is much less clear. To answer that question, there are a couple different angles we will be taking, starting with inflation.

BTO Prices vs Inflation

You’ve probably heard of the difference between real versus nominal values before, as in nominal GDP versus real GDP. It’s an essential economic concept.
Nominal value is measured by the absolute value in terms of dollar cost, while real value is measured relative to the price of goods and services. In other words, real value is the nominal value adjusted for inflation (which is why real GDP is almost always lower than nominal GDP).
So, we know that the nominal values of BTOs have increased. But how about their real values?
To determine that, we must first look at Singapore’s inflation rate – which has fluctuated significantly over the past decade.
Year
Inflation Rate
2008
6.63%
2009
0.6%
2010
2.82%
2011
5.25%
2012
4.58%
2013
2.36%
2014
1.03%
2015
-0.52%
2016
-0.53%
2017
0.58%
2018
0.44%
CAGR
2.25%
Even with the two years of slight deflation in 2015 and 2016, the CAGR of Singapore’s inflation from 2008 to 2018 is 2.25%. And based on the overview above, except for Choa Chu Kang, Jurong West and Sengkang, the price appreciation of BTOs is lower than the rate of inflation. This means that, in most cases, the real prices of BTOs have fallen. They have become less, not more expensive.
That’s from an inflation perspective. Let’s look at another one – which you may find a bit more relevant – income.

BTO Prices vs Income Growth

Measuring how prices change compared to inflation may be an essential economic concept. But let’s face it – it’s a little too abstract for most of us non-economists (though it is still helpful). What matters more to us is our incomes.
So, the next question is – how have BTO prices moved compared to our incomes?
To determine that, we can look at a widely-tracked metric – median gross monthly income from work (including employer CPF contributions). Now, you may argue that net income would be more appropriate, since it’s what actually hits your bank account. But remember, we are looking to compare growth trends here, so it really doesn’t matter.
With that said, here’s how Singaporeans’ incomes compare.
Year
Median Gross Monthly Income
2009
2,927
2010
3,000
2011
3,249
2012
3,480
2013
3,705
2014
3,770
2015
3,949
2016
4,056
2017
4,232
2018
4,437
2019
4,563
CAGR
4.54%
The CAGR of 4.54% is significantly higher than the BTO case studies we saw above. In other words, compared to our incomes (and compared to inflation), BTOs have become more affordable and less expensive.
And that’s before taking into account the housing grants.

Housing Grants Make BTOs Even More (Immediately) Affordable

Now, CPF housing grants are not “free money” by any means. The funds are disbursed directly into your CPF Ordinary Account (so you can’t spend it willy-nilly), and you can only use it to offset the initial BTO purchase. Further, if you sell your BTO flat, you must also repay the grant amount.
But there’s no denying that they make homeownership more accessible. This is even more the case since September 2019, when the Enhanced Housing Grant (EHG) came into effect, with a higher qualification income ceiling of S$9,000 per month and a removal of all restrictions on the type of flats or estates.
The EHG also raised the maximum grant amount (which scales according to income) to $80,000 for households and $40,000 for singles. That can be a significant offset off the already-affordable BTO flats.

Conclusion: BTOs Remain Reasonably Affordable

The data is clear. Contrary to common complaints, BTOs are still reasonably affordable. Plus, since incomes and inflation are outpacing BTO prices, you could argue that they are actually getting even more affordable. And when you add the recent housing grant revisions on top of that, the conclusion is self-evident.
On a side note, if you wonder why you only hear people complaining about BTO prices, the answer is selection bias. After all, people who find them extremely reasonable will not be complaining – they will be researching and buying! If you want to join those people, then check out our BTO launch directory and see what’s on the BTO menu for November.
For more property news, content and resources, check out PropertyGuru’s guides section.
Need help financing your latest property purchase? Let the mortgage experts at PropertyGuru Finance help you find the best deals.
Disclaimer: The information is provided for general information only. PropertyGuru Pte Ltd makes no representations or warranties in relation to the information, including but not limited to any representation or warranty as to the fitness for any particular purpose of the information to the fullest extent permitted by law. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided in this article is accurate, reliable, and complete as of the time of writing, the information provided in this article should not be relied upon to make any financial, investment, real estate or legal decisions. Additionally, the information should not substitute advice from a trained professional who can take into account your personal facts and circumstances, and we accept no liability if you use the information to form decisions.