BTO wait 4 years or just buy resale now? Getting married next year

Question

We're both 29, getting married next year and torn. BTO is way cheaper but the wait plus construction delays could be 4 to 5 years. Resale we can move in immediately but prices are crazy now. What did you choose and would you do it again?

CPF Guru Benjamin · Accepted Answer

We went BTO and I'd do it again, but only because we had a place to stay while waiting. We stayed with my in-laws for the build period, which tested the marriage but saved us maybe 200k versus resale in the same area. The grants plus the lower price meant we ORD-ed our HDB loan way faster and had cash for renovation. BUT, if you have zero option but to rent while waiting, do the math carefully: 4 years of rent at 2.5k a month is 120k gone, which can erase the BTO savings depending on the estate. Resale makes sense if you value certainty, want a mature estate, or can't stay with family. There's no wrong answer, it's about your living situation during the wait.

Data Analyst Wei Ling · Answer

Apply BTO anyway as a backup, it costs nothing to ballot. If you get a good queue number, great. If not, you go resale with no time lost. We balloted three times while quietly viewing resale flats, ended up taking resale when a unit we loved came up. Options are free, use them.

HR Sis Michelle · Answer

Factor the MOP too. BTO locks you in for 5 years from key collection before you can sell, so total commitment from application can be nearly a decade. If there's any chance your jobs relocate you or you'll want to upgrade soon, resale gives more flexibility. Life plans matter more than the price gap.

Uncle Chua Retiree · Answer

We bought resale and zero regrets. Moved in right after ROM, no living with parents, no construction anxiety, chose the exact unit and floor we wanted. Yes we paid more, but the CPF Housing Grant and Enhanced grant for resale softened it a lot. Check your combined income ceiling for grants before deciding, that changed our sums completely.

BTO wait 4 years or just buy resale now? Getting married next year

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