The two latest HDB Build-to-Order or BTO projects - Punggol Crest and Treegrove@Woodlands - are seeing strong demand. The number of applications received so far was four times the number of units available. The more popular ones are the bigger flats. There were some 2,600 applicants for 270 4-room units at Punggol Crest. The 372 4-room units on offer at Treegrove saw 2,390 applicants. But the 2-room...
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The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is committed to providing sufficient and affordable flats to first-time Singaporean homebuyers, and it will make no distinction between indigenous and new citizens. Senior of Minister of State for National Development, Grace Fu, said this in Parliament on Monday in reply to a question on how many new citizens rented homes, compared with those who bought...
The number of people living in HDB flats has increased. According to HDB's latest Sample Household Survey, the number of Singaporeans and PRs who are flat dwellers, increased 2.7 per cent over 5 years to 2.92 million in 2008. This figure made up 96 per cent of the total population in HDB flats.The remaining 4 per cent were foreigners, which includes maids and tenants. The average HDB dweller is also now...
High cash-over-valuation (COV) prices paid by Housing and Development Board flat buyers are a concern, acknowledged National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan, as they make resale flats less accessible to buyers who need flats urgently. But the way to deal with the situation "is not to manage or fix COVs", he feels, as "the underlying cause is high demand, caused by excess liquidity and market sentiments,...
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has launched two more Build-To-Order (BTO) projects. Punggol Crest in Punggol and Treegrove@Woodlands will offer some 1,500 units. Punggol Crest comprises 750 standard flats, and Treegrove@Woodlands will offer 784 premium flats. HDB said most of the flats would be set aside for first-timers. The selling prices for the flats range from S$90,000 for a two-room flat...
MP Sin Boon Ann has assured some Tampines residents, who were unhappy that HDB rental flats will be built right in front of their block, that the quality of their estate will not be hurt nor the peace be disturbed. The MP for Tampines GRC will work with the HDB and residents to debunk the perception that rental flats are old, dirty and bad for image of the estate. A block of rental flats will soon be...
Singapore's housing authority said Permanent Residents may soon be subjected to a similar ethnic integration policy already imposed on citizens who buy public flats. Observers say the move is reflective of Singapore's changing demographics, where about a third of the population are foreigners. But there's already a racial quota for PRs in the purchase of public housing. A shopping centre in Boon Lay in...
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is reviewing its rules to curb speculation and illegal subletting in the public housing market. National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the move is to ensure prices are not being artificially inflated. The review comes amid fresh concerns over the affordability of public housing sparked off by HDB's latest data that showed resale flat prices continued to...
Plans are underway to turn Punggol into Singapore's first eco-town as part of the sustainable development blueprint. The aim is that over the next five years, energy consumption in public areas will go down by up to 30 percent while energy use in households is targeted to decrease by 10 percent. HDB said that as a new town, Punggol is perfect as a test bed for green technologies. These include facilities...
Singapore's National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said public housing in the 21st century must evolve to meet changing needs. But the core mission of the HDB remains unchanged - that of providing Singaporeans with affordable quality homes and building cohesive communities. Speaking at the International Housing Conference in Singapore, Mr Mah noted the HDB will face increasing challenges due to...