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Mar 27, 2010
APPLICANT'S 'LONG WAIT' FOR HDB FLAT
He turned one down
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_507098.html
MR JASON Zheng in his letter, 'Long wait for flats a hurdle' (March 9), claimed difficulty in securing a flat which, in turn, he wrote, affected his plans to start a family.
Over the past two years, Mr Zheng submitted four applications to buy a new flat. HDB's records show he was successful in his very first application.
He was invited to select a unit in September last year.
However, he did not do so, even though he had 125 flats to choose from. Had he done so, he would have collected his keys to his new flat next year.
He should have made this clear in his letter, so a more accurate picture of his situation is presented.
His case illustrates that the issue is often not an overall shortage of flats, but a conscious decision among some flat buyers to delay purchase for various personal reasons.
As for build-to-order (BTO) flats, HDB has announced that it will launch new BTO projects every month this year, in different locations and at a range of pricing, to meet housing demand.
Nevertheless, even with this stepped-up supply, some buyers, like Mr Zheng, may still decide to decline HDB's offer of a flat.
Flat buyers need to decide whether they wish to keep trying for their ideal flat, and so delay the setting up of their home, or select a unit early when they are given a chance to do so.
The waiting time of three years for the completion of BTO flats is no different from private develop-ments.
First-time flat buyers can shorten this waiting time by planning ahead and booking their flats under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme.
About 40 per cent or 3,500 first-time flat buyers did so last year. They will be able to move into their new homes soon after they get married.
Tay Koon Quie
Deputy Director (Sales)
Housing & Development Board
Home > ST Forum > Story
Mar 27, 2010
APPLICANT'S 'LONG WAIT' FOR HDB FLAT
He turned one down
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_507098.html
MR JASON Zheng in his letter, 'Long wait for flats a hurdle' (March 9), claimed difficulty in securing a flat which, in turn, he wrote, affected his plans to start a family.
Over the past two years, Mr Zheng submitted four applications to buy a new flat. HDB's records show he was successful in his very first application.
He was invited to select a unit in September last year.
However, he did not do so, even though he had 125 flats to choose from. Had he done so, he would have collected his keys to his new flat next year.
He should have made this clear in his letter, so a more accurate picture of his situation is presented.
His case illustrates that the issue is often not an overall shortage of flats, but a conscious decision among some flat buyers to delay purchase for various personal reasons.
As for build-to-order (BTO) flats, HDB has announced that it will launch new BTO projects every month this year, in different locations and at a range of pricing, to meet housing demand.
Nevertheless, even with this stepped-up supply, some buyers, like Mr Zheng, may still decide to decline HDB's offer of a flat.
Flat buyers need to decide whether they wish to keep trying for their ideal flat, and so delay the setting up of their home, or select a unit early when they are given a chance to do so.
The waiting time of three years for the completion of BTO flats is no different from private develop-ments.
First-time flat buyers can shorten this waiting time by planning ahead and booking their flats under the Fiance/Fiancee Scheme.
About 40 per cent or 3,500 first-time flat buyers did so last year. They will be able to move into their new homes soon after they get married.
Tay Koon Quie
Deputy Director (Sales)
Housing & Development Board
