The Almost Complete Goondu’s Guide to Buying a HDB Flat in Singapore!

If you are a first-time buyer looking for a flat, it can be a pretty mind-boggling experience. Where do you start, what should you know, and what on earth does 5 I, Std, A, Imp, EA, EM, Jumbo mean?

Here’s where “The Almost Complete Goondu’s Guide to owning a HDB Flat” comes in handy. In the days and weeks to come, the following topics below will be covered. Hopefully, this will help make the whole home ownership experience less confusing and more enjoyable!

If you have tips or things to share with other readers, do leave them in the comments!

Chapter 1: The Consideration Phase

1) Who is eligible to buy a resale HDB flat? 

2) How much should your house cost? 

3) How does location affect cost? 

4) When is the right time to buy a flat, and how soon can I get the keys? 

5) How big a flat should I get? 

6) HDB Flat Types and Models

Chapter 2: The Search

1) Should I use a real estate agent? What does an agent do?

2) How do I “Do it Yourself” (DIY) and is it difficult?

3) Things you need to know? 4) What do I need to research before viewing? 

4) What do I need to look out for?

Chapter 3: Securing the loan and other costs

1) Who is eligible for a HDB loan? 2) Housing Subsidies 3) How do I create an “emergency fund” if I do take a HDB loan? 4) How do I find a suitable Bank loan? 5) How much cash must I set aside to complete the sale? 6) What’s the difference between Joint Tenancy and Tenancy-in-Common?

If you are a first-time buyer looking for a flat, it can be a pretty mind-boggling experience. Where do you start, what should you know, and what on earth does 5 I, Std, A, Imp, EA, EM, Jumbo mean?

Here’s where “The Almost Complete Goondu’s Guide to owning a HDB Flat” comes in handy. In the days and weeks to come, the following topics below will be covered. Hopefully, this will help make the whole home ownership experience less confusing and more enjoyable!

If you have tips or things to share with other readers, do leave them in the comments!

Chapter 1: The Consideration Phase

1) Who is eligible to buy a resale HDB flat? 

2) How much should your house cost?

3) How does location affect cost?

4) When is the right time to buy a flat, and how soon can I get the keys? 

5) How big a flat should I get? 

6) HDB Flat Types and Models

Chapter 2: The Search

1) Should I use a real estate agent? What does an agent do? 

2) How do I “Do it Yourself” (DIY) and is it difficult? 

3) Things you need to know? 4) What do I need to research before viewing? 

4) What do I need to look out for?

Chapter 3: Securing the loan and other costs

1) Who is eligible for a HDB loan? 

2) Housing Subsidies 

3) How do I create an “emergency fund” if I do take a HDB loan? 

4) How do I find a suitable Bank loan? 

5) How much cash must I set aside to complete the sale? 

6) What’s the difference between Joint Tenancy and Tenancy-in-Common?

HDB Flat Types & Models!

(Part of “The Almost Complete Goondu’s Guide to Buying a HDB Flat in Singapore”series.)

Did you know that there are different HDB flat types? And within each flat type, there are varying models:

2 bedroom flat
Consists of 1 bedroom, kitchen, living room:

2 ‘I’ (Improved) 45 sqm/484sqft
2 ‘S’ (Standard) 41 sqm/441sqft (floor plans: 1)

3 bedroom flat
Consists of 2 bedrooms, kitchen, living room:

3 ‘A’ (Modified) 90sqm/969sqft
3 ‘NG’ (Modified) 83sqm/896sqft
3 ‘A’ 75sqm/807sqft
3 ‘NG’ (New Generation) 69sqm/743sqft (floor plans: 1)
(2 toilets, master bedroom with attached bathroom)3 ‘I’ (Modified) 70sqm/750sqft
3 ‘S’ (Simplified) 65sqm/700sqft
3 ‘I’ (Improved) 60sqm/646sqft
(No attached bath, toilet and bath separated, no storeroom)
3 ‘STD’ (Standard) 54sqm/581sqft 
(No attached bathroom/storeroom. Upgraded units have extra utility room or toilet)

4 bedroom flat
Consists of 3 bedrooms, kitchen, living room.

4 ‘A’ 105sqm/1130sqft
(2 bathrooms, master bedroom with attached toilet, storeroom) (floor plans: 1)
4 ‘NG’ (New Generation) 92sqm/990sqft (floor plans: 1)

4 ‘S’ (Simplified) 85sqm/914sqft (floor plans: 1)
(2 bathrooms, master bedroom with attached toilet, storeroom)
4 ‘I’ (Improved) 83sqm/893sqft 
(toilet and bath separated, no storeroom)
4 ‘STD’ (Standard) 73sqm/786sqft

5 bedroom flatConsists of 3 bedrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, storeroom.
Master bedroom comes with attached bathroom.

5 ‘A’ 135sqm/1453sqft
5 ‘I’ 123sqm/1313 sqft (floor plans: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
5 ‘S’ 121sqm/1300sqft (floor plans: 1)

Executive flat

EA (Exec Apartment) 141sqm/1518sqft (single storey)(floor plans: 1)
EM (Exec Maisonette) 145sqm/1560sqft (double storey) (floor plans: 1)
(double story, 3 bedroom/bath upstairs, balcony+additional room)
MG (Multi-Generation) 165sqm/1776sqft

Miscellaneous

Miscell Flats (varies) – These are flats created by purchasing and joining 2 adjacent units. Such units are considered as one and have one address, utility meter and so on.

eg. a 3+3 is created by combining (2) 3-rm units and building a passageway through.

—–

Not all flat types exist in each estate, and a 4 ‘A’ layout in one estate might differ from another.

Also, floor area are estimates as newer flats are generally smaller, while upgrading of older flats would have added additional rooms/balcony/toilet.

Do you have a floorplan that you would like to contribute? Email us!
Interested in purchasing your floorplan for renovation purposes? You can buy it onlinefrom HDB for $5.

First posted on June 29th, 2008 on juzproperties.sg


Ref:singaporewatch.org