About 58 singles applied for each two-room flat available to them in the Build-To-Order launch, according to the Housing Board's final tally.

The Sengkang two-room flats remained as popular with just over 81 singles going for each flat on offer. Each Yishun unit received nearly 39 applications from singles.

There were just under 20,000 applications in all, which meant that including all buyers, there were 4.9 applicants vying for each flat available in total. The exercise, which closed at midnight on Monday, was the first time singles aged 35 and over could apply for new flats.

Up to 30 per cent of the 519 two-room flats in Sengkang and Yishun were reserved for them. National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said on Monday that about 8,500 singles applied for these flats.