Flats in Bukit Merah’s two Prime projects top demand in October BTO sales exercise

SINGAPORE - Flats classified as Prime projects, including Bukit Merah’s Berlayar Residences, were among the most popular in the latest Build-To-Order (BTO) sales exercise.

Larger flats and two-room flexi flats also drew warm interest, although demand was muted for the only Plus project in Ang Mo Kio.

As at 5pm on Oct 22, the sales exercise had attracted 31,095 applications across 10 projects. This was about three times the 9,144 flats launched.

For first-timer families, the majority of three-room and larger flats had application rates of 2 and below.

Many first-timer applicants have a “good chance” of securing a flat, said National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat in a Facebook post on Oct 22, the last day of the sales exercise.

He also said median application rates for first-timer families dropped to between 1.1 and 1.7 in 2025. This figure ranged from 1.6 to 2.6 in 2024.

A variety of Standard, Plus and Prime flats

were put up for sale on Oct 15

in towns across Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Jurong East, Sengkang, Toa Payoh and Yishun.

Among the projects that garnered significant public interest before sales began were Berlayar Residences on the former Keppel Club site, and the first flats in Toa Payoh’s Mount Pleasant area.

Flats in this sales exercise included almost 3,000 two-room flexi flats targeted at seniors and singles. This was the first sales exercise under which parents and their children, regardless of marital status, were able to jointly apply for two units in the same project.

As at 5pm on Oct 22, HDB’s website showed Bukit Merah’s two Prime projects – Berlayar Residences and Redhill Peaks – drawing the highest application volumes. Both projects attracted a combined 8,376 applications, accounting for 55 per cent of the 15,132 applications for Prime flats, said PropNex chief executive Kelvin Fong.

He said the projects had a combined application rate of 4.4 times across 1,901 flats – one of the higher application rates for Prime flats in Bukit Merah in the past years.

Ms Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist of Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group, put these high application rates down to first-mover interest in what will be

the first HDB project in the Greater Southern Waterfront area

, and limited resale alternatives nearby.

“If (applicants) were to purchase a private condominium (nearby), it would likely cost more than $2 million. Both projects are also conveniently located within walking distance to the MRT station,” she added.

Berlayar Residences will have 880 units of two-room flexi, three- and four-room flats on a site between Telok Blangah and Labrador Park MRT stations.

Prices (without grants) range from $218,000 to $369,000 for a two-room flexi flat, $420,000 to $562,000 for a three-room unit, and $578,000 to $788,000 for a four-room flat.

The subsidy clawback rate for the Prime project was set at 14 per cent – the highest so far.

Another project that drew strong interest was the 538-unit Bishan Terraces with 2,058 applicants, making for an application rate of 3.8 times, said Mr Fong. It is the first Prime BTO project in Bishan town.

Mr Eugene Lim, key executive officer of ERA Singapore, said demand is likely driven by the site’s proximity to amenities in Bishan Central. These include Junction 8 mall, the Bishan MRT interchange and bus interchange, and the “Bishan 2.0” masterplan to revitalise the town centre.

However, interest in the only Plus project in Ang Mo Kio was muted, with an application rate of 1.4, noted Propnex’s Mr Fong.

“Perhaps some prospective buyers are unconvinced that the project justifies a Plus classification – and hence subject to stricter conditions – given that it is some way from the MRT station... and has few amenities in the immediate surroundings,” he said.

Firm traction for larger flats

Among larger Standard flats, those in Yishun’s Chencharu area saw firm traction.

Chencharu Grove’s five-room units saw first-timer application rates of 3.4. This was followed by Sengkang’s Fernvale Plains at 2.2, Teban Heights in Jurong East at 2 and Bedok’s Ping Yi Court at 1.

Mr Lim said Chencharu’s easy access to Khatib MRT station, combined with its attractive pricing, allowed it to capture the largest share of five-room home buyers.

He attributed Bedok’s relatively low application rate to the higher starting price of such flats there.

The price of a five-room flat in Ping Yi Court starts from $715,000, compared with $466,000 in Fernvale Plains and $510,000 in Chencharu Grove.

Stronger demand for two-room flexi flats

PropNex’s Mr Fong also noted that the overall take-up rate for two-room flexi flats remained strong, with 10,560 applicants vying for 2,923 units. This reflected an application rate of 3.6 times.

This is the highest number of applications for such BTO flats since the October 2024 exercise, which saw 10,884 applicants, said Mr Fong. “The stronger demand for two-room flexi flats is likely due to the recent policy changes that have enhanced access to such flats among first-timer singles, whereby they are able to apply for two-room flexi flats in any location, as well as the Family Care Scheme,” said Mr Fong.

In the

February 2026 sales exercise

, HDB plans to launch about 4,600 BTO flats across Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Tampines and Toa Payoh, alongside a Sale of Balance Flats exercise offering about 3,000 flats.