SINGAPORE - The first launch exercise of Build-To-Order flats this year will draw to a close at midnight today (Feb 20), with latest figures indicating that the five-room flats in Punggol have the highest demand.

As of 5pm, there were more than five buyers vying for each five-room unit in the Punggol Northshore Cove project, with 878 applicants for just 170 units.

For these units, first-timers posted the highest application rate compared to other projects and flat types in Punggol, Clementi and Tampines, with more than three applicants gunning for each unit.

The 4,056 BTO flats up on offer attracted a total of 12,704 applicants so far.

The latest exercise includes two-room flats to multi-generational homes, in Punggol and the mature estates of Clementi and Tampines.

A project in Woodlands had to be deferred to later this year, as a further review was needed to study the drainage and sewerage design, and how it can be integrated with the surrounding developments, HDB had said previously.

Application rates are also generally higher among second-timers especially in the mature estates of Clementi and Tampines.

For example, there are 28 second-timer applicants per five-room unit in Clementi's NorthArc and Peaks as of 5pm.

In Tampines's GreenBloom and GreenFlora, there are 21.6 second-timer applicants per five-room unit.

These units include flats specially designed for multi-generation families.

A total of 194 are on offer to couples who wish to live with their parents under one roof in Clementi or Tampines.

It is the first time these type of flats are offered in Clementi.

Second-timers are generally allotted a smaller portion of the flat supply compared with first-timers, especially for bigger flats. The portion depends on flat type and whether an estate is mature or non-mature.