Summary

Buying a resale flat in Singapore follows a fixed sequence set by the Housing & Development Board (HDB): an HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter, an Option to Purchase (OTP) from the seller, a valuation, a joint resale application and completion. The option fee is S$1 to S$1,000 and the buyer has 21 calendar days to exercise the option, according to HDB's resale buying guide on its MyNiceHome site (updated 29 Jun 2026).

Once HDB accepts the resale application, completion usually follows about eight weeks later.

What this means for Singapore resale flat buyers

The steps and their time limits

StepWhat happensTime limit
HFE letterConfirms eligibility, grants and HDB loan amountUp to a month to approve; valid for nine months
Option to PurchaseSeller grants the OTP; you pay the option fee21 calendar days, ending at 4pm
Request for ValueNeeded if you use CPF or a housing loanBy the next working day after the OTP is granted
Exercise the OTPYou pay the exercise fee and signWithin the 21-day option period
Resale applicationBoth sides submit on the HDB Flat PortalHDB notifies acceptance within 28 working days of a complete application
Endorsement and paymentBoth sides endorse; you make the initial paymentDocuments ready about three weeks after acceptance
ApprovalHDB approves the resaleAbout two weeks after endorsement and payment
CompletionYou pay the balance and collect the keysUsually about eight weeks after acceptance

Sources: HDB MyNiceHome resale guide (29 Jun 2026) and HFE letter guide (13 Apr 2026); HDB, Important Notes on Option to Purchase (7 Sep 2026).

Start with the HFE letter

The HFE letter tells you whether you can buy a flat, which CPF housing grants you qualify for and how much HDB will lend. There is no fee to apply on the HDB Flat Portal, and the letter is valid for nine months from issue, HDB says. Approval takes up to a month once all documents are in, and longer around a sales launch.

You need a valid HFE letter on two dates: when the seller grants the OTP and when you submit the resale application. First-timers buying a resale flat can receive up to S$230,000 in grants, according to the MyNiceHome guide. Buyers must be Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents (PRs) aged at least 21, and PR buyers need at least three years of PR status when they apply for the HFE letter, HDB's resale terms say. An unmarried Singapore Citizen can buy alone from age 35.

How to apply for an HFE letter

The HFE letter can only be applied for online, through the HDB Flat Portal using Singpass. Every applicant and every required occupier needs a valid Singpass account; HDB exempts occupiers who are unemployed and aged 16 and below or above 70.

The application has two steps. Step 1 is a preliminary eligibility check: you log in, your particulars are retrieved from Myinfo, and you declare details such as household income and any private property owned. It returns an instant overview of whether the household can buy a flat, receive CPF housing grants and take an HDB loan. Step 2 is the formal application, in which all applicants and occupiers log in, sign electronically and upload any documents HDB asks for. Both steps must be completed within 30 calendar days of each other, and HDB suggests finishing them in the same calendar month; otherwise everyone's employment and income details have to be updated.

If you plan to borrow from a bank, you can request an In-Principle Approval from participating financial institutions within the same application. Second-timers are also told the resale levy or premium payable if they are buying another subsidised flat from HDB.

A few rules are worth knowing before you submit:

  • Each person can be listed in only one HFE letter application, as either an applicant or an occupier.
  • Nothing can be changed after submission. To change details, you cancel the application and apply afresh.
  • The applicants and occupiers in your resale application must be the same as those in your HFE letter.
  • HDB notifies you by SMS and email when documents are needed or when the letter is ready; you view it under My Flat Dashboard on the portal.

If the letter is about to expire. HDB cannot extend an HFE letter. If yours expires within 30 days and you have not yet submitted a resale application, apply for a fresh one. Where only employment or income has changed, the first applicant can re-apply from the portal. HDB assesses the new application on your latest circumstances and prevailing policies, and you can keep using the unexpired letter until the new one is issued. Once a resale application has been submitted on a valid letter, it is processed on that letter even if the letter later expires.

The option and the valuation

The OTP is an HDB-prescribed form and the legally binding contract between seller and buyer; while it is in force, the seller cannot grant it to anyone else. Sellers must register an Intent to Sell at least seven days before they grant an OTP, HDB's notes say.

If you are using CPF savings or a housing loan, submit a Request for Value by the next working day after the OTP is granted. HDB typically provides the valuation within 10 working days, and it stays valid for three months. The valuation is the basis for your CPF use, so see it before you decide whether to exercise.

The cash you need

The option fee and the option exercise fee together cannot exceed S$5,000, and neither can be zero. Both must be paid in cash, CPF Board says. So must any cash over valuation (COV), the amount by which the agreed price exceeds HDB's valuation; CPF savings and housing loans cannot be used for it.

An HDB loan covers up to 75% of the price or the valuation, whichever is lower. The rest is paid from CPF Ordinary Account (OA) savings, cash or both, apart from the cash-only items above. HDB loan borrowers must use their OA savings first but may keep up to S$20,000. A bank loan for an HDB flat is capped at 75% with at least 5% paid in cash, falling to 55% with 10% in cash if the tenure exceeds 25 years or runs past age 65, according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Stamp duty and legal fees come on top, and HDB loan borrowers need HDB fire insurance in place by completion.

Illustration: valued at S$600,000, sold for S$610,000

Illustration only. HDB values a flat at S$600,000 and the buyer agrees to pay S$610,000.

  • An HDB loan can cover up to S$450,000, which is 75% of the valuation.
  • That leaves S$160,000 to pay upfront. The S$10,000 COV and the deposit of up to S$5,000 must be cash; the rest can come from CPF OA savings, cash or both.
  • With a bank loan that qualifies for the 75% limit, at least S$30,000, or 5% of the valuation, must be cash, on top of the COV.

After completion

Resale buyers must live in the flat for a five-year minimum occupation period (MOP) from the completion date before they can sell it on the open market or rent out the whole flat, HDB's resale terms say. During the MOP they cannot invest in other residential property in Singapore or abroad, and any other flat or private home they own must be disposed of within six months of completion.

FAQ

How long does it take to buy an HDB resale flat? The option runs for 21 calendar days, HDB notifies acceptance within 28 working days of a complete application, and completion usually follows about eight weeks after acceptance.

How much is the option fee for an HDB resale flat? S$1 to S$1,000, agreed between buyer and seller. With the option exercise fee, the total cannot exceed S$5,000.

Can I extend my HFE letter? No. It is valid for nine months from issue and HDB cannot extend it; apply for a fresh letter if you need more time.

Education only — not tax, legal or investment advice. Confirm with a licensed professional.

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