October 2023 BTO Launch Review: Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Unit

Sean has a writing experience of 3 years and is currently with Stacked Homes focused on general property research, helping to pen articles focused on condos. In his free time, he enjoys photography and coffee tasting.

Sean Goh

October 4, 2023

For those who’ve been used to the timely launches, it might seem a little strange (or surprising) to see an October BTO launch.

This time, HDB has launched 6,800 BTO flats across four key areas: Choa Chu Kang, Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown, and Tengah. The best part? About 75% of these homes are expected to be ready in 4 years or less.

And also, for the projects in Choa Chu Kang and Tengah, which are non-mature estates, at least 95% of 4-room and larger flats will be set aside for first-timer families.

So if you are thinking of applying for a BTO flat this time, there are two important policy changes that will take effect from this launch:

If you’ve been finding it challenging to get your hands on a BTO flat recently, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. Introducing the First-Timer (Parents & Married Couples) category, or FT(PMC) for short. Qualify for this, and you’re looking at:

– An extra ballot chance, giving you three in total.

– Priority access under the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme (FPPS).

– And if you’re keen on 4-room or smaller BTO flats in non-mature estates, you’ll be at the front of the queue.

Now, the not-so-good news. There will also be tighter regulations around non-selection of flats. This is to ensure that those with urgent needs can move into their dream homes faster. Key takeaways:

– First-timer families with one non-selection will be viewed as second-timers for a year.

– Second-timers, seniors, and first-time singles with one non-selection will need to wait a year before reapplying.

There is also two [Prime Location Public Housing](https://stackedhomes.com/plh-model-hdb-flats-vs-other-prime-resale-flats/) (PLH) sites, one at Kallang/Whampoa and the other at Queenstown.

To refresh your memory, here’s what you need to know about buying a PLH BTO flat:

1. An extended Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) of 10 years instead of the usual five.

2. No renting out the entire flat is allowed during this period.

3. The application of a Subsidy Recovery on top of the existing resale levy.

4. More stringent eligibility requirements for applicants.

5. A reduced number of flats set aside for the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS).

And now with all the usual caveats out of the way, let’s get into our review of the October 2023 BTO launch!

October 2023 BTO Prices

Town	Project	Flat Type	Selling Price (Excluding Grants)	Selling Price (Including Grants)
Non-Mature Towns
Choa Chu Kang	Rail Green I & II @ CCK	2-room Flexi	From $106,000	From $26,000
		3-room	From $216,000	From $141,000
		4-room	From $319,000	From $259,000
		5-room	From $463,000	From $418,000
		3Gen	From $471,000	From $426,000
Tengah	Plantation Edge I & II	2-room Flexi	From $114,000	From $34,000
		3-room	From $232,000	From $157,000
		4-room	From $353,000	From $293,000
		5-room	From $460,000	From $415,000
Mature Town
Kallang/Whampoa	Rajah Residences/Tenteram Vantage	2-room Flexi	From $176,000	From $96,000
		3-room	From $339,000	From $279,000
		4-room	From $480,000	From $435,000
Prime Location Public Housing Model
Kallang/Whampoa	Verandah @ Kallang	2-room Flexi	From $193,000	From $113,000
		3-room	From $368,000	From $308,000
		4-room	From $535,000	From $490,000
Queenstown	Tanglin Halt Cascadia	3-room	From $364,000	From $304,000
Queenstown	Tanglin Halt Cascadia	4-room	From $537,000	From $492,000

Source: HDB

Jump To BTO Projects

Prime Location Public Housing

Tanglin Halt Cascadia (Queenstown)
Verandah @ Kallang (Kallang/Whampoa)

Mature Estate

Tenteram Vantage (Kallang/Whampoa)
Rajah Residences (Kallang/Whampoa)

Non-Mature Estate

Rail Green I & II @ CCK (Choa Chu Kang)
Plantation Edge I & II (Tengah)

Prime Location Public Housing

Tanglin Halt Cascadia (Queenstown)

Project Overview

Tanglin Halt Cascadia is bounded by Commonwealth Drive and the Rail Corridor, a 24km long recreational corridor that connects the north and south of Singapore. The project is offered under the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) model, and comprises 4 residential blocks. The 2 taller blocks range from 34 to 47 storeys, while the other 2 blocks are between 10 to 25 storeys. The staggered height of the blocks, and the project’s location gave inspiration to its name. Residents can choose from 973 units of 3- and 4-room flats.

Located within the Health District @ Queenstown, Tanglin Halt Cascadia boasts a variety of recreational and communal facilities that enhance residents’ physical, social, and mental well-being. These include playgrounds for children, as well as fitness stations for adults and the elderly. The sky terraces and roof gardens at the residential blocks and atop the Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP) are ideal spots for residents to mingle and interact with one another, or simply to unwind and relax. Residents can also exercise along the adjacent Rail Corridor. A preschool will be located within Tanglin Halt Cascadia, bringing convenience to families with young children.

Details	Info
Town	Queenstown
Est. Waiting Time	54 months
Remaining Lease	99 years

Flat Type	Number of Flats
3-Room	155
4-Room	818
Total	973

Eco-Friendly Features

To encourage green and sustainable living, Tanglin Halt Cascadia will have several eco-friendly features such as:

Separate chutes for recyclable waste
Regenerative lifts to reduce energy consumption
Bicycle stands to encourage cycling as an environmentally-friendly form of transport
Parking spaces to facilitate future provision of electric vehicle charging stations
Use of sustainable products in the project
Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters design features to clean rainwater and beautify the landscapes

Smart Solutions

Tanglin Halt Cascadia will come with the following smart solutions to reduce energy usage, and contribute to a safer and more sustainable living environment:

Smart-Enabled Homes with provisions to facilitate adoption of smart home solutions
Smart Lighting in common areas to reduce energy usage
Smart Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System to optimise the deployment of resources for cleaner and fuss-free waste disposal

Overall Pros vs. Cons

Pros	Cons
5-minute walk to Commonwealth MRT station	PLH rule applies
There are some eateries and a supermarket next to the MRT station and the Commonwealth Crescent Market & Food Centre is a 16-minute walk away	For families looking for bigger space, there is a lack of 5-room units
Right next to the entrance of the Rail Corridor	Could be noisy and dusty while area undergoes redevelopment
Serene environment next to the Wessex Estate	Only one primary school within 1km of the cluster – increased competition
Whole Tanglin Halt estate will be redeveloped

Schools

New Town Primary School

Thoughts on the site plan

Certain stacks face the MSCP directly
Some stacks will be affected by the afternoon sun
Inward-facing stacks are a good distance from one another with a hardcourt, playground and fitness areas separating them
8 – 9 units sharing 3 – 7 lifts is very healthy
Sheltered linkways connect all the blocks and the MSCP
Has 2 drop-off points with 2 blocks sharing 1
There will be a preschool and other amenities within the development which is an added convenience for the residents

Sun Direction

Layout Analysis

3-Room

3-Room Flat	Details
Price	$364,000 – $509,000
Resale Comparables	$540,000 – $655,288
Total Area	66 sqm
Internal Floor Area	63 sqm

Non-Optional Finishes and Fittings

More than just a well-designed and functional interior, the 3-room flats will come with the following finishes and fittings:

Floor tiles in the:
- Bathrooms
- Household shelter
- Kitchen/ utility
Wall tiles in the:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchen/ utility
Water closet suite in the bathrooms

Optional Component Scheme (OCS)	Description
Flooring for Living/ Dining and Bedrooms – $3,190	– Vinyl strip flooring in the bedrooms – Polished porcelain floor tiles in the living/ dining
Internal Doors and Sanitary Fittings – $2,770	– 2 laminated UPVC bedroom doors – 2 laminated UPVC folding bathroom doors – Wash basin with tap mixer – Shower set with bath/ shower mixer

Pros	Cons
All rooms can fit in a queen bed minimally. The master bedroom can fit in a king bed.	The main door opens up straight to the living and dining area (which lacks privacy)
No structural columns in between bedrooms so walls can be hacked fully	Living and dining area might be slightly cramped
Household shelter is tucked in a corner

4-Room

4-Room Flat	Details
Price	$537,000 – $702,000
Resale Comparables	$745,000 – $938,000
Total Area	89 sqm
Internal Floor Area	86 sqm

Non-Optional Finishes and Fittings

More than just a well-designed and functional interior, the 4-room flats will come with the following finishes and fittings:

Floor tiles in the:
- Bathrooms
- Household shelter
- Kitchen and service yard
Wall tiles in the:
- Bathrooms
- Kitchen
Water closet suite in the bathrooms

Optional Component Scheme (OCS)	Description
Flooring for Living/ Dining and Bedrooms – $4,740	– Vinyl strip flooring in the bedrooms – Polished porcelain floor tiles in the living/ dining
Internal Doors and Sanitary Fittings – $3,180	– 3 laminated UPVC bedroom doors – 2 laminated UPVC folding bathroom doors – Wash basin with tap mixer – Shower set with bath/ shower mixer

Pros	Cons
Living and dining are segregated	The main door opens up straight to the living and dining area (which lacks privacy)
All rooms can fit in a queen bed minimally. The master bedroom can fit in a king bed.	The bedroom protrudes out of the living room which restricts the TV wall length
No structural columns in between bedrooms so walls can be hacked fully
Kitchen comes with a separate service yard
Open concept kitchen can make the house feel more spacious. Also able to do up a separate dry and wet kitchen area.
Household shelter is tucked in a corner

Best Stacks

Flat Type	Block	Stacks	Floor Level	Reasons
3-Room	74B	517, 519	Preferably surpass tree line	Faces a site that is reserved for a future park, will get an unblocked view
4-Room	74B	521, 523	Preferably surpass tree line	Faces the Rail Corridor. Units on a higher floor will overlook One-North and the Wessex Estate (for now).
4-Room	74B	529, 531	Preferably surpass tree line	Faces a site that is reserved for a future park, will get an unblocked view
4-Room	75B	555, 557	Preferably surpass tree line	Faces the Rail Corridor. Units on a higher floor will overlook One-North and the Wessex Estate (for now).