How much can I borrow for an HDB resale flat?

The Mortgage Servicing Ratio caps the housing instalment at 30% of recognised gross monthly income. An HDB loan is assessed at the higher of its prevailing rate and the current 3% floor; a bank loan is assessed at the 4% MAS floor and must also pass TDSR. The usual first-loan LTV ceiling is 75% of price or valuation, but a bank loan drops to 45% or 35% when one or two-plus housing loans remain outstanding. HFE or the bank remains final.

HDB loan or bank loan — what actually differs?

Four things. Rate: the HDB concessionary rate is currently 2.6% and is reviewed quarterly, while eligibility is assessed at the current 3% floor; banks price off market and must assess you at the 4% MAS floor. Cash: an HDB loan has no minimum cash component, while a first bank housing loan normally requires at least 5% hard cash and a second or subsequent housing loan requires 25%. Flexibility: HDB loans can be refinanced to a bank later, but not the reverse. Penalties: HDB has no early-repayment penalty.

How do CPF housing grants work in this planner?

You enter your own grant total from HDB's official eligibility tools — we deliberately don't estimate grants, because the amounts turn on income averages, citizenship mix, proximity to family, and first-timer status that only HDB's own assessment can confirm. Grants are disbursed into CPF and count toward your downpayment, but they cannot satisfy a bank loan's applicable hard-cash component.

Is there an income ceiling for buying a resale flat?

There is no income ceiling to buy a resale flat. Ceilings apply to taking an HDB housing loan and to the CPF Housing Grant: $16,000 a month for families and $8,000 for eligible singles aged 35 and above, if you apply for your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter from 24 August 2026 — check HDB for your case. High earners buying resale simply finance with a bank loan.

Does ABSD apply to an HDB purchase?

It can. A Singapore Permanent Resident buying a first residential property generally pays 5% ABSD, while some joint or replacement-home cases receive remission. The planner includes 0% and the common 5% first-property SPR case, but your lawyer should confirm the exact profile. BSD applies to every HDB purchase.

HDB Maximum Budget

Your maximum resale flat budget

An indicative ceiling from the published MSR, TDSR, loan-to-value and cash rules — before HDB's HFE or a bank's IPA confirms your case.

Buyer 1

Age

Monthly regular income

Use regular employment or trade income assessed for HFE; exclude bonus and AWS.Annual bonus / irregular variable income

Excluded from the HDB-loan estimate: HDB excludes bonuses and annual wage supplements from credit assessment.

Financing

Loan type

Stress-tested at 3% — the HDB eligibility floor (concessionary rate is 2.6%).Monthly debt obligations

HDB considers commitments case by case. It does not publish a dollar-for-dollar deduction, so the final HFE may be lower than this estimate.

Funds

Cash for the purchase

CPF OA available

CPF housing grants

We don't estimate grants — enter your total from HDB's official eligibility check. Grants are CPF-side funds.ABSD profile

An SPR buying a first residential property generally pays 5% ABSD. Select 0% only where no ABSD applies or a remission is available; check joint-buyer cases with your lawyer.

Enter at least one buyer's income to solve your budget.

How this planner works

Your budget is solved against three constraints simultaneously, and the binding one is named. Income: MSR caps the instalment at 30% of recognised income. HDB excludes bonuses and annual wage supplements from its credit assessment; the bank estimate applies the standard 30% variable-income haircut and the 55% TDSR with other debts. Funds: cash, CPF OA, and your self-declared grants must cover the downpayment plus BSD and the selected ABSD profile. Loan and cash limits: a bank loan changes with the number of housing loans still outstanding and whether the tenure exceeds 25 years or age 65. The planner applies the resulting LTV and hard-cash floor rather than assuming 75%/5%.

We deliberately don't compute grants or eligibility ceilings: those turn on details only HDB's own assessment can confirm. Bring your grant total from HDB's official check, and this planner turns it into an indicative budget. It assumes the remaining lease supports the displayed tenure and full LTV; older flats can have a shorter tenure or pro-rated HDB LTV, so use the HFE or IPA before committing. For the duties side, see the Buyer's Stamp Duty Calculator; if a condo is the longer-term plan, our upgrader analysis covers how today's flat shapes that move.

Already know your price? The Purchase Planner (HDB) lays out the option fee, deposits, and the chronological order of every payment to key collection.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I borrow for an HDB resale flat?: The Mortgage Servicing Ratio caps the housing instalment at 30% of recognised gross monthly income. An HDB loan is assessed at the higher of its prevailing rate and the current 3% floor; a bank loan is assessed at the 4% MAS floor and must also pass TDSR. The usual first-loan LTV ceiling is 75% of price or valuation, but a bank loan drops to 45% or 35% when one or two-plus housing loans remain outstanding. HFE or the bank remains final.
HDB loan or bank loan — what actually differs?: Four things. Rate: the HDB concessionary rate is currently 2.6% and is reviewed quarterly, while eligibility is assessed at the current 3% floor; banks price off market and must assess you at the 4% MAS floor. Cash: an HDB loan has no minimum cash component, while a first bank housing loan normally requires at least 5% hard cash and a second or subsequent housing loan requires 25%. Flexibility: HDB loans can be refinanced to a bank later, but not the reverse. Penalties: HDB has no early-repayment penalty.
How do CPF housing grants work in this planner?: You enter your own grant total from HDB's official eligibility tools — we deliberately don't estimate grants, because the amounts turn on income averages, citizenship mix, proximity to family, and first-timer status that only HDB's own assessment can confirm. Grants are disbursed into CPF and count toward your downpayment, but they cannot satisfy a bank loan's applicable hard-cash component.
Is there an income ceiling for buying a resale flat?: There is no income ceiling to buy a resale flat. Ceilings apply to taking an HDB housing loan and to the CPF Housing Grant: $16,000 a month for families and $8,000 for eligible singles aged 35 and above, if you apply for your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter from 24 August 2026 — check HDB for your case. High earners buying resale simply finance with a bank loan.
Does ABSD apply to an HDB purchase?: It can. A Singapore Permanent Resident buying a first residential property generally pays 5% ABSD, while some joint or replacement-home cases receive remission. The planner includes 0% and the common 5% first-property SPR case, but your lawyer should confirm the exact profile. BSD applies to every HDB purchase.

Could you ride out a job loss after buying?

Planning the purchase is only half the picture. See how many months your cash reserves would carry the mortgage if your income stopped — and how much you’d rebuild over four years if it doesn’t.

Open the Safety Net Calculator →

Disclaimer

The tools on this page provide estimates for general reference only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Calculations are based on prevailing MAS, IRAS, HDB, and CPF rules and rates at the time of publication, which may change without notice. Actual figures — including loan eligibility, interest rates, stamp duties, and CPF usage — depend on your specific circumstances and the final assessment of banks, IRAS, and other relevant authorities. TRIBE makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any output and accepts no liability for decisions made in reliance on these tools. Please verify all figures with the relevant institutions or a qualified professional before committing to any transaction.