Resale HDB Purchase Planner
What a resale flat at your price actually costs — and when
Key in the purchase price, your loan-eligible amount, cash, and CPF OA — get the option fee, exercise fee, downpayment, BSD, and the exact order of payments for an HDB loan versus a bank loan.
Purchase
Financing
Funds
How this planner works — the order of payments
A resale HDB purchase is a fixed chronological sequence, and the money has to be in the right pocket at each step. Day 0: the seller grants the Option to Purchase against an option fee of up to $1,000 — cash only. Within 21 days you exercise the option and pay the exercise fee; the two fees combined cannot exceed $5,000 and both are cash. Buyer's Stamp Duty falls due on HDB's acceptance of the resale application (around week 4–6) and, for an HDB resale, is payable from CPF OA. Completion lands roughly 8 weeks after acceptance — about 3 months from OTP — when the balance downpayment is settled and the loan disburses. This planner allocates your cash and CPF across those steps in order, CPF-first wherever the rules allow, so any shortfall shows up at the step where it actually bites.
The loan-type choice changes the cash arithmetic, not the loan size. Since August 2024 both HDB and bank loans are capped at 75% LTV, leaving a 25% downpayment either way. With an HDB loan there is no minimum cash component: beyond the deposit, the entire downpayment can come from CPF OA and grants. A bank loan demands at least 5% of the lower of price or valuation in hard cash — your option and exercise fees count toward it — with the remaining 20% payable from CPF. That single rule is why two buyers at the same price can need wildly different cash positions.
Two further rules can move the numbers. First, valuation: your loan and CPF are capped at 75% and the rest of the 25% against the lowerof price or valuation, while Buyer's Stamp Duty is charged on the higher. Any price agreed above valuation is cash over valuation (COV) — it can't be financed by loan or CPF and must be paid in cash on top of the downpayment, so keying your valuation here separates the COV out for you. Second, the HDB loan draws down your CPF: you may keep up to $20,000 of OA per buyer, but the balance above that must go into the flat before HDB disburses, and any excess beyond the downpayment shrinks the loan below the 75% cap. A bank loan leaves that choice to you.
This page answers “what does this price cost, and when” — not “what price can I afford”. Your loan-eligible amount is an input here, taken from your HLE letter or bank in-principle approval. If you don't have that number yet, our HDB affordability planner solves it from income — then bring the result back here for the payment plan.
Frequently asked questions
- How much is the deposit for a resale HDB flat?
- The deposit is negotiated with the seller within HDB-prescribed limits: an option fee of $1 to $1,000 when the seller grants the Option to Purchase, then an option exercise fee when you exercise it within 21 days. The two combined are capped at $5,000, and both must be paid in cash — CPF cannot be used.
- What is the maximum loan for a resale HDB flat?
- Both HDB loans and bank loans are capped at 75% of the price or valuation, whichever is lower. The HDB loan LTV was lowered from 80% to 75% in August 2024, so the headline borrowing limit is now the same for both — the difference lies in the cash requirement and interest rate, not the loan size.
- What is cash over valuation (COV) and how is it paid?
- COV is the gap when your agreed price is higher than HDB's valuation. Your loan and CPF are both based on the lower of price or valuation, so the portion above valuation cannot be financed in any way — COV must be paid fully in cash, on top of the downpayment. Note the asymmetry: while loan and CPF follow the lower figure, Buyer's Stamp Duty is charged on the higher of price or valuation.
- Will an HDB loan use up my CPF Ordinary Account?
- Largely, yes. When you take an HDB housing loan, you may retain up to $20,000 of CPF OA per buyer; the balance above that must go toward the flat before HDB disburses the loan. If your usable OA exceeds the downpayment, the excess reduces your loan below the 75% cap rather than being kept. A bank loan has no such requirement — you can retain any amount of OA, though keeping a buffer is still sensible.
- How much cash do I need for a resale flat?
- With an HDB loan, only the option and exercise fees (up to $5,000 combined) must be cash — the entire 25% downpayment can come from CPF OA and housing grants, with any cash over valuation paid separately in cash. With a bank loan, at least 5% of the lower of price or valuation must be hard cash; your option and exercise fees count toward it, and the remaining 20% can be CPF or grants.
- When is Buyer's Stamp Duty payable on a resale flat?
- BSD falls due on HDB's acceptance of the resale application, typically around week 4 to 6 of the transaction. For an HDB resale purchase, BSD can be paid from your CPF OA, so it does not have to come out of cash — though legal and conveyancing fees are billed separately.
- How long does a resale HDB purchase take from OTP to keys?
- Roughly 3 months. You exercise the option within 21 days of OTP, HDB accepts the resale application around week 4 to 6, and completion follows about 8 weeks after acceptance — when the balance downpayment is paid, the loan is disbursed, and you collect the keys.
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.
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.