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?

An HDB loan is generally capped at 75% of the lower of price and valuation. A first bank housing loan can also reach 75%, but the bank cap falls to 45% with one outstanding housing loan and 35% with two or more. For an HDB flat, a bank tenure above 25 years or extending past age 65 lowers those caps by another 20 percentage points. Short remaining leases can reduce financing and CPF use further.

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, the option and exercise fees must be cash, while the 25% downpayment can generally come from CPF OA and housing grants; any COV is extra cash. With a first bank housing loan, at least 5% of the lower price/valuation must be cash. The minimum rises to 10% in the reduced first-loan tier and 25% when one or more housing loans remain outstanding.

When is Buyer's Stamp Duty payable on a resale flat?

BSD is computed on the higher of price and market value and falls due on HDB's acceptance of the resale application, typically around week 4 to 6. CPF OA can generally fund BSD and applicable ABSD for an HDB resale, subject to CPF rules and available OA. The planner includes the common 0% and 5% ABSD profiles; confirm other or joint-buyer cases with IRAS or your lawyer.

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.

Purchase Planner (HDB)

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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

Purchase price

HDB valuation

From your valuation request / HFE letter. Leave blank if equal to price. Any price above it is cash over valuation (COV).

Financing

Loan type

Loan-eligible amount

From your HFE letter or bank Letter of Offer — or solve it with our affordability planner.

Funds

Cash for the purchase

Maximum CPF OA retention

HDB allows up to $20,000 per buyer. Choose zero, one or two retention amounts for this estimate.CPF OA available

Combined OA across buyers. With an HDB loan, each buyer may retain up to $20,000; the remaining OA must be used before the loan is disbursed.CPF housing grants

We don't estimate grants — enter your total from HDB's official eligibility check.Option fee

Cash only, $1–$1,000 (HDB-prescribed OTP).Option exercise fee

Option + exercise fees are capped at $5,000 combined, both cash.Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty

Common HDB profiles only. Joint purchases use the highest applicable rate unless a remission applies; confirm your final liability with IRAS or your lawyer.

Enter a purchase price to see the deposit, downpayment, BSD, and the order of payments.

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 is 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 and the number of housing loans still outstanding both change the financing. An HDB loan is generally capped at 75% LTV. A first bank housing loan can also reach 75%, but the cap falls to 45% with one outstanding housing loan and 35% with two or more. A bank tenure above 25 years or extending past age 65 lowers the applicable cap by another 20 percentage points. 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 5% or 10% cash in the first-loan tiers and 25% when another housing loan remains outstanding. Your option and exercise fees count toward that floor.

Two further rules can move the numbers. First, valuation: your the applicable loan and CPF limits are based on the lower of 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 is a planning estimate, not HDB's customised financial plan. It does not model the pro-rating of loan or CPF usage for a flat whose lease does not cover the youngest buyer to age 95, or the cash-proceeds rule for a second HDB concessionary loan. Use the HFE letter and final conveyancing figures before you commit to a purchase.

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 HFE letter or bank Letter of Offer. 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?: An HDB loan is generally capped at 75% of the lower of price and valuation. A first bank housing loan can also reach 75%, but the bank cap falls to 45% with one outstanding housing loan and 35% with two or more. For an HDB flat, a bank tenure above 25 years or extending past age 65 lowers those caps by another 20 percentage points. Short remaining leases can reduce financing and CPF use further.
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, the option and exercise fees must be cash, while the 25% downpayment can generally come from CPF OA and housing grants; any COV is extra cash. With a first bank housing loan, at least 5% of the lower price/valuation must be cash. The minimum rises to 10% in the reduced first-loan tier and 25% when one or more housing loans remain outstanding.
When is Buyer's Stamp Duty payable on a resale flat?: BSD is computed on the higher of price and market value and falls due on HDB's acceptance of the resale application, typically around week 4 to 6. CPF OA can generally fund BSD and applicable ABSD for an HDB resale, subject to CPF rules and available OA. The planner includes the common 0% and 5% ABSD profiles; confirm other or joint-buyer cases with IRAS or your lawyer.
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.

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.