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 price 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.
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.
- 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 a bank loan, at least 5% of the price 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.
Indicative only. Deposit amounts are negotiated with the seller within HDB's limits; loan eligibility is determined by HDB (HLE) or your bank under prevailing MAS rules; timelines are typical, not guaranteed. Legal, valuation, and agency fees are not included. Not financial advice.