4-room BTO flats in Kallang, Bidadari a hit

THE largest launch of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats this year drew to a close just before midnight yesterday, with four-room flats in Kallang/Whampoa and Bidadari posting the highest demand.

As of 5pm yesterday, there were almost 11 applicants vying for each of the 158 four-roomers in the Kallang Residences project.

Over at new housing estate Bidadari, which comes under Toa Payoh town, there were just over six buyers going for the 587 four-roomers on offer in Woodleigh Glen and Woodleigh Village.

Four- and five-room units in Bedok were also popular, with more than three applicants gunning for each flat.

Application rates were generally the highest among second-timers - those applying for their second subsidised Housing Board flat.

For instance, there were close to 54 second-timer applicants trying for each four-roomer set aside for them in Kallang/Whampoa, and about 25 such applicants vying for each four- and five-room unit in Bedok as of 5pm yesterday.

Second-timers are generally allotted a smaller portion of the flat supply compared with first-timers, especially for bigger flats.

This portion varies depending on flat type and whether an estate is mature or non-mature.

Ismail Gafoor, chief executive of PropNex Realty, said these second-timers are primarily HDB upgraders who favour mature estates with four-room flats big enough to accommodate their families.

A total of 5,110 BTO flats were launched last Tuesday, with more than half of them in the mature estates of Bedok, Bidadari and Kallang/Whampoa.

The remaining 2,194 units are in the non-mature estate of Punggol.

Two- and three-room flats in Punggol saw the stiffest competition as of 5pm yesterday, with more than two applicants for every unit.

Among them were temporary mover Ramlee Abdul Rahim, 43, and his partner Kamsina Hussin, 54. The couple, who currently live with Mr Ramlee's mother in Joo Chiat, are eyeing a two-room flat in Punggol.

"It's by the river and very nice.

"It may be far away but as long as we have our own flat, we don't mind," said Mr Ramlee.

Flight stewardess Joey Lim, 25, and her fiance, bank officer Jonathan Tan, 27, are among those applying for a four-room flat in Bidadari.

"We like its central location and the layout and artist's impression look good," she said.

Mature estates also proved the most popular in a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats exercise, which saw 5,008 balance flats up for grabs.

The five-room flats in Clementi, Queenstown and Ang Mo Kio saw more than 30 applicants trying for each flat.

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

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