We are well into the first BTO sales exercise of 2026, and applications have been flooding in fast for the 4,692 BTO flats offered across six projects in Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Tampines and Toa Payoh. For most of the BTO projects, except Sembawang at point of writing, the volume of applications have already exceeded the number of flats available, and that momentum is certainly going to pick up as we inch closer towards the end of the exercise on 11th February.
In this article, we shine the spotlight on Kim Keat Crest, which belongs to the Toa Payoh estate. Beyond its prime location, the development also reflects HDB’s ongoing efforts to refresh older estates with modern, thoughtfully designed homes that blend seamlessly into their surroundings. As demand for centrally located flats continues to rise, Kim Keat Crest stands out as a compelling option for those seeking convenience, connectivity, and the stability of a mature estate, without having to turn to the resale market.
Read more about the other launches in the Feb 2026 BTO launch:
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Toa Payoh’s first Plus project
Image credit: HDB
Bounded by Kim Keat Avenue and Toa Payoh East, Toa Payoh Crest brings to market 1,151 units of 2-room Flexi, 3-room, and 4-room flats, spread across 5 residential blocks ranging from 26 to 30 storeys, including 1 block dedicated to rental flats. This newest project in Kim Keat is situated next to the existing Kim Keat Beacon and Kim Keat Ripples BTO projects, which were launched in the May 2018 and February 2020 exercises respectively.
As we’ve highlighted above, Kim Keat Crest is Toa Payoh’s first Plus project, following the two Prime projects launched in Toa Payoh in 2025: Toa Payoh Ascent and Mount Pleasant.
This is good news for homebuyers because as a Plus project, Kim Keat Crest will be priced more moderately, reflecting its location further away from main transport nodes such as Toa Payoh MRT Station and bus interchange. Plus, it would make Kim Keat Crest an attractive option for buyers who want a more affordable option in a central, established estate, and are willing to forgo some of the prestige that Prime locations hold, in exchange for a lower and more accessible entry price point.
Image credit: NParks
According to HDB, the name Kim Keat Crest was inspired by the crest of a wave, reflective of its location near Kallang River and its riverine landscape design concept. This design will feature pathways that mimic the river’s meandering flow, connecting residents to green spaces and landscaped courtyards, accompanied by interlacing lines and textured panels that create a rhythmic visual pattern across the project. Additionally, flats on the higher floors will enjoy unblocked views of the Kallang River.
The project will offer outdoor amenities for residents of all ages, such as children’s playgrounds, fitness corners, and a hardcourt. In addition, a 3-storey preschool will also provide added convenience for young families, alongside other communal facilities such as a minimart, an eating house, and shops.
Image credit: HDB
Similar to contemporary BTO projects, Kim Keat Crest incorporates a range of environmentally conscious design elements aimed at promoting green and sustainable living. These include the likes of smart lighting systems for shared spaces, use of sustainable materials in the project, smart-enabled homes with provisions to facilitate adoption of smart home solutions, and even more parking spaces to facilitate future provision of electric vehicle charging stations
Kim Keat Crest has an estimated waiting time of 37 months. Even though it is technically not considered a Shorter Waiting Time project, at just over three years it is still a considerably shorter wait as compared to some of the other BTO projects, making this a viable pick for those who are hoping they won’t have to wait too long to move in.
Prime central location, though public transport accessibility is lacking
Even though Kim Keat Crest is located further away from the main Toa Payoh Central and Toa Payoh MRT Station, it will still benefit from Toa Payoh being a mature estate, such as being located near well-established amenities, schools, healthcare facilities and transport connectivity. Nearby schools within 1km include First Toa Payoh Primary School, St. Andrew’s Junior School, and Pei Chun Public School, providing families with a range of options for children.
This makes Kim Keat Crest a good pick for families, owing to the availability of amenities and schools in the area, and also being located close to older mature housing estates such as Toa Payoh and Potong Pasir━perfect for those looking to have a place of their own but also being able to live near their parents.
Image credit: HDB
One downside is that there’s no MRT station within easy walking distance, and you’ll have to take a bus ride to either Toa Payoh or Potong Pasir to access the North-South or North-East Lines. It certainly is an added hassle, but it shouldn’t be too much of a dealbreaker.
Toa Payoh is also undergoing redevelopment to refresh the estate. In the future, residents will be able to benefit from the new Toa Payoh Integrated Development at Toa Payoh Lorong 6, which will offer amenities such as a new polyclinic, the relocated Toa Payoh Library, and a revamped town park, along with various sports facilities.
Indicative prices of flats and subsidy clawback
Here are the indicative prices of flats at Kim Keat Crest:
| Selling Price (excl. grants) | Transacted prices of resale flats nearby | |
| 2-room Flexi | $203,000 – $304,000 | – |
| 3-room | $356,000 – $450,000 | $710,000 – $768,000 |
| 4-room | $455,000 – $624,000 | $850,000 – $1,090,000 |
As you can see, prices of flats are still relatively affordable in spite of its central location. And comparing that side by side to the transacted prices of resale flats nearby, there is a good amount of room for decent capital appreciation━provided you’re willing to wait 10 years before selling.
As a Plus project, Kim Keat Crest is also subject to a subsidy clawback upon sale of the flat. This is because Plus and Prime projects command higher market values due to their more favourable locational attributes, and so also receive additional subsidies on purchase to ensure that they remain affordable, accessible and inclusive for a wider group of home buyers. This subsidy clawback has been fixed at 6%, which is similar to that of Tampines Nova, the other Plus project in this February 2026 sales exercise.
Kim Keat Crest━expect fierce competition despite its location
It’s been over 5 years since the last BTO project in this area, so you can expect a considerable amount of competition for units.
At time of writing, 376 applications have already been received for the 277 2-room Flexi units in Kim Keat Crest. It appears that many singles are drawn to this location, possibly due to its proximity to older housing estates where their parents live. As for the larger flat types, there have been 67 applications for 87 3-room flats, and only 417 applications for its 787 4-room flats. It is still early days yet, so we expect that applications will continue to ramp up as we approach the deadline.
If you’re applying, you’ve got until 11:59pm on 11th February to do so. As always, you can also track the application rates for each BTO project on HDB’s website, which will be updated regularly during the 8-day application window.
For more content
- Redhill Peaks HDB BTO February 2026: 1,052 more Prime flats In Bukit Merah
- BTO February 2026: over 1,300 Flats with shorter waiting times
- Sembawang Deck & Sembawang Voyage HDB BTO Februrary 2026: 1,950 units including 5-Room flats
- Tampines Bliss HDB BTO February 2026: 284 flats to be completed in under 2 years
Cover image adapted from: HDB
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