We’re now just a couple of days away from the end of the July 2025 BTO sales exercise, and it seems that applications have been coming in fast and furious.
As of 11.59pm on 27th July 2025, the HDB’s Flat Portal showed that over 9,700 applications have been submitted for the 5,547 new BTO flats on sale, with numbers as high as 6 applicants per flat.
Beyond the various BTO projects to choose from, the decent application rates can be attributed to the various initiatives introduced during this sales exercise, such as the Family Care Proximity Scheme, expansion of the Deferred Income Assessment scheme, and increased allocation quota for second-timer families.
If you’re in the market for a new BTO flat and have been adopting a “wait and see” approach, we break down the numbers to help you assess the competition and whether there have been any surprises or unexpected trends.
Simei sees record number of applicants for 2-room Flexi units
2-room Flexi units—although the smallest unit type in terms of floor space—tend to be popular among 2 main demographics: senior citizens above the age of 55, and singles.
For seniors, most applicants are usually existing homeowners who are downsizing from a larger flat. As the most affordable HDB options in the market, downsizing from a larger flat to a 2-room Flexi unit allows applicants to monetise their existing properties and thus, provide them with additional retirement income. Plus, 2-room Flexi flats are offered with a shorter lease period of 15 to 45 years as compared to the usual 99 years, which means buyers also pay less for a new flat.
As for singles aged 35 and above, the only option for a brand new BTO flat is the 2-room Flexi unit. Since October 2024, the range of 2-room Flexi units for singles has been expanded to all locations (Standard, Plus, and Prime projects), as compared to previously, when singles could only buy flats in non-mature estates.
Image credit: HDB
Based on the latest data from HDB, it seems like seniors are gravitating towards Toa Payoh Ascent and Simei Symphony, with close to 4 applicants for every flat.
The starting price of 2-room Flexi units is $212,000 for Toa Payoh Ascent, and $193,000 for Simei Symphony. In comparison, the lowest starting price is $148,000 for Sembawang Beacon, while the highest is $214,000 for Clementi Emerald.
Perhaps the most staggering revelation is Simei Symphony, with an eye-watering 34.4 first-timer single applicants per flat. This is certainly one of the highest application rates we have seen in recent times. For context, the last time we saw such an overwhelming demand for 2-room Flexi units was during the October 2024 BTO launch, where similar units in Bukit Batok saw 33.4 applicants per flat, and Kallang/Whampoa followed closely behind at 27.7.
Image credit: HDB
Despite being on the pricier side for 2-room Flexi units, one of the reasons why Toa Payoh Ascent and Simei Symphony are so popular is because of their proximity to main transport nodes such as MRT stations.
For Simei Symphony, Exit D of the existing Upper Changi MRT Station on the Downtown Line will lead you right to the project’s doorstep—even the furthest blocks are just a 2-minute walk away. For Toa Payoh Ascent, the project sits between 2 MRT Stations: Caldecott on the Circle Line and Thomson-East Coast Line, and Braddell on the North-South Line—both of which are less than a 10-minute walk away.
Both projects are also fairly close to the existing mature estates of Toa Payoh and Tampines. This could be part of a well-thought-out downsizing move for seniors to sell their bigger flats but still stay within a familiar neighbourhood. As for singles, this could be an option for them to have their own place but still live close enough to their parents to tend to caregiving needs.
Simei & Toa Payoh most popular for larger flat applications
Image credit: HDB
When it comes to 3-room and larger flats, the application rates are a little more subdued overall, but certain projects are still clear favourites among home buyers.
In the 5-room category—which is always a popular choice for bigger families—Simei Symphony stands out, with close to 6 applicants for every flat.
Of course, one of the possible reasons is that the Simei Symphony project does not offer 3-room flats, so naturally, the demand spills over into the larger unit types. And even though Simei Symphony doesn’t have a primary school within its 1km radius, many seem willing to overlook this downside in exchange for the convenience of being near an MRT Station.
If you are looking for a 5-room flat and are not too fussy about the location, you can consider Woodlands North Grove or Sembawang Beacon. Both projects have fewer than 1 applicant per 5-room flat so far, which means you are more or less certain to get a flat if this trend holds. Yes, they are considerably further up North and have their pros and cons, but if you’re willing to trade a few concessions for a roomier 5-room flat, then they are certainly viable options.
Image credit: HDB
For 4-room flats, both Simei Symphony and Toa Payoh Ascent have drawn decent application rates with 4.5 and 4.9 applicants per flat, respectively.
Even though Toa Payoh Ascent is the most expensive project in the July 2025 BTO launch, we predicted earlier that it would also be the most oversubscribed, and that seems to be holding true based on current data.
Its appeal isn’t hard to see. Apart from being located near 2 MRT stations on different lines, flats in Toa Payoh have also historically seen decent appreciation in value—something that’s even more promising in Toa Payoh Ascent, given its proximity to the Caldecott landed housing area. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the project has a relatively shorter waiting time of 41 months compared to some of the other Prime projects in this BTO launch.
Send in your application before the July 2025 BTO sales exercise ends
If you’re still on the fence about which BTO project to apply for, don’t wait too long! You only have till 30th July 2025, 11.59pm to send in your application. You can keep up with the latest application rates on the HDB portal to assess which BTO projects fellow home buyers are gravitating towards, and calibrate your decision from there, assuming you’re fairly flexible in terms of location.
Read more about the July 2025 BTO launch:
- July 2025 BTO: Simei Symphony—5-Room Flats From $603K In A Prime East-Side Location
- July 2025 BTO: Toa Payoh Ascent—Prime Flats From $528K In A Million-Dollar Neighbourhood
- Woodlands & Bukit Panjang July 2025 BTO: Affordable Flats For Every Family Size, From 2-Room To 5-Room
- July 2025 BTO: Clementi Emerald—2- To 4-Room PLH Flats From $214K, Worth The 10-Year MOP?
- July 2025 BTO: Alexandra Peaks & Alexandra Vista In Bukit Merah—2- to 4-Room Flats From $205K
Cover image adapted from: HDB
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