The final BTO exercise of 2026 has just come to a close, with 7,964 flats launched across 7 projects, including the highly anticipated developments in Bayshore and Toa Payoh.
By the time applications closed on 11th November, 37,413 applicants had applied for the flats across Bedok, Geylang, Sembawang, Tengah, Toa Payoh, and Yishun. That’s an overall application rate of 4.7 applicants for every flat on offer, with competition even tougher for first-timer families eyeing a 4-room flat in Toa Payoh.
Here’s how demand played out across the 7 projects in the November 2026 BTO exercise.
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Highest BTO application rate since 2022Â
The November 2026 BTO exercise recorded an overall application rate of 4.7, the highest since August 2022, when 39,136 applications were received for 4,993 flats, a rate of 7.8. Demand also rose sharply from June 2026, with about 65% more applications than the 22,634 applications received for 6,952 flats in the previous exercise.
One possible reason for the increase is the higher BTO income ceiling announced during August’s National Day Rally. With the monthly income limits raised to $16,000 for families and $8,000 for singles, more households were eligible to apply in this exercise, the first since the changes took effect.
Toa Payoh Hillside 4-room flats draw 7 first-timer families per unit
Image credit: HDB
As expected, the only Prime project in this exercise drew the most interest. Toa Payoh Hillside’s 584 4-room flats received 6,317 applications, with an application rate of 7.0 for first-timer families, the highest among all 3-room and larger flat types this round. Competition was even tougher for second-timer families, with a rate of 45.4, as they’re allocated only a maximum of 10% of the flats in a Prime project.
For comparison, the median first-timer family application rate across all 3-room and larger flats was 2.7, making Toa Payoh Hillside’s 4-room flats more than twice as competitive.
The project’s 256 Community Care Apartments, the first in Toa Payoh, also attracted 525 applications, or about 2.1 applicants per unit. This was the first BTO exercise where seniors aged 55 and above could apply for Community Care Apartments, after the minimum age was lowered from 65.
Including its 2-room Flexi flats and Community Care Apartments, Toa Payoh Hillside attracted 10,344 applicants in total, accounting for more than a quarter of all applicants in this exercise.
Despite the 10-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) and 11% subsidy clawback that come with Prime flats, it’s no surprise that the project recorded the highest first-timer family application rate, given its location right next to Caldecott MRT Station and within 1km of Marymount Convent School and CHIJ Primary School (Toa Payoh).
Tengah’s Plantation Dew & Bayshore draw strong demand
Plantation Dew in Tengah
Image credit: HDB
Plantation Dew in Tengah was the second-most competitive project for 4-room flats, receiving 1,232 applications for just 168 units. This translates to an application rate of 5.5 for first-timer families and 24.4 for second-timer families. Its 280 5-room and 3Gen flats also saw strong demand, with a first-timer family application rate of 4.0.
The project was also the most popular among first-timer singles applying for 2-room Flexi flats, with an application rate of 19.2, more than twice the median of 8.8 across the projects offered in this exercise.
Plantation Dew’s popularity could be due to its shorter waiting time of 38 months and the fact that it’s the only project offering 3Gen flats in this exercise. It also marks Tengah’s first new BTO launch since October 2023, giving applicants another opportunity to secure a flat in the estate after a 3-year gap.
Bayshore Sails & Bayshore OasisÂ
Image credit: HDB
Meanwhile, the 2 Plus projects in Bedok, Bayshore Sails and Bayshore Oasis, offered the largest combined supply of 4-room flats at 1,165 units. With 5,448 applications, the first-timer family application rate was 3.2, lower than both Toa Payoh Hillside and Plantation Dew.
However, second-timer families faced much tougher competition for the 90 3-room flats at Bayshore Sails, which recorded an application rate of 57.4, the highest across all flat categories in this exercise. With the limited number of units available for second-timers, a few hundred applications could significantly increase the application rate.
Sembawang Anchor offers the best BTO balloting odds for first-timers
Image credit: HDB
While Toa Payoh and Tengah saw stiff competition, Sembawang Anchor offered better odds for first-timer families, with application rates of just 0.4 for 5-room flats, 0.7 for 4-room flats, and 1.1 for 3-room flats.
It’s also the only Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) project this round, with a waiting time of under 3 years. With 4-room flats starting from $312,000 before grants, it was a more affordable and less competitive option for applicants.
What the November 2026 BTO application rates mean for applicants
While popular projects such as Toa Payoh Hillside and Plantation Dew saw stiff competition, Sembawang Anchor offered better balloting odds for first-timer families.
Looking ahead, the February 2027 BTO exercise offers 4,300 flats across 5 projects in Bishan, Tampines, Tengah, and Toa Payoh, alongside about 5,000 flats in a Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise. Highlights to start off the new year include Bishan flats ready in under 3 years, Toa Payoh’s second project in Mount Pleasant, and Community Care Apartments (CCAs) and 4-room flats in Tampines.
For more HDB articles:
- November 2026 BTO launch: 7,960 flats across 7 projects
- What happens to your HDB flat when you go bankrupt
- Did you know early HDB estates had round-roof ‘coffin markets’
Cover image adapted from: HDB
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