HDB priority scheme a hit with married couples

HDB’s recent initiative to help married couples with children below 16 years own a home is reportedly doing well.

More than 12,000 first-timer households under the Parenthood Priority Scheme (PPS) took up 32 percent of the 3,898 Build-to-Order (BTO) flats offered in the non-mature estates of Punggol, Sengkang and Bukit Batok during the recent launch in March.

PPS applicants had also applied for 30 percent of flats offered in non-mature estates back in January.

Meanwhile, the housing board plans to launch 4,850 BTO flats in Hougang, Choa Chu Kang, Sembawang, Jurong West and Woodlands, as well as 3,000 balance units later this month.

Moving forward, analysts expect the response from PPS applicants to be even higher as the scheme has been extended to cover married couples expecting a child, in addition to the launch of balance flats which are considered more attractive since they are ready or nearing completion.

According to HDB, 30 percent of BTO flats and 50 percent of balance units are reserved for PPS applicants.

Source – PropGuru – 16 May 2013