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BTO cash guide

How much cash do you need for a BTO in Singapore?

There is no single cash number for every BTO. Your actual amount depends on the flat price, the downpayment schedule, how much CPF Ordinary Account (OA) savings you can use, and other costs due along the way.

Calculate my BTO cash Last reviewed 26 October 2026 8 min read

The short answer

Your cash need is the amount CPF and grants do not cover

If you buy a BTO with an HDB housing loan, the calculator starts from a 25% downpayment. That does not mean you need 25% in cash. Eligible CPF OA savings and an eligible CPF housing grant can fund part of the purchase, subject to CPF rules and usage limits.

In practice, plan for:

  • The flat-booking option fee, which forms part of the downpayment.
  • The first downpayment instalment, Buyer's Stamp Duty, and legal fees around the Agreement for Lease.
  • The remaining downpayment and other charges at key collection, after whatever CPF OA and eligible grants can cover.

Payment timeline

When does the money become due?

Booking

Option fee

S$2,000 for a 4-room or larger flat, S$1,000 for a 3-room flat, or S$500 for a 2-room Flexi flat. It forms part of the downpayment.

Agreement for Lease

First instalment

The first downpayment instalment, Buyer's Stamp Duty and legal fees are planned around signing. The option fee already paid is part of the downpayment.

Key collection

Remaining balance

The remaining downpayment and other HDB payments are due before keys are collected. Your loan disbursement and individual circumstances affect the final amount.

Downpayment schedule

The 25% can be paid in stages

For a standard new BTO with an HDB loan, HDB's current planning split is a 25% downpayment across signing and key collection. The available schedule depends on your circumstances.

HDB-loan BTO downpayment percentages by payment schedule
Payment schedule Agreement for Lease Key collection
Default 10% 15%
Standard Staggered Downpayment Scheme 5% 20%
Eligible young couples with deferred income assessment 2.5% 22.5%

These percentages describe the downpayment, not the cash requirement. Eligibility and final figures come from HDB.

Example only

A S$500,000 flat with an HDB loan

The modelled downpayment is S$125,000. Under the default schedule, that is S$50,000 planned around signing and S$75,000 at key collection. Under the standard staggered schedule, it is S$25,000 and S$100,000. CPF OA and eligible grant support may reduce the cash left to pay.

CPF and grants

What can reduce the cash you need?

CPF Ordinary Account savings

CPF OA savings may be used for eligible HDB flat payments, including the downpayment, stamp duty and legal fees, subject to CPF housing rules and usage limits. What matters is how much CPF OA is actually available when each payment is due.

Enhanced CPF Housing Grant

An eligible CPF housing grant can reduce the amount you need to fund. HDB assesses eligibility through the HFE process. SGBohLui's calculator estimates an Enhanced CPF Housing Grant from the income you enter, but that is not an approval or guarantee of the final grant.

The calculator applies its grant estimate at key collection as a planning assumption. Check the timing and amount in your HDB assessment instead of relying on a universal disbursement date.

Beyond the downpayment

Other costs can change the amount

Buyer's Stamp Duty is due on an HDB flat purchase and is not waived for first-time buyers. IRAS calculates it on the higher of the purchase price or market value. Legal fees and key-collection charges may also apply.

Renovation, furnishing, moving, insurance and major personal commitments such as a wedding are real budget items, but they are not all part of the HDB flat-price payments. Keep them separate so you can see both your before-key HDB cash need and your wider move-in budget.

Before-key HDB cash

Option fee, downpayment not covered by CPF or grants, stamp duty, legal fees and HDB key-collection charges.

Wider move-in budget

The HDB amount plus renovation, furnishing, insurance, moving and other planned costs.

Your planning number

Work out your own estimate

  1. Enter the flat price and expected payment schedule.

  2. Add each buyer's existing CPF OA and expected monthly OA allocation.

  3. Include known cash-only costs and the timing of renovation, wedding or other commitments.

  4. Use the result as a savings target, then verify eligibility, CPF limits and payment timing with HDB and CPF Board.

Get my estimated cash target

Common questions

BTO cash FAQs

Do I need to pay the BTO downpayment entirely in cash?

No. Eligible cash and/or CPF OA savings can fund the downpayment, subject to CPF housing rules and limits. Cash is needed only for the portion not covered by available CPF OA, eligible grants and other payments.

Is Buyer's Stamp Duty waived for first-time buyers?

No. BSD applies to an HDB flat purchase. Use IRAS's current rates and verify the stamping deadline and payment method.

Can CPF OA pay for the downpayment?

It may be used for eligible housing payments, including the downpayment, stamp duty and legal fees. CPF housing limits, balances and payment timing determine how much can actually be applied.

Why is my cash amount different from 25% of the flat price?

The 25% is a modelled downpayment for a standard HDB-loan purchase, not a cash-only amount. CPF OA and eligible grants reduce cash needed, while stamp duty, legal and other costs add to the amount to plan for.

Official guidance

Primary sources

This article covers standard new BTO flats with an HDB loan. It is a planning guide, not HDB, CPF, legal, loan or financial advice.