BTO vs resale flat for a couple in our early 30s in a hurry to move out, which one did you regret less?

Question

My fiancee and I both stay with our parents in Ang Mo Kio and honestly cannot tahan the lack of space anymore. BTO waiting times can be 4 to 5 years, but resale prices have gone crazy with some 4-room units crossing 700k. We ballot for wedding timeline reasons. For those who chose one over the other, which did you regret less, and what were the hidden costs you didn't see coming?

Elderly Caregiver Mdm Fong · Accepted Answer

We went resale in Bishan in 2023 because we simply could not wait 4 years, and I don't regret it, but the cash was brutal. The valuation was 620k and we paid 55k COV cash on top because it was a popular block near the MRT. Then there was the 2% buyer stamp duty, agent fees, and renovation for an older flat which needed rewiring and hacking, easily 60k more. The upside is we moved in within four months and the location is unbeatable, but if you don't have liquid cash beyond your CPF, resale can really squeeze you dry. Go in with eyes open on the cash-over-valuation reality.

NSman Wei Jie · Answer

People forget the lease decay issue with resale. We almost bought a lovely flat in Queenstown until we realised it had only 62 years left, which affects how much CPF you can use and makes it harder to sell later. HDB restricts CPF usage based on whether the lease covers you to age 95. A newer BTO or a resale with a fresh-ish lease protects you here. Please check the remaining lease before you fall in love with any resale unit, this one really caught us off guard.

HR Sis Michelle · Answer

We did a hybrid strategy, rented a small place for two years first while waiting for our BTO, so we could move out immediately without overpaying for resale. Rent was about 2.2k a month which felt like throwing money away, but it saved our sanity and our relationship with both sets of parents. It also gave us time to save more for renovation. Not for everyone because rental in SG is expensive now, but it's an option nobody mentions between the two extremes.

BTO Newlywed Jia Hui · Answer

BTO all the way for us, we balloted for Tengah and got it, and the price difference is life-changing. Our 4-room was around 340k with grants versus 650k plus for resale in a mature estate, that's basically a 300k head start in life. Yes we waited nearly five years and stayed with in-laws which tested the relationship, but the money we saved went into topping up CPF and investments. New flat also means fresh 99-year lease and defects covered by HDB. If your timeline can stretch, the financial gap is just too big to ignore.

NSman Wei Jie · Answer

Honestly it depends on your risk appetite for uncertainty. With BTO you're gambling on the ballot queue number, we tried three times, kena bad queue numbers each round, and lost almost two years just trying. Some couples chase the BTO dream and end up delaying marriage and kids because of it. Resale gives you certainty and choice of exact location and floor, which for us was worth paying more. Sometimes the value of just getting on with your life is underrated lah.

BTO vs resale flat for a couple in our early 30s in a hurry to move out, which one did you regret less?

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