The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is set to launch 1,316 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats with waiting times of under three years, offering prospective homebuyers a faster route to home ownership amid continued demand for public housing. These units will be released as part of the February 2026 BTO sales exercise, which will see a total of 4,692 new flats made available across several estates.
The shorter-waiting-time flats, also known as SWT flats, will be spread across three developments in Tampines and Sembawang. Introduced in 2018, SWT projects are designed to help Singaporeans move into their homes sooner, addressing concerns over long construction timelines and rising rental costs while waiting for BTO completion.
Among the upcoming launches, Tampines Bliss stands out for having the shortest waiting time of just one year and 11 months. This makes it one of the quickest BTO projects to be completed since the SWT scheme was first rolled out, potentially appealing to young couples, families with urgent housing needs, and buyers looking to minimise interim rental expenses.
Tampines and Sembawang projects offer faster access to new homes
Two other SWT developments will also be located in Tampines and Sembawang. Tampines Nova will have an estimated waiting time of two years and eight months, while Sembawang Deck is expected to be completed in two years and nine months. Together, these projects reflect HDB’s continued focus on accelerating flat delivery in mature and non-mature estates alike.
In addition to the sub-three-year projects, another BTO development, Kim Keat Crest in Toa Payoh, will be launched with a waiting time of approximately three years and one month. While slightly longer than the SWT threshold, it remains significantly shorter than traditional BTO timelines, which can stretch beyond four years.
The remaining projects in the February exercise will be located in Sembawang and Bukit Merah, offering buyers a broader range of estate options, price points and flat types. This mix is expected to cater to both first-time buyers prioritising affordability and those seeking proximity to central locations, transport nodes and established amenities.
More balance flats to ease housing pressure and rental demand
Alongside the new BTO launches, HDB will also release more than 4,300 flats under a concurrent Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise. This marks a 40 per cent increase from the 3,000 units previously committed, providing additional opportunities for applicants who may have been unsuccessful in earlier BTO ballots.
The expanded SBF supply is likely to help ease pressure on the resale and rental markets, which have seen sustained interest due to delayed household formation and changing lifestyle needs. Faster access to new flats can also reduce reliance on short-term housing loans, bridging finance and private rentals, areas that have become increasingly relevant in discussions around household finances and cost-of-living management.
With shorter construction timelines, increased flat supply and a wider selection of estates, the February 2026 sales exercise is expected to draw strong interest. For many Singaporeans, especially those planning major life milestones, these faster BTO options may offer a more predictable and financially manageable path towards long-term housing stability.