All the couples in Singapore, as we excitedly await the upcoming build to order (BTO) launch this February 2023, let us recap on November 2022’s launch! With details announced back in November 2022, the particular round’s BTO launch sees flats to be offered in five estates: Kallang/Whampoa and Queenstown for the mature estates; and Bukit Batok, Tengah, and Yishun for the non-mature estates.
As with buying any new home, everyone has their preference when it comes to location, size, and what they consider to be essential amenities near their home. So let’s recap and take a look at what these new BTO projects were offering, shall we?
Yishun
In the North, we had Yishun offering 2,960 units along Yishun Avenue 1 bounded by Miltonia Close, offering idyllic views of Lower Seletar Reservoir. As expected of this location, it is not the most accessible, with Khatib MRT station being about 30 minutes’ walk away. Travel into the heart of Yishun, and you’ll find well-stocked amenities like Yishun Park Hawker Centre for a good chow, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and Yishun Community Hospital on the healthcare front, and Yishun Mall and Wisteria Mall for your shopping and necessities.
Some schools within the area include Northland Primary School, North View Primary School, Northbrooks Secondary school, and Chung Cheng High School (Yishun). Options including 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room units were available, which made this likely an attractive choice for those who prioritise an affordable yet peaceful location.
Kallang/Whampoa
Located at the fringe of the city, this BTO project offers excellent connectivity and proximity to the central business district. The project itself is situated right next to Kallang MRT station, along Kallang River and Lorong 1 Geylang. At this prime location, the flats are especially suitable for working adults who need to commute to the city frequently. Another key attraction is the multitude of sporting facilities nearby in the Kallang area, including a waterfront sports centre, the Singapore Indoor Stadium, and more.
This attractive project, however, has just 470 units offered, consisting of 3-room and 4-room units. Large families and families with children may decide to give this a miss as there are also limited school options in the vicinity.
Queenstown (Commonwealth Ave West)
One of the bigger projects in this round’s BTO launches, this first of three Queenstown projects is right opposite Dover MRT station, flanked by Ulu Pandan Canal and Commonwealth Avenue West. So, while not exactly near the city, this project offered wonderful connectivity via MRT. For your shopping and entertainment needs, the Star Vista is just down the road, and the lifestyle enclave Holland Village is a 30-minute or a short bus ride away.
While this estate offered 1,330 units, it was limited to 3-room and 4-room options, making it better catered to smaller families. There are also many great schooling options nearby, including Singapore Polytechnic just a road apart, as well as the National University of Singapore, ACS schools, School of Science & Technology, Fairfield Methodist School, and international schools like Dover Court Preparatory School and United World College of SEA.
Queenstown (Ghim Moh Road)
The second Queenstown launch that was mentioned is bordered by Ghim Moh Road, North Buona Vista Road, and Commonwealth Avenue West, in the heart of Buona Vista. Sitting just opposite Buona Vista MRT station, the connectivity of this project is excellent. Within walking distance, you’ll find Star Vista, Holland Village, Ulu Pandan Community Club, Buona Vista Community Club, One-North, and the MOE Building.
Around 960 flats were expected to be on offer here, including 2-room Flexi, 3-room and 4-room units, mostly catering to smaller households. For those with children, many good schools are in the area, including those mentioned nearby to the Commonwealth Avenue West project.
Queenstown (Queensway)
This is the last of the Queensway launches for this round, located between Queensway and Portsdown Avenue. There were about 960 units, including Community Care Apartments, as well as 3-room and 4-room flats, situated a short distance away from amenities like Alexandra Hospital, IKEA Alexandra, and Alexandra Village Food Centre.
While there are many conveniences right outside its door, the nearest MRT (Queenstown) is a little further away, requiring about 16 minutes’ walk. With few schools in the area, and no 5-room or larger flats available, we might guess that this estate will be more appropriate for older persons or small households without young children.
Bukit Batok
If you were eyeing a home in the West of Singapore, there was your chance. This time’s Bukit Batok launch is at the intersection of Bukit Batok West Ave 5 and Bukit Batok West Ave 2, which is only a 10-minute commute on foot to Bukit Gombak, including Bukit Gombak MRT Station, Hong Kah North Community Centre, the neighbourhood centre, and Bukit Gombak Sports Hall. There’s no lack of amenities here, including healthcare and recreation facilities, all a short walk away. There are also quite a few schools here to cater to those with children.
A total of 790 units were up for grabs here, including 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, and 5-room options, making it one of the launches with the most options for homebuyers. Despite being named a non-mature estate, Bukit Batok is actually decently well-connected. Overall, this is a good option in terms of convenience and should be relatively affordable.
Tengah
This time, we welcomed yet another launch from Tengah, with 2,070 units on offer – the biggest launch in this round’s BTOs. Although the area is still under development, the town is slated to be well-equipped with facilities like the Jurong Region Line MRT. The nearest station would be Hong Kah MRT Station, which is scheduled to open in 2027. Proposed amenities and attractions nearby include the Tengah Pond and medical centres. With ‘forest town’ as Tengah’s special focus, you can also expect lots of greenery and green spaces in this neighbourhood.
The flat options span the whole range from 2-room Flexi to 5-room, making it one of the two projects this round to offer 5-room flats. Thus, we expect this project to be highly popular amongst bigger households, such as those with children or elderly parents. There are also plenty of schools in the area for the kids, including Rulang Primary School, Shuqun Primary School, Yuhua Secondary School, Fuhua Secondary School, and Jurong Pioneer Junior College.
Conclusion
Many couples have been waiting a long time to grab a balloting number for a flat, so if you didn’t manage to grab one this round, new launches are waiting in February 2023! Although, they are bound to be highly subscribed as usual. For those who prefer not to go through the long process of trying for a balloting number and waiting for the BTO to be built, there are always resale flats to consider.
Get help with sourcing and getting the best price for a resale flat when you have a HDB housing agent in Singapore to guide you. Need help figuring out where to look? It’s hard to go wrong with the Top HDB Transactor winner of Propnex Realty, property real estate agent Joel Choy. He also offers guidance for private home sales and purchases as a landed property agent in Singapore. Book your no-obligation strategy call with him now to get tips on finding your next dream home, advice to tackle soaring mortgage prices, and the like!