Singapore scraps 15-month wait for private owners buying HDB flats
Why it matters: The change takes effect immediately after two straight quarterly price declines in the HDB resale market.
Singapore removed with immediate effect a 15-month wait-out period that had barred many private property owners from quickly buying HDB resale flats after selling their homes. National Development Minister Chee Hong Tat said the measure, introduced in September 2022 as a temporary cooling step, had achieved its aim as resale-market conditions improved. The Ministry of National Development said HDB resale prices fell 0.1% in the first quarter and 0.3% in the second quarter of 2026. Officials also pointed to a growing pipeline of flats reaching their minimum occupation period, with about 13,500 units due in 2026, 15,000 in 2027 and 19,500 in 2028.