HDB home loan Singapore
Compare Your HDB Home Loan Before You Commit.
Buying a BTO, Sale of Balance Flat or resale HDB flat? Compare HDB housing-loan and bank-financing options with a clearer view of HFE, CPF, cash requirements, affordability and what happens after you choose.
- HDB loan vs bank loan
- BTO and resale financing
- No documents needed to start
Start from your HDB purchase
The right comparison depends on what you are buying.
A BTO buyer planning years ahead and a resale buyer preparing to exercise an OTP do not face the same financing timeline.
Plan beyond today's loan indication
Your income, CPF balances and commitments can change before key collection. Build the financing plan around the future household, not only today's numbers.
Get financing clarity earlier
Your HFE must already be valid before obtaining the OTP. Valuation, possible Cash Over Valuation and available cash can materially affect the purchase.
HDB loan or bank loan?
Compare eligibility, cash requirements, interest structure and future refinancing flexibility—not simply the lowest rate you see today.
HDB loan vs bank loan
Two financing routes. Different trade-offs.
There is no universal winner. Your HFE outcome, cash and CPF position, rate preference and future plans all matter.
Stable concessionary structure
The current HDB concessionary housing-loan rate is 2.6% p.a. for 1 July to 30 September 2026. Eligibility and loan amount depend on HDB's assessment.
- Current LTV can reach up to 75% under applicable conditions
- Applicable downpayment may generally be funded using CPF OA and/or cash
- Can later be refinanced to a financial institution
- No conventional bank-package lock-in period
More package structures to compare
Bank pricing varies by lender and package. Fixed and floating structures may be available, each with its own lock-in and repayment conditions.
- Current residential LTV can reach up to 75% under applicable conditions
- At least 5% cash is generally required at 75% LTV for an applicable HDB purchase
- Lock-in, prepayment and refinancing terms depend on the package
- Once financed by an FI, the loan cannot return to HDB financing
Current HDB housing-loan rules and LTV information should be checked against HDB's official housing-loan guidance. For wider bank-package comparisons, see our Singapore bank home-loan guide.
Current HDB financing facts
Know the numbers before you plan the flat.
These are useful planning anchors. They are not guarantees that HDB or a bank will approve financing up to the maximum.
Current HDB rate
HDB concessionary rate for 1 July to 30 September 2026.
Maximum HDB LTV
Up to 75% under current applicable conditions and HDB's assessment.
Minimum downpayment
Where financing reaches 75% LTV. Funding mix differs between HDB and bank loans.
HDB tenure cap
One of the applicable HDB tenure limits; age and remaining lease can shorten it.
Rates and rules can change. The HDB concessionary rate is reviewed quarterly. Do not treat 2.6% as a permanent rate. Refer to HDB's current interest-rate page before making a decision.
HDB Flat Eligibility
Your HFE letter comes before the loan decision.
The HFE letter gives you an upfront view of your eligibility to buy an HDB flat, applicable CPF housing grants and HDB housing-loan eligibility.
Buying a new HDB flat
You must have a valid HFE letter when you apply to buy a flat from HDB.
Buying a resale flat
You must have a valid HFE letter before obtaining an Option to Purchase from the seller and when submitting the resale application.
Apply early
HDB states that processing can take up to one month after receiving the complete set of required documents, and may take longer around sales exercises.
Use the outcome for planning
Your HFE helps establish the HDB-loan position. If you are considering bank financing, compare the bank route separately rather than assuming the HFE loan amount is your only option.
Eligibility and affordability
Qualifying for a scheme is not the same as borrowing the maximum.
HDB and banks still assess affordability. Existing debt, age, tenure and the flat itself can affect the final financing amount.
Mortgage Servicing Ratio
MSR caps applicable monthly mortgage repayments at 30% of gross monthly income. Treat it as an affordability ceiling, not a guaranteed approved instalment.
Total Debt Servicing Ratio
For applicable bank financing, TDSR considers total recognised monthly debt obligations against gross monthly income. Existing debts can reduce mortgage capacity.
BTO vs resale financing
The purchase timeline changes what you should prepare for.
The financing conversation is different when key collection is years away versus when you are preparing to exercise an OTP.
Use the waiting period to strengthen the plan.
Your income, CPF balances, savings and commitments can change before loan disbursement at key collection.
- Estimate what your household budget may look like by key collection
- Decide how much CPF and cash you want to preserve
- Avoid treating today's eligible loan amount as an unconditional future promise
- Revisit available bank options closer to completion if you want a comparison
Cash requirements can change after valuation.
For a resale purchase, applicable HDB financing can be based on the lower of the resale price or flat value.
- Have a valid HFE before obtaining the OTP
- Understand the available flat value before exercising the OTP where required
- Any Cash Over Valuation must be funded in cash
- Remaining lease can affect HDB LTV and CPF usage
CPF is part of the financing decision
Using more CPF today can affect your buffer tomorrow.
CPF Ordinary Account savings may be used for eligible HDB housing payments, subject to CPF rules and usage limits.
For an HDB housing loan, HDB currently allows each applicant and co-applicant to retain up to S$20,000 in the CPF Ordinary Account. The remaining available OA balance generally needs to be used for the flat purchase, subject to the applicable rules.
Keeping some OA savings can provide a mortgage buffer. Using more CPF for housing can reduce the amount remaining to earn CPF interest for longer-term needs.
Check your own position against HDB's financing guidance and CPF's current housing guidance.
How Singapore Home Services helps
From HDB plan to a clearer financing choice.
The goal is not to sell a bank package before understanding your purchase. Start with enough context to make the comparison useful.
Share your HDB plan
Tell us whether you are buying BTO, SBF or resale, your stage and estimated flat price.
Clarify your HFE position
Your HFE outcome helps establish HDB-loan eligibility and gives context to the financing comparison.
Compare relevant options
Where bank financing is being considered, review relevant package structures and important terms across multiple banks we work with.
Proceed with your choice
You decide how to proceed. Formal eligibility, loan amount, pricing and approval remain with HDB or the selected lender.
Common HDB financing decisions
The rate is only one part of the decision.
These are illustrative scenarios based on common HDB financing questions. They are not presented as actual SHS client outcomes.
First-time BTO couple with strong CPF savings
The decision may be less about whether CPF can cover the downpayment and more about how much CPF to preserve, future family expenses and whether they still want to compare bank financing closer to key collection.
Resale buyer facing Cash Over Valuation
A buyer may be comfortable with the mortgage instalment but underestimate the cash needed outside the loan. COV cannot be financed by the housing loan or paid using CPF.
Buyer comparing HDB against a lower bank rate
A lower headline bank rate deserves attention, but the buyer should also check how long it applies, lock-in conditions, what happens afterwards and the fact that the mortgage cannot return to HDB financing later.
Why engage Singapore Home Services
Get the comparison before choosing the lender.
A bank can explain its own package. SHS helps you understand the financing decision and compare relevant bank options where appropriate.
Compare more than one bank route
Review relevant packages from multiple banks we work with instead of starting and ending with one bank's product menu.
Start with the HDB-specific rules
HFE, MSR, CPF usage, remaining lease and HDB-vs-bank refinancing rules make this different from a private-property mortgage.
Understand the terms before you sign
Interest rates matter. So do lock-ins, cash requirements, future repricing and the way the loan fits your household budget.
No fake “lowest rate” claim
Rates and eligibility change. We would rather compare what is relevant to you than advertise a number that may not apply to your application.
Before comparing HDB financing
Start with useful information, not a pile of documents.
You do not need to send NRIC images, Singpass credentials or financial documents through the first SHS enquiry.
About the flat
- BTO, SBF or resale
- Estimated flat price
- Expected purchase or key-collection timing
- Remaining lease for an older resale flat
About the financing
- HFE outcome, if available
- Approximate loan amount required
- Available CPF OA savings
- Available cash for the purchase
About the household
- Approximate household income
- Existing financial commitments
- Whether rate stability or flexibility matters more
- Any major upcoming household expenses
HDB home loan FAQs
Straight answers before you decide.
Rules can change. The exact answer can also depend on your HFE outcome, flat and financial circumstances.
The HDB concessionary housing-loan rate is 2.6% per annum for 1 July to 30 September 2026. It is pegged at 0.1 percentage point above the prevailing CPF Ordinary Account interest rate and reviewed quarterly.
The current HDB LTV limit can reach up to 75% for eligible purchases. The actual amount may be lower depending on HDB's assessment, including income, age, financial commitments, loan tenure and the remaining lease of the flat.
Where financing reaches 75% LTV, the remaining 25% must be funded separately. For an HDB housing loan, the applicable downpayment may generally be paid using CPF OA savings, cash or a combination of both, subject to HDB and CPF rules.
No. The concessionary rate is pegged at 0.1 percentage point above the prevailing CPF Ordinary Account interest rate and may be adjusted quarterly. The current 2.6% rate should not be described as permanent.
Yes. The HFE letter informs you of your eligibility to buy an HDB flat, applicable CPF housing grants and whether you are eligible for an HDB housing loan, including the eligible loan amount where applicable.
For HFE applications from 24 August 2026, HDB states an average gross monthly household income ceiling of S$16,000 for families, S$24,000 for extended families and S$8,000 for eligible singles under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme. Other eligibility requirements still apply.
CPF Ordinary Account savings may be used for eligible HDB housing payments, including the applicable downpayment and monthly instalments, subject to CPF and HDB rules and applicable usage limits.
The Mortgage Servicing Ratio caps applicable mortgage repayments at 30% of the borrowers' gross monthly income. It is an affordability rule and does not guarantee that HDB or a lender will approve financing up to that amount.
For an applicable bank-financed HDB purchase at up to 75% LTV, at least 5% of the flat price or value, whichever is lower, generally needs to be paid in cash. The rest of the applicable downpayment may be funded using cash and/or CPF OA savings, subject to prevailing rules.
Yes. An HDB housing loan can be refinanced with a financial institution, subject to that financial institution's approval and terms.
No. Once an HDB flat is financed with a housing loan from a financial institution, the mortgage cannot subsequently be refinanced back to an HDB housing loan.
No. It may suit some buyers particularly well, but the choice should depend on HDB-loan eligibility, available cash and CPF, rate preference, repayment flexibility and future plans.
Compare before you commit
Choosing between an HDB loan and bank financing?
Tell us what you are buying, your HFE status and estimated flat price. We will help you understand the financing routes and compare relevant bank options where appropriate.