HDB Resale Flat Buying Process: Step by Step

Buying an HDB resale flat is a sequence of defined steps, and the order matters - some steps (like the HFE letter and the Request for Value) are prerequisites for others. HDB guides both buyer and seller through the transaction on My Flat Dashboard. Here is the order.

The steps, in order

The key milestones and HDB’s timings. Details for each step follow below.

1. Get your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter

Apply for the HFE letter on the HDB Flat Portal before you commit to a flat. It tells you whether you are eligible to buy, which CPF housing grants you qualify for, and how much HDB loan you can take. Every resale buyer — HDB loan, bank loan or cash — must have a valid HFE letter before obtaining an OTP from the seller, and it must still be valid when you submit the resale application. Apply early: it can take time to process once all documents are in.

2. Confirm your financing

Decide how you will pay: an HDB concessionary loan (needs the HFE letter) or a bank loan (you need a valid Letter of Offer before you exercise the OTP), plus CPF and cash. You can request an In-Principle Approval and Letter of Offer from participating banks when you apply for the HFE letter.

3. Find a flat

Search listings and view flats; engaging a salesperson is optional. Check the flat’s remaining lease, as it affects CPF use and financing. You can check recent transacted resale prices on HDB’s portal to judge a fair price.

4. Receive the Option to Purchase (OTP)

The seller can only grant an OTP after registering an Intent to Sell and waiting out a 7-day cooling-off period. When you agree on a price, the seller grants you an Option to Purchase and you pay an option fee of S$1 to S$1,000. The OTP gives you the exclusive right to buy within the Option Period, which is 21 calendar days (including weekends and public holidays) and expires at 4pm. Use that period to confirm your mode of financing on My Flat Dashboard - don’t rush to exercise it.

5. Submit a Request for Value (if needed)

If you are using CPF savings and/or a housing loan, you must submit a Request for Value by the next working day after the Option Date, with a scanned copy of page 1 of the OTP and a S$120 processing fee. The outcome is typically available within 10 working days and stays valid for 3 months. HDB determines whether a valuation is required and provides the flat value, which is the basis for how much CPF you may use and a reference for your housing loan. (An all-cash purchase with no CPF or loan does not need this.) Where the agreed price exceeds the value, the difference is Cash-Over-Valuation (COV), payable in cash.

6. Exercise the OTP

If the numbers work, exercise the OTP within the Option Period by signing and returning it and paying the option exercise fee (option fee plus exercise fee cannot exceed S$5,000). If you are using CPF or a loan, make sure the flat value is available before you exercise. This forms a binding contract.

7. Submit the resale application

Both buyer and seller submit the resale application on the HDB Flat Portal and upload documents. Either side can submit first, but the other must submit within 7 calendar days (weekends and public holidays count). If not, the first submission lapses and the fees paid are not refunded, so agree the timing with the seller beforehand.

8. HDB acceptance, then endorse documents and pay fees

Once it has a complete application and all supporting documents from both sides, HDB verifies eligibility and accepts the application within 28 working days. It then prepares the resale documents, which both parties endorse, and you pay the required fees. HDB grants approval after this, within the roughly 8-week period that starts on the acceptance date.

9. Resale completion

HDB schedules a completion appointment, typically about 8 weeks after it accepts the resale application. On completion, the balance is paid, ownership transfers, and you collect the keys.

Where to go next

• Weigh the alternative in BTO vs resale flat.
• Check what help you qualify for in CPF housing grants: eligibility and amounts.
• See recent transacted prices on our resale data pages.

General information to help you understand the process. It is not property, financial or legal advice, and we do not represent buyers or sellers.