2024 is an important month, coming in at the tail end of the housing supply craze. With home production ramping up in the past two years, and Covid firmly in the rearview mirror, some HDB buyers are hoping for a break - but while the situation is seemingly better, it’s hard to say if we’ll see lower prices this very year. Here’s a look at how things are shaping up so far:

A shortlist filtered by price, size or tenure is a useful way to narrow your options, but it won't tell you which property is the best fit for your finances, lifestyle or long-term plans.

That's where the real evaluation begins: comparing the trade-offs between each option to decide which one makes the most sense for your situation.

Over time, that's also why we decided to work with agents who shared the same data-driven and advisory-led approach behind our editorial, consultants who could help readers think through decisions more objectively, rather than simply push transactions.

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The HDB resale situation in 2024

One of the biggest changes on the resale scene is from the BTO side of the equation. In August last year, the government ended the old system of mature versus non-mature flats; and flats are now classed into Prime, Plus, and Standard. We already have some Prime housing, and 2024 will see the first batch of Plus model flats in the Bayshore area.

Over the coming year, we may see the effect of the new housing model start to sink in. Plus and Prime flats may draw buyers who want a better HDB location, but who have no interest in upgrading*. This could allow some BTO launches to siphon demand from the resale segment. 

SkyParc@Dawson 103 block design

Conversely, we may see an uptick in prices of flats that are very close to Plus or Prime model launches. This is because nearby flats have the same locational advantages, but don’t have drawbacks like a 10-year MOP or Subsidy Recovery (SR) clawbacks. 

This aside, OrangeTee and Huttons forecast a three to five per cent increase in average flat prices for 2024, while PropNex places the number at four to five per cent. This is a slower pace of growth compared to the past two years, due to the increased supply. 

And as mentioned before, one other possible factor which may cap price growth is the rising interest rates. While HDB loan rates remain the same (2.6 per cent), some buyers are forced to use bank loans instead; these buyers may be increasingly resistant to high prices, given that rates began to approach the four per cent mark in late 2023. 

Overall, it’s not the huge price drop that some buyers have been hoping for; but buyers are in a slightly better position compared to the immediate aftermath of Covid. 

*Upgraders tend to prefer resale flats to BTO flats, as they can upgrade in exactly five years with no construction time. 

How 4-room flat prices moved in 2023 non-mature towns

These are how prices have moved in non-mature towns, over the past year:

Non Mature2023-H12023-H2
TownAverage PriceAverage AgeVolAverage PriceAverage AgeVolChange in price
BUKIT BATOK$586,60217271$587,564163800.2%
BUKIT PANJANG$510,61923163$518,928242041.6%
CHOA CHU KANG$496,40323251$506,556223452.0%
HOUGANG$531,47527256$555,772244254.6%
JURONG EAST$477,5313568$502,98631745.3%
JURONG WEST$487,88026234$506,929253633.9%
PUNGGOL$584,54010472$603,140105873.2%
SEMBAWANG$537,37112184$549,535113442.3%
SENGKANG$564,76614401$571,118156241.1%
WOODLANDS$487,20023433$508,784225254.4%
YISHUN$489,00826402$505,090254683.3%

Cheapest 4-room flats categorised by age:

10 years and below

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
CHOA CHU KANG803B KEAT HONG CL04 TO 06932017$400,000
WOODLANDS780C WOODLANDS CRES04 TO 06922015$475,000
BUKIT PANJANG547A SEGAR RD04 TO 06922015$480,000
WOODLANDS783A WOODLANDS RISE04 TO 06932018$480,000
BUKIT PANJANG550B SEGAR RD04 TO 06922015$480,000
SENGKANG164A RIVERVALE CRES04 TO 06932017$480,000
SEMBAWANG463B SEMBAWANG DR07 TO 09922015$480,000
WOODLANDS782D WOODLANDS CRES13 TO 15922015$480,000
SENGKANG178B RIVERVALE CRES04 TO 06932015$485,000
YISHUN333C YISHUN ST 3107 TO 09922015$492,000
SEMBAWANG590B MONTREAL LINK04 TO 06932015$495,000
PUNGGOL121B EDGEDALE PLAINS04 TO 06932017$495,000

11 - 20 years old

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
YISHUN452 YISHUN RING RD07 TO 09922012$498,000
SEMBAWANG510A WELLINGTON CIRCLE04 TO 06902004$468,000
BUKIT BATOK392 BT BATOK WEST AVE 504 TO 06922004$470,000
JURONG WEST676B JURONG WEST ST 6407 TO 09922008$470,000
SEMBAWANG486 ADMIRALTY LINK04 TO 06902004$473,888
SEMBAWANG509A WELLINGTON CIRCLE10 TO 12902004$475,000
HOUGANG984A BUANGKOK LINK10 TO 12852004$478,000
PUNGGOL171A EDGEDALE PLAINS07 TO 09862004$480,000
PUNGGOL161A PUNGGOL CTRL07 TO 09952004$480,000
SENGKANG207A COMPASSVALE LANE10 TO 12922005$486,000
WOODLANDS12C MARSILING LANE04 TO 06932013$488,000
SENGKANG405C FERNVALE LANE04 TO 06932004$490,000
CHOA CHU KANG476B CHOA CHU KANG AVE 507 TO 09922013$490,000
WOODLANDS689D WOODLANDS DR 7510 TO 12902004$490,000
JURONG WEST675A JURONG WEST ST 6413 TO 15922008$490,000
SENGKANG406A FERNVALE RD07 TO 09902004$491,000
SENGKANG152 RIVERVALE CRES04 TO 06912005$492,000
BUKIT BATOK384 BT BATOK WEST AVE 504 TO 06922005$495,000
BUKIT PANJANG630 SENJA RD04 TO 06902004$495,000
SENGKANG150 RIVERVALE CRES04 TO 06912005$495,000
JURONG WEST677B JURONG WEST ST 6410 TO 12902008$495,000
SEMBAWANG508C WELLINGTON CIRCLE07 TO 09902004$496,000
PUNGGOL172C EDGEDALE PLAINS07 TO 09852004$498,000

21 - 30 years old

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
WOODLANDS428 WOODLANDS ST 4110 TO 12841996$428,000
JURONG WEST276C JURONG WEST ST 2504 TO 06902002$438,000
CHOA CHU KANG685C CHOA CHU KANG CRES07 TO 09852002$438,000
WOODLANDS554 WOODLANDS DR 5304 TO 06901999$439,998
SEMBAWANG407 SEMBAWANG DR10 TO 12902001$440,000
SENGKANG185D RIVERVALE CRES13 TO 15852000$440,000
SENGKANG185B RIVERVALE CRES04 TO 06882000$445,000
WOODLANDS604 WOODLANDS DR 4204 TO 06911997$445,000
SENGKANG184C RIVERVALE CRES07 TO 09852003$446,000
JURONG WEST275B JURONG WEST ST 2504 TO 06902002$448,000
JURONG WEST655A JURONG WEST ST 6104 TO 06862002$448,000
CHOA CHU KANG442 CHOA CHU KANG AVE 413 TO 15911997$448,888

More than 30 years old

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
WOODLANDS104 WOODLANDS ST 1304 TO 06911985$350,000
WOODLANDS7 MARSILING DR04 TO 06881976$360,000
WOODLANDS25 MARSILING DR10 TO 12911977$360,000
WOODLANDS205 MARSILING DR07 TO 09911980$363,000
WOODLANDS8 MARSILING DR07 TO 09881976$368,000
WOODLANDS26 MARSILING DR07 TO 09911977$368,000
WOODLANDS22 MARSILING DR07 TO 09921977$368,000
WOODLANDS5 MARSILING DR16 TO 18901974$370,000
WOODLANDS27 MARSILING DR07 TO 09911977$380,000
WOODLANDS34 MARSILING DR10 TO 12981978$384,000
WOODLANDS201 MARSILING DR04 TO 06911980$385,000
YISHUN280 YISHUN ST 2207 TO 09841985$385,000
YISHUN408 YISHUN AVE 604 TO 06841988$388,000
JURONG EAST243 JURONG EAST ST 2404 TO 06941983$390,000
YISHUN279 YISHUN ST 2207 TO 09841985$390,000
YISHUN407 YISHUN AVE 604 TO 06841988$392,000
HOUGANG15 HOUGANG AVE 313 TO 15821975$393,000
BUKIT PANJANG236 BT PANJANG RING RD04 TO 06841988$395,000
WOODLANDS28 MARSILING DR07 TO 09971977$395,000
WOODLANDS29 MARSILING DR10 TO 12971979$396,000

Some general observations:

Amongst the oldest flats (30 years or more), Woodlands dominates the list. At $330,000 to $385,000, which is almost as low as some BTO counterparts today, it would seem Woodlands has some of the most affordable flats in Singapore. However, this can give a misleading picture. 

However, don’t mistake the abundance of cheaper flats in Woodlands as a sign that Woodlands is as “ulu” as before. Note that in terms of overall price movement, Woodlands is the third highest, seeing a rise of 4.4 per cent between the first and second half of 2023. 

This could be a sign of things to come as the development of Woodlands North Coast - and indeed Woodlands as a Regional Centre for the North - continues to unfold. Over the long term, this can provide more room for appreciation. 

For those worried about lease decay (i.e., you want a newer flat), Woodlands along with Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang may be good places to look. 4-room flats here are still well below the $500,000 mark, even if they’re less than 10 years old.

Cheapest 4-room flats in mature towns

Mature2023-H12023-H2
TownAverage PriceAverage AgeVolAverage PriceAverage of ageVolChange in price
ANG MO KIO$647,71530156$649,875311880.3%
BEDOK$563,86632207$578,993322442.7%
BISHAN$687,9183377$720,134331164.7%
BUKIT MERAH$783,62220182$817,967192464.4%
BUKIT TIMAH$748,861398$764,9753982.2%
CENTRAL AREA$895,7722836$929,96328413.8%
CLEMENTI$661,29230100$679,443301182.7%
GEYLANG$612,93533115$665,882311268.6%
KALLANG/WHAMPOA$729,56024145$789,148221498.2%
MARINE PARADE$571,7504912$569,4784923-0.4%
PASIR RIS$552,91729119$577,902281504.5%
QUEENSTOWN$844,17416120$873,275161413.4%
SERANGOON$590,5973580$603,247371082.1%
TAMPINES$567,49030291$584,882303833.1%
TOA PAYOH$720,7452776$747,118261243.7%

Cheapest 4-room flat by age

Less than 10 years old

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
TAMPINES492G TAMPINES ST 4504 TO 06922018$600,000
TAMPINES869A TAMPINES AVE 810 TO 12922015$610,000
TAMPINES879A TAMPINES AVE 804 TO 06932017$630,000
PASIR RIS526A PASIR RIS ST 5110 TO 12932015$630,000
BEDOK808C CHAI CHEE RD04 TO 06882016$655,000
TAMPINES871B TAMPINES ST 8604 TO 06942017$660,000
TAMPINES890A TAMPINES AVE 104 TO 06932015$665,000
TAMPINES606B TAMPINES ST 6104 TO 06922020$675,000
BEDOK186B BEDOK NTH ST 404 TO 06932018$690,000

11 - 20 years old

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
KALLANG/WHAMPOA19 JLN TENTERAM04 TO 06852004$608,000
KALLANG/WHAMPOA18 JLN TENTERAM07 TO 09852004$618,000
BUKIT MERAH109A DEPOT RD07 TO 09902006$658,000
BEDOK183 BEDOK NTH RD07 TO 09922005$660,000
BUKIT MERAH112B DEPOT RD19 TO 211002006$662,000
BEDOK182 BEDOK NTH RD04 TO 06922006$667,000
ANG MO KIO309A ANG MO KIO ST 3107 TO 09902006$678,888
TOA PAYOH79E TOA PAYOH CTRL07 TO 09762009$680,000
BEDOK185 BEDOK NTH RD13 TO 15922005$680,000
BEDOK180 BEDOK NTH RD16 TO 18922006$685,000
ANG MO KIO316A ANG MO KIO ST 3107 TO 09952006$690,000

21 - 30 years old

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
TAMPINES346 TAMPINES ST 3307 TO 091091996$485,000
TAMPINES353 TAMPINES ST 3304 TO 061071996$520,000
PASIR RIS142 PASIR RIS ST 1104 TO 061081994$520,000
TAMPINES316 TAMPINES ST 3304 TO 061071995$520,000
TAMPINES352 TAMPINES ST 3310 TO 121071996$525,000
PASIR RIS633 PASIR RIS DR 304 TO 061041995$528,000
TAMPINES349 TAMPINES ST 3304 TO 061051996$530,000
PASIR RIS641 PASIR RIS DR 104 TO 061041995$535,000
TAMPINES366 TAMPINES ST 3404 TO 061001997$535,000
PASIR RIS749 PASIR RIS ST 7104 TO 061051996$535,000
TAMPINES365 TAMPINES ST 3404 TO 061011997$535,000
TAMPINES361 TAMPINES ST 3407 TO 091071996$535,000
PASIR RIS744 PASIR RIS ST 7110 TO 121031996$535,000
PASIR RIS750 PASIR RIS ST 7107 TO 091061996$538,888
PASIR RIS627 PASIR RIS DR 304 TO 061041995$540,000
PASIR RIS148 PASIR RIS ST 1304 TO 061151995$540,000
KALLANG/WHAMPOA16 JLN TENTERAM04 TO 06862002$540,000
SERANGOON548 SERANGOON NTH AVE 307 TO 091001998$540,000
PASIR RIS753 PASIR RIS ST 7107 TO 091051996$542,000
TAMPINES320 TAMPINES ST 3304 TO 061121995$545,000
TAMPINES364 TAMPINES ST 3407 TO 091021997$545,000
TAMPINES741 TAMPINES ST 7207 TO 091011997$548,000
PASIR RIS771 PASIR RIS ST 7110 TO 121051996$548,000

More than 30 years old

TownAddressFloor RangeSizeLease StartPrice
GEYLANG35 CIRCUIT RD16 TO 1883.11971$350,000
TOA PAYOH227 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH10 TO 12821976$400,000
BEDOK36 BEDOK STH AVE 204 TO 06841977$402,000
ANG MO KIO622 ANG MO KIO AVE 904 TO 061001980$415,000
BEDOK34 BEDOK STH AVE 210 TO 12901977$415,000
BEDOK35 CHAI CHEE AVE04 TO 06821975$420,000
BUKIT MERAH102 HENDERSON CRES04 TO 06801970$420,000
BEDOK41 BEDOK STH RD04 TO 06841977$420,000
TOA PAYOH227 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH10 TO 12821976$420,000
TOA PAYOH227 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH10 TO 12821976$420,000
BISHAN25 SIN MING RD04 TO 06881974$425,000
TOA PAYOH226 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH07 TO 09821976$425,000
TOA PAYOH228 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH16 TO 18821976$425,000
BEDOK141 BEDOK RESERVOIR RD04 TO 06841986$428,000
CLEMENTI510 WEST COAST DR07 TO 09831978$430,000
BEDOK7 BEDOK STH AVE 207 TO 09821976$430,000
TOA PAYOH227 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH13 TO 15821976$430,000
BEDOK6 BEDOK STH AVE 207 TO 09821976$435,000
BEDOK37 BEDOK STH AVE 210 TO 12841977$435,000
BEDOK127 BEDOK NTH ST 204 TO 06921978$438,000
BEDOK34 BEDOK STH AVE 213 TO 15901977$439,000
BEDOK36 BEDOK STH AVE 204 TO 06841977$440,000
BEDOK52 NEW UPP CHANGI RD13 TO 15841977$440,000
BEDOK53 NEW UPP CHANGI RD13 TO 15841977$440,000
TOA PAYOH219 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH16 TO 18821978$441,800
BUKIT MERAH23 TELOK BLANGAH CRES04 TO 06821975$443,000
TOA PAYOH227 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH10 TO 12821976$445,000
TOA PAYOH213 LOR 8 TOA PAYOH10 TO 12821975$445,000
BEDOK704 BEDOK RESERVOIR RD10 TO 121021981$448,000
CLEMENTI712 CLEMENTI WEST ST 210 TO 12911980$448,888
BEDOK37 BEDOK STH AVE 213 TO 15841977$449,888

Some general observations:

Tampines does have a lot of fairly new, yet affordable (below $650,000) resale flats; but unsurprisingly, these are not the flats in the most popular part of Tampines (that would be Tampines Central, where the malls and offices are at). 

Tampines GreenRidges 96 blocks

Tampines Street 45 and Tampines Avenue 8 are quite far from the MRT, and the nearest stations are Tampines East or Tampines West on the Downtown Line (unlike Tampines Central with access to the East-West Line). Nonetheless, if you’re not fussy, there’s usually a bus connection to the MRT stations, or to Tampines Central (which is accessible from Tampines East and Tampines West also). All in, we’d say it’s not a bad deal, for a flat that might be under six years old. 

Meanwhile, 35 Circuit Road, in Geylang, has a rather eye-opening transaction of $350,000 for a 4-room flat; low given how convenient the location is. It’s within walking distance of Mattar MRT (DTL), and local amenities like the hawker centre and market are all a short stroll away. You can also get to Macpherson MRT (DT/CC) with relative ease. Paya Lebar, a major commercial hub, is also nearby. Perhaps it’s just a certain stigma about it being an “old people’s area,” but it is quite underrated for that price. 

The rest of the list can be described as “the usual suspects.” We don’t think anyone would be surprised to read that Bedok and Pasir Ris are among the more affordable mature areas. 

The resale flat market is slowing overall, but areas near Prime and Plus model housing may resist the loss of momentum 

As mentioned above, the lack of Plus and Prime restrictions may cause these flats to actually increase in price, at least in the near term. As such, there still isn’t much opportunity for first-time or lower-budget buyers, in traditional hotspots like Queenstown or Tanjong Pagar. 

If you’re dead set on such locations, you may have to do with an older non-central flat for now, and aim to upgrade into these places later on. 

A shortlist sorted by one variable is a fast way to narrow your options, but the pick that's cheapest, biggest, or most convenient isn't always the one that fits your situation best.

If you'd like to discuss how this applies to your own circumstances, you can reach out for a one-to-one consultation here.

And if you simply have a question or want to share a thought, feel free to write to us at stories@stackedhomes.com. We read every message.