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DIY Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers

Rent out your whole HDB flat or sublet your room so thousands of tenants can view your property, for free.

Step 1

Find a Home

After you have downloaded Ohmyhome App, start your journey by choosing I am a “Buyer” from the list. If you prefer to use the website, start by clicking the “Sign-up” button.

Calculate affordability

Before you decide whether you can afford a flat, use Ohmyhome’s in-app Affordability Calculator to know the maximum loan amount and loan term you can get. This information will be useful in the search for your next resale flat.

Financial planning

Plan your finances to check the required cash and /or CPF amounts needed to purchase the home and service the housing loan. CPF housing grants are also available for eligible Singaporeans.

Home financing options

For HDB Loan, you must meet the loan eligibility conditions. For Bank Loan, you must have a bank’s Letter of Offer when exercising the Option to Purchase (OTP) and have accepted the Letter of Offer when submitting the resale application. Considering a bank loan? We have free mortgage advisory service.

Step 2

Register Intent to Buy

Registering your Intent to Buy lets HDB assess your eligibility to purchase an HDB resale flat. There is no fee involved for registering, and you will receive an instant assessment on your eligibility to buy an HDB resale flat, the housing grants you are eligible for, and your eligibility for an HDB housing loan.

HDB Resale Portal

To register, you will need to login to the HDB Resale Portal with your SingPass. Upon registration, you will receive an instant assessment on your eligibility to buy an HDB resale flat, the housing grants you are eligible for, and your eligibility for an HDB housing loan.

Validity of intent to buy

Your Intent to Buy is valid for 12 months. You will need to reapply an Intent to Buy if you do not submit your resale application within 12 months.

HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE)

After registering your Intent to Buy, you will be guided to apply for an HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter, if you are eligible for and intend to get a housing loan from HDB. You must have a valid HDB Loan Eligibility letter when the sellers grant you the Option to Purchase (OTP).

Step 3

Searching and Schedule Viewings

Start searching for your next home, tap the search box and key in your preferred location.

Set filters

For safety reasons, it is advisable to have someone with you when conducting a viewing.

Favourites

See a listing you like? Just tap on the heart icon to add it to your favourites so you may view the shortlisted listings later.

Gather more information

Find out if the price is negotiable if the asking price is above your budget. Ask questions like “Is this a high or low floor unit?” Then schedule viewing appointment with the owner.

Before the viewing

Ask for a company when you do viewings for safety reasons. Reconfirm the viewing a day before by contacting the owner and send a message like this; “Hi, I will be there tomorrow at 7 pm in your flat at Block 671B Unit #04-06 Serangoon Road for the viewing. Please confirm that I got the information right. Thank you.”

On the day of the viewing

Arrive on time or at least 10 minutes early because the owner will be ready for your appointment. Be courteous and respectful in people’s home. Remove your shoes before entering the flat. Seek the owner’s permission before you roam around the flat freely.

Viewing tips

If you have a limited budget for home renovation, take note of areas in the flat that require improvements to work within your budget. At many times, a fresh coat of paint will work wonders.

Step 4

Negotiations and Option Period

You should check on recent transactions and current market prices on Ohmyhome in negotiating the resale price. You can make an offer to the Seller through the in-app chat after the following considerations:

  • Is the HDB flat price within your Budget?
  • Is it the place where you will feel at home for the next years of your life?
  • Is it conducive for your family especially for the kids when they start to go to school?
  • Is it reasonably near your workplace?

If the unit is too old and needs major renovation but you are not up for all the trouble, then point out to the Seller the areas that require his actions prior to buying the flat.

Once you made an offer to the Seller, the Seller will grant an Option to Purchase (OTP) to you to purchase the resale flat at the agreed resale price. In exchange, the you pay an Option Fee to the Seller.

You must submit a valuation request by the next working day after you are granted the OTP.

Enhanced contra facility

Which party can use the contra facility? Find out more about contra facility.

Step 5

Exercising the OTP

In searching for your new home, there is such a thing as “Love at first sight.” If you are still undecided, continue to explore other listings on Ohmyhome until you find the “right one” for you.

You have 21 days to exercise the OTP. Note that you will need a valid HDB Loan Eligibility (HLE) letter or Letter of Offer (LO) from a bank before exercising the OTP, should you require financing for the flat purchase.

To exercise the OTP, you must do the following on or before the Option Expiry:

  • Sign the “Acceptance” in the Option
  • Deliver the signed Option (original copy) to the Seller; and
  • Pay the Seller an Option Exercise Fee (cap of $5,000 minus the Option Fee amount. The Option Fee and the Option Exercise Fee must not exceed $5,000 cumulatively.

To cancel the purchase, you are required to inform the Seller that you do not want to proceed with the purchase of the flat. Allow the OT to lapse and your Option Fee will be forfeited by the Seller.

Step 6

Conclude the Sale

The Seller and you will have to submit the Resale Application separately within 7 days of submission. If you submit the resale application after the Seller, you will have to arrange for the Completion Appointment. Both you and the Seller must mutually agree on the date booked.

You have to accept the terms and conditions for all the documents. You will also have to make payment for the stamp duty fees and the HDB legal fees if the buyer is taking a HDB loan.

If you are taking a bank loan, you have to contact a legal firm to act for the conveyancing.

You will receive an approval SMS from the HDB within 6 days. After attending the completion appointment, you need to schedule a Final Inspection with the Seller to confirm that the flat is vacated and conditions are acceptable 1-2 days before the Resale Completion.

Resale Completion Date is about 8 weeks upon submission date that all parties acknowledge the resale documents. Do note that you will have to reimburse property tax to the Seller for the portion of the year for which you own the property. You will be the owner of your new home soon!

We are here to help

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