Answers · HDB & Private Property

What grants can a first timer get for a resale flat?

By Winfred Quek · CEA R073319H · Published 5 Aug 2026

Quick answer: First timer households buying an HDB resale flat can stack up to three CPF housing grants: the Enhanced Housing Grant (EHG) of up to $120,000 for lower income households, the Family Grant of up to $80,000, and the Proximity Housing Grant of up to $30,000 for living with or near parents.

The grant stack is where a first timer household's real budget is decided, and it is easy to under claim by tens of thousands of dollars simply by missing one of the three.

Quotable: As of August 2026, the Enhanced Housing Grant tops out at $120,000 for eligible first timer households earning $9,000 a month or less (HDB).

The three grants that stack

A first timer household buying an HDB resale flat can claim the Enhanced Housing Grant (EHG), the Family Grant, and the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) together, they are not alternatives to each other. All three apply to resale flats rather than a fresh BTO purchase, where a different, lower subsidy structure applies through the price itself.

EHG: the largest, and income tiered

The Enhanced Housing Grant is the biggest single component, up to $120,000 for eligible first timer households with monthly income at or below $9,000, stepping down as income rises. It carries the lowest income ceiling of the three grants, so not every first timer buyer qualifies for the full EHG even if they qualify for the others.

Family Grant and Proximity Housing Grant

The Family Grant adds up to $80,000 for a 4 room flat or smaller, or up to $50,000 for a 5 room flat or larger, for eligible first timer families. The Proximity Housing Grant rewards buying a resale flat with or near parents or a married child, up to $30,000 for living together, up to $20,000 for living near, with lower amounts for eligible singles. Buyers frequently claim the first two and simply forget the PHG exists.

Grants apply to resale flats, not BTO

All three grants are specific to the resale market. A BTO purchase is already subsidised through the flat's price itself, so this particular stack does not apply there. If you are weighing BTO against resale, the grant stack is one of the numbers that should shape that decision, not an afterthought once you have already chosen.

Frequently asked questions

Can I claim the EHG, Family Grant and PHG all at once?

Yes. The three grants stack rather than replace each other, though each carries its own income ceiling and eligibility test, and the EHG in particular has the lowest income ceiling, so not every buyer qualifies for the full combined amount.

Do these grants apply if I buy a BTO flat instead?

No. The EHG, Family Grant and Proximity Housing Grant are specific to resale flat purchases. A BTO flat is already priced with a government subsidy built in, so this particular grant stack does not apply to a new flat purchase.

How do I find out exactly what I qualify for?

Your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter, applied for through the HDB Flat Portal with Singpass, assesses your CPF housing grant eligibility alongside your flat eligibility and HDB loan position, giving you the confirmed figures before you commit to any flat.

Want your exact grant entitlement confirmed?

Winfred works through the EHG, Family Grant and PHG against your household income and flat type before you commit to a resale search.

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Winfred Quek is an Associate Marketing Consultant at Crestbrick Pte Ltd (CEA Licence No. L31010886H). CEA R073319H. This page is for general information only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Rates and rules reflect the position as at 5 Aug 2026; verify current figures with IRAS, HDB, or MAS before making any decision.

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