What is the maximum HDB grant a first-timer can receive in 2026?

Up to $230,000 for a resale purchase: EHG $120,000 + Family Grant $80,000 + Proximity Housing Grant $30,000. Income ceilings apply to each grant separately.

Are HDB grants free money?

No. Grants are credited to CPF OA. When you sell, the grant principal plus CPF accrued interest at 2.5% p.a. must be refunded to CPF. They reduce your cash-in-hand on sale.

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HDB Grants 2026: Every Grant, Every Eligibility Condition

By Winfred Quek · CEA R073319H · 10-minute read · Last reviewed May 2026

Quick answer: There are five main HDB housing grants in 2026. A first-time SC+SC couple buying resale near parents can stack up to $230,000 in grants (EHG $120K + Family Grant $80K + PHG $30K). All grants are credited to CPF OA not cash and must be refunded with accrued interest when you sell.

Facts verified: May 2026 · Sources linked below

Grant 1: Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG)

The EHG is the flagship first-timer grant. It replaced the Additional CPF Housing Grant and Special CPF Housing Grant in September 2019. Key features:

Applies to both BTO and resale purchases
At least one applicant must be a Singapore Citizen
At least one applicant must have worked continuously for 12 months before application and still be employed
Average gross monthly household income ≤ $9,000/month
Cannot own or have disposed of any private property in the last 30 months
Must not have received any CPF housing grant before (first-timer)

Average Monthly Income	EHG Quantum
$1,500 and below	$120,000
$1,501 – $2,000	$115,000
$2,001 – $2,500	$110,000
$2,501 – $3,000	$105,000
$3,001 – $3,500	$100,000
$3,501 – $4,000	$95,000
$4,001 – $4,500	$90,000
$4,501 – $5,000	$85,000
$5,001 – $5,500	$80,000
$5,501 – $6,000	$75,000
$6,001 – $6,500	$65,000
$6,501 – $7,000	$55,000
$7,001 – $7,500	$45,000
$7,501 – $8,000	$35,000
$8,001 – $8,500	$25,000
$8,501 – $9,000	$15,000
Above $9,000	Not eligible

Grant 2: Family Grant (Resale Only)

The Family Grant is available only for resale HDB purchases. It supports families buying a flat on the open market. Eligibility:

First-timer applicants only (at least one applicant must be a first-timer)
Household income ≤ $14,000/month
Singapore Citizen applicant (at minimum one SC must be in the application)
Buying a resale flat (not BTO)

Household Type	Family Grant Quantum
SC + SC (both first-timers)	$80,000
SC + SPR (both first-timers)	$40,000
First-timer + second-timer (SC+SC)	$40,000
First-timer + second-timer (SC+SPR)	$20,000

Grant 3: Half-Housing Grant

The Half-Housing Grant applies when one applicant is a second-timer (has previously received a CPF housing grant or owned an HDB flat). The second-timer receives half the Family Grant quantum, and the first-timer receives the full grant.

SC + SC couple where one is second-timer: $40,000 to the first-timer
SC + SPR couple where one is second-timer: $20,000 to the first-timer

Grant 4: Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)

The PHG incentivises multi-generational living near family. Available for resale purchases only.

$30,000 if buying a resale flat within 4 km of parents' or child's HDB flat (to live near)
$20,000 if buying a resale flat to live with parents or child (within the same flat not applicable to a separate purchase)
Income ceiling: ≤$14,000/month household
At least one applicant must be a Singapore Citizen

Grant 5: Step-Up CPF Housing Grant (SUG)

The Step-Up Grant supports second-timer households in public rental who want to purchase their first owned flat. Quantum: $15,000. Eligibility: must be living in a 1- or 2-room public rental flat and be purchasing a 2-room Flexi or 3-room BTO flat. This grant is specifically for households graduating from rental housing to ownership.

Master Eligibility Matrix

Grant	BTO?	Resale?	First-Timer Required?	Income Ceiling	Max Quantum
EHG	Yes	Yes	Yes	$9,000/month	$120,000
Family Grant	No	Yes	Yes (at least one)	$14,000/month	$80,000 (SC+SC)
Half-Housing Grant	No	Yes	Mixed (one second-timer)	$14,000/month	$40,000
PHG	No	Yes	No	$14,000/month	$30,000
Step-Up Grant	Yes (2–3 room only)	No	Second-timer (rental)	$7,000/month	$15,000

Maximum Grant Stack by Household Profile

Buyer Profile	Purchase Type	Max Grants Stackable	Total Max
SC+SC first-timers, income $4K, near parents	Resale	EHG $90K + Family $80K + PHG $30K	$200,000
SC+SC first-timers, income $2K, near parents	Resale	EHG $115K + Family $80K + PHG $30K	$225,000
SC+SC first-timers, income $1.5K, near parents	Resale	EHG $120K + Family $80K + PHG $30K	$230,000
SC+SC first-timers, income $4K	BTO	EHG $90K	$90,000
SC+SPR first-timers, income $5K, near parents	Resale	EHG $85K + Family $40K + PHG $30K	$155,000
SC+SC mixed (one second-timer), income $6K	Resale	EHG $75K (first-timer) + Half-Housing $40K	$115,000

Grants are a deferred cost, not free money: Every dollar of CPF housing grant you receive will be refunded to CPF (with 2.5% p.a. accrued interest) when you sell the flat. A $120,000 EHG received today will require a CPF refund of approximately $153,000 after 10 years. This money returns to your CPF OA and can be used for your next property, but it is not available as cash. Factor this into your upgrade cashflow planning.

How Grants Are Applied

Step 1: You apply for the flat (BTO ballot or resale OTP).

Step 2: HDB verifies your income documents (last 12 months payslips or NOA) and eligibility.

Step 3: Grant is credited directly to your CPF Ordinary Account.

Step 4: The grant funds in your OA are used to reduce the loan amount or service monthly instalments (depending on whether you take HDB or bank loan).

Step 5: When you sell the flat, CPF OA refund includes the original grant principal + accrued interest. These funds return to your CPF OA for future use.