February 2023 HDB BTO overview: Jurong West, Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown and Tengah

February 2023 HDB BTO sales exercise: This time, we have 4,428 flats available for balloting.

Units are spread across four HDB towns: Jurong West, Kallang/ Whampoa, Queenstown and Tengah.

(Do note that the additional ballot chance for first-timers announced during Budget 2023 won’t take effect for this launch. We understand it will take effect from the August BTO exercise onwards.) 

Here's a TL;DR of the February 2023 HDB BTO overview

Which February 2023 BTO are PLH projects?

As predicted, the Prime Location Public Housing (PLH) projects in this launch are the Queenstown BTO and the Farrer Park BTO at Kallang/ Whampoa.

Both are located in the city fringe and close to the MRT station.

Which February 2023 BTO are offering 5-room flats?

In this launch, five-room flats will only be available in the Tengah BTO.

As with recent launches in the past few years, projects in the city fringe, such as Queenstown and Kallang/ Whampoa won't be offering five-room flats.

If you want to buy a five-room flat, you can try balloting for the May 2023 BTO. It's when we'll also have Bedok and Serangoon BTO projects offering five-room flats, on top of Tengah.

Which February 2023 BTO has the shortest waiting time?

If you're looking to get a BTO with the shortest waiting time, consider balloting for Jurong West Crystal, which has a waiting time of three years 11 months. It has the shortest waiting time among the February 2023 BTO launches.

Alternatively, consider going for resale for a shorter waiting time.

February 2023 HDB BTO Project Summary

**Disclaimer: Walking, public transport ride and driving durations are based on Google Maps estimates. Actual times may vary.

Jurong West February 2023 BTO (Jurong West Crystal)

Location: Along Jurong West Street 93

Classification: Non-mature estate

Number of units: 271

Flat types: 3-room, 4-room

Price range for a 4-room flat: $288k - $372k

Estimated waiting time: 3 years 11 months (47 months)

Estimated completion date: Q3 2027

Delivery possession date: 31 Mar 2029

The first thing about this Jurong West BTO that caught our eye is that it’s a six-minute walk to Pioneer MRT. It’s a good option if you want an affordable home near the MRT.

At the same time, the BTO plot is along the elevated MRT track of the East-West Line. So it can get a little noisy here, especially if you go for stacks facing the track.

The BTO is also located at the edge of the residential area in the western part of Singapore. So it’s more for those who don’t mind the long travelling time.

Nevertheless, you can find amenities within walking distance of the BTO, with the closest one being Jurong West Sports Centre (a three-minute walk). Meanwhile, Pioneer Mall, Pioneer Polyclinic and the neighbourhood centre at Jurong West Street 91 are around a 10-minute walk away.

Kallang/ Whampoa February 2023 BTO

Kallang/ Whampoa have two BTO projects launching in February 2023. One will be at Jalan Rajah, while the other project will be at Farrer Park.

Jalan Rajah BTO (Rajah Summit) 

Location: Jalan Rajah

Classification: Mature estate

Number of units: 510

Flat types: 3-room, 4-room

Price range for a 4-room flat: $459k - $631k

Estimated waiting time: 4 years 10 months (58 months)

Estimated completion date: Q2 2028

Delivery possession date: 31 Dec 2029

We notice this is one of the sites the government announced in March 2021 that would be cleared for housing. The site was first home to Moulmein Primary School, and last occupied by Global Indian International School before they moved to Punggol.

Another thing about this Jalan Rajah BTO is that while it faces the Kallang River, it also faces the Pan-Island Expressway. Not ideal for those looking for a quiet home.

Its nearest MRT is Toa Payoh MRT at around a 15-minute walk. So despite its city-fringe location, we don’t think it will be a PLH project.

ALSO READ: November 2022 HDB BTO overview: Bukit Batok, Kallang/Whampoa, Queenstown, Tengah, Yishun

Farrer Park BTO (Farrer Park Fields) 

Location: Along Race Course Road, Hampshire Road, Farrer Park Road

Classification: Mature estate

Number of units: 1,274

Flat types: 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room

Price range for a 4-room flat: $484k - $631k

Estimated waiting time: 4 years 5 months (53 months)

Estimated completion date: Q2 2028

Delivery possession date: 31 Dec 2029

This is the Farrer Park BTO that the government first announced in April, with plans to integrate the public housing area with sports facilities.

Some facilities we can expect include a jogging track, a 1.2-hectare central green space and a multi-purpose sports hall that will be converted from the boxing gym.

As predicted, this Farrer Park BTO is a PLH project. Located right smack between Little India MRT and Farrer Park MRT, it's around a five-minute walk to both stations.

Another thing to note is that this plot is located right next to Piccadilly Grand, an integrated development launched earlier this year. As of this update, the average price of the condo over the last six months is $2,015.54 psf.

If you want to buy a home close to the MRT and city centre at an affordable price, this is the BTO to go for.

Queenstown February 2023 BTO (Ulu Pandan Glades)

Location: Along Commonwealth Avenue West and Ghim Moh Link

Classification: Mature estate

Number of units: 732

Flat types: 3-room and 4-room

Price range for a 4-room flat: $541k - $711k

Estimated waiting time: 5 years 8 months (68 months) 

Estimated completion date: Q2 2029

Delivery possession date: 31 Dec 2030

This Queenstown BTO is the second project located in Dover Forest after Ulu Pandan Banks that’s just launched in the November 2022 BTO sales exercise. It’s located at the east of Ulu Pandan Banks.

If you want those unblocked views of the landed housing estate across Ulu Pandan Canal, here's another BTO option to ballot.

Similarly, it's within walking distance of the Dover MRT, at around an eight-minute walk.

And like the Ulu Pandan Banks BTO, this BTO is ideal for small families with school-going kids.

It's near various schools such as Fairfield Methodist Primary and Secondary, New Town Secondary, School of Science and Technology, Anglo-Chinese JC, Singapore Polytechnic and NUS.

At the same time, as we've predicted, this is a PLH project. So it may not be a suitable home if you're looking to upgrade in 10 years, given the 10-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).

Tengah February 2023 BTO (Brickland Weave)

Location: Along Tengah Boulevard, Brickland Crescent

Classification: Non-mature estate

Number of units: 1,641

Flat types: 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room

Price range for a 4-room flat: $291k - $375k

Estimated waiting time: 4 years (48 months) 

Estimated completion date: Q4 2027

Delivery possession date: 30 Jun 2029

This Tengah BTO is the only project in this launch to offer five-room flats. So here's where to ballot if you want a bigger home with the most affordable price tag. 

More importantly, this BTO falls within 2km radius (1km for some blocks) of ACS (Primary) in Tengah, which will open in 2030.

The school will also be a co-ed one, so you can send your kids there regardless of their gender. Given the popularity of the school, you can expect some increase in property price and rental demand in future. 

Another thing we notice is that this BTO is located at the north-eastern edge of Tengah, so it's pretty close to Keat Hong.

What this means is that besides the neighbourhood centres in Tengah, you'll get to enjoy more amenity options nearby. Getting to Keat Hong by bus will also be more convenient through the Transit Priority Corridor.

On the other hand, the BTO is quite far from the MRT, at around a 15-minute walk to Choa Chu Kang West MRT on the upcoming Jurong Region Line and Keat Hong LRT.

So you'll have to rely on the bus to get there. (There's also the upcoming Brickland MRT to look forward to, although we currently don't know its exact location apart from it being situated between Bukit Gombak MRT and Choa Chu Kang MRT.) 

How about the May 2023 HDB BTO?

For now, we know around 5,480 units will be available in the following estates:

• Bedok: 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room, 3Gen
• Kallang/ Whampoa: 3-room, 4-room
• Serangoon: 4-room, 5-room
• Tengah: 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room

How about the August 2023 HDB BTO?

According to HDB, around 5,200 to 6,200 units will be launched in the following towns: 

• Choa Chu Kang
• Tengah
• Bukit Merah
• Kallang/ Whampoa
• Queenstown

ALSO READ: May 2022 BTO launch review: Ultimate guide to choosing the best unit

This article was first published in 99.co.