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<TR>Nov 16, 2009
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>95% flats for 1st-timers
=> What's the point when their chance of getting one is 1/100?
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</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Jessica Cheam
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With immediate effect, the Board upped the number of flats reserved for first-timers to 95 per cent from 90 per cent currently for all its sales exercises. -- PHOTO: HDB
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->THE Housing Board (HDB) moved to address flat supply concerns by launching more than 1,000 homes for sale in Punggol on Monday, and by increasing the first-timer's success rate for getting a flat.
With immediate effect, the Board upped the number of flats reserved for first-timers to 95 per cent from 90 per cent currently for all its sales exercises.
This is for both its build-to-order (BTO) scheme, HDB's main supply of flats where flats are built when a certain demand is reached, and the sale of balance flat exercise which typically offer ready flats across the island including mature estates.
Flats offered in the latter are highly popular due to its location and as buyers do not have to wait for homes to be built.
HDB said it decided to change its policy to 'give greater priority to first timers, who generally have more urgent housing needs than second timers'.
'HDB will monitor the demand situation closely and make adjustments where necessary,' it said.
</TR>
<TR>Nov 16, 2009
</TR><!-- headline one : start --><TR>95% flats for 1st-timers
=> What's the point when their chance of getting one is 1/100?
<!--10 min-->
</TR><!-- headline one : end --><!-- Author --><TR><TD class="padlrt8 georgia11 darkgrey bold" colSpan=2>By Jessica Cheam
</TD></TR><!-- show image if available --><TR vAlign=bottom><TD width=330>
</TD><TD width=10>
With immediate effect, the Board upped the number of flats reserved for first-timers to 95 per cent from 90 per cent currently for all its sales exercises. -- PHOTO: HDB
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"-->THE Housing Board (HDB) moved to address flat supply concerns by launching more than 1,000 homes for sale in Punggol on Monday, and by increasing the first-timer's success rate for getting a flat.
With immediate effect, the Board upped the number of flats reserved for first-timers to 95 per cent from 90 per cent currently for all its sales exercises.
This is for both its build-to-order (BTO) scheme, HDB's main supply of flats where flats are built when a certain demand is reached, and the sale of balance flat exercise which typically offer ready flats across the island including mature estates.
Flats offered in the latter are highly popular due to its location and as buyers do not have to wait for homes to be built.
HDB said it decided to change its policy to 'give greater priority to first timers, who generally have more urgent housing needs than second timers'.
'HDB will monitor the demand situation closely and make adjustments where necessary,' it said.
