By The Address desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
HDB buyers can get three main CPF housing grants. The Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG) gives first-timer families up to S$120,000, and singles up to S$60,000, depending on income; it applies to new and resale flats. First-timers buying a resale flat can add the Family Grant. Anyone buying a resale flat to live with or near their parents or children can add the Proximity Housing Grant, worth S$20,000 or S$30,000. Your HFE letter tells you which you qualify for. The grants go into your CPF account to pay for the flat, not to you in cash.
Quick facts
- EHG: up to S$120,000 for families, S$60,000 for singles, new or resale.
- EHG household income ceiling: S$9,000 a month for families.
- Family Grant: for first-timers buying resale.
- Proximity Grant: S$20,000 to live near family, S$30,000 to live together.
- The Proximity Grant has no income ceiling.
- Households with one citizen and one PR get S$10,000 less.
Which grants apply to which flats?
| Grant | New (BTO) flat | Resale flat | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enhanced CPF Housing Grant | Yes | Yes | S$120,000 (families); S$60,000 (singles) |
| Family Grant | No | Yes, first-timers | Depends on flat size |
| Proximity Housing Grant | No | Yes | S$30,000 (living together); S$20,000 (within 4km) |
How does the Enhanced Grant work?
It’s tiered: the lower your household income, the more you get, up to S$120,000 for families earning within the S$9,000 ceiling. It was raised after the 2024 National Day Rally. To get the full amount, the flat’s remaining lease must cover the youngest buyer to age 95; otherwise it’s pro-rated. At least one applicant must have worked continuously for 12 months and still be working when applying for the HFE letter.
Why do resale buyers get more?
Because BTO flats are already sold at a subsidised price, while resale flats are bought at market prices. So resale buyers can stack the Family Grant and the Proximity Grant on top of the EHG, which can make a resale flat cost less than it first appears.
The WahLiao Verdict
Compare BTO and resale after grants, not before. For a first-timer family on a modest income buying resale near their parents, the grants can add up to a very large sum. The HFE letter gives you the exact figures, so get it before you start comparing prices.
Questions people ask
Do I get the grant in cash?
No. It goes into your CPF Ordinary Account and is used for the flat.
Do I have to pay the grant back?
When you sell, the grant and CPF used, with accrued interest, go back into your CPF account. Second-timers buying another subsidised flat may also pay a resale levy.
Can PRs get grants?
A household of one citizen and one PR gets S$10,000 less than an all-citizen household.
Is the Proximity Grant only for first-timers?
No, and it has no income ceiling.
Sources: 99.co, HDB resale grants in 2026; MND, introduction of the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant. Grant amounts and conditions change; your HFE letter gives the figures that apply to you. This is general information, not financial advice.
Read next: How a BTO Application Works · HDB Resale Levy · Back to The Address
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