Buying a HDB flat is one of the biggest financial commitments that many Singaporeans will make in their lives. This means it is also a decision that we should not take likely.
A Build-To-Order (BTO) flat is a popular choice for couples looking to get their first home. For applicants who prefer a larger living space, a 5-room flat may be more appealing compared to a 4-room flat. However, what some first-time homeowners may not realise is that the difference in pricing between flats of different sizes can be significant, and will inevitably affect how much you and your spouse can save up for your retirement.
To help explain this concept, let’s take our reference from the latest HDB’s February 2023 Sales Launch.
Tengah Brickland Weave (February 2023 Sales Launch)
Tengah is a new, non-mature town that is still in the early development stage. It’s the first housing town to integrate housing projects with the area’s surrounding greenery and biodiversity. Brickland Weave sits along Brickland Road, which is at the edge of Choa Chu Kang Town and Bukit Batok Road. The development will also include amenities such as shops, eating houses, a residents’ network centre, and a 3-storey childcare centre. In addition to the extensive network of cycling and walking paths, residents can look forward to better connectivity to the west region via the Jurong Regional Line (JRL), bus services to the city centre, and other parts of the island via the Kranji Expressway (KJE).
The price range for a 4-room and 5-room flats for Tengah Brickland Weave are as follows:
| Flat Type | Price Range (Excluding Grants) |
| 4-room | $291,000 – $375,000 |
| 5-room | $401,000 – $503,000 |
For the purpose of illustration, we will make some assumptions in our calculation.
- Couple is considering between a 4-room flat of the lowest price and 5-room flat of the highest price in the same estate.
- Couple takes a HDB housing loan for 25 years with an interest rate of 2.6% per annum.
- Couple does not receive any HDB grants.
- Couple has a combined CPF OA balance of $75,450 and uses the entire amount for the down payment.
- Couple is able to service their monthly mortgage repayment using their CPF OA only.
- CPF OA interest rate is calculated at 2.5% per annum. In actuality, this rate will be higher since we can earn an extra 1% on the first $20,000 in our CPF OA.
- We ignore renovation cost and the optional component scheme (OCS).
Buying The Most Affordable 4-Room Flat
Reasonably priced at $291,000, a couple who has $75,450 in their CPF OA will need to take a HDB loan of $215,550. Over a period of 25 years, their monthly mortgage repayment would be $978. They would make a total repayment of $293,365. If we include in the down payment, they would have paid a total of $368,815 for their 4-room flat.
Buying The Most Expensive 5-Room Flat
Within the same estate, the couple can also select the most expensive 5-room flat being offered. Priced at $503,000, the couple would have just enough CPF OA funds to cover the minimum 15% down payment ($75,450) required without forking out cash.
They will need a HDB loan of $427,550. Over a period of 25 years, their monthly mortgage repayment would be $1,940. They would make a total repayment of $581,900. If you include in the down payment, they would have paid a total of $657,350 for their 5-room flat.
| 4-room flat | 5-room flat | Difference | |
| Sales Price | $291,000 | $503,000 | $212,000 |
| Down Payment | $75,450 | $75,450 | $0 |
| Monthly Mortgage Repayment | $978 | $1,940 | $962 |
| Total Cost Of Flat (inclusive of interest cost) | $368,815 | $657,350 | $288,535 |
Over a period of 25 years, buying the bigger (and more expensive) 5-room flat could cost an additional $288,535, based on our assumptions.
This excludes other cost areas associated with buying a larger flat, such as renovation costs and incurring higher maintenance fees such as higher property taxes and lower utility subsidies, among others.
Read Also: Complete Guide To HDB Housing Grants In Singapore For Different Types Of Flats
Losing Out On Potential Interest
However, the possible difference in our retirement fund isn’t just $288,535. This is because, with the higher monthly mortgage repayment of $1,940 that we have to pay for our 5-room flat, we will be paying $962 more each month. If we assume that the full amount of $1,940 could be serviced using our CPF OA, it would also mean that we can have an extra $962 each month, if we choose to buy the more affordable 4-room flat instead.
With a monthly difference of $962, and assuming an interest rate of 2.5% per annum, the couple would have accumulated $401,194 in their CPFOA over a 25-year period. This means they would get to enjoy an extra $200,597 each for their retirement. This difference could easily move them up from the Basic Retirement Sum to the Full Retirement Sum, or from the Full Retirement Sum to the Enhanced Retirement Sum.
Read Also: Here’s What Your CPF Full Retirement Sum Might Look Like When You’re 55
Many people don’t realise that simple decisions such as getting a smaller flat at a lower floor can amount to such a big difference for their retirement. If you are a first-time homeowner looking to buy your first HDB flat, you should definitely ask yourself whether you want to go all-in to buy the most expensive flat that you can afford, or set aside a little extra to prepare yourself for retirement.
HDB February 2023 BTO Sales Launch is now open for balloting! Applications close on 6 March, 2359hrs. All the best!
The post How Much Can You Save For Your Retirement If You Opt For A 4-Room BTO Flat Instead Of A 5-Room Flat? appeared first on DollarsAndSense.sg.
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