Quick Answer
Your rough budget is the lower of what your loan and your own funds can support. In this example, S$80,000 of your own funds supports a S$320,000 flat budget before grants. If HDB approves a possible S$20,000 EHG, the budget with grants is S$400,000. That holds even though your income alone could support a loan of about S$454,686.
The Useful Number: In this example, S$80,000 of your own funds supports a S$320,000 flat budget before grants, or S$400,000 if HDB approves a possible S$20,000 EHG.
Which Two Constraints Limit Your Flat Budget?
The calculator checks two limits and uses the lower: a loan based on your income, and your cash and usable CPF Ordinary Account savings. The model assumes the loan covers at most 75% of the price, so your own funds pay at least 25%. The headline is before grants. A second budget adds grants you may qualify for, such as the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG).
It is a budget sketch, not an eligibility check. Loans are tested at no less than 3% (HDB) or 4% (bank). For bank loans, TDSR (the cap on all debt repayments as a share of income) deducts other debts you enter.
What Flat Budget Does An S$80,000 Purchase Pool Support?
Say you are an eligible first-timer family earning S$8,000 a month, with S$80,000 in cash and usable CPF and a bank loan at an example 3% over 25 years. Your funds pay 25%, so the budget before grants is S$320,000, at S$1,138 a month.
For a new flat, the model lists a possible S$20,000 EHG. With it the budget is S$400,000 and the loan pays S$300,000. Your income alone could support a loan of about S$454,686, but your own funds limit the budget first. Each budget is already the whole flat price, so never add that loan on top.
A resale flat adds the CPF Housing Grant (Family), up to S$80,000 for a 2- to 4-room flat.
- Loan (75%): S$300,000
- Your Cash And Usable CPF: S$80,000
- Possible EHG (HDB Decides): S$20,000
- Flat Budget With Grants: S$400,000
Data as of . Source: HDB — 75% loan-to-value limit; HDB — Enhanced CPF Housing Grant schedule.
Try Your Numbers
Your Flat Budget Before Grants
Uses a bank loan over 25 years, as in the example. Grants are left out here.
Flat Budget Before Grants
S$320,000
- Monthly Instalment At This Budget
- S$1,138/mth
- Loan Your Income Could Support
- S$454,686
Rough estimate. See the full tool for assumptions.
Is A Grant Estimate The Same As A Grant Award?
No. The list uses HDB’s amounts and income ceilings, checked on 30 September 2026, and labels each grant “May qualify — HDB decides.” It does not check work history, citizenship, family make-up, property you own now or owned before, or the flat’s remaining lease. Full EHG also needs the lease to cover the youngest core member to age 95.
The cash-and-CPF field does not check what must be paid in cash or whether all your CPF is usable. Stamp duty, legal fees, renovation and moving costs are not included. Keep them and your emergency savings outside this pool.
How Do You Confirm Eligibility Before Shortlisting?
Apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility letter. It confirms whether you can buy a flat, your grants and any HDB loan amount. For a bank loan, get the lender’s assessment and check limits with the TDSR & MSR calculator. Plan on the budget before grants, re-run it at a higher rate, and leave room for living costs and repairs.
Quick Check
Three statements from this guide. Tap True or False to check what you have read. Nothing is saved.
Card 1 Of 3
Add your maximum loan to the flat budget to find the most you can pay.
Why?
At the S$400,000 budget with possible grants, S$300,000 is paid by the loan. Adding the income-only loan of about S$454,686 on top would count the loan twice.
Read: What Flat Budget Does An S$80,000 Purchase Pool Support?
Card 2 Of 3
The model assumes the loan covers at most 75% of the flat price.
Why?
That is why S$80,000 of your own funds supports a S$320,000 budget before grants, even though your income could support a bigger loan.
Card 3 Of 3
If the calculator lists a grant, you are eligible for it.
Why?
Income alone does not make you eligible. An HDB Flat Eligibility letter confirms your grants and any HDB loan amount.
Your Score
Try It With Your Numbers
Open the calculator with this guide’s example filled in. Then change the numbers to match your situation.
Open HDB Affordability Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Flat Budget Lower Than My Maximum Loan?
The model assumes the loan cannot exceed 75% of the flat price.
So your cash, usable CPF and any grant must cover the other 25%. In the example, S$80,000 of your own funds supports a S$320,000 budget before grants. So your own funds limit the budget before the income-based loan does.
Do I Add The Maximum Loan To The Flat Budget?
No.
Each budget is already the whole flat price. At the S$400,000 budget with possible grants, S$300,000 is paid by the loan. Adding the income-only loan estimate of about S$454,686 on top would count the loan twice.
Does The Calculator Confirm Which Grants I Get?
No.
It lists grants you may qualify for, using HDB’s amounts and income ceilings, and labels each one “May qualify — HDB decides.” It does not check work history, citizenship, family make-up, property you own now or owned before, or the flat’s remaining lease. An HDB Flat Eligibility letter confirms your grants.
Which Costs Are Not Included In The Flat Budget?
Stamp duty, legal fees, renovation and moving costs are not added.
The cash-and-CPF field also does not check what must be paid in cash or whether all your CPF is usable. Keep those costs and your emergency savings outside the purchase pool.
Get The Checklist (Free For Members)
Your BTO Flat Timeline From HFE To Keys. The key steps, fees and deadlines for buying a new HDB flat, in order.
Get The ChecklistFree account. No password needed.
Save Guides Free
Keep This Guide For Your Next Money Decision.
Build your own reading list and pick up where you left off with a free WealthMastery account.
Free account · Tools stay free without an account.
Sources & Assumptions
- HDB — Enhanced CPF Housing Grant For Families ↗
- HDB — CPF Housing Grants For Resale Flats (Families) ↗
- HDB — Proximity Housing Grant ↗
- CPF Board — HDB Flat Eligibility Letter ↗
Sources checked 12 October 2026. These are examples only. Check the stated assumptions and limits before you use a result.
Simplified budget only. It uses minimum test rates, repayments at your entered rate and a 75% loan ceiling. Possible grants use HDB’s published amounts, including the indicative family EHG table, and HDB decides who qualifies. Check your real eligibility, loan, cash needs and CPF use separately.