The balloting for HDB flats can be fickle and cruel to some; and if you’re running out of time, your best bet for a new flat may be from the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise, or an open booking flat. But how exactly do these work? Here’s what any HDB flat buyer needs to know: Table Of Contents

• What is the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise?
• What is an Open Booking Flat?
• Important things to know about balance flats:
• 1. Balance flats may sometimes cost a bit more
• 2. All usual eligibility requirements still apply
• 3. Generally wider range of locations to pick from
• 4. You may not have the best remaining units to pick from
• 5. Shorter time to secure financing
• 6. Shorter waiting time to get your flat
• Should you buy a balance flat?

What is the Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercise? On May and November of each year, HDB will launch an SBF exercise. The most recent example of this...