HDB Resale Grant: CPF Housing Grant for Resale Flats (Families)

Financially Reviewed by Edward Hee
By Firdaus Syazwani

Published: 30 January, 2026
Last Updated: 9 January, 2026

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Buying a resale flat in Singapore?

You’re probably already feeling the pinch and wondering if housing grants can take some of that load off.

That’s why I wrote this guide: so you don’t have to spend hours decoding HDB’s site like I did.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this post:

What the HDB Resale Family Grant actually is
Who qualifies, and how much you can get
How to apply for it (step-by-step)
How does it compare to other resale housing grants
What happens when you eventually sell your flat

Let’s dive into how to make that happen.

What is the HDB Resale Family Grant?

The HDB Resale Family Grant – more accurately known as the CPF Housing Grant for Resale Flats (Families) – is a one-time housing subsidy offered by the Singapore government to help eligible first-timer families and married couples buy a resale HDB flat.

The grant is credited into your CPF Ordinary Account (OA) to offset your flat’s purchase price or reduce the housing loan amount you’ll need.

Who can apply?

Firstly, at least one applicant must be a Singapore Citizen (SC), and both of you need to be first-timer applicants who have never received any housing subsidy from HDB.

If you’re applying as a couple, your partner can either be a Singaporean Citizen or a Singapore Permanent Resident (SPR).

Secondly, your combined monthly household income must not exceed $14,000. If you’re applying as a bigger household, the income ceiling goes up to $21,000.

Lastly, the resale flat’s remaining lease must cover the youngest buyer till at least age 95.

How much can you get?

As of 2025, the grant amount for applicants buying a 2- to 4-room resale flat is up to $80,000, and $50,000 for a 5-room or larger resale flat.

And the best part?

The Family Grant can be combined with other housing grants like the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG), with grant amounts up to $120,000, based on your monthly household income.

You may also be eligible for the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) – up to $30,000, if you’re living near or with your parents or children.

How do you apply?

Step 1: Apply for your HDB Flat Eligibility (HFE) letter

Head to the HDB Flat Portal and apply for the HFE letter before you get your Option to Purchase (OTP).

The HFE letter will let you know if you’re eligible to buy a resale flat, the housing grants you are eligible for, and whether you can take an HDB housing loan.

Step 2: Submit your resale flat application

Once you’ve secured the OTP and are ready to commit, go ahead and submit your resale application via the HDB portal.

At this point, you’ll need to select which grants you’re applying for – so tick that Family Grant box!

Step 3: Receive the grant in your CPF OA

If everything checks out, HDB will approve your application and credit the grant directly to your CPF OA.

This amount will be used automatically to cover part of your flat’s purchase price or reduce the housing loan you need.

How does the family grant compare to other HDB Resale Grants?

You’ve probably heard there’s more than one grant floating around when buying a resale flat – and you’re right.

The Family Grant might be the most well-known, but it’s not the only one that can help you stretch your dollar.

Grant	Maximum amount	Key criteria
Family Grant	Up to $80,000	First-time buyers, income cap of S$14,000/month for families (or S$21,000 for extended families). The amount depends on the flat size.
Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG)	Up to $120,000	Tiered based on income. The income cap is S$9,000, and at least one applicant must have worked 12 continuous months. Flat must have ≥ 20 years of lease and cover the youngest buyer till age 95.
Proximity Housing Grant (PHG)	$20,000 or $30,000	You get $20,000 if you’re buying a resale flat within 4km of your parents or children. You get $30,000 if you’re planning to live with your parents or child in the same resale flat.
Top-Up Grant	Up to $40,000	If you previously received a Singles Grant, then got married later. You’ll receive the difference between the Family Grant and the Singles Grant you already got.

Do you need to pay back the CPF Family Grant?

Yes, but not in the way you might think.

Let’s clear things up: the Family Grant isn’t a loan, and you don’t need to cough up cash to repay it monthly.

But when you eventually sell your flat, whether that’s 5, 10, or 30 years down the road, the grant amount you received will need to be returned to your CPF OA.

However, it’s not just the original amount. You’ll also need to return it with 2.5% interest per annum, which is the standard CPF interest rate.

No actual cash leaves your bank account.

But yes, you do “pay it back” in CPF terms.

Conclusion

So there you have it – the HDB Resale Family Grant in a nutshell.

We’ve looked at who qualifies, how much you can get, how to apply, and how it stacks up against other grants like the EHG and PHG.

We also covered what happens when you sell your flat (yes, you’ll return the grant with interest, but only back into your CPF).

It’s a solid grant that can shave a big chunk off your flat cost, especially if you’re buying your first home as a couple or family.

And if you’re interested in finding a place to grow your savings while waiting for your home – with potentially better returns than what the banks offer – our financial advisors are able to help!

Click here for a chat.

References

Firdaus Syazwani

In 1999, Firdaus's mother bought an endowment plan from an insurance agent to gift him $20,000. However, after 20 years of paying premiums, Firdaus discovered that the policy was actually a whole life plan with a sum assured of $20,000, and they didn't receive any money back. This experience inspired Firdaus to create dollarbureau.com, so that others won't face the same problem of being misled or not understanding what they are purchasing – which he sees as a is a huge problem in the industry.

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