For almost four years, selling a condo and moving to a resale HDB flat meant finding somewhere to live for 15 months in between. That rule was removed on 28 July 2026. For most downgraders the gap is now gone, but the timing still decides how smooth the move is.
What changed
Private property owners, and people who sold private property recently, can now buy a non-subsidised resale HDB flat without waiting 15 months, as long as they do not use an HDB housing loan or a CPF housing grant. It took effect immediately and applies whatever your age.
Before this, owners aged 55 and above already had an exception for 4-room or smaller resale flats. That distinction matters far less now.
Who still waits
- Subsidised routes. Taking an HDB loan or a CPF housing grant, or buying a new flat from HDB, still brings a wait-out. Reports of the change put it at 30 months.
- Anyone unsure which route they are on. If you plan to use a grant or an HDB loan, check HDB's current rules for your situation first.
The timing traps that remain
Buying before you sell. You can buy the flat first, but you then have six months from completing that purchase to sell your private property. Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty applies to the flat, with remission if you sell in time. Miss the deadline and the duty becomes payable.
Money arriving in the right order. Your sale proceeds and CPF refund need to land before you complete the purchase. Plan the two transactions together, not one after the other.
The CPF refund. When you sell, the CPF you used, plus accrued interest, goes back to your CPF account first. It is often far more than people expect, and it changes how much cash you have for the next home.
What to check before you act
- How you will pay for the flat: cash, CPF and a bank loan keep you clear of the wait-out; an HDB loan or grant may not.
- Whether you will sell first or buy first, and what the six-month rule means for you.
- The current rules on HDB's website on the day you plan. They have changed twice since 2022.
Put your own figures into the statement of sale below to see what reaches you after fees, the mortgage and the CPF refund.
Your own statement of sale
| Entry | Amount | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| Sale of property | +1,800,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Agent fee 2% | −36,000 | 1,764,000 |
| Legal fees | −2,500 | 1,761,500 |
| Mortgage redemption | −400,000 | 1,361,500 |
| CPF refund to your CPF account | −350,000 | 1,011,500 |
| Cash to you | $1,011,500 | |
Back into your CPF
$350,000
Could add to CPF LIFE from 65
about $2,540 to $2,700/month
Estimate. Stamp duty on your next home isn't included.
Questions readers ask
- Do I still have to wait 15 months after selling my condo to buy a resale HDB flat?
- Not if you buy a non-subsidised resale flat without an HDB loan or a CPF housing grant. HDB removed that wait-out with immediate effect on 28 July 2026, for buyers of any age.
- Does the wait-out still apply if I take an HDB loan?
- Reports of the change say subsidised routes, including an HDB loan or a CPF housing grant, still carry a longer wait-out. Check HDB's current rules for your case before you commit.
- Can I buy the HDB flat before I sell my private property?
- You can, but you must sell the private property within six months of completing the flat purchase, and Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty applies to the flat. It is remitted if you sell in time; miss the deadline and it becomes payable.
Sources
- HDB – Removal of the 15-month wait-out period for private residential property owners
- EdgeProp – Government removes 15-month wait-out period (28 July 2026)
Rules change. Check the official source on the day you plan.