Young couples in Singapore often find themselves under pressure when it comes to buying a home. Property prices remain high and every additional dollar they need to borrow makes a real difference to their financial situation. This makes the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant upgrade particularly important for first-time homebuyers who want to reduce their financial burden. The EHG provides substantial financial assistance that can help couples afford their first home without taking on excessive debt. Many eligible buyers overlook this grant or fail to understand how much it could help them.
Singapore Households Gain Access to Up to S$120,000 Under the Expanded EHG
| Category | Before December 2024 | From December 2024 Onwards |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum EHG for Families | S$80,000 | S$120,000 |
| Maximum EHG for Singles | S$40,000 | S$60,000 |
| Eligible Flat Types | BTO & Resale Flats | BTO & Resale Flats |
| Household Income Ceiling | S$9,000 | S$9,000 |
Breaking Down the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant: What the Scheme Covers
The EHG helps first-time buyers deal with increasing home prices. The system works simply: families earning less money receive more grant support. This grant replaced several older programs a few years back. Everything now operates through one straightforward income-based system. You only need to submit one application instead of managing several different ones. The grant works for any HDB flat type. You can apply it to a 2-room Flexi unit or a 5-room resale flat close to where your parents live.
Why the Latest EHG Expansion Signals a Major Shift in Housing Affordability
Before December 2025 families could receive up to S$80,000. That amount was useful but frequently fell short. Construction costs & resale prices remained elevated so the government took action. Here is what actually changed: Families can now get up to S$120,000 which is S$40,000 more than before. Singles can receive up to S$60000 which is S$20,000 more. The higher grant applied automatically if you had not booked your BTO or finished your resale purchase by 25 December 2025. For some couples this reduced their monthly loan repayments by hundreds of dollars.
Eligibility Explained: Which Singapore Families and Individuals Meet EHG Rules
The rules are strict but fair.
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- First-timer status You
- and your partner must never have received any housing subsidy before.
- Household income cap: S$9000 This is based on your average monthly income over the last 12 months.
- Stable employment At least one applicant must show 12 months of continuous work and still be employed during application. Large gaps in CPF records can delay approval and many people get caught here.
- Remaining lease requirement To get the full grant the flat must last you until age 95. Shorter leases mean reduced grants.
- No private property history You must not own or have owned any private property locally or overseas in the last 30 months.
Understanding EHG Income Tiers and How Grant Amounts Are Calculated
The contrast becomes clearest when looking at couples with moderate earnings.
| Monthly Household Income Range | Previous Grant Ceiling | Revised Grant Ceiling |
|---|---|---|
| S$1,500 and below | S$80,000 | S$120,000 |
| S$3,001 – S$3,500 | S$60,000 | S$100,000 |
| S$4,001 – S$4,500 | S$50,000 | S$90,000 |
| S$5,001 – S$5,500 | S$40,000 | S$75,000 |
| S$7,001 – S$7,500 | S$20,000 | S$35,000 |
| S$8,501 – S$9,000 | S$5,000 | S$5,000 |
Lower Borrowing Needs for Middle-Income Couples For couples earning around S$4,000 to S$5,000, this directly reduces the amount you need to borrow.
