HDB & Policy
CurrentWill removing the 15-month wait-out period push HDB resale prices higher?
An NUS survey suggests most property players do not expect a price surge, as incoming MOP supply and wider subsidised options may absorb some demand.
Published 25 September 2026 · 4 min readThe survey does not point to a sudden surge
The government has removed the 15-month wait-out period that previously applied to private-property owners moving into the HDB resale market. In the NUS IREUS survey, 82% of property players expected prices either to ease or show only a modest recovery.
Some 41% expected prices to moderate or soften as a substantial number of flats reach their minimum occupation period. This is an industry sentiment survey, not a guarantee of the next price movement.
More eligible buyers, but also more supply choices
Removing the wait-out period can bring private-property downgraders back into the HDB resale market sooner. However, these buyers still face eligibility, financing, disposal and affordability considerations rather than entering as an unrestricted demand pool.
Incoming MOP supply and higher income ceilings for BTO flats and executive condominiums may also give households more alternatives, reducing the likelihood that every additional buyer competes for the same resale flat.
Why flat-level comparison still matters
Policy changes affect the eligible buyer pool, but individual prices remain sensitive to lease, floor, condition, location and the availability of comparable flats. Sellers should not treat wider eligibility as automatic support for an ambitious asking price.
For downgraders, the practical question is whether the HDB move improves cash flow and lifestyle after selling costs, CPF refunds, renovation and the six-month private-property disposal requirement are considered.
Questions worth considering
The headline may be significant, but how much does it materially change the decision for a buyer or owner examining HDB resale and wait-out period? The useful answer may depend on timing, entry price, holding costs and the alternatives available at the same point.
It is also worth separating a broad hdb & policy signal from an advantage specific to one property. Which evidence would still need to be checked—and what could affect demand, flexibility or the eventual exit audience?