In the upcoming February 2026 sales exercise, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) will launch approximately 4,600 new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats across six projects in four towns — Bukit Merah, Sembawang, Tampines and Toa Payoh — and simultaneously offer around 3,000 Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) units. Among the sites, a project in Tampines located near an MRT station is expected to draw strong interest; industry analysts predict it may fall under HDB’s “Plus” category, which comes with stricter resale rules and longer minimum occupation periods due to its premium connectivity and amenities. At the same time, the Sembawang North launches — set amid a newer estate environment and further from town centre nodes — are likely to be categorised under the “Standard” scheme, which generally entails fewer restrictions for buyers. In contrast, the Bukit Merah and Toa Payoh sites are positioned in mature, central locations—near schools, transport hubs and established amenities—leading observers to anticipate that these projects will fall under the “Prime” classification. For example, Bukit Merah’s site is adjacent to Redhill MRT station and close to several primary and secondary schools, while Toa Payoh’s upcoming block is at Kim Keat Avenue near Kim Keat Beacon and other existing developments. The Prime categorisation typically means a higher subsidy claw-back rate upon resale, reflecting the strong location appeal and expected competition levels. With this mix of locations and flat categories, the February launch represents HDB’s continued effort to provide a range of affordable new homes across both mature and developing townships. The Straits Times+1