15-Month Wait-Out Rule Scrapped: Private Sellers Now Free to Buy HDB Resale Immediately

The catch is that this removal only applies if you are financing the HDB resale flat with cash or a bank loan. If you require an HDB concessionary housing loan, or if you plan to purchase a subsidised flat (like a BTO or a resale flat with grants), the strict wait-out periods (up to 30 months) still apply. Additionally, buyers must dispose of their private property within six months of purchasing the HDB flat. The MND made this decision after observing a significant slowdown in HDB resale price growth—dropping from 10.4% in 2022 to 2.9% in 2025, with slight quarterly declines in early 2026. The government also anticipates a large wave of BTO flats reaching their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) between 2026 and 2028, increasing market supply. Roov's Take: This is a highly targeted and strategic easing by the MND. By maintaining the restriction for those needing HDB loans or grants, they prevent the policy from depleting resources meant for genuine first-time buyers. The primary impact will likely be a surge in demand—and potentially prices—for larger, premium HDB resale flats (like 5-room or executive flats), as cash-rich private sellers downgrade. However, the broader HDB market should remain relatively stable, buffered by the impending wave of MOP flats entering the resale market. For the private market, this might coax some reluctant sellers to list their condos now that the primary obstacle to downgrading is gone, slightly easing private resale inventory.