Make sense of your mortgage.

The 12-month rule that shrinks your housing grant

HDB calculates EHG based on average gross monthly household income over a 12-month window, but each person's income is averaged only over the months they actually worked, not spread across all 12 months. This means short stints of part-time or contract work count at full monthly value rather than being diluted, which can push a household into a lower income band and significantly reduce the grant amount.

Sarah Chen·4 Oct 2026

Before you put your name on your parents' flat, do this sum

Before adding your name to a parent's HDB flat, calculate the ABSD and LTV impact on your own future property purchase, since becoming an owner (even unintentionally via joint tenancy or inheritance) can add S$300,000 in stamp duty and, if a loan is attached, push LTV limits down enough to raise required upfront cash by up to S$750,000. All five main options for handling a parent's flat (leaving it vacant, renting it out, right-sizing, Lease Buyback, or selling) remain neutral for an adult child's own property plans only if that child stays off the title, so securing an LPA early and verifying CPF refund amounts and title arrangements are essential first steps.

Sarah Chen·2 Oct 2026

DBS's New CPF-OA HDB Loan, Explained