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SINGAPORE - Singles applying for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats will get priority when buying a home with or near their parents from mid-2025. This is one of the key housing policy changes announced by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong in his National Day Rally speech on Aug 18. Here is what PM Wong said about housing at the rally. The married child priority scheme, which gives married children and their parents priority access to BTO flats if they apply to live with or within a 4km radius of each other, will be extended to singles. Up to 30 per cent of flat supply in a BTO launch is allocated to first-timer families under this scheme. PM Wong said more details will be provided by the Ministry of National Development. At the moment, singles are only allowed to apply for two-room flexi BTO flats from the age of 35, if they want to live in a new flat. They can buy a flat on the resale market from age 35 without any restriction on flat size. Addressing their housing concerns, PM Wong said he has asked MND to “see what more we can do for singles”. There will be more financial help for first-time home buyers - especially those from lower-income groups - as the Government plans to raise support under the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG). The EHG currently gives up to $80,000 in grants for families and $40,000 for singles buying their first new or resale flat. National Development Minister Desmond Lee will share more details soon, said PM Wong. PM Wong said more community care apartments, which pair senior-friendly housing design with on-site care services, will be launched. The keys to the first of such assisted living flats in Bukit Batok will be handed over to residents later in 2024, he added. For seniors who prefer not to move, the Government is studying ways to make existing homes more senior-friendly, he added. Housing prices shot up after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the construction industry. But efforts have been made to ramp up supply and keep prices affordable. All BTO projects delayed by the pandemic will be completed by early 2025. PM Wong also said the MND had earlier committed to launch 100,000 BTO flats from 2021 to 2025. It will surpass 80,000 units by December 2024, and meet its target on schedule in 2025. More BTO flats will have waiting times of less than three years, down from the current four years for most projects, by building homes ahead of demand, said PM Wong.