We’d recommend going for Standard. 

Unless you are sure that the well-located prime project will be your forever home, I'd go for the standard projects instead. More than the product itself, a good property purchase is about entering or re-entering the market at the right timing. 

Opportunity Cost

Depending on cooling measures, supply changes and interest rate fluctuations, the property market might present good entry opportunities. New supply of MOP-ed HDB flats or new condo launches might also come and go along the way. The decade long MOP is quite the opportunity cost.  When you and your partner find yourselves financially comfortable to make an upgrade or even invest, being stuck in the MOP is definitely not ideal.

Leverage Advantage

Another key point about purchasing and investing in property is the ability to leverage. If you want to purchase $1 million worth of stocks and derivatives, you'll need $1 million but if you want to purchase a $1m property, you'll need 250k. A quarter of the value to own a 100% of the asset. This privilege to leverage (or loan) becomes more expensive and not as effective as you become older due to higher interest rates and shorter loan tenures. Most wealth built from upgrading your homes are achieved during your early to mid 30s. Doing so any later results in an expensive monthly mortgage payment + a lower loan-to-value rate for you to enjoy.

Property upgrades cannot be done so quickly/often due to seller stamp duty. And generally speaking, the earlier you start your  upgrade, the longer the runway for you to grow your wealth through property "flips". The decade long MOP shortens that runway.

So Should You Choose a
Standard or Prime BTO Project?

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