While the removal of the 15-month wait-out period provides more flexibility for private homeowners, some experts express caution about the potential effects on the HDB resale market's stability.
The wait-out period originally served as a cooling measure to prevent speculative buying and to ensure resale flats remain affordable for first-time buyers. With its removal, there may be increased competition from cash-rich private property owners, potentially driving up prices in the segment of larger resale flats.
Additionally, although the requirement to sell private property within six months remains, there's concern that overlapping ownership periods might still occur, possibly leading to temporary oversupply or market imbalance. The overall impact on housing affordability and market dynamics will require close monitoring in the coming years.
Stakeholders advise careful assessment of supply inflows and demand trends to prevent unintended consequences from this policy change.