# More Flexibility to Buy a Home for Life While Safeguarding Retirement Adequacy - **Source:** Ministry of National Development - **Published:** 2019-05-09T09:00:00.000Z - **Author:** Ministry of National Development - **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/more-flexibility-to-buy-a-home-for-life-while-safeguarding-retirement-adequacy - **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing ## Featured rationale The age-based framework may widen financing access for some older-lease homes while pro-rating support for shorter coverage, potentially influencing affordability and buyer choices. ## AI summary From 10 May 2019, maximum CPF usage and HDB loans apply when a home's remaining lease covers the youngest buyer until at least age 95. ## Original article More Flexibility to Buy a Home for Life While Safeguarding Retirement Adequacy Rules on CPF usage and HDB housing loans have been updated to provide more flexibility for Singaporeans to buy a home for life, while safeguarding their retirement adequacy. The rules will now focus on whether the remaining lease of the home can cover the youngest buyer until at least the age of 95. If so, home buyers will be allowed to obtain maximum CPF usage and HDB housing loan (for HDB flat buyers). Those who do not meet this criteria will still be able to use CPF and take up an HDB housing loan, but the amount will be pro-rated. The updated rules will take effect from 10 May 2019. Majority of home buyers will not be affected as they are already purchasing a property which lasts them to the age of 95. Updates to CPF rules for all properties Use of CPF for property purchase Previously, the use of CPF to buy properties focused on the remaining lease of the property: Remaining lease of property Remaining lease of property Previous rules on total use of CPF Previous rules on total use of CPF 60 years or more 60 years or more Buyer can use CPF to pay for the property up to the Valuation Limit1 (VL) Buyer can use CPF to pay for the property up to the Valuation Limit1 (VL) 30 years to less than 60 years 30 years to less than 60 years Buyer can use CPF if the remaining lease of the property covers the youngest buyer until at least the age of 80 Total amount of CPF that can be used is capped at pro-rated VL Buyer can use CPF if the remaining lease of the property covers the youngest buyer until at least the age of 80 Total amount of CPF that can be used is capped at pro-rated VL Remaining lease of property is more than 20 years and can cover youngest buyer until at least the age of 95 Remaining lease of property is more than 20 years and can cover youngest buyer until at least the age of 95 New rules on total use of CPF (with effect from 10 May 2019) New rules on total use of CPF (with effect from 10 May 2019) Yes Yes Buyer can use CPF to pay for the property up to the VL Buyer can use CPF to pay for the property up to the VL No No Use of CPF will be pro-rated based on the extent the remaining lease of the property can cover the youngest buyer to the age of 95. This will help buyers set aside CPF savings for their housing needs during retirement (e.g. a replacement property). Use of CPF will be pro-rated based on the extent the remaining lease of the property can cover the youngest buyer to the age of 95. This will help buyers set aside CPF savings for their housing needs during retirement (e.g. a replacement property). ## Chinese translation > Translation model: grok_cli ### 购终身居所更灵活，同时保障退休金充足 购终身居所更灵活，同时保障退休金充足 公积金（CPF）使用及组屋（HDB）住房贷款相关规则已更新，为新加坡人购买终身居所提供更大灵活性，同时保障其退休金充足。新规则将聚焦于住宅剩余租约是否足以覆盖最年轻买家至至少95岁。若符合，购房者可获准使用最高额度的公积金及组屋住房贷款（适用于组屋买家）。未达此标准者仍可使用公积金并申请组屋住房贷款，但金额将按比例调整。 更新后的规则将自2019年5月10日起生效。大多数购房者不会受影响，因为他们所购房产的租约本已可覆盖至95岁。 适用于所有房产的公积金规则更新 使用公积金购买房产 以往，使用公积金购买房产主要依据房产的剩余租约： 房产剩余租约 房产剩余租约 以往公积金总使用额规则 以往公积金总使用额规则 60年或以上 60年或以上 买家可使用公积金支付房产，上限为估价限额1（Valuation Limit，VL） 买家可使用公积金支付房产，上限为估价限额1（Valuation Limit，VL） 30年至不足60年 30年至不足60年 若房产剩余租约可覆盖最年轻买家至至少80岁，买家可使用公积金 可使用的公积金总额上限为按比例计算的估价限额（VL） 若房产剩余租约可覆盖最年轻买家至至少80岁，买家可使用公积金 可使用的公积金总额上限为按比例计算的估价限额（VL） 房产剩余租约超过20年，且可覆盖最年轻买家至至少95岁 房产剩余租约超过20年，且可覆盖最年轻买家至至少95岁 公积金总使用额新规则 （自2019年5月10日起生效） 公积金总使用额新规则 （自2019年5月10日起生效） 是 是 买家可使用公积金支付房产，上限为估价限额（VL） 买家可使用公积金支付房产，上限为估价限额（VL） 否 否 公积金使用额将按房产剩余租约可覆盖最年轻买家至95岁的程度按比例计算。此举有助买家预留公积金储蓄，以满足退休期间的住房需求（例如更换房产）。 公积金使用额将按房产剩余租约可覆盖最年轻买家至95岁的程度按比例计算。此举有助买家预留公积金储蓄，以满足退休期间的住房需求（例如更换房产）。