Why larger homes are gaining appeal among multigenerational families in Tampines

Housing three generations under one roof comfortably involves more than just having an additional bedroom. It also requires areas for separate routines and private spaces within a shared home.

Such a home comes in different formats across Singapore’s housing market. Among HDB’s standard flat types, the five-room flat is the largest, with three bedrooms. Private developments go further, offering four- and five-bedroom units alongside smaller configurations within the same project.

Resilient demand base for multigenerational living

Several trends suggest a persistent demand base for larger homes, which support multigenerational living.

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Singapore’s population is ageing quickly. Citizens aged 65 and above made up 21% of the population in 2025, up from 10% in 2010, roughly doubling in share over 15 years. In absolute terms, the elderly population rose from 325,254 to 757,160 over the same period (see Chart 1).

A larger elderly population raises the need for in-house eldercare, a practical driver behind multigenerational housing demand.

The transaction data for condos and apartments appears supportive of larger units. The share of four-and five-bedroom units grew from 8% to 18% of all new-sale transactions between 2016 and 2025 (see Chart 2). Transactions of these units tripled over the same period, from 634 to 1,902.

Additionally, government housing policy has been supportive of multigenerational living.

HDB 3Gen flats are purpose-built for extended families. Each unit has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, two of which are en suite. So, parents and grandparents can each have their private space.

Introduced in 2013, the scheme is still in place. Married couples and their parents can jointly apply for a 3Gen flat, subject to HDB eligibility rules.

Also, some children may decide to live in their parents’ home well into adulthood. The expanding cohort of singles could be a reason for this: the percentage of those aged 25–29 rose from 71% in 2010 to 80% in 2025, and those aged 30–34, from 37% to 43%.

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Further, for many unmarried citizens, HDB flat ownership becomes an option only from age 35. This, along with cost and lifestyle considerations, could also be why adult children tarry in their parents’ home. A household with more adults adds to the case for a larger home.

Elderly co-residence follows a similar pattern. Residents aged 65 and above living with their children rose from 227,300 in 2010 to 392,000 in 2025, even as their share of the elderly population fell from 67% to 51%.

An ageing parent moving into an adult child’s home adds a generation to an already-established household. With it comes the potential need for more space.

A larger home can make this arrangement easier to manage, with more rooms supporting a degree of functional separation between generations.

Beyond the unit layout, buyers in this position may also value features that support the needs of grandparents, parents and children alike.

Together, these factors point to a small but persistent segment of buyers seeking homes that let different generations share a roof, while still giving each generation a space of their own.

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Larger homes in the east appreciate faster than the nationwide average

This demand for space is not evenly priced across bedroom types and geographic areas.

In Singapore, overall resale prices for five-bedroom condo units and apartments, excluding executive condos (ECs), grew at 5.2% a year between 2021 and 2025, ahead of the broader private resale market’s 4.9% average across all bedroom types (see Chart 3).

Meanwhile, resale prices of four-bedroom condo units and apartments in the east rose by 5.7% a year between 2021 and 2025, against an islandwide four-bedroom average of 3.6% (see Chart 4). And five-bedroom units in the east saw prices increasing even more quickly — at 7.8% a year, compared to 5.2% islandwide.

The psf-price margins between smaller and larger units have also been tightening.

Across Singapore, the resale psf gap between four- and five-bedroom units narrowed from $121 in 2021 to just $6 in 2025 (see Chart 5). The same pattern holds in the east, where the resale psf gap narrowed from $156 to $53 over the same period.

The east and Tampines: an established, well-connected setting

The price movement could be attributed to what the east and Tampines, in particular, already offer households looking for larger homes.

Singapore’s eastern region is characterised by two long-standing features: an extensive coastline, and a deep food and heritage scene. East Coast Park spans more than 15km of coastline and is a popular hub for waterfront activities. As for food and heritage, the vibrance is obvious at Old Airport Road, Katong, Joo Chiat and Bedok.

Farther east, Changi Airport anchors the region’s role as Singapore’s gateway to the world since it opened in 1981.

Tampines was designated Singapore’s first regional centre in 1992. The move was part of a national push to decentralise jobs away from the CBD and bring employment closer to residents.

Continuous development has resulted in a deep, mature base of amenities and infrastructure some three decades on.

The town centre alone holds three malls — Tampines Mall, Century Square and Tampines 1 — while Tampines North adds a dedicated retail park anchored by Ikea, Giant and Courts, along with Our Tampines Hub’s integrated sports and lifestyle campus.

That growth is extending into transport as well. The upcoming Cross Island Line (CRL) will bring a third MRT line to an area already served by the East-West and Downtown lines, while Tampines North’s greenfield sites give planners room to build new developments without the constraints of retrofitting older ones.

PARKTOWN Residence, a development well-suited for multigenerational living

Extended households need more than a spacious floor plan. The surrounding ecosystem matters just as much.

Grandparents benefit from amenities being within walking distance, parents need to be able to make commutes and run errands with ease, while having schools, nature and outdoor spaces nearby will be ideal for children.

Buyers looking to house multiple generations under one roof, without compromising on privacy or space, may want to consider PARKTOWN Residence.

As Tampines North’s first large integrated development, the 1,193-unit project by UOL Group, Singapore Land Group and CapitaLand Development features 126 four- and five-bedroom units for households who prioritise the extra space.

Beneath its residential towers sit a retail mall, hawker centre, community club and bus interchange, placing daily essentials for every generation within reach.

Its towers are elevated above the commercial podium, separating residential floors from the retail and transport activity below. For residents, that means being away from the daily foot traffic passing through the mall, hawker centre and bus interchange.

This design lets a household enjoy the convenience of an integrated hub without the noise or crowding that usually comes with it.

The development also links directly to the upcoming Tampines North MRT Station on the CRL, with the Tampines and Pan Island expressways enhancing connectivity. Multiple schools sit nearby, including Angsana Primary School and Poi Ching Secondary School.

Green spaces in the vicinity include Tampines Eco Green and Pasir Ris Park, while the Downtown East leisure and recreational hub is a short drive away.