S1E58: What’s love gotta do with waiting for a BTO flat from HDB?

Sep 9, 2025

28:27

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Could less waiting time reduce stress on a marriage and how can couples strengthen their relationships in the face of life challenges?

Synopsis: Every second Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times takes a hard look at Singapore's social issues of the day with guests.

With HDB planning to introduce more Shorter Waiting Time (SWT) Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, buyers can expect to collect keys in under three years, reducing the amount of stress on the couple relationship, say an economist and a counsellor.

How can young couples decide if they have found the right life partners to take on the wait for a BTO flat?

In this episode, ST assistant podcast editor Lynda Hong hosts two guests.

Thr first is National University of Singapore's Professor of Real Estate and Economics Sumit Agarwal. He penned a study on the correlation between early marriages, a higher propensity for divorce and waiting times for a BTO, that was featured in the third book in a series - Kiasunomics 3: Economic Insights For Everyday Life. The book overall, analyses the influence and consequences of economic decisions in Singapore.

The second is Mr Neo Eng Chuan, Psychologist and founder of CaperSpring. He has 20 years of experience in helping couples.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:10 Post-Covid: BTO one of the few affordable options for young couples

4:00 The effect of BTO-waiting on marriage

14:11 Is it good to have 'effective fighting' between couples?

18:07 When is it time to cut short your losses?

24:15 Money matters in a marriage

Read ST’s Opinion section: https://str.sg/w7sH

Host: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Natasha Liew and Hadyu Rahim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

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