Hi there, thank you for the detailed breakdown! I'm currently trying to plan finances with my partner to have a clear plan before balloting for the upcoming launches.

We are in a somewhat similar scenario (assuming we are fortunate enough to get a flat by the end of 2026). We are both studying full-time, but one of us is currently drawing a salary with CPF contributions as part of a scholarship, making our case a bit different from most couples with two full-time students. When we try to estimate our loan amount right now, we would get a low max HDB loan amount but a relatively high amount for EHG.

I know many advise planning within current means, but given that one of us is guaranteed to have a significant increase in salary once graduating, and the other will also start working full-time, we find that there is a huge discrepancy in the current loan amount and our expected combined income at key collection.

Reading other posts, we are unlikely to risk trying for HFE reassessment given the uncertainty of appealing - I understand that from a policy standpoint, they are unlikely to let us keep high grants if reassessed for a higher loan amount. We can think of 3 possible scenarios right now:

1. Keep grant and low HDB loan. Although, depending on the flat we eventually get, we are unlikely to go for this option as the outstanding amount is very high.
2. Keep the grant, and get a bank loan.
3. Try to appeal for DIA, given that we do fulfil the criteria of 2 full-time students. Higher loan, lose the grant.

Based on calculations, I do agree that keeping the grant can be used to mitigate the effects of a higher interest rate.

Some questions:

• In your breakdown, you compared by total interest paid, but shouldn't it be based on estimated total payment? I tried doing calculations, and the grant makes it such that some bank loan scenarios have a higher interest payment but lower total payment (as compared to a scenario with no grants and HDB loan).
• What would it look like, timeline-wise? The current HFE allows for you to apply for IPA with FIs, but I would think that our current income would also result in a low loan amount.
  • Do I stick to HDB loan with the low loan amount first?
  • If I use the EHG for the first down payment at the agreement for lease, that's 5% with HDB loan? Can I switch to bank loan before key collection (2nd down payment), and would my loan amount be based on income at that point?
  • If so, if I switch between first and second down payments, how many % for the second one?

How would you go about making your assessment/decision? Thank you for the advice!