The HDB launched about 5,500 new flats in this round of sales, and as of 5pm, Serangoon HDB flats had the highest application rate, with each four-room flat attracting nine applications, while the first-time buyer application rate for five-room flats was 13.

Experts say these five-room flats are popular despite their price being close to $600,000, because there are few five-room flats available in mature towns, plus the epidemic has changed the demand for homes.

After the epidemic, many families are still working in a mixed home-office model, so they may need more space to balance the needs of living and working, and perhaps five-room units can provide them with more flexible space," said Cheng Tianfu, provost chair professor of real estate at NUS Business School. "

The first-time family subscription rate for three-bedroom units in prime Kallang Whampoa is below one, which real estate experts say is to be expected.

Lee Sze Teck, senior research director at Hopedale Group, said, "I have to live over here for 10 years before I can sell this HDB flat and move to another place, then if I have a change in my family structure within these 10 years, then I can't relocate well, so I would want to say I'll apply for a bigger house."

And in the non-established market town of Denga Newtown this time launched within one kilometer of Ying Wa Primary School pre-purchase HDB project, the application rate of three-bedroom and larger units are less than 2, market participants said that the supply and demand for pre-purchase HDB flats have reached a steady state.