A viral TikTok video questioning why hundreds of flats from a Bukit Merah BTO project later appeared in the Sale of Balance Flats exercise has reignited debate about fairness and transparency in Singapore’s public housing system. The Housing Board has clarified that such units are typically unsold, unselected, or returned flats that are only offered after all eligible BTO applicants have had their chance to book a unit.

But the episode also reflects a broader frustration many homebuyers feel — repeatedly balloting for flats in popular locations and still coming up empty-handed. Nicholas Mak, Chief Research Officer, Mogul.sg joins the Breakfast Show to unpack how balance flats arise, why supply can appear suddenly in later exercises and what this reveals about demand patterns in Singapore’s housing market.