I REFER to the letter, 'First-timer grant denied to hubby' by Ms April Goh (my paper, Dec 3, 2008) and the reply 'CPF grant not for direct HDB sales' (my paper, Dec 9, 2008) from the Housing Board.

I would like to seek clarification from the HDB on the policy regarding CPF grants in my situation.

My mother and I would like to buy a new HDB flat. I am a first-time buyer for a new flat and have never taken a CPF housing grant.

My mother and my younger brother have previously owned an executive condominium (EC), which was purchased with a CPF housing grant.

They have since sold the unit and my brother will be starting his own family soon.

He has purchased a resale flat without a CPF housing grant.

In line with the Government's policy of advocating filial piety and encouraging Singaporeans to take care of their aged parents, I would like to co-own a new HDB flat with my elderly mother and take care of her daily needs.

However, I was informed that we would have to pay a resale levy of $55,000.

That means that even though I ama first-time flat buyer and half the CPF housing grant my mother received when she bought the EC has been returned to my younger brother, we are being considered second- time buyers by the HDB.

I would like to appeal to the HDB to consider letting my mother pay a resale levy of $27,500, which is half of the full resale levy amount of $55,000.

This would be fair to my mother and me in the light of the circumstances I have described.

Mr Marcus Phang

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