Were we crazy to ballot for our BTO when we are 6 months into dating?— Chapter 6

Hey Zesties 🍋

Were we crazy to ballot for our BTO when we were just over 6 months into dating — and had known each other for less than a year? Hear me out 😅

When I met Xiao Wang, I was already 25. We'd have those couple talks about the future — marriage, kids, a home, all of that. Honestly, we're STILL undecided about kids 😂 But "just in case we do" we will need our own roof. Also I get anxious easily so the more i think the more worried i get. I will need to preplan everything. HAHAHA.

So I did the math. Backwards. 🤣

If I wanted to give birth before 35 (to avoid increase risk of pregnancy complication), I'd need to conceive by around 34. I also wanted 1–2 years of just "our own time" in our own place first, so ideally we'd need the house by 32.

A BTO takes around 4–5 years from balloting → construction → keys → renovation.

Which means... we'd need to get a spot for bto around 27. 🫠 and i just turn 26 back then.

And that's assuming everything goes according to plan. We might not get a unit on our first try, construction could get delayed (hello COVID 👋🏻), and well... whether will Little Wang be develop according to our planned timeline is another story 😂

So to my overthinking brain: start earlier = more buffer.

I explained all this to Xiao Wang and thankfully, he got it 😂 We agreed that if this was something we both saw ourselves working towards anyway, why not start early?

So we went onto the HDB website — honestly JUST to browse.

There happened to be a launch the next month. We looked through the projects, checked prices, even went down to see the actual sites...

And eventually went: why not? Let's just try. 🤣

It was our FIRST attempt and we'd heard how hard it could be to get picked, so we really weren't expecting much.

But somehow our timing was ridiculously lucky.

We applied right when HFE had just started and got into one of the very first batches. That launch ended up having a low turnout, plus there were lots of Sale of Balance units available around that time, so competition was much lower than usual.

And somehow...

WE GOT OUR BTO ON OUR FIRST TRY. 😭🤣

Our ballot number was something like 5xth out of 350+ units.

Like Wow? We went in with "Let's just try only" and suddenly we are waiting for our future home. 🤣🤣

Our BTO timeline so far:

🏠 2023 — Balloted

🔑 2024 — Flat selected + lease signed

🪴 2027 — Still waiting for our keys 🙏🏻

Were we fast? Definitely. 😂 But this worked for us because we'd already had A LOT of deep conversations about our future and all the "what ifs".

We trust each other a lot, and honestly, I feel really lucky to have met someone who just gets me and clicks with me so well. 🥹 This decision — and our whole money system too, if you caught that chapter 👀 — has genuinely been one of the best moves I've made.

But again, what works for us may not work for you. Communication and mutual agreement are EVERYTHING. Do what feels right for your own relationship, and trust your 6th sense 😊

And somehow, that random "let's just try" in 2023 became the place we're now waiting to call home. 🏡🪴

Next chapter: Planning Our Wedding 💍 Here’s How We’re Maximising Our Miles ✈️

For now, take care & see you on the next one :)

From tied to nested — one chapter at a time 🪴

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