I would say get the BTO and focus on saving up and investing for retirement. Top up your CPF and pay with cash for the BTO if possible. This would be the more secure path. you can always plan for an upgrade later when you earn more or maybe have a change in your status.

If your cash can grow at 2.5% p.a. or more, then I can't imagine there being any realised benefits if you don't sell your flat ):

I will never borrow from friends unless it's a small amount and I can return them the money within the week (nowadays it can be within the hour because of PayNow). Mixing money with friends is like mixing alcohol with driving to me. I don't think I will borrow from my family either... my parents have done enough by raising me (well!) and now I'm able to earn my keep. Feels inappropriate to rely on them like this. Furthermore, things may get messy if you forget to pay back. If you borrow from your family, are you going to pay them interest? Kinda unfair if you don't.

It's not only possible, it's already happening. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/hdb-resale-prices-q3-circuit-breaker-13348024 “Prices also went up 1.5 per cent from Q2 to Q3, with the resale price index – which provides information on the general price movements in the resale public housing market – increasing to 133.9. “

Hope these links help: https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/buying-a-flat/new/eligibility/check-your-eligibility https://www.hdb.gov.sg/cs/infoweb/residential/buying-a-flat/new/eligibility/hdb-flat

By cheaper I think places like bukit panjang, woodlands, sembWang would be your best choice.

That's Decoupling of your EC from one owner to another owner. But that will require the buyer to be financially able to: 1) Take up the loan of the remaining outstanding loan 2) Pay the seller his CPF used + Accrued interest. In such a case, you'll do that if: 1) You're going to milk the EC by renting it out. 2) Going to continue staying in the house and rent out a private property you are going to buy. Why people do this: So that they can have 2 properties under different spouse name and remove the effect of paying ABSD of 12%. Some couples are not able to do this is because the next house that they want to buy it's a bigger house and one person's income is not able to substantiate to get the new house loan. As such this solution might not be viable.

Yes it's possible. But do consider where you will be staying if you found a buyer immediately as the sale completion will be done in 3 months time. Whereas sales of balance flat might not be as fast as you think.

Nope. it's cash at the before the completion