Can downgrade? But the duration take how long? Need to re-ballot?
Its long, no doubt.. Me and him applied BTO in 2012 but before unit is even ready, we separated. He owner, I occupier. So cos of divorce, he cannot retain the flat since he is not eligible under any schemes, not even under single sporean scheme as hes not 35 yet. So he went up and down see MP and HDB Branch Manager. Keep appealing and appealing until HDB agree to let him buy without re-balloting...
HDB branch manager actually recommended him to the head office and from there, they allocated him a balance flat.
If you have the means to wait and re-ballot and got no problem burning your option fee, i advise you not to go thru such hassle. But if you're in a position where you die-die cannot and don't want to lose anything, this might help.