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22 May

Massive sales at Mass-market condominiums

Over the weekend, buyers turned up en-masse for a series of mass-market launches. Some were completely fresh out of the oven and some were launching a new round of units. These new properties are sprinkled across different districts and each had their plus points and investment value.

The 3 strongmen of the new condominium market this round are:

WhitehavenWhitehaven sold more than half of their 121 units. 70 apartments were picked up by eager buyers at an average price of $1,470 – $1,480 psf. A five-storey project developed by Roxy-Pacific Holdings, it does not have the bulk and density of other bigger condominiums but it does provide an exclusive and private atmosphere. And as a freehold project, prices are considered reasonable.

If you wish to go bigger, there is the 380-unit Stratum in Pasir Ris. It is a 99-year leasehold property, with a wide range of apartment sizes ranging from a 432 sq ft studio to a 2, 446 sq ft five-room duplex penthouse. In their first phase launch, 190 of 250 units released were sold over the weekend alone.

Corals at Keppel Bay previewed to intense response as well. Almost all of the 100 units released were sold and majority of the buyers were Singaporeans. Most of the units which moved were the one to three-bedders. As expected, buyers are savvy enough to recognise the investment value of this property, with it being near the HarbourFront MRT Station, and a number of amenities, entertainment spots and schools nearby. Prices at this 366-unit 99-year leasehold condominium were well spread across $1, 800 to $3,000 psf. And this is only the preview. What response will their official launch this weekend bring?

Belgravia villasAnd to whet the buyers’ appetite even further, a selection of other launches coming up include:

The long weekend is here. If you’re out house-hunting, there might be lots to look forward to.

20 May

Variety of New Properties for the picking

After a brief respite in the property market, new property launches are back to make for a hot and heated summer.

Stratum in Pasir Ris.

Stratum in Pasir Ris.

Five new residential developments across the island are offering home buyers plenty of sweet ptions to pick from. Properties in the city centre include the 366-unit Corals at Keppel Bay near HarbourFront MRT station and Liv on Sophia near Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. The proximity of these developments to transport and amenities should mean they are popular with buyers and investors alike. Corals at Keppel Bay is situated beside the Caribbean condominium and previewed the weekend past. 100 more units will be launched this weekend. Prices range from $2, 000 psf for a one-bedroom unit of between 570 and 732 sq ft. Ferra condominium in Leonie Hill in the prime district 9 also released its remaining 22 units of its 104 units. A 732 sq ft unit is going for $3,160 psf.

Fancy being even nearer the city centre? Liv on Sophia on Adis Road offers 64 two-bedders starting from $2,500 psf. Buyers will have to wait a little longer for these though as they are launching only end of this month or early June. Also in the property launch pipelines is the mixed-use project King Albert Park Residences. With the Bukit Timah Shopping Centre and Bukit Timah Plaza nearby, King Albert Park Residences will add even more colour to the area with its 107 retail units and 142 residential units. It will also be flanked by the  upcoming King Albert Park and Beauty World MRT stations. Property agents are expecting prices to start at $2, 000 psf for the smallest 484 sq ft units.

King Albert Park Residences is a mixed-use development with retail and residential units.

King Albert Park Residences is a mixed-use development with retail and residential units.

And further in the East, Stratum in Pasir Ris launched last Saturday with a $900 psf median. The 99-year leasehold condominium will stand across Elias Mall and the new Singapore University of Technology and Design. Will this increase the potential investment value of the property? How will other older condominiums nearby fare?

Another new suburban launch to look out for is the Jewel at  Buangkok, just 2-minutes away from Buangkok MRT station. To be launched within the next few weeks, a small 463 sq ft apartment is expected to go for $1, 000 psf. In an area yet to be saturated with private high-rise properties, how will this new project fare? Will it bring more interest and development into the area?

16 May

New Homes sales halved

New properties rode the big wave earlier this year in the first quarter. Now, the tide has brought them back on the ground.

Sant Ritz near Potong Pasir MRT station.

Sant Ritz near Potong Pasir MRT station.

But the reason may not be because the fish are not biting. There are simply fewer launches in April. Although new home sales saw a spike in March, industry analysts are putting it down to pent-up demand following January’s cooling measures. Are April’s numbers more reflective of the actual effect of the property curbs? As the heat from Q1′s fever dies down, home buyers who are shopping for a home may be holding back in wait of potential launches in the coming months.

The most recent launches were Sant Ritz in Potong Pasir , Jade Residences in Upper Serangoon, Cosmoloft in Balestier and The Siena at Farrer Road. Data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) indicated 104 units sold at the 214-unit Sant Ritz, at an average of $1,494 psf. At Jade Residences, buyers snapped up nearly half of the 171 units at a medai of $1, 592 psf.

cosmoloftBuyers are becoming more savvy, and are increasingly not only drawn by a property’s location but also design and potential investment value. Do buyers now have the upper hand and will developers be pressed to lower selling prices? CBRE executive director of residnetial Joseph Tan believes that buyers now draw the line at properties ranging between $900 to $1, 600 psf. Properties selling above that price line may not see as many takers. For now.

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s statement last month which spoke to the unlikelihood of more cooling measures could also mean buyers are now in less of a hurry to buy up properties and can well afford to play the waiting game. It may seem like a supply glut could be near, but as soon as population increases, and depending on how fast a rate, demand will soon rise as well. Is it better to buy now than to wait for prices to drop?

Upcoming launches include KAP Residences at King Albert Part, Corals at Keppel Bay, Liv on Sophia near Dhoby Ghaut MRT station and Stratum in Pasir Ris.

14 May

Singapore’s Luxury home prices remain stable

In most countries across Asia, high-end properties are seeing a considerable rise in prices. Only in Singapore and Hong kong, where property cooling measures were implemented, did prices remain stable.

While luxury homes here saw a 0.6 per cent dip in prices, in other major Asia cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Jakarta and Mumbai, prices leaped an average of 6.1 per cent year on year. Singapore is the only city where year on year high-end home prices fell, at 4.3 per cent.

Corals at Keppel Bay.

Corals at Keppel Bay.

Which city saw the largest jump in luxury property prices? Jakarta – with an increase of 8.7 per cent in Q1, that is a whooping 32.9 per cent year on year. Kuala Lumpur and Beijing saw steady quarterly rise in property prices as well. But it is worth noting that the Chinese government is quite aware of a possible property bubble and may be clamping down on building and investments soon. Jones Lang LaSalle‘s head of Asia Pacific research, Ms Jane Murray, is predicting a fall of up to 5 per cent for high-end property here in SIngapore. As population and economic growth slows, the same is expected of the property market.

Have investors veered away from Singapore properties to focus on real estate  elsewhere in Asia and are Singaporean investors doing the same? As property cooling measures continue to kick in, will they deter home buyers even further? What will it mean for Singapore’s real estate market and is this the intended purpose of the property cooling measures?

10 May

Marina Bay’s Allure

Just at the edge of the Central Business District (CBD), right in the centre of Singapore’s newest entertainment hub and with a view to die for, it’s not wonder properties at Marina Bay are drawing the well-heeled crowd in. With the intention of cultivating this area as the new Financial district, commercial units are being built and occupied at a rapid pace. As a happy spillover, residential properties nearby are enjoying the business it brings in. Companies and individuals with cash to spend are taking the the area due to the proximity and high-end address it provides.

Marina One residential project with 1,042 new condominium units. Photo by marina-one.org.

Marina One residential project with 1,042 new condominium units. Photo by marina-one.org.

The Marina One development expected to complete by 2017 looks set to bring in even more money, both commercial and residential. Jointly developed by Temasek Holdings and Khazanah Nasional’s M+S, it will have a 341,000 sq m gross floor are and a gross development value of $7 billion.

Surrounding developments such as The Sail @ Marina Bay and V on Shenton are also seeing positive response over time. The Sail @ Marina Bay for example launched for $980 psf in 2004 but has more than doubled to $2, 180 as of the past 15 months.

V on Shenton condominium.

V on Shenton condominium.

Marina Bay Suites sold one of the most expensive units in the area at $3, 313 psf. Median prices were at its peak in Q3 of last year at $2, 229. In the beginning of 2012 it was at $1, 926 psf.

Despite the dampened buying interest following January’s property tax hikes, tenants looking to rent homes nearby will continue to keep investment at a healthy level. Rental yields for apartments in Marina Bay are between 2 and 3 per cent. Median monthly rents range from $5.25 to $6 psf. Compared to rentals in other prime districts, it’s higher than their $3 to $5 psf median. It also helps that the proximity to the CBD and shopping and entertainment belt also helps keep selling prices high so whether its short or long term investment you’re looking for, the Marina Bay area may give you the best run for your money.

2 May

Tanjong Pagar – Old School charm with New prices

Altez condominium.

Altez condominium.

Designated as one of the very few conservation areas in Singapore, Tanjong Pagar holds a distinct charm and mixture of the old and new, straddling chinatown and outram and the Central Business District. The Pinnacle@duxton towering over old conservation shophouses outlining the upcoming arts and design enclaves, modern condominiums, hotels embracing the skyscrapers of Shenton Way and old HDB flats just round the corner.

With the new Maxwell MRT station on the Thomson Line coming up within the next decade, this area might once again be vibrating with the heartbeats of a cosmopolitan melting pot. The new MRT station is expected to largely increase the amount of human traffic in the area, including residents from across the Causeway. Shophouses along Tanjong Pagar road have seen a sharp hike in rents in recent years, as new properties along the stretch bring new residents and human traffic to the area. And in turn, as the area becomes more vibrant, rents of residential properties may also rise.

New high-rise residential properties such as Altez, Skysuites@Anson and Spottiswoode Suites; and a mixed-use development along Peck Seah Street all hold a considerable amount of investor potential. Shophouse units along the main road are calling the shots in term of rental prices as well. Recent price appreciation have rised rents to around $4,000 per month on average for a 700 sq ft ground floor unit, to up to $10,000 per month for restaurant owners.

Tanjong Pagar RoadOne of the major concerns about living and running a business in the area could be the lack of parking space. Street parking is almost impossible and there are hardly any parking areas near enough to the business or residential homes in the vicinity. Do homes in this area command higher rents? As compared to other prime district and city centre homes,  is the investment value higher? Once the Pinnacle@Duxton completes its Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), will units in the area flood the resale HDB flat market?

30 Apr

Changes to Exec Condo housing scheme?

2013 might be the year of housing policies shockwaves. Earlier in the year, news of singles being about to purchase new HDB flats directly from housing board stirred the market a little, then there were the limits placed on dual-key apartments which are now only available to multi-generational families. A cap was also put on the size of executive condominium (EC) units, at 160 sq m. ECs have been put under the microscope of late, with some questioning the amount of subsidies buyers are receiving from the government.

Forestville Executive Condominium.

Forestville Executive Condominium.

Certain members of public have questioned whether EC buyers should receive any government subsidies at all, since they are able to or willing to afford million-dollar units in both new and resale developments. The executive condominium scheme was initially set up by the government in 1996 to help families transit between public and private properties. But as the price gap between ECs and private properties now draw close, there has been a niggling thought about whether changes should be made to this scheme.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan recently highlighted that there might soon be changes in the EC scheme and buyers and developers are poised to react. Forestville, the next EC to launch in June this year, might benefit from increased response since buyers might be leaping at what may very well be their last chance to secure a unit under the current conditions. EL Development‘s Lim Yew Soon has this to say: “Whenever policies change or are alikely to, the immediate launches will have the biggest benefits. There’s a good change that buyers may snap up existing ECs to ensure they still receive the grant.” Will resale ECs also benefit from this rush?

Should there be a drastic adjustment in government subsides, the most affected might be first-time buyers. Buyers and owners of existing ECs are imploring the authorities and public to see things from their point of view. Engineer Eddy Lau, 40, said, “It’s not right to just look at the profit we make. We also pay more in interest over the years for the EC. For us who are sandwiched, ECs are the only option to upgrade.”

Ultimately, the question that probably begets the Government is, what defines “sandwiched class” and what are the housing schemes actually meant to do. And perhaps only honest answers will help everyone fully understand and accept Singapore’s future housing situation.

26 Apr

The Battle of New and Resale ECs

Recent reports show that median prices of resale ECs have outperformed that of new executive condominiums. This is the first time resale EC prices have overtaken that of new EC units. Prices of executive condominiums across the board have risen over the past 2 1/2 years. Westmere EC in Jurong West has seen a rise of up to 40.6 per cent in median prices and Parc Oasis has increased 35.8 per cent in merely 2 years. There are 18 ECs in the whole of Singapore and 92,38 per cent of the 9,130 units available in the market has already been sold.

Parc Oasis condo in Jurong East

Parc Oasis condo in Jurong East

Surprising? Perhaps not. Property consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle proposes that the sheer number of new exec condo units being put up on sale in recent quarters have made pricing of new units more competitive. New units usually fetched a higher price as they had the maximum number of years left on the 99-year lease and everything came new and fresh.

What could be the reason for this recent takeover of interest on resale ECs? Location is the most likely factor. For example, Bishan Loft which is situated near the Bishan MRT station xceeded the $1,000 psf media price in Q1 this year. Another reason could be that new ECs cannot be sold until after the five-year minimum occupation period and thus have yet to enter the market.

Bishan Loft.

Bishan Loft.

Executive Condominiums (ECs) were a category of housing, a hybrid between private and public,  set up by the Government in 1996 to help the sandwiched class who neither qualified for public housing nor had sufficient money to enter the private property market. But perhaps the question we now need to consider is, where do the sandwiched class really lie? Can most of them now afford private, especially since there has been a considerable increase in the number of new units put on sale, and the line between private and executive condominiums are now sinking deeper and deeper into a grey pool or uncertainty?

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