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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.

8 May

Novena Ville will soon be Novena Regency

As far as mixed-use developments go, the new kid on the block is Novena Regency. Taking over the spot of the previous Novena Ville, (foodies might remember it as the location of the popular Wee Nam Kee Hainanese Chicken Rice),  Novena Regency will consist of 45 shop units and 55 residential units. It is set to receive its Temporary Occupation Permit in 2017.

Novena RegencyConsidering its prime city fringe location, the proximity to the Novena MRT Station, shopping malls such as Novena Square and United Square, post offices, churches and offices, Novena Regency looks set to bring even more life to the area. Launched just a few weeks ago, property developer Fragrance Realty, a subsidiary of the Fragrance Group, is predicting a more than healthy demand for both their shop and home units. Shop units are going for $7, 000 psf and the apartments at $2,300 psf.

Fragrance Group executive chairman and chief executive Koh Wee Meng has expressed positivity in buyer demand, “We are fairly confident that buyers will be attracted to its location – an exclusive private estate enclave within the Novena vicinity”. Commercial units will face the main road, where human traffic is heavy both on the weekdays from the offices nearby, and also on the weekends from the church-goers from Novena Church.

And if you’re looking for a home that is both private yet highly convenient, Novena is the prime spot. Already more than 44 units have gone to eager hands since its launch in mid April. Not many residential units, made up of one-, two- and three-bedroom units, are left. There are quite a number of condominiums nearby, but if you’re looking for a unique development that combines exclusivity with vibrancy and convenience, these Novena Regency units might be just the thing to look at. Will apartments in their vicinity see a corresponding response from buyers?

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?

10 Apr

Slow private home sales – The Grange Road effect?

Is this merely a trend that is happening to properties along Grange road or are other city centre properties suffering the same fate? Prime district properties have been nursing a bruise on its sales records since last quarter of 2012. January’s new round of cooling measures with the increased additional buyers’ stamp duty (ABSD) and the threat of possibly more to come, has put the damper on the market even further.

Twin Peaks condominium at Leonie Hill.

Twin Peaks condominium at Leonie Hill.

Even new property launches, which have been selling like hotcakes in the suburbs, along this stretch have been falling flat. The 462-unit Twin Peaks have sold 68 of the 70 units released. Median sale price stands at $3, 157 psf. At The Lumos, although units went for sale as early as 2007, only 18 units have been sold. That is less than half of the 53 units in the high-end residential project.

Even completed projects have found the recent situation to be an uphill struggle. Cliveden at Grange, which was completed in 2011, has sold 80 per cent since its launch in 2007. That’s an average of 18 units per year. The increasing number of new launches in the vicinity certainly have not helped things, neither for the new properties themselves nor their older neighbours. The newbies on the block include iLiv@Grange, Ferra and Opus at Grange.

Cliveden at Grange condominium project.

Cliveden at Grange condominium project.

Resale home prices and sales numbers have already shown a dip. In 2012, only 21 resale homes were sold in the Grange road area. And rental prices have also slowed by 9.3 per cent to $8.49 psf in March 2013.

Will the sky-high prices of these sky-high luxury apartments continue to skim the price ceiling or will they drop as time passes? Industry experts are expecting sales in the area to pick up some slack this year, as the exclusivity of the Grange Road district and corresponding improvements in the Western economies may bring investors back for seconds.

8 Apr

No stamp duty relief for Singles

If you’re thinking of changing homes. And you may find yourself having to rent or find some other way to put a roof over your head for the time between disposing of your old home and getting the keys to your fully furnished new one. If you’re unable to maneuver around that, then get ready to foot the Addition Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD).

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) made this ruling clear late last month, when questions came up regarding stamp duty relief for second and subsequent homes. Married couples get a refund of the additional buyers’ stamp duty (ABSD) if their first home is sold within 6 months of buying a resale one or the completion of a new home.

Photo by HDB.

Photo by HDB.

Singles however, will have no such benefit. Plus they have to first dispose of their first home before they can even put their name down on the dotted line for a new one. Which leaves them perhaps “homeless” for the interim period, however long that might be. 2 years or more if they are waiting for a new condo or HDB flat, and perhaps lesser if moving into a resale unit, provided no renovation is needed. At best, they may need to rent a place for a couple of weeks. But it could very well come up to years of not having a permanent address.

What singles could do during this interim period include:
1. Renting a place
2. Bunking in with a family member of friend
3. Secure an extension of stay with the buyer of their current home

The increased ABSD was implemented to cool the market, especially the investment sector. Thus, concessions are limited to only a narrow band of buyers, namely married couples who are Singaporean citizens. Some industry analysts have voiced their concern regarding this ruling, as singles have as much a part to play in the Singapore economy as married couples and should not be penalised as such, as long as they eventually only own 1 home.

MOF has said that if they extend the circle to include singles, the cooling measures will hardly make a ripple in the market. They are open to reviewing this in the future, but for now, these rulings will stay.

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