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18 Mar

Busy weekend for New Properties

Property showrooms were abuzz last weekend. With buyers looking to buy following the January cooling measures. Developers are hoping to tap into the pent-up demand which has been on hold since early this year. As the dust settles in the HDB market following its series of announcements after the Budget talks last week, the private property market is taking the chance to capture as much interest as they can now.

D'nest condominium.

D’nest condominium.

Hoping to catch some fishes are D’Nest near Pasir Ris MRT station, Sennett Residence and The Trilinq. Residential properties in the CBD areas may also need to watch for the launch of Far East Organization’s mixed use commercial property SBF Centre. When complete, the influx of 196 office units and 48 medical suites may bring business to other residential properties in the vicinity.

Units at D’Nest were going for an average of $999 psf but there is an early bird price of $920 psf, but that is after the 7 per cent direct discount to temper the sting of the additional buyers’ stamp duty. Launch prices are set at $498,000 for a small 484 sq ft one-bedder to $1.15 million for a 1, 270 sq ft four-bedder. This Pasir ris condominium is set to receive its Temporary Occupation Permit  (TOP) in 2017. Prices of surrounding condominiums might benefit from its overflow and one should take note that its developer, CDL, still have space left for further development in the same area. Might we expect new residential projects nearby soon?

In Potong Pasir, Sennet Residence which as has already sold 70 per cent of its 332 units, sold 175 last Wednesday alone. Units there are priced at $1, 450 psf and the area which is largely yet untapped by new HDB launches, have drawn interest from private property buyers in the past. If new properties enter the market later this year, this might be a spot to watch.

4 Jan

Are ECs fulfilling their purpose?

As the first week of the new year draws close, we can’t help but wonder which properties might be the top performer in 2013. The year holds promise for properties in a number of districts and certain property types may draw more followers as they speed ahead.
 Forestville EC

Executive condominiums have been the talk of the town these past couple of weeks, partly for the price and size of penthouse and sky suite units in recent launches. A number of pertinent questions have been raised by the public.

Considering the sizes of these bigger (much bigger!) units, does this deprive other buyers of units they could have bought? If one penthouse is the size of four five-room HDB flats, could three or four other buyers have benefited if four units were built instead of only one?

As the price gap between ECs and private properties narrow, are the buyers of ECs actually able to afford private condominiums? If they are, should they still be eligible for the HDB Housing Grants? What restrictions, if any, should the government implement? Or should these decisions be left to the property developers‘ discretion?

The original purpose of ECs were to fill the gap between HDB flats and private properties, to allow families who needed more space the option of buying bigger homes that did not necessarily come with the exorbitant prices of private properties. But as the society changes and home buyers’ motivations change along with it, it could be time to reconsider if the size to price ratio of ECs still makes sense.

At the same time, we should not forget that EC sites are sold by the government at subsidized rates. Who does it really benefit if land prices continue to rise, thus affecting selling prices? Does this not only contribute to inflation rates? Could 2013 be the year where more cooling measures are rolled out, and which property sector will it affect?

20 Dec

Singapore top 5 in Asian real estate investors’ list for 2013

Things may be looking up for Singapore next year, in the real estate market. Asian property investors are looking forward to the market picking up in 2013, and that means they might be looking for new areas to put their money. Up to 70 per cent of investors have indicated an interest in expanding their property portfolio within the region. They are looking for 20 per cent or more in returns, according to the Colliers 2013 Global Investor Sentiment survey.

Singapor aerial view

Singapore, together with Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Beijing, will benefit from this renewed interest in Asia. Though it is uncertain if they are only looking at office developments, the residential market may benefit as well as previous reports have put the luxury property market at a lull. Depending on whether new cooling measures will be rolled out and how they may affect residential investors, there is still a possibility that investors are eyeing both commercial and residential properties.

It is interesting to note that issues once considered determining factors in investment are not necessarily top priorities. The euro zone crisis, and United States and China elections are not rated top in the investors’ checklist. As long as they consider real estate a good hedge against inflation, the money for high-end properties with good potential in a major Asian city will keep coming.

7 Dec

Waterfront Living in Pasir Panjang

Singapore is an island. A small one. So most of it would be waterfront living, wouldn’t it? At least along the circumference of this tiny red dot. So which areas besides the East and Sentosa would offer the latest lifestyle up to home buyers eager to buy into this slice of life?

Luxe Ville  condominium in Pasir Panjang.

 

Pasir Panjang of course. Not the likeliest of possibilities. But here is why.

Just these 5 reasons alone are enough to start you thinking about how home prices in this area fare. Industry experts expect that the scarcity of new launches in the area indicates a stable high price of residential properties here. Recent property launches here include Horizon Residences, Ria Apartments, Luxe Ville and Viva Vista. All are expected to be ready for occupation by 2014.

Compared to their sister district, Telok Blangah, Pasir Panjang is relatively unfound territory, thus real estate here still currently cheaper. With the influx of workers from the Science Parks, business hubs and universities, property rental could also see a rise. Currently rental prices are at $3, 100 to $3, 300 psf for a shoebox unit of 420 sq ft at Parc Imperial.

3 Dec

Lourve Design – Where quality resides

Properties now come in all shapes and sizes. In crowded cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, strange corners and awkward spaces may have you wondering what to do with them. Well, getting a solution for your problem couldn’t be easier if you have an experienced interior design firm working for you.

What  colour should you use to create the ambience you want? How wide should the doorway be? What kind of flooring would work best for your family and lifestyle? So many questions to ask, some of which may not have even crossed your mind. A good interior designer works with you to solve problems, think ahead and prompts you to consider issues which may pop up years down the road.

Lourve Design prides themselves as a home solutions provider because they do just that. Provide solutions.

Quality is a given. Details and Finishings are what set a good quality home life aside from a just-okay one. No doubt it is possible to do some things yourself (and for those of you who fancy putting on your overalls and getting on your hands and knees with the toolbox, we’ll be taking a look at that in the upcoming weeks). But knowing where your materials are coming from will help reassure you that it will last.

Too many home owners have had the bad luck of meeting errant home renovators and design firms who have cut back on quality. And what did they get? Uneven flooring, cracked cabinets, rotting countertops. The list goes on.

Recognising the importance of quality, Lourve Design carries the Italian Copat brand of kitchen finishings and furnishings. Matching design with personality, they take the time to meet with their clients and spend time getting to know them. From there, they are able to recommend suitable options.

Testimonials from many satisfied clients, both residential and commercial are evidence enough of their commendable work ethics and on-time project deliveries.


One of the top interior design name in Singapore, Lourve Design specialises in interior & home design, renovation and decoration. Behind Lourve design, is a group interior designers who are dedicated to providing their clients with innovative interior design ideas and solutions in both residential and commercial environments. The feather in the cap for Lourve Design is their almost 100 development show flat portfolios they have accumulated with developers through the years.

29 Nov

Duo countries’ Duo

Named exactly that, Duo, the up-and-coming mixed-use development in the Ophir-Rochor site that was part of the Singapore-Malaysia railway land deal, is a piece of property to watch. When finished, it will consist of homes, offices, shops and a hotel. The property will be co-developed by Temasek Holdings and Khazanah Nasional.

Changing the landscape of the Bugis-Rochor district is this immense mixed-use development. Photo by www.theDuoResidences.com.

It is designed by Ole Scheeren, who is behind the China Central Television Headquarters in Beijing and another residential project here, The Interlace. The Duo will be linked directly to Bugis MRT station and boast a 50-storey apartment block and a 39-storey Grade A office block, plus a five-star hotel on the side.

Conveniently located at the fringe of the central business district, upon its completion in 2017, it may be a considerable lure for tourists, home buyers and companies looking to put their employees up in residences in cheaper locations. Home prices there are expected to reach $2,000 psf. The sheer number of business and residents the Duo development will bring may just bring more vibrance to the Bugis-Rochor area and it remains to be seen if surrounding properties may see residual action.

12 Nov

Seng Kang Executive Condominium newbie

Though neighbouring HDB estate, Punggol, has been stealing the limelight this past quarter, the score is yet to be settled. Sengkang once began like Punggol, out of the way, with splotchy residential areas and far from amenities and transport. But now, it is rather a blooming, booming town.

La Fiesta condominium in Sengkang.

With another two sites up for bids, new executive condominiums (ECs) may once again ignite the excitement in the property market in the buzzing HDB town. Existing private condominiums in Sengkang include Riversound Residences, The Luxurie, H20 Residences and the upcoming La Fiesta.

And if you are waiting to spot an executive condominium unit in Sengkang by the end of this year, you’re in luck. 2 more launches are expected by year-end – CityLIfe @ Tampines and Forestville in Woodlands. Property developers have shown a great deal of interest in the recent EC bids and the real estate market could perhaps be expecting robust interest from buyers of this particular property type.

Executive condominiums have always been a good draw for buyers as they become private property after five years and their value is expected to rise accordingly. It also helps that this EC site is near a LRT station.

6 Nov

Fewer Shoebox apartments in Suburban districts

Certain suburban property districts now have a quota of how many and how small studio apartments or shoebox units can be built within specified sites. These areas include Telok Kurau, Joo Chiat, Jalan Eunos and Kovan. The central districts are unaffected.

Palm Oasis Condo2

Property developers however were not in a rush to capitalise on sales or rush the submission of building plans before the cap kicked in on 4 November. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), has apparently already begun clamping down on the number of new shoebox units since last year.

Is this a timely move by URA, and will the existing shoebox apartments become rare commodities since fewer will enter the market from hereon?

Perhaps not so soon, as this property type is still very popular with home buyers and investors. And as the society becomes more diverse, there will continue to be a demand for them, either for sale or rent. Land cost in Singapore is increasing, despite the government’s reassurance that there is an ample supply to go around. This, plus demand, could be deciding factors in the pricing of new residential units.

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