Daily Archives: 8 Nov 2009

Overseas properties with oomph

Posted on 8 Nov 2009 | Comments Off on Overseas properties with oomph

When it comes to overseas property launches, the choices used to be mostly beachfront developments or city projects.
The Capella niseko Resort & Residences in Hokkaido features 94 apartments, 36 houses and 19 villas. They are fully furnished and come with room service. — PHOTOS: MILLENNIUM PARTNERS, ANNUPURI LAND
Prices at the Millennium Towers in San Francisco (above) start at US$600,000 for 662 sq ft one-bedder to US$10 million for a penthouse. — PHOTOS: MILLENNIUM PARTNERS, ANNUPURI LAND

But now, investors in Singapore may be spoilt for choice as more launches come to town, among them an unusual posh development in Japan.

The latter is one of two upmarket projects launched last Friday.

It is a 149-unit branded residential development called Capella Niseko Resort and Residences and is situated close to the popular ski destination at the Annupuri-Niseko Mountain in Hokkaido. The project also includes a 67-room hotel.

Aside from the Capella brand – the hotel and residences will be managed by Capella Hotels and Resorts – the freehold project boasts renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

Clearly targeted at those who love snow and skiing, the project has 94 apartments, 36 houses and 19 villas, all of which are fully furnished and come with room service. The prices range from US$1 million (S$1.4 million) to US$5.5 million.

The project was developed by Hong Kong-based Annupuri Land. Couple Harry Pang and Mae Loh, who founded the company, have been skiing in the Annupuri-Niseko mountain region for years. They love the place so much that they decided to have a project there. Continue reading →

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Singapore Property : The Penthouse Squeeze

Posted on 8 Nov 2009 | Comments Off on Singapore Property : The Penthouse Squeeze

They were bungalows in the sky once; now penthouses can be smaller than 800 sq ft

Mention penthouses and one immediately thinks of big, luxurious bungalows in the sky, with wraparound views and a multimillion-dollar price tag.

But these days they can be as small as 800 sq ft or less.

These penthouses have come on the market along with mostly yet-to-be-completed developments featuring ‘mickey mouse’ apartments of 500 sq ft or less.

There is no market data on the number of these small penthouses but a survey of some recent projects with small units shows they are not uncommon.

At the recently released five- storey, 40-unit City Loft project near Farrer Park MRT station, the two-bedroom penthouses are 743 to 904 sq ft in size.

Another recent launch Suites@Guillemard – with units as small as 258 sq ft – has penthouses of 797 to 1109 sq ft. Some sales were done around a median level of $1,250 psf.

At the 114-unit Siglap V, penthouses come as small as 760 sq ft and go up to 1,300 sq ft. This yet-to-be-launched project opposite Siglap Centre otherwise offers units starting from 380 to 730 sq ft.

Kembangan Suites also has small penthouses that come with private jacuzzis. The smallest, at 635 sq ft, includes a roof terrace that looks similar to the size of the private jacuzzi.

The project’s 60 units were sold for $775 to $1,097 psf in March.

These penthouses of around 700 to 780 sq ft may appear to be as big as a three-room HDB flat – HDB’s new build-to-order project Fernvale Palms, for instance, offers three- room units of about 721 sq ft – but they have less usable space. Continue reading →

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