Category Archives: New Launches

More launches around the corner

With recent launches being warmly received by the market, developers are poised to unveil more residential projects in the coming months, reported The Straits Times.

Last weekend, two new developments reported healthy demand following the start of sales.

Qingjian Realty’s The Visionaire executive condominium (EC) in Canberra Link found buyers for 158 of the 632 units at an average price of $811 psf.

Sturdee Residences by Sustained Land at Jalan Besar moved 122 of the 305 units at an average price of $1,550 psf during its preview, before its official launch this Saturday (30 April). Most of the units transacted were one- to two-bedroom units, while three out of the eight penthouses were sold. Of the latter, two units measuring 1,830 sq ft each were sold for $3.2 million apiece.

“Buyers have all along been very interested in property despite the measures, but they are very selective,” said Eugene Lim, ERA Realty’s Key Executive Officer. “Project attributes and pricing are important, and developers are likely to price attractively,” he added.

Given the strong interest in these launches, more developers are following suit.

This weekend, Frasers Centrepoint Limited and Keong Hong Holdings will jointly launch Parc Life EC, which received more than 700 e-applications after the application period closed on Sunday (24 April). Situated in Sembawang Crescent, the project contains 628 units priced from $770 psf to $800 psf.

The sales gallery for Gem Residences in Toa Payoh is also set to open this weekend, with bookings commencing in end-May. Developed by Evia Real Estate, Gamuda and Maxdin, the average price of the 578-unit project is around $1,480 psf.

Moreover, Cheung Kong Property is anticipated to begin pre-sales for Stars of Kovan next month. The mixed-use project along Tampines Road features five strata terraces, 46 shops and 390 condo units, which cost around $1,550 psf to $1,600 psf.

Developers get creative to sell units

To entice home buyers amidst the challenging housing market, developers are resorting to new marketing gimmicks, like holding games where everyone wins a prize, organising trips to Singapore, and launching their projects in other countries, reported The Straits Times.

For instance, Kingsford Development held a ‘Property Tycoon Challenge’ for buyers of Kingsford Hillview Peak in Upper Bukit Timah over the weekend.

Styled after Singapore’s Mandarin version of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’, the top prize at stake is a $250,000 cash rebate. But every contestant will be leaving with at least $5,000 in cash rebates, which will increase if they give the correct answers to the questions in the game. Buyers also have a chance to win an electric scooter and two hoverboards in a separate contest.

Meanwhile, Guangzhou-based Country Garden has teamed up with travel agencies to host Singapore tours for Chinese tourists, in the hope they will purchase units in Forest City, a mega project sited on man-made islands near the Tuas Second Link.

According to its spokesperson, the three-day trip, which includes a drive into Johor Bahru, is mainly for shopping and sightseeing, with expenses to be borne by the visitors.

The developer is also dangling discounts of up to 20 percent for those who purchase early, and pay in cash. “Promotions vary by property type, payment formality and time period,” said the spokesman.

In addition, some developers are launching their new projects in emerging economies to woo affluent buyers there.

For instance, City Developments Limited (CDL) held a property showcase in Jakarta over the weekend for its Gramercy Park project, to be followed next weekend in Surabaya, wherein one tower with 87 units is being offered in the range of $2,800 psf.

The 174-unit project will be unveiled in Singapore soon, and there are also plans to hold similar events in Hong Kong and mainland China, noted a company spokeswoman.

CDL’s move follows CapitaLand’s successful launch of Cairnhill Nine in Indonesia. It rolled out the development in Jakarta in late February before launching it here last month.

The project has found buyers for 193 of its 268 units, with foreign buyers, mostly Indonesians, contributing 50 percent of the sales, added a CapitaLand spokesman.