MODERATE sales at two Housing Board projects launched last year suggest that first-time home buyers still have plenty of choice despite the high demand for flats in some areas.
89% OVERALL TAKE-UP RATE Number of Applications Received as at 07 October 2009The take-up rate at Punggol Breeze was 69 per cent while only 55 per cent of applicants selected flats at Fernvale Residence in Sengkang, according to new HDB data released to The Straits Times this week.
Some home seekers turned down a chance to buy as the waiting time for the build-to-order (BTO) projects – three to four years – was just too long.
‘Some eventually decided to opt for other housing that can be ready sooner than BTO flats,’ said the HDB. Other reasons buyers gave were that preferred flats had already been sold, or that they had decided to consider other housing options.
Waiting time is likely a key factor, given the overwhelming response to last week’s launch of 2,132 completed or nearly completed HDB flats. Continue reading
Lush Dream Home 