Tag Archives: NTUC Choice Homes

Good demand for residential and industrial property

Industrial and residential projects with affordable prices continue to attract demand.

MCL Land has marketed 150 of the 200 units it has launched at its 414-unit Terrasse condo in Hougang.

“Before we began sales last Saturday (May 21), we had intended to release only 120 units initially. But because demand was strong, we released another 80,” said Koh Teck Chuan, MCL Chief Executive.

The units in the 99-year leasehold, five-storey project are offered at an average price of S$950 psf, with the cheapest unit, a 506 sq ft one-bedroom condo on the second floor, priced at around S$580,000 (S$1,146 psf).

The development also includes two- to four-bedroom units and nine five-bedroom penthouses of approximately 2,217 sq ft, with an indicative price of up to S$1.85 million (S$834 psf) each.

“At most recent launches in the market, enquiries tend to be concentrated on the smallest units but for Terrasse, we’ve seen strong response across the board, including our four-bedders and five-bedroom penthouses,” noted Mr. Koh.

The project’s design provides excellent views of either a water feature or swimming pool, for approximately 80 percent of the units. It will also include a tennis court, a multi-purpose court and three clubhouses.

Meanwhile, NTUC Choice Homes and CEL Development have obtained 520 e-applications for Belysa, their executive condominium (EC) project at Pasir Ris Drive 1 / Elias Road.

The 315-unit, 99-year leasehold project has an average price of S$670 psf and comprises three- and four-bedroom units. The indicative price ranges from S$574,000 for an 829 sq ft three-bedroom unit to S$882,000 for a 1,335 sq ft four-bedroom unit.

In the industrial real estate market, quick sales have been witnessed during the preview of the 60-year leasehold North Spring BizHub at Yishun Industrial Street 1.

According to The Business Times, approximately a third of the 454 units in the seven-storey light and general industrial development were committed or sold.

The robust demand is attributed to the affordable lump sum transaction size. For instance, a 1,539 sq ft unit is offered at a starting price of S$478,000 (approximately S$311 psf). The attractive specifications of the project, including high ceilings and direct vehicular access for up to 40-foot containers for every level, also attracted buyers.

Marketed by Colliers International, the development has smaller units, mostly about 1,500 sq ft to 1,600 sq ft and is priced from S$311 psf upwards. There are also approximately two dozen or so large units (of about 11,000 sq ft to 36,000 sq ft), with prices of approximately S$210 psf upwards.

Source PropertyGuru – 24 May 2011

Bids for Dakota Crescent plot soar above expectations

UOL Group bid tops 12 others as developers vie for choice piece of land

The result of yesterday’s tender for a plum condo plot at Dakota Crescent shows just why the government recently raised the ‘definite possibility’ that it will restart confirmed list land sales from next year.

A total of 13 bids were received, reflecting developers’ voracious appetite for mass-market and mid-tier private housing land.

The top bid from UOL Group was above market expectations of about $420-450 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr) just a few days ago. UOL’s price yesterday was slightly more than $329 million or about $508 psf ppr – just 3 per cent shy of the $524 psf ppr that Ho Bee and NUTC Choice Homes paid during the peak in June 2007 for the plot next door on which they are developing Dakota Residences, which has achieved an average selling price of about $970-980 psf.

However, after taking into account changes in planning regulations since then, whereby planter boxes and bay windows are not exempted from gross floor area calculations, UOL’s bid yesterday is probably higher than the equivalent 2007 bid for the next-door plot, some market watchers say.

BT understands that UOL is gunning for a high proportion of smaller units in its proposed scheme, and thus push for a higher average selling price of about $1,000-1,050 psf. ‘They should be able to achieve this kind of psf price – so long as they keep the absolute price quantum within an affordable range,’ an industry observer said.

BT understands UOL’s breakeven cost will be about $920 psf. Continue reading