Tag Archives: Singapore Property Market

Keen interest in Cairnhill and Scotts Road projects

Homes around Cairnhill and Scotts Roads are getting a buzz from new launches and the completion of condominiums in the neighbourhood. CapitaLand recently launched its boutique development, the 64-unit Urban Resort Condominium, and of 34 units launched, 21 had been sold as at end-April, with the latest median price achieved at $3,076 psf, according to the latest data by URA.

At the neighbouring The Laurels, Sing Holdings sold a unit at the 229-unit project for $2,947 psf last month.

Up on Cairnhill Rise, SC Global’s 240-unit upscale condo Hilltops and the neighbouring 140-unit Helios Residences by Wing Tai have obtained their temporary occupation permits (TOP) earlier this year. Along Cairnhill Road, KOP Properties is expected to complete its 56-unit boutique branded residences, Ritz-Carlton Residences by 2H2011. The most recent transaction here was in February, when the 6,501 sq ft triplex penthouse on the 36th level was sold for a whopping $28 million, or $4,307 psf.

Meanwhile, Cairnhill Mansions along Cairnhill Road was put up for en bloc sale last month at a reserve price of $361.5 million, or $2,308 psf ppr. Based on the price tag, the breakeven cost for the developer would be in the range of $3,000 to $3,100 psf, and that means the new development could sell at prices averaging $3,500 psf. The tender for the site, which closes at end-May, is handled by CB Richard Ellis.

Work is also underway at the show flat of Scotts Tower, a bespoke development by Far East Organization. The project, designed by award-winning Dutch architect Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, is located on Cairnhill Road, just off Scotts Road. The development could potentially be launched later this year.

With the spotlight in the Cairnhill-Scotts Road neighbourhood, it’s not surprising that some homebuyers are also turning to the existing condos there. One that has been receiving quite a lot of attention, resulting in a spike in the number of transactions last month, is the 136-unit Scotts 28 located along Scotts Road. The project was jointly developed by Hotel Properties Ltd and MCL Land, and completed in 1999. It was considered one of the most upscale developments in the area when launched, and coveted by the who’s who in Singapore. Scotts 28 has a mix of sizeable units, starting from two-bedroom to four-bedroom apartments, with sizes ranging from 1,098 to 3,606 sq ft. Penthouses are from 4,650 to 6,846 sq ft.

At the peak of the market in 2007, a 1,636 sq ft unit was sold for $3.93 million, or $2,400 psf. Prices this year are approaching that level, and hit a high of $2,250 psf last month when a 1,733 sq ft unit on the 13th floor was sold for $3.9 million. These days, owners of units at Scotts 28 are asking for prices of as high as $2,500 psf on the resale market, notes Arthur Tan, an agent with PropNex. “The sellers are basing their price tags on the recent transacted prices of condos in the area,” he says.

There were three transactions at Scotts 28 from April 26 to 29, with prices ranging from $1,991 to $2,222 psf. A 1,733 sq ft unit on the 15th floor was sold for $3.85 million ($2,222 psf) on April 27. This represents an 81% gain for the previous owner who purchased it at $2.125 million ($1,226 psf) in 2004. Before this, the unit changed hands at $2.2 million ($1,280 psf) in 1999 and $2.4 million ($1,393 psf) in 1995.

Another 1,733 sq ft unit on the 23rd floor was sold for $3.45 million ($1,991 psf). Before this, the unit changed hands at $2.78 million ($1,600 psf) in 1999 and $2.49 million ($1,437 psf) in 1995.On the 18th floor, a 1,636 sq ft unit was sold for $3.5 million ($2,139 psf), or a more than 51% premium over the last transacted price of $2.3 million ($1,408 psf) during the launch in 1995.

Source : The Edge

The rise of small units

Small apartment or condominium units – including the smaller “shoeboxes” – have captured the attention of the residential property market here in recent years with their popularity among buyers and the high per-square-foot prices that they are able to command.

This trend towards small units is also occurring in major cities such as London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. It is part of an evolutionary process where the rise in real estate values is accompanied by demographic and lifestyle changes.

There are now more singles and couples without children, people who spend less time at home and those who dine out more often, etc. And the trend is fast gaining momentum.

In 1996, there were only 114 transactions in Singapore involving small units of up to 60 sq m, based on caveats lodged, representing only 0.8 per cent of the total number of private non-landed residential transactions.

The bull market in 2007 saw small units marketed in greater numbers, with 1,669 sold, accounting for 5.1 per cent of non-landed transactions.

By last year, the number of sales involving such units had increased substantially to 4,240, or 13.3 per cent of non-landed transactions.

This trend has continued into this year, with the first quarter seeing 1,121 small units sold, accounting for 19.3 per cent of non-landed sales.

Since last year, transactions have involved units as small as 24 sq m, while more than a quarter of those within the 60 sq m threshold were between 30 and 40 sq m.

Absolute prices have varied from S$350,000 for a secondary market unit to S$2.72 million for a high-end one at Scotts Square. Unit rates also varied widely, with suburban units fetching around S$800 psf, while the Scotts Square transaction was at S$4,358 psf.

Purchasers of Small Units

Small units are only suitable for occupation by singles or couples without children. While some singles or couples have bought with occupation in mind, most of the buyers of small units have been investors. What is notable is that many HDB residents have been buying small units.

In 2007, of the 1,669 small units transacted, 35.9 per cent of the buyers had HDB addresses. This proportion increased to 47.7 per cent last year and 49.9 per cent in the first quarter of this year.

The table shows that about 56 per cent of small unit buyers with HDB addresses purchased at a price of S$650,000 or less.

Another 35 per cent or so bought their units at between S$650,000 and S$1 million, while less than 9 per cent purchased at beyond S$1 million.

Buyers of small units with private addresses, on the other hand, were more active in the mid- to upper price ranges, with nearly two-thirds buying at S$650,000 and above.

This suggests that buyers with private addresses are less constrained by their budgets compared to those with HDB addresses.

As most buyers with HDB addresses have families, it is unlikely that they bought the small units for upgrading. This shows a growing trend among HDB households to invest for rental returns.

But due to budget constraints, they are able to afford only the smaller units with lower absolute prices. Anecdotally, we have heard of that ideal financial or retirement arrangement where one continues to live in an HDB flat while having a private property to provide rental income.

Examine the Fundamentals

Did the buyers of small units, especially those who are more budget-constrained, buy because they genuinely assessed that the product would fetch a good return or were they drawn by the affordable absolute price per se?

With an increasing supply of small units, will there be sufficient rental or owner-occupier demand? If the size of the unit is too small, would it be practical for living? If a development has a high proportion of small units, what will be the impact of the increased density on the living environment and traffic? These are issues that buyers of small units should ponder over.

Small units are not sure winners when it comes to leasing and will be subject to competition from others on the market.

Only those with strong attributes will attract tenants readily and at good rental. Generally, these would be centrally located, within or near the city or in proximity to amenities and transport.

As the trend towards small units continues, buyers will be presented with even more investment opportunities but they have to consider the fundamentals thoroughly in order to make better buying decisions.

By Ong Teck Hui – executive director of research and consultancy at Credo Real Estate