Tag Archives: Singapore Property

Newton One apartment hits $1,676 psf

There was a flurry of activity in the Newton Road area, with five transactions of between $1,100 and $1,676 psf carried out from Sept 25 to Oct 2, according to caveats lodged with URA Realis. The highest psf transacted price for that week was seen at a 1,216 sq ft, 10th-floor apartment at Newton One — it was sold for $2.038 million or $1,676 psf. Another transaction that took place in the same tower was for a 21st-floor, 1,808 sq ft apartment that changed hands for $3.028 million ($1,675 psf).

PDF Version Property transactions with contract dates from Sep 25 18 to Oct 2

Newton One, a 91-unit freehold luxury condominium project by Lippo Group, received its TOP just a few months ago. It was launched in mid- 2006 at $1,200 to $1,250 psf, which was considered a new price benchmark in the Newton area at a time when most developments there were fetching around $1,000 psf.

The two sellers at Newton One must be pretty pleased with their sale. The owner of the two-bedroom 1216 sqft apartment on the 10th floor purchased it from the developer in July 2006 for $1.36 million, or $1,122 psf. He enjoyed a 49% price appreciation from the transaction.

Meanwhile, the owner of the three-bedroom 1,808 sq ft apartment on the 21st floor who sold the unit at $1,675 psf, purchased it in a sub-sale in May 2007 for $2.72 million ($1,504 psf). The previous owner had purchased the unit during its launch in July 2006 for $2.235 million or $1,236 psf. Continue reading

Curbing price hikes

Increase down payment ratio

IN ITS bid to cool the rapid rise in property prices, Hong Kong increased the down payment ratio to 40 per cent for properties above HK$20 million (S$3.6 million). For those priced below HK$20 million, the maximum loan of HK$12 million applies.

Although the increase in down payment affects mainly the high-end segment of Hong Kong’s property market, it illustrates two points. One, the down payment ratio of property purchases in Hong Kong seems to be at least 10 percentage points higher than Singapore’s. Two, an increase in down payment ratio is the most effective measure to curb property price increases in Singapore as a direct demand-side measure.

After all, an increase in down payment ratio was adopted in the late 1990s in Singapore, which led to a relatively steep decline in property prices. However, currently, assuming a loan-to-value ratio of 80 per cent requirement typical of most banks, only 5 per cent cash is necessary. The remaining 15 per cent is settled by the buyer’s CPF. Continue reading