Tag Archives: Singapore Real Estate

Singapore’s northeast at risk of housing oversupply

While home prices in the northeast district are expected to be stable in the coming year, analysts say the area may potentially see an oversupply of homes in the future.

In the next few years, Punggol, Sengkang and Pasir Ris will continue to see intense construction activity, with market watchers expecting some 17,000 residential units to come onstream in the area over the next five to six years.

Later this year, developers are expected to bid for 4 sites in the northeast which are expected to yield some 2,000 executive condominium units. This will add to the 3,295 units from sites released in the area by the government in the first half of the year.

Despite this, experts predict a well-located site to see eight to 10 bids from developers.

“Pricing will be competitive in Punggol area and Pasir Ris, more so because there have been a couple of launches in the second half of last year GLS programme and also the first half of 2012,” Alan Cheong, Research Head of Savills Singapore, said.

“There will be a bit of competition among developers, but prices will remain competitively stable.”

Under the Government Land Sales, a commercial site at Punggol will be put out for tender in the second half of 2012. Still, some market watchers point out that Singapore’s northeast precinct lacks economic activity, reducing its attractiveness in residential leasing and resale.

Analysts also say the lack of education and commercial activities to anchor the area could drive buyers to consider homes in other estates.

For now, prices are expected to remain stable over the next one to two years.

According to analysts, median prices of new private homes in Sengkang are nearly S$1,000 per square foot, and nearly S$900 per square foot in Sengkang and Pasir Ris.

Source : CNA – 2012 Jun 27

New condo launches expected to revive Jurong

A number of new projects are now in the pipeline that will provide residents in the Jurong and Lakeside areas with more housing options.

For more than a year, there was no new condo launched in the vicinity despite a lot of buzz taking place in suburbs across the island. This will change as the whole Jurong Lake District is set to become the biggest commercial hub outside the city centre.

Last month, a residential site in Boon Lay Way closed its tender. The 99-year leasehold land parcel sited near Jurong East MRT station is expected to yield around 600 units.

Meanwhile, a site that could yield some 820 units will be launched later this year near Lakeside MRT station.

By 2017, property consultants expect to see more than 2,000 new private homes within the precinct. The upcoming Caspian and Lakefront Residences, which were launched in 2009 and 2010 respectively, will form part of the bulk.

All 712 units at Frasers Centrepoint’s Caspian have been snapped up. It is expected to be completed by the third quarter of this year.

Likewise, the 629-unit Lakefront Residences by Keppel Land which has been sold out is expected to be ready by 2015.

Alan Cheong, Research Head at Savills Singapore, said that while Jurong is an established town, newer estates such as Sengkang, Pasir Ris and Punggol have overshadowed it in terms of new executive and private condo launches.

Nevertheless, higher prices have been seen in Jurong. In fact, upcoming condos within the area could be priced at between S$1,000 psf and S$1,200 psf compared to projects in the north-east and Pasir Ris, which have recorded prices of between S$850 psf and S$1,000 psf.

“The Jurong Lake District is being engineered into a regional hub… Human density is expected to rise, with increasing population of foreigners probably wanting to rent there as more commercial developments take root,” said Cheong.

Source : PropertyGuru – 2012 Jun 25