Tag Archives: The Wharf Residence

Steady sales at The Interlace condo despite ban on IAS

THE government’s move to ban the interest absorption scheme (IAS) and the rowdy start of The Interlace development’s preview last Tuesday have done little to dampen sales of the CapitaLand and Hotel Properties project.

The Interlace: Of the 360 units released for sale, 233 units were sold by Sunday

Of the 360 units released for sale, 233 units or 65 per cent were sold as of Sunday.

‘We didn’t expect the scrapping of the IAS to affect us very much, because a very small percentage of buyers opt for it in general, about 5 to 7 per cent,’ said Patricia Chia, chief executive officer of CapitaLand Residential Singapore, at The Interlace’s sales briefing yesterday.

The Wharf Residence, CapitaLand’s other development, saw less than 5 per cent of buyers taking up the IAS. The scheme was abolished by the government last week as a precaution to prevent the overheating of the property market.

The Interlace is located at the former Gillman Heights site on Depot Road. The $1.4 billion project’s first-day preview saw 153 units being offered to former Gillman Heights residents.

The preview took a dramatic turn when a shouting session ensued, fuelled by former residents who had previously been unhappy about the en bloc deal, and claimed that a poor choice of units had been offered by the developer at the preview.

CapitaLand maintained, however, that a mix of units ranging from 800 square feet (sq ft) to 5,800 sq ft in size, facing the pool, sea and HortPark had been on offer. Continue reading

Govt move has ‘no impact’ on new launches

PROPERTY developers were sticking to their prices yesterday following the Government’s announcement of a slew of measures designed to cool the market.

At two of Singapore’s more eagerly anticipated launches, The Interlace and Hundred Trees, developers said they did not foresee any need for price adjustments.

A spokesman for CapitaLand said it was holding prices at between $850 and $1,150 psf for The Interlace at the former Gillman Heights site.

She noted that less than 5 per cent of buyers at the developer’s other new property – The Wharf Residence, launched earlier this year – had opted for the interest absorption scheme (IAS) abolished by the Government on Monday.

The scheme, popular among investors and speculators, allowed buyers to put down a deposit and make no further payments until the property was completed.

City Developments Limited’s spokesman Gerry de Silva played down speculation among property agents that CDL’s upcoming Hundred Trees site would be priced under $950 psf, saying that no price had been set yet.

Mr de Silva said the government measures would ‘have minimal effect on our plans to launch Hundred Trees and other developments’.

He also cited the low take-up rate of IAS among purchasers. Continue reading