Tag Archives: Tiong Bahru

More launches expected in coming months

As it was seen as an inauspicious time to buy property during the seventh lunar month, which fell in August, developers are expected to launch more private residential projects in September and October, according to experts as reported in the media.

These include Keppel Land’s Highline Residences in Tiong Bahru which was previewed in the past two weekends. The guide price for the 500-unit project stands at $2,000 psf.

To attract more customers, Keppel Land is offering concierge services to buyers, such as housekeeping and limousine services, plus membership at a golf club in Bintan.

Another major project slated to be launched is the Marina One Residences (pictured) by M+S, a joint venture between Temasek and Khazanah Nasional. The development is anticipated to be released on 13 September, with indicative prices averaging at $2,600 psf.

ERA Realty’s Key Executive Officer Eugene Lim explained the peak periods for housing sales occur after the Chinese New Year and Hungry Ghost Month. “Most developers will capitalise on this second peak window to clear as many units as they can before this year-end lull,” he added.

Meanwhile, several Executive Condominiums (ECs) are expected to come on stream after a hiatus of nearly one year.

Developers of two EC sites at Punggol’s Anchorvale Crescent and Woodlands Avenue 5 are set to unveil their projects. In fact, construction of the Woodlands Avenue condo has started and online applications will begin by end-September. Prices are expected to fall within $750 to $820 psf.

Additionally, three other ECs in Punggol and Jurong West are scheduled to debut in November. Altogether, these developments will have around 2,900 units.

More homebuyers returning to private residential resale market

More homebuyers are returning to the private residential resale market as it is seen to offer better value compared to new projects launched by developers.

In fact, the gap in median prices of new and resale transactions has also narrowed.

That’s according to real estate agency Dennis Wee Group (DWG).

In a report, DWG said the caveats lodged in the secondary market climbed about 33 per cent in the second quarter in 2012, against the previous quarter.

In particular, the central region saw the largest increase in resale transactions at 37.4 per cent, followed by the North Region at 32.7 per cent and the West Region at 30.9 per cent.

Citing examples, DWG said the record selling prices for new 99-year leasehold projects in Bishan and West Coast are comparable to freehold non-landed residential developments in the resale market, such as Twin Regency and The Regency in Tiong Bahru.

The real estate agency said the revival in interest in the resale market has boosted prices of private homes in the second quarter.

DWG’s report showed that the gap in median prices of new and resale transactions has narrowed from 17 per cent in 1Q 2012 to 13 per cent in 2Q 2012.

The median prices of private residential units in the resale market rose 4.6 per cent to S$1,026 psf in 2Q 2012 from S$981 psf in 1Q 2012.

Meanwhile, the median prices of new projects on an islandwide basis were flat in 2Q 2012 at S$1,160 psf.

DWG also notes that the median size of units sold in the new sale market rose to 947 sq ft in 2Q 2012 from 807 sq ft in 1Q 2012 as a result of lower sales of small units.

It said this is probably due to recent comments by the government that they are monitoring the shoebox apartment segment which could have put off buyers from purchasing small format homes.

DWG said the number of transactions by foreigners rose in 2Q 2012 as the buyers have accepted the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty as a tax and are selectively picking up properties in Singapore.

445 private residential units were sold to foreigners in 2Q, up 26.8 per cent on-quarter.

Moving forward, DWG said developers are likely to launch more projects before the lunar seventh month which runs from August 17 to September 15.

Source CNA – 2012 Jul 18