CapitaLand projects have shoebox units too
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Despite the fact that CapitaLand’s CEO Liew Mun Leong referred to shoebox units as ‘almost inhuman’, it turns out that some of the developer’s projects feature this housing type, noted a media report. 37 of the 583 units at Bedok Residences...
Continue Reading • 11 Jun 2012
Estates booming despite spooky past
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: While some property buyers might feel squeamish about living in a former cemetery, property experts noted that several popular estates used to be graveyard sites. For instance, some developments in the mid- to high-end districts of Bishan (pictured), Tiong Bahru and...
Continue Reading • 11 Jun 2012
2 condos launched amid a slow market
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Despite a lull in the property market, two freehold condo developments were launched over the weekend, which are expected to gauge buying interest. Both projects are relatively small, with less than 200 units in total between them. The upscale 1919 in Mount Sophia...
Continue Reading • 11 Jun 2012
ECs ‘a good buy': consultants
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Executive condominiums (ECs) are definitely a good buying option as they offer the same exclusivity as private condos but are also eligible for government subsidies, according to property consultants.“ECs have most, if not all, of the facilities of private...
Continue Reading • 8 Jun 2012
Shoebox units add diversity, says analyst
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The debate between industry veterans over the viability of shoebox units is growing, with Dr Chua Yang Liang, Head of Research at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) Southeast Asia, adding his support for the homes which are no larger than 500 sq ft in size. Speaking to...
Continue Reading • 8 Jun 2012
The world comes to Singapore
By Andrew Batt: Property investment opportunities from Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States are being showcased in Singapore this weekend.PropertyGuru reported recently that Singaporeans’ love affair with overseas property shows no signs of slowing, with more than...
Continue Reading • 8 Jun 2012
Mixed-use en-bloc sales to increase: analysts
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The nine en-bloc properties sold so far for this year pales in comparison with the 29 properties transacted over the same period last year.Developers have become noticeably cautious, following the recent cooling measures as well as the requirements to build and...
Continue Reading • 7 Jun 2012
MRT stations help narrow suburban-urban price gap
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The MRT network, along with a sluggish high-end market, has resulted in a narrowing price gap between residential units in suburban areas near MRT stations and those in the prime districts / CBD area.“The MRT transport network is so good that what is important now...
Continue Reading • 7 Jun 2012
Nothing ‘inhuman' about shoebox homes: Oxley boss
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Oxley Holdings Chief Ching Chiat Kwong has defended shoebox apartments, following a comment by CapitaLand’s CEO Liew Mun Leong that such units are ‘almost inhuman’.“Tell me what is more inhuman? Giving a young person an opportunity to buy an...
Continue Reading • 7 Jun 2012
Wing Tai Chairman warns of housing oversupply
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Many buyers are choosing to acquire properties now, fearing that prices may surge in the coming years. As a result, demand in future could drop even more than expected leading to an oversupply, said Wing Tai Chairman Cheng Wai Keung. “On top of that if the...
Continue Reading • 7 Jun 2012
Villa Des Flores goes en bloc
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Villa Des Flores (pictured), a large redevelopment site at Whitley Road in District 11, has been put up for sale at an indicative price of between S$160 million and S$165 million.This works out to around S$1,533 psf to S$1,581 psf, with no development charge...
Continue Reading • 7 Jun 2012
HDB awards tender for Sengkang site
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) has awarded the tender for a land parcel (pictured) at Sengkang Square / Compassvale Drive to EL Development after it offered the top bid of S$383.3 million in a public tender that closed on 31 May 2012.Launched for sale on 16...
Continue Reading • 7 Jun 2012
DTZ auction a lacklustre show
By Tejaswi Chunduri: DTZ’s monthly property auctions for May proved quiet, with nine properties on offer but just one unit sold – a 1,410 sq ft apartment at Botanic Gardens View (pictured). In total, one landed, four non-landed and four commercial (comprising a shop space and...
Continue Reading • 6 Jun 2012
Far East hits sales record of 2200 homes in first 5 months
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Property developer Far East Organization sold 2,200 new homes in Singapore during the first five months of the year.This includes suburban projects such as The Hillier in the northwest and Watertown in the northeast.According to a media report, projects by Far East...
Continue Reading • 6 Jun 2012
Pasir Ris site tender attracts 5 bids
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: The tender for a 99-year leasehold residential site (pictured) at Pasir Ris Drive 3 has attracted five bids, with Capital Development Ltd offering the top bid of S$211.0 million.This works out to around S$418 psf and reflects a breakeven cost of approximately S$800...
Continue Reading • 6 Jun 2012
Housing supply to hold firm in second half of 2012
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Residential supply will likely hold firm in the second half of this year as developers continue to be active in the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme. According to Chia Siew Chuin, Director of Research & Advisory at Colliers International, an additional 28 to 30...
Continue Reading • 5 Jun 2012
Sophia Mansions launched for collective sale
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Sophia Mansions (pictured), a 19-unit freehold residential development in the Mount Sophia enclave has been launched for en bloc sale with a guide price of between S$42.5 million and S$45 million. This works out to a land rate of between S$1,160 psf ppr and S$1,228...
Continue Reading • 5 Jun 2012
91 units at Watercolours EC sold on 1st day of booking
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Watercolours (pictured), an executive condominium (EC) in Pasir Ris sold over 90 units during its first day of booking last Friday. The 99-year leasehold 416-unit project is the latest in a slew of new launches in Pasir Ris. Located at the junction of Pasir Ris Drive 3...
Continue Reading • 4 Jun 2012
Prime London's 33000% property price rise
By Andrew Batt: Property prices in prime central London have risen a staggering 33,000 percent during the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and far more than prices in Singapore during the same 50-year period.As the U.K. celebrates the monarch’s Diamond Jubilee this weekend, Knight...
Continue Reading • 1 Jun 2012
New project launches in suburbs will test market
By Romesh Navaratnarajah: Two suburban projects, River Isles (pictured) in Punggol and Sea Esta in Pasir Ris, are set to be launched in the next two weeks, adding nearly 986 new homes to the pipeline.Experts said that the latest projects will test the demand for new homes in the market, given...
Continue Reading • 1 Jun 2012