THE Government has wasted no time in tackling a thorny problem that had sprung up over the wrong type of tenants using factory space to get cheap rent. The prompt action seems to have been set in train by a no-nonsense blog post by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan last week. He suggested that […]
Archive | Singapore Property News RSS feed for this archive
Rent rises beat capital growth in major cities
RENTAL values are rising faster than underlying house prices in many of the world’s leading cities such as Paris and Hong Kong. An average rental growth of 2.3 per cent from June to December last year, as compared with just 1 per cent growth in capital values. Paris overtook London as the most expensive rental market, […]
Shoe-box factories and unlawful tenants
THE shoe-box factory has caught the national development minister’s attention, and it’s not all good. Writing in his blog, Khaw Boon Wan said that shoe-box apartments serve a purpose as many singles do find them adequate for their housing needs. ‘But shoe-box factories? As small as 50-80 sqm (smaller than a typical 7-Eleven shop)? Can a factory […]
Resale market takes a dive after cooling measures
SALES of new homes might be defying gravity and shattering records, but the story is vastly different for home resales. Experts say both the resale of finished homes, and the quick resale – or subsale – of homes bought but not built yet, to earn easy profits, have taken a dive. They feel last December’s property cooling measures played […]
Tampines EC plot is choicest of the lot
An executive condo plot next to the Tampines Trilliant project has been tipped by property consultants as the choicest among four residential plots released under the Government Land Sales Programme yesterday. The four plots, including a reserve list site that will be made available for application later this month, can potentially generate an estimated 2,415 […]
‘Cooling’ back in frame as Feb home sales rise
It seems the government’s property cooling measures have lost their ‘cool factor’, as February marked the highest number of units sold by developers in a month since July 2009. Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) figures reflected a total of 2,413 private homes – excluding executive condominiums (ECs) – being sold in the month of February. This […]
More choice for Sers flat owners
THE Government has given a boost to Housing Board homeowners affected by en bloc redevelopment of their estates. They will now be given priority in the selection of any Build-To-Order (BTO) flat across the island, instead of just the replacement flats allocated to them near their current homes. They will also receive concessions which could […]
Big property deals now in cold storage
Investment sales of property so far this quarter have plunged to their lowest levels in two years – to about $3.4 billion as at March 12, although the final figure for Q1 could rise to around $3.8 billion. The tally as at March 12 reflects declines of about 57 per cent from $7.7 billion for […]
Lots to pick from for home buyers
Home buyers will be so spoilt for choice this year that most won’t know where to turn – or which developer’s sweetener to take up. The launches and freebies are already coming thick and fast with loads of new projects lined up. The news is less certain for pricing but few experts expect huge bargains on the horizon. While some say […]
Developers’ bids signal likely dip in home prices
DEVELOPERS here are becoming more cautious with how much money they are willing to pay for private home sites. They seem to be getting more worried that private home prices could fall, perhaps by up to 8 per cent this year, according to a new research report. So they have to factor the potentially lower […]
Landbanks ‘healthy’ despite strong sales
THE bumper supply ramp-up of new land sites has allowed developers to keep their landbanks stocked up in the face of roaring home sales. Most big-gun builders have thousands of units in their landbanks. A landbank comprises unsold units – including executive condominiums – from projects with planning approval and estimated units from sites that […]
Latest Updates on Twin Waterfalls!
As 07 Mar 12, 460 units of 728 units are sold! Find out why 182 units of Twin Waterfalls set aside by developer Frasers Centrepoint for second-timers were snapped up in two hours! Click here. To know more about Twin Waterfalls / Site Plan of Twin Waterfalls, click here! Pls note that I am only […]
Top bid for Hillview Ave site beats expectations
An ‘overly optimistic’ top bid, a whopping 18.6 per cent higher than the next, was put forth by Kingsford Development for a 99-year residential site located along Hillview Avenue yesterday. Its bid of $243.2 million or $638 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr) for the 136,147 sq ft plot with a plot ratio […]
Second-time buyers get a better shot at EC units
Last Friday news that second-time buyers of public housing units would be given more chances to purchase executive condominium (EC) units; the previous 5 per cent limit increased to 30 per cent of units in ECs will now be set aside for this class of house hunters. ECs are sold by private developers with condominium-like […]
Help for HDB ‘second-timers’ to buy flats
AFTER easing the demand crunch among first-time Housing Board (HDB) flat applicants, the Government will now help ‘second-timers’ – a group that includes a large proportion of HDB upgraders. It will change the rules to significantly boost their chances of successfully balloting for a new Build-to-Order (BTO) flat or executive condominium (EC) unit. Announcing this […]
More incentives to live with or near parents
STRESSING the importance of family ties as the bedrock of a strong society, the Government yesterday rolled out two new initiatives to encourage married children to live with their parents or near them in housing estates. The first is to strengthen the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) to give higher ballot chances to married children […]
Idea for Flats with Shorter Leases May Not Fly
(I think this is a bad idea. Read on…) Straits Times 02 Mar 12 Summary: A MP has proposed that the Government sell new flats with shorter leases, as that would mean cheaper flats which would be a boon for young couples. (Sometimes, I look at a young couple, and I wonder if their expectations are […]
CDL has faith in luxury property sector
(Another interesting headline. The reporter used the word “faith”, as if implying that CDL is not basing their optimism on facts.) Straits Times – 01 Mar 12 Summary: The subdued sentiment has forced CDL to halt marketing its premium project The Residences at W Singapore Sentosa Cove. (Forced? Developers are never forced to stop marketing […]
Getting a home loan? Get reality check first
This is a very interesting headline. Read on to find out why. Straits Times today (01 Mar 12) Summary: Monetary Authority of S’pore (MAS) has mandated that from today, banks will have to provide potential borrowers with a fact sheet when discussing on credit facility. Objective: to help potential customers work through the nuts and […]
Turf City’s New landlord plans to revive mall
ST – 01 Mar 12 Summary: Cogent Land Capital has taken over the former Bukit Timah Turf Club site from Singapore Agro Agricultural (SAA). Tenants like Giant hypermarket, Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant and Art Boot Camp are still operating there. Renovation work will start next week. Revamped Turf City mall will have a range of […]
Development charges dip for non-landed residential use
Straits Times – 01 Mar 12 Summary: Charges that developers pay to enhance the use of a plot of land have finally been reduced or left flat for some sectors, as the slowing property market takes its toll (I think it’s more for the luxury prime areas, rather than the rest of Singapore.) The new […]
Sentosa Cove Bungalow fetches Record $39 M
Business Times – 01 Mar 12 Summary: A sea fronting bungalow at Cove Drive has changed hands at $39 million, a record absolute price for a bungalow in upscale waterfront residential district of Sentosa Cove – $2,448psf on land area of 15,929sqft. Surpasses the previous high of $36 million for a bungalow on Paradise Island that was transacted in […]
Condominium Review: Centro Residences
About this development: Tenure: 99 yr leasehold Developer: Far East Site Area: approximately 69,000sqft Location: Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 – just beside Ang Mo Kio Hub No. of levels: 34 storeys, with 2 towers No. of Units: 329 Pros: Excellent location – just next to Ang Mo Kio Hub (NTUC and many restaurants are […]
Latitude Condominium Just TOP!!!
Presenting A Quietly Luxurious and Generously Spacious Development in District 10 A Prestigious Development Exuding A Sense of Calmness and Serenity With Just The Right Touch of Elegance For more information about price, floor plans, and how you can own a unit here, click here OR Call Jarene Chuang @ (+65) 9431 4139
S’pore, US among top destinations for rich Chinese migrants – The Straits Times 4 Nov 11
About 60 percent of the rich Chinese people, each of whom has a net asset of at least 60 million yuan (S$12.12 million), said they intended to migrate from China, a report has found. About 14 per cent of them have either already migrated from China or have applied for migration. The three most favoured […]
Green Lodge put up for collective sale, EOI at Oxley – Business Times 3 Nov 11
Green Lodge, a freehold development located on Toh Tuck Road, has been put up for collective sale. Separately, an Expression of Interest (EOI) exercise was launched yesterday for 71 and 73 Oxley Rise, a freehold site zoned for ‘commercial and residential’ use. The Green Lodge site has an asking price that is above $195 million, […]
Punggol residential site draws top bid from Chinese firm – TODAY 4 Nov 11
A 99-YEAR-LEASEHOLD residential site at Punggol Central/Edgedale Plains drew a top bid of $215.87 million yesterday, or $330 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr). Chinese firm Qingjian Realty (South Pacific) Group trumped four other developers to put in the top bid for the site, which measures 218,034.6 sq ft and has a maximum […]
Suites @ Newton is FOR SALE!!!
Suites @ Newton is now available at SPECIAL PREVIEW PRICES! 1-Bedroom only from $1,041,427! 2-Bedroom only from $1,224,853! Do not to miss such attractive quantum for a Prime D11 property!!! Prestigious Freehold Development @ D11 1 Surrey Road By Teambuild Land ~~~Newest Launch!~~~ ~~~Worth Considering!~~~ Reasonable Quantum! Project Information Location: District 11! 1 Surrey Road Singapore […]
Home Sales Unlikely to beat last year’s high – The Straits Times, 1 Nov 11
Summary Strong economy first 9 months but global economic uncertainty to take toll Sales of new private homes may come close to last year’s record high, but they are unlikely to surpass the figure with global economic uncertainty affecting demand, experts say. Homes sales for the first 9 months of this year came in at […]
Laguna Park, Henry Park Apartments up for collective sale – Channel News Asia 31 Oct 11
Laguna Park at Marine Parade Road is up for collective sale with a reserve price of S$1.25 billion. Together with Henry Park Apartments, which is also up for collective sale at between S$170 million and S$180 million, the total value of properties that have come up for sale in October has hit close to S$5 […]
Buffet of New Homes – The Straits Times, 31 Oct 11
Summary A large supply of mass-market homes is set to enter the market by the end of this year. These 99-year leasehold projects are mostly from the flood of suburban state land released by the government over the last year as it attempted to cool robust home-buying demand from first-timers and upgraders. At least 5 […]
HDB resale flat prices up 3.8% – Channel NewsAsia, 28 October 2011
Summary: HDB Resale Prices has increased by 3.8% as compared to the previous quarter Resale transactions fell by 10% from 6,581 cases in the second quarter to 5,903 cases in the third quarter. Overall increase from Q3 2011 is 11.6%, which is an all-time high, i.e. HDB resale prices has been increasing at an average […]
URA Released Real Estate Statistics for 3rd Quarter 2011
Check out my analysis of the data released! Please click on the picture below to enlarge the font size!
Have Property, May Not Profit – Sunday Times, 16 Oct 11, Invest Section, Page 37
Last Sunday, there was an interesting article about investing in property market in Singapore: Have property, may not profit – Sunday Times, 16 Oct 11, Invest Section, Page 37 In this article, the author, Mr Goh mentioned that he had met up with some old friends who are property investors, and they were musing about their […]
Summary of URA’s New Regulations on Singapore Property Market
The recent measures on 14 Jan 2011 imposed by the Singapore government had taken to ensure that the property market is sustainable has been pretty drastic. Check out the new regulations here. A Summary of URA’s regulations: 1. Holding Period for Seller’s Stamp Duties from 3 years to 4 years 2. Seller’s Stamp Duties imposed […]
One man’s panic is another’s bargain…
Business Times – 15 Aug 2008 CDL chief points to some good buys as panic-sellers offload, but he’s not alarmed (SINGAPORE) City Developments Ltd (CDL) executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng yesterday acknowledged that there have been some cases of high-end property buyers resorting to panicselling in the secondary market. These are people who’d bought their […]
Just one bid for Tampines condo site
Straits Times Aug 13, 2008 THE property slowdown was clear for all to see yesterday when the tender for a condo site overlooking Bedok Reservoir closed with just one bid – and at a price well below expectations. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) will likely refuse to award the 3.2ha site, given the poor offer, […]
All eyes on IRs now
Business Times – 09 Aug 2008 Apart from a surge in tourism, jobs and tax receipts, Singapore’s two integrated resorts could bring in new investors WITH expectations of a big boost to the economy, more buzz and the promise of thousands of jobs, it is no wonder we are all a little anxious to see […]
Challenges for property sector
New engines drive Singapore’s property market but pitfalls remain THE Singapore property market has weathered the storm from the US sub-prime crisis, soaring oil prices and overall inflation, pretty well. Runaway increases in property values in the high-end residential and prime office sectors seen in the past couple of years, for instance, have started to […]
From exuberance to caution
In just 12 months, Singapore has swung from Boom Town to seeing its slowest quarter in five years. ONE year ago, economic and business sentiment in Singapore was probably at an all-time high: The property market was on a roll, banks and finance houses went on a hiring spree, and the economy, flush with liquidity, […]
Growth in office occupancy costs tapers off in Q2
Prime Raffles Place space up only 1.1% quarter on quarter: DTZ report GROWTH in office occupancy costs in Singapore has started to taper off after the meteoric rise last year, reflecting the increased resistance to higher occupancy costs, according to a new report. ‘Apart from Raffles Place, Shenton Way/ Robinson Road/Cecil Street and decentralised areas, […]
HDB imposes checklists on resale flats
Business Times – 25 Mar 2008 THE Housing and Development Board will introduce mandatory checklists for housing agents handling resale flat transactions from May 1 – a move welcomed by industry players. The checklists cover key policies and procedures that housing agents will need to advise resale flat buyers and sellers on before they commit […]
Home, retail, office rental growth to ease
Business Times – 25 Mar 2008 Housing rentals to rise 5-15% year-on-year in 2008: Knight Frank PRIVATE housing rents are expected to grow at a slower pace this year than last year, Knight Frank said in a report yesterday. The property consultancy firm expects a year-on-year rise of 5-15 per cent in 2008 – after […]
Don’t know what to do during the current property lull?
Business Times – 25 Mar 2008 PROPERTY EXPERTS GIVE SOME TIPS Seven tips for buying a second home Did you know, for example, that an HDB flat near an MRT station will give you a higher rental yield than most private properties? The importance of being earnest when going en bloc A major en bloc […]
3,500 vied for 714 condo-like flats in Boon Keng, but only 460 sold
The Straits Times March 25, 2008 THOUSANDS of applications poured in for a condo-like Housing Board project in January – but as of last week, less than two-thirds of the flats had been taken up. About a third of the 714 units – or about 250 units – in City View @ Boon Keng remained […]
Realising the Marina Bay vision
Business Times – 22 Mar 2008 CHING TUAN YEE and BENJAMIN NG reflect on the planning of Singapore’s most ambitious urban project and highlight the exciting developments in store for Singaporeans and visitors alike THE vision for Marina Bay is that of a high-quality, 24/7 live-work-play environment, one that encapsulates the essence of the global […]
Singapore interest rates likely to fall further
The Straits Times March 24, 2008 Fed cut and robust Sing$ could push interbank lending rate below 1% SINGAPOREANS can expect cheaper mortgages but lower savings and fixed deposit rates in the months to come. This is after a move by the United States Federal Reserve to slash a key US interest rate last week. […]
PROPERTY: Muted market gives buyers more bargaining power
The Straits Times March 23, 2008 Prices aren’t tumbling but it’s a good time to get a unit at a reasonable price, say experts IT IS no secret that the residential property market is in a lacklustre mood. With many buyers and sellers having scurried to the sidelines as the United States sub-prime woes brought […]
Cheung Kong pips Far East in URA tender
Business Times – 20 Mar 2008 It offers $305psf ppr for West Coast condo plot next to Blue Horizon (SINGAPORE) Cheung Kong Holdings-linked Billion Rise yesterday pipped Far East Organization to emerge as top bidder for a 99-year leasehold condo site facing West Coast Park and overlooking the sea. Billion Rise’s bid of $110.44 million […]
Foreigners snap up homes as rents start to bite
Business Times – 12 Mar 2008Their purchases could account for half of 2007 transactions on the secondary market (SINGAPORE) A record number of foreigners here have opted to purchase homes instead of renting them at ever-climbing rates. According to an analysis of transactions of private residential properties by DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, foreigners bought 6,536 […]
