URA cracks down on misuse of factory units

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Construction firm KTC launches maiden project

CONSTRUCTION company KTC Group has made a foray into the property development business with its first project, Summer Scent, located at the junction of Hougang Avenue 2 and Upper Serangoon Road. The freehold project, developed by KDC (Kovan) Development, comprises 16 units, of which six have been sold. KDC Development’s director, Chua Lai Seng, is […]

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 […]

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 […]