SINGAPORE: Singapore homebuyers can expect more private residential properties to be launched in the coming months and at lower prices.

Analysts said that’s because developers are now torn between accepting either weaker profits or high costs of holding on to land.

Brisk sales seen in recent property launches like the Caspian can be credited to lower prices being offered by developers. Units there were sold at about S$600 per square foot, or S$50 per square foot less than earlier planned.

Analysts said developers have little choice but to cut prices to move sales as the the cost of holding onto a piece of land can be expensive as well.

A typical plot of land for mass market homes could chalk up more than S$500,000 of interest annually, including other costs. Interest on land cost is typically about four to six per cent.

Developers normally take a 60 per cent loan on land.

This means a mid to mass market plot of land bought for S$20 million will accrue more than S$500,000 of interest in a year.

There are other costs too. Cheang Kok Kheong, COO, Development & Property, Frasers Centrepoint, said: “It’s very good price for the present economic situation and it really meets the kind of needs and budgets our customers have right now.

“We have committed our construction costs. We have gone ahead and developed it and we are looking at our cashflow to ensure that we can build the project on time with little financial difficulties.”

Frasers also wants cash for possible land acquisitions in the near term.

Other developers which have turned to cutting prices include City Developments. It recently launched a new phase of its Livia project in Pasir Ris at about S$620 per square foot, down from S$650 per square foot.

Meanwhile, GuocoLand relaunched its development near Buangkok MRT – the Quartz – at an average price of S$595 per square foot, more than eight per cent lower than the initial launch in 2007.

Another developer, MCL Land, recently made provisions to value its land near current market prices.

Analysts said this is normally a prelude to a relaunch at lower prices.

But they noted that developers will not keep prices low for too long.

Donald Han, managing director, Cushman & Wakefield, said: “Some obvious strategy would be to go out there, launch as much as you can, depending on where the quota is. “Then once you hit a certain sales quota, you stop and then you relaunch it when the project can be launched at a better market sentiment and hopefully at a higher price as well.”

Most analysts believe the market will start to pick up in mid-2010.

Source: Channel News Asia, 2 Mar 2009

(SINGAPORE) Developers are planning to launch more mass market projects this weekend to take advantage of a recent surge in buying interest.

Hiap Hoe Group, a niche developer, will officially launch its 118-unit The Beverly, located at Toh Tuck Road, this Saturday. The starting selling price is $648 per square foot (psf), which Hiap Hoe says is an ‘attractive starting selling price’.

‘We have designed The Beverly for those looking for affordable, high-quality residential developments in a good location,’ said Teo Ho Beng, the company’s managing director.

The Beverly’s two, three and four-bedroom apartments range from 1,120 sq ft to 4,187 sq ft, while its double-storey penthouses range from 2,099 sq ft to 3,757 sq ft and are each outfitted with a private roof garden and pool.

On the other side of the island at Pasir Ris, Sustained Land Pte Ltd will also officially launch Coastal Breeze Residences come this weekend. Two and three-bedroom units at the 63-unit development will sell for $610-$660 psf.

Sustained Land has sold 13 units in Coastal Breeze Residences since the start of 2008 in a soft launch. The units, which were mostly prime apartments on higher floors, went at an average price of $690 psf.

The remaining units are mostly three-bedders between 1159 sq ft and 1356 sq ft in size and there are also duplex penthouses. In terms of absolute value, for example, the price for a three-room 1159 sq ft unit starts at $712,000.

Meanwhile, the UOL Group is expected to launch its 646-unit Double Bay Residences in Simei sometime next week. Market talk has it that the project could be launched at $650-680 psf.

The three projects are coming hot on the heels of two successful launches earlier this month. Units at Frasers Centrepoint’s Caspian condominium near Jurong Lake and Alexis @ Alexandra, a project by joint venture partners Yi Kai Group and Fission Group, sold quickly upon the projects’ launches.

One market insider said that developers are taking pricing cues from each other, and making sure their newly launched projects are priced to sell. ‘There is a sense that people will only be willing to buy projects in the $600-plus psf range, and also only units that don’t cost too much in total. People don’t really want to pay more than $600,000 or $700,000-plus in these times,’ he said.

Developers are also throwing in more upmarket features into their mass market offerings to entice buyers. Each of The Beverly’s 118 apartments is served by private lifts that open into the lobby of its interior. UOL’s Double Bay Residences will also offer extras such as full-length windows in the kitchen, the company has said.

Source: Business Times, 26 Feb 2009

Other developers try to ride buying wave by relaunching units at lower prices

(SINGAPORE) The Alexis condo sold like hot cakes last week and now a few buyers at the fully sold project are trying to flip their units in the subsale market, notwithstanding the fact that Singapore is in the throes of its worst recession.

These buyers are seeking prices about $100 per square foot above what they had paid, translating to a net gain of around 10 per cent, property agents estimate.@ Shelford during the weekend at an average price of about $1,000-1,100 psf. Units cost between $900,000 (for a three-bedroom apartment) and $1.7 million (for a penthouse). About half or 16 of the total 31 apartments in five-storey freehold project are now sold, said the company’s managing director Alvin Ng.

Macly Capital is also said to have sold about 10 units over the weekend at Newton Edge.

Property market watchers say specuvestors may have been drawn to Alexis, near Queenstown MRT station, by developer EC Prime’s decision to offer buyers an interest absorption scheme without charging any premium (usually buyers have to pay about 3 per cent more for such schemes), as well as the relatively affordable investment sums for the mostly smallish units.

However, EC Prime’s director Melvin Poh refuted talk in some quarters that the company generated demand from agents who bought units, and that a substantial number of buyers picked up multiple units.

‘We have checked our sales records; there were only two families that bought multiple units – one family bought five units, and the other, three units. The rest of the buyers all picked up one unit each.

‘If agents from Huttons (Alexis’s marketing agent) or their close relatives bought, they would have to declare to us, and so far there have been none,’ Mr Poh said.

Alexis’s buyers were mostly Singaporeans and EC Prime, a joint venture between Yi Kai Group and Fission Group, has given them up to three weeks to decide whether they would like to opt for the interest absorption scheme (IAS).

Buyers had to pay 5 per cent of the purchase price when they booked a unit, that is, when they were issued an option by the developer. Eight weeks later, they will have to pay up another 15 per cent, with no further payment (under IAS) until the project receives Temporary Occupation Permit in about three years.

Those who do not exercise their options will forfeit a quarter of their 5 per cent deposit. For a $500,000 unit, that will amount to $6,250.

Those who buy on IAS will have to immediately sign up for a home mortgage with United Overseas Bank, and the credit assessment is expected to sift out financially weak buyers.

‘Alexis has drawn investors. Based on our sale prices, they could earn about 5-6 per cent yield from renting their units, given the location near an MRT station close to town,’ Mr Poh said.

Source: Business Times – 18 Feb 2009

Ripples from the strong sales momentum generated for the 293-unit freehold condo, comprising mostly smallish units costing between $420,000 and $800,000, spread to showflats of several other small and mid-sized developers. Some of them trimmed prices to give buyers an incentive to commit to a purchase.

The mini home-buying wave sparked earlier this month by Frasers Centrepoint’s launch of its Caspian condo in the Jurong Lake District, has led other developers to speed up launch plans for new projects, or to relaunch existing ones, with a price cut.

This weekend, GuocoLand will relaunch The Quartz condo near Buangkok MRT Station with a price cut of nearly 10 per cent.

The 625-unit, 99-year leasehold project is slated to receive Temporary Occupation Permit in a few months and is left with 182 units. For a start, GuocoLand is likely to push out about 60-odd units, all three-bedders and most of which will cost below $650,000. The average price of the units to be relaunched will be about $595 psf, compared with an average price of $650 psf that GuocoLand was selling the project at during the height of the market in 2007.

The project is being marketed by CB Richard Ellis and ERA.

In the River Valley area, Fortune Development has sold 12 units at RV Suites since Saturday. The 96-unit freehold project’s average price is $1,300 psf and most of the units are smallish, at about 500 to 550 sq ft and cost about $630,000 to $730,000. This brings total sales in the seven-storey project to 42 units, according to Fortune general manager Victor Soh.

Over in the Shelford Road area, East Coast Properties sold 14 units at D’Chateau

New developments Caspian and Alexis report brisk sales, add buzz to market

(SINGAPORE) Frasers Centrepoint Ltd (FCL) has delivered much needed positive news by reporting that its 712-unit Caspian condominium near Jurong Lake is now 65 per cent sold with 460 units snapped up to date.

Over at Alexandra, the 293-unit Alexis @ Alexandra by joint venture partners Yi Kai Group and Fission Group is said to be fully sold.

Both developments were launched this month and together, total sales of 753 units have already topped new developer sales for the whole quarter of Q1 2008.

Source: Business Times – 16 Feb 2009

The demand for these two developments have taken many by surprise.

Mohamed Ismail, chief executive of PropNex, which is also the marketing agent for the 99-year leasehold Caspian, said that the sales target had initially been only 250 units for its first phase.

However, after these were sold out quickly at an average price of $580 psf, more units were released at the higher price of $600 psf.

It is understood that FCL will continue selling units as long as there are buyers and that it is comfortable with the pace of sales.

Giving his take on the Caspian’s success, Mr Ismail said: ‘The strategy in a down market is to look at the size of the units, reach out to buyers in the same area, and keep prices low.’

Alexis, a freehold development marketed by Huttons Asia was more expensive at around $1,000 psf. However, Mr Ismail noted that Alexis is a ‘unique product’ with small units. He added: ‘It doesn’t really matter what the per square foot price is these days. If the quantum is below $1 million, there will be many takers.’

While these sales figures are encouraging, Cushman and Wakefield managing director Donald Han said that the demand could be very ‘project specific’ with pent-up demand quickly satisfied.

A case in point could be City Developments Ltd’s (CDL) 724-unit Livia condominium project in Pasir Ris. Livia was launched in July last year and 338 units have been sold as at end December at an average price of $650 psf. Over the weekend, CDL launched 30 units at an average of $620 per sq ft but the atmosphere at the showflat is said to be relatively subdued.

Still, the launch of Caspian and Alexis has added some buzz to an otherwise quiet market.
Some developers have noted that there are buyers waiting to move.

And Teo Hong Lim, chief executive of Roxy-Pacific, the parent company of Roxy Homes, has noticed that the sale of a few units can trigger a rash of buying because those waiting on the sidelines do not want to ‘miss the boat’.

Mr Teo says that Roxy Homes sees about 70-100 visitors at its showflats a day.

East Coast Properties managing director Alvin Ng says he has also noticed an increase in visitors at its showflats with sales also picking up. Asked what is driving this in light of the poor economy, Mr Ng said: ‘It’s really anyone’s guess.’

All but one of these private condo projects are on 99-yr-leasehold sites

DEVELOPERS of at least six mass-market private condos could release their projects in the next few months, riding on buying momentum generated lately by the Caspian condo near Jurong Lake – despite the recession.

Property consultancy CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) tips Oasis @ Elias, The Gale on Flora Road in Upper Changi and Ascentia Sky on Alexandra Road among projects for possible launch in the next two quarters.

Others include UOL’s 646-unit condo at Simei Street 4, Frasers Centrepoint’s project in Woodleigh Close and a 571-unit condo by NTUC Choice Homes at Lor 2/3 Toa Payoh near Braddell MRT Station.

All but one of these projects are on 99-year-leasehold sites bought through government land tenders in the past 14 months. The exception is The Gale, a freehold condo to be developed by Tripartite Developers as the latest in its series of condo projects in the Upper Changi location.

Frasers Centrepoint’s recent sales spurt for Caspian has shown where the base price is for the mass market.

The developer released the first 250 units of the 99-year-leasehold condo during a preview last week, at an average price of $580 per square foot (psf), followed by a second batch of about 130 better-facing units at $600 psf. So far, more than 330 units have been sold in the development, which is next to Lakeside MRT Station.

BT understands the developer is likely to offer a further 150 units during a public launch this weekend – and that pricing is likely to be calibrated upwards.

CBRE executive director Joseph Tan attributes the good response to Caspian partly to its timely launch, coinciding with the government’s announcement in Parliament that it will upgrade, expand and transform Jurong into a business and recreational hub.

‘The project is also priced competitively, within the affordability of HDB upgraders,’ he said. ‘The sales momentum seen at Caspian is an encouragement to developers to get their projects ready for launch in the second and third quarters of 2009.’

Knight Frank executive director Peter Ow said that in current conditions, mass-market suburban projects aimed at HDB upgraders are more likely to sell than projects in other segments.

‘After all, HDB upgraders buying private homes for their own occupation are the core group of buyers left today,’ he said. ‘Investors and ‘specu-vestors’ are lying low. And as for foreign buyers, investing in overseas properties might not be a priority right now.’

Amid today’s tight lending climate, owner-occupiers are also more likely to secure finance from banks than investors, provided they have the means to service their loans, Mr Ow said.

He reckons that for condos in outlying areas near MRT stations, the price resistance for a new launch in today’s market would probably be in the $600-650 psf range on average.

Another analyst put a price resistance in a higher band of $750-$850 psf for condos in mature HDB estates such as Toa Payoh and Ang Mo Kio.

Source: Business Times – 11 Feb 2009

THE first major condominium launch this year attracted very strong interest at its preview, with crowds packing its Jurong West showflat three days beginning last Friday.

Property developer Frasers Centrepoint said it had sold 300 units at the 712-unit Caspian by 9pm yesterday. It sold out the first batch of 250 units at the condo, which was priced at $580 per square foot (psf), by the afternoon. It subsequently released another 100 units with better facing, and priced them at $20 psf more.

The 300 units were sold at between $340,000 and $990,000. Most of the buyers were Singaporean HDB upgraders. Foreigners and permanent residents accounted for just 6 per cent of the sales. About 31 per cent of the buyers opted for the interest absorption scheme. They paid 3 per cent more on the purchase price.

The developer said the response to the private preview last Friday was so keen it kept the Caspian showflat open past midnight, and sold 80 units. It sold another 120 units last Saturday.

‘There is pent-up demand for new properties,’ said Chesterton Suntec International’s head of research and consultancy, Mr Colin Tan.

A market watcher said the $580 psf price for Caspian is not exactly very cheap but some buyers are probably hoping that the development plans for the Jurong area will help to raise the value of their properties in the future.

The 99-year leasehold condo is near Lakeside MRT station in Jurong, a new growth area in Singapore. Caspian was also priced cheaper than nearby condos Lakeholmz and Lakeshore. Caveats lodged show Lakeholmz units were traded in the third quarter of last year, at $564 to $626 psf. Lakeshore units were going for around $750 psf.

Recent deals for The Centris at Boon Lay, one MRT station away, were done at an average of $550 psf, according to caveats lodged last month.

Frasers Centrepoint chief executive Lim Ee Seng said the brisk sales for Caspian showed there is demand for mass market projects at the right price. He said: ‘A well-located, reasonably-priced mid-market development always has its following.’

Source: Straits Times – 9 Feb 2009

SINGAPORE: Property prices may have dipped due to the economic recession. But that has not weakened the demand for some private condominiums.

Crowds flocked to the showroom of Caspian development near Lakeside MRT station in the Jurong Lake District.

Nearly one quarter of the 712-unit development in Jurong West was snapped up within the first two days of its opening.

The first 250 units were sold at $540-$640 per square foot.

Residents living nearby are looking forward to the completion of the condominium.

They hope it will bring about more amenities in the area.

Source: Channel News Asia – 8 Feb 2009

Frasers Centrepoint brings cheer to market with sale of 80 units at Caspian’s preview.

THE year’s first major release of a private housing project has shown that there’s still demand for projects priced attractively. Frasers Centrepoint had sold close to 80 units at its Caspian condo near Jurong Lake by late last night, the company’s CEO, Lim Ee Seng, told BT.

About 70 per cent of buyers are estimated to be HDB upgraders; the rest had private addresses. Singaporeans accounted for more than 85 per cent of buyers. Only a fifth of the buyers so far have opted for the interest absorption scheme offered by the developer. This means that they pay 3 per cent higher for their units.

The project is priced at $580 per square foot (psf) on average for buyers who opt for normal progress payment.

Property market watchers expect sales in the 99-year-leasehold condo next to Lakeside MRT Station to pick up steadily over the weekend.

Frasers Centrepoint had meant to open its showflat for sales to staff on Thursday, but decided to start selling in the evening to other buyers who had started gathering outside. The average price of $580 psf – or $598 psf for those who opt for interest absorption – is for the 250 units being marketed in the first phase.

Knight Frank executive director Peter Ow, whose firm is not involved with marketing the project, said: ‘The response is very encouraging in today’s market. It goes to show that there’s still demand in the market, as long as the project is priced attractively. Those who want the location will buy. I believe buyers would be buying predominantly for owner occupation.’

The 712-unit Caspian is being built next to LakeHolmz, an earlier condo by Frasers Centrepoint that was completed about four years ago. Units in LakeHolmz are going for about $600 psf on average in the resale market, while further away, units at The Lakeshore, which was completed more recently, are fetching an average price of around $750 psf.

Frasers Centrepoint indicated that 80 per cent of the Caspian units sold are two and three-bedders.

A strong draw of the project is its location in the Jurong Lakeside District, for which the government has big growth plans as a unique destination for business and leisure, and a vibrant regional centre serving the west region of Singapore. The project’s location next to Lakeside MRT Station will also receive a boost from the extension of the East-West MRT Line with the opening of new stations this month.

Frasers Centrepoint’s Mr Lim said: ‘We’re happy with the positive response generated by Caspian, which will hopefully create some impetus to the otherwise sluggish market.

‘We did a thorough market research and survey, which resulted in a substantial number of potential buyers indicating firm interest within a certain price range. We then launched below this price range to further boost the demand.’

He did not indicate what the surveyed average price range was, but BT understands that it was in the low to mid-$600 psf range.

Source: Business Times – 7 Feb 2009

Frasers Centrepoint is pricing the first phase of its 99-year leasehold Caspian condo next to Lakeside MRT Station in Jurong at an average of $580 per square foot after discount for buyers who opt for normal progress payments.

Those who choose the developer’s interest absorption scheme will pay 3 per cent more, or an average price of about $598 psf.

The pricing for the 250 units, which are spread across the project, is considered competitive and reflects Frasers Centrepoint’s strategy of pricing to sell in the current recession.

Next to Caspian, units at Lakeholmz, which was completed four years ago and also developed by Frasers Centrepoint, are selling at about $600 psf on average in the resale market.

Further away, units at The Lakeshore are fetching about $750 psf on average and developer Far East Organization is understood to have held back some choice units facing Jurong Lake, presumably for sale later to ride on the government’s plans for the district.

Frasers Centrepoint is optimistic of good take-up for Caspian. ‘We’ve received strong interest from prospective owner-occupiers and even investors, who are now more keen to invest in brick-and-mortar property than risky financial instruments, especially if the property has a great potential upside to it,’ said Frasers Centrepoint Homes chief operating officer Cheang Kok Kheong yesterday.

‘Potential buyers will see Caspian’s price range as attractive and offering value for money.’

The project will have 712 units in total and is coming up on a site that Frasers Centrepoint bought in late 2007 for $248 psf per plot ratio. Analysts reckon that Frasers Centrepoint may barely be making money, based on the first-phase pricing.

BT understands that the project’s private preview is slated for tomorrow, to be followed by the public preview over the weekend.

‘The idea is probably to raise prices for the later phases to turn in a profit for the overall project,’ a market watcher said.

For the first phase, prices of typical two-bedroom to four-bedroom (with study) units range from $540 psf to $640 psf. The average price for a studio unit is about $350,000.

Source: Business Times – 5 Feb 2009