Property launches to go into high gear

DEVELOPERS are gearing up to launch more projects – especially prime ones – into a thriving property market driven by confident buyers keen to splash out on the back of the improving economy and a low interest rate environment.

The Government’s anti-speculation moves last month are having little effect on genuine home hunters, who have ever wider real estate options.

Potential buyers will certainly have no lack of choices when it comes to new launches this month with ‘easily half a dozen launches’ coming up, said CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) executive director of residential services Joseph Tan.

Mass-market projects have been setting the pace for months but prime developments, which began inching back into the market late last year, are becoming more prevalent.

A CBRE Research report yesterday said that Singapore’s luxury residential market is expected to make a strong rebound.

It noted that new luxury projects recorded launch prices of between $2,500 and $3,400 per sq ft (psf) in the fourth quarter of last year.

This beats the $2,100 psf to $2,700 psf range achieved at the end of 2008, demonstrating a strong turnaround, it said.

In January and February, 88 units of CapitaLand’s prime Urban Suites were sold at $2,500 psf on average while about 35 units of The Laurels in Cairnhill Road went at $2,500 psf to $2,900 psf, it said.

The launches coming up on the weekend include the Hiap Hoe Group prime estate Waterscape At Cavenagh, and Hong Leong Holdings’ Aalto.

The Waterscape At Cavenagh will house 200 one- to four-bedroom units and penthouses ranging from 581 sq ft to 2,992 sq ft. Prices at this weekend’s launch will be about $1,880 per sq ft.

Hiap Hoe gave a preview of the project in late November and sold just three units at a median price of $1,909 psf. Another five units were sold in December. But this year it has sold 88 units, with the bulk transacted over the weekend after Chinese New Year, from $1,715 psf to $2,020 psf or $1.03 million to $3.15 million.

This weekend will also see Hong Leong Holdings release 60 high-floor units at the freehold 196-unit Aalto in Meyer Road. Prices will start from $2,000 psf.

A handful of lower-floor units are also available, from $1,500 psf. Absolute pricing ranges from $3.1 million for a 1,442 sq ft three-bedder to $5.3 million for a 1,959 sq ft four-bedroom unit.

The Aalto was first released in 2007 with units selling for around $1,950 psf. It was then launched in January 2008.

One unit was sold in January this year at $2,011 psf, leaving 78 unsold units in the condo, which will receive its temporary occupation permit in September.

A Hong Leong Holdings spokesman said: ‘We have maintained the original selling price of the Aalto in light of premium value and location.’

Next weekend, buyers can look forward to Cheung Kong Holdings’ The Vision in West Coast Crescent, The Laurels and Tiong Aik’s Coralis in Joo Chiat Road. The Vision, a 99-year leasehold condo, is said to be priced about $1,100 psf.

Coralis is a freehold condo featuring one-bedders as small as 495 sq ft and penthouses of up to 3,089 sq ft. Indicative pricing is from $1,350 to $1,550 psf.

The pace will quicken over the next two to three months with possible launches including 76 Shenton Way, Seascape and Residences at W in Sentosa Cove, The Waterline on the former Toho Gardens site in Yio Chu Kang, UOL Group’s Dakota Crescent project, and Starlight Suites in River Valley Close.

CBRE Research said the luxury projects Ardmore 3 and those on the sites of the old Grangeford, Hillcourt and Parisian estates are likely to be marketed in the first half of the year. Prices and rents of luxury properties are expected to rise by 10 per cent to 15 per cent and 5 per cent to 10 per cent respectively this year.

Overall, prices will continue to rise but at a much less frenetic pace, said Mr Tan. ‘If you look at the recent land tenders, there’s a certain replacement cost that developers need to look at. Some developers may want to put a forward price on their projects now as they don’t want to run out of their landbank too quickly.’

Source : Straits Times – 4 Mar 2010