The Core Central Region (CCR) is never going to be the most affordable area for homes. But the Singapore private property market is nothing but diverse; and even in this region, there are new launches that – comparatively speaking – are lower priced than most counterparts.
Most people would go by absolute quantum, but there are those that just can't seem to accept prices beyond $3,000 psf in the CCR. So if you’re looking to stay in a central location but are wary on the psf levels, here’s where transactions below $2,500 psf have occurred:
A shortlist filtered by price, size or tenure is a useful way to narrow your options, but it won't tell you which property is the best fit for your finances, lifestyle or long-term plans.
That's where the real evaluation begins: comparing the trade-offs between each option to decide which one makes the most sense for your situation.
Over time, that's also why we decided to work with agents who shared the same data-driven and advisory-led approach behind our editorial, consultants who could help readers think through decisions more objectively, rather than simply push transactions.
Today, the team has worked with more than 2,000 clients across over $5B in property transactions.
Square Foot Research indicates a median price of $2,331 psf. The lowest developer price is $2,194 psf, while the highest is $2,501 psf. Around 56 per cent of units have been sold, at the time of writing.
Fourth Avenue Residences is a Bukit Timah property, so you’re trading heavy retail and traffic for privacy. Where this condo shines, however, is school access. The well-regarded Nanyang Girls High School is only around 600 metres from this development, while National Junior College is a little further at about 790 metres.
Hwa Chong Institution is very slightly out of the one one-kilometre radius (about 1,100 metres), as is Raffles Girls Primary.
The Sixth Avenue MRT station is right next to this condo, and there’s a long stretch of eateries along Sixth Avenue. Most of these are just a five-minute walk way, while the Cold Storage in Guthrie House provides for most groceries.
Retail is practically absent from the surroundings, but that’s often the point of living in quiet Bukit Timah. The nearby residences are also mostly low-rise, which provides a good unimpeded view from almost any unit.
One sticky point for some would be the 99-year leasehold status, of which you do have a freehold option (by the same developer) located just opposite - Royalgreen.
Fourth Avenue Residences 4 Bedroom Floorplan
On paper, the layout at Fourth Avenue Residences does encompass most of what buyers in this category would be looking out for. There's the provision of a wet and dry kitchen, and a useful yard area. You do have a study included, and the junior master bedroom is set aside from the rest - which is great from a privacy standpoint.
We'd have liked to see a utility room too, but at a size of less than 1,500 square feet plus a study perhaps that may have been too much to ask. As mentioned above, you do have the study which can be converted to one anyway, so you do have some flexibility there.
2. Dunearn 386
Source: Square Foot Research
Square Foot Research indicates a median price of $2,461 psf. Around 48 per cent of units have been sold, at the time of writing.
Dunearn 386 has flown under the radar, being a boutique development with only 35 units. Family buyers have started to notice though, as it’s within the important one-kilometre enrolment distance of multiple brand-name schools:
St. Margaret’s Secondary (540 metres)
Raffles Girls Primary (810 metres)
Hwa Chong Institution (810 metres)
National Junior College is just over one-kilometre from Dunearn 386.
This condo is just 450 metres away from the Botanic Gardens MRT, and about 1.6 km to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
For day-to-day amenities, Coronation Plaza is only about a five-minute walk away, and there’s an NTUC FairPrice here. Cluny Court also has a Cold Storage, that’s only slightly further on foot.
There are a few concerns here though, one of which is the small number of units. Some buyers dislike developments that are too small, as facilities tend to be less diverse, and low transaction volumes can make resale a more volatile prospect.
Secondly, if you've observed the sizes here those are some really small sizes for a 4 bedroom unit. It goes without saying that it is going to be a real squeeze - and perhaps one of the reasons why sales have been overall sluggish here.
However, if you want a family condo that’s both convenient along with a palatable price in the area you don't really have too many options where a new launch condo is concerned.
Dunearn 386 4 Bedroom Floorplan
As you can see, everything is very efficient, but very tightly packed. While it does fulfil having 4 bedrooms, you can see that each bedroom is undoubtedly very small, with bedroom 4 particularly tiny. We do think the balcony is unnecessarily big for an already tight space, and most people would find issue with a common bathroom that has to be shared amongst the occupants of the 3 bedrooms.
3. Parksuites
Source: Square Foot Research
Square Foot Research indicates a median price of $2,018 psf. Around 20 per cent of units have been sold, at the time of writing.
Location: Holland Grove Road (District 10)
Developer: Far East Organization
Lease: 110-years
TOP: 2023
Number of units: 119
Highest 4-bedder transaction to date:
Date
Size
Price PSF
Total Price
21 Feb 2018
3,068 sq. ft.
$2,231
$6,844,708
Last seen 4-bedder asking prices:
Date
Size
Price PSF
Total Price
19 Jun 2020
3,068 sq. ft.
$2,058
$6,313,421
Key highlights:
On the outside, this four-storey development lacks ostentation; but that’s okay since the main selling point of Parksuites is location. This development is only a 2.3 km drive to Holland Village, and a 2.7 km drive to One North. Star Vista, the main mall in the Buona Vista area, is less than 1.2 km away.
One North is a large tech and media hub, which up till recently has had few housing options. Even so, recent offerings may not appeal to those seeking exclusivity. (Normanton Park has 1,862 units, for example). For those working in this area, Parksuites provides a higher-end alternative.
And while Holland V has also seen some new launches, the heart of Holland V can feel a bit too dense or crowded for some. Parksuites provides relatively quick access to Holland V amenities, while still being away from the noisier, more traffic-prone stretches. All in, the location provides a good midpoint between work and play in the Buona Vista area.
Incidentally, the Dover MRT station is only 690 metres away, and you could maybe cover this in 11-minutes on foot. Most tenants or future buyers in this budget range will have private transport though, so this is less of a factor compared to more mass market condos.
We did struggle with putting it in this list, as its final quantum because of the unit size would mean most people would be priced out of such a purchase. And as usual with such prices, Singaporeans would tend to gravitate towards a landed property instead. Where it holds its niche market would be its appeal towards foreigners who like living in the uncrowded landed area.
Parksuites 4 Bedroom Triplex Floorplan
While the Parksuites unit is the most expensive on this list (in terms of quantum), it does also mean that it has the lowest psf of the lot here. You can see why though, as its layout does represent a style of living most similar to landed homes - which makes it suitable for foreigners that are looking for a landed lifestyle. It's quite well packed, with 2 private carpark lots on the ground level, and an internal private lift that gets you to all floors.
With the exception of 1 common bedroom, the rest of the bedrooms are located on the top floor, with space even for a small family room as well.
4. Neu at Novena
Source: Square Foot Research
Square Foot Research indicates a median price of $2,711 psf. Around 82 per cent of units have been sold, at the time of writing.
Location: 27 Moulmein Rise (District 11)
Developer: Roxy Pacific Holdings
Lease: Freehold
TOP: 2023
Number of units: 87
Highest 4-bedder transaction to date:
Date
Size
Price PSF
Total Price
19 October 2019
1,302 sq. ft.
$2,668
$3,475,000
Last seen 4-bedder asking prices:
Date
Size
Price PSF
Total Price
23 Jun 2020
1,302 sq. ft.
$2,538
$3,305,000
23 Oct 2019
1,302 sq. ft
$2,530
$3,295,000
Key highlights:
Neu at Novena is one of the best located new launches in District 11 right now. It’s only 320 metres, or about an eight-minute walk, to Novena MRT station. This is also where you’ll find VeloCity @ Novena Square, the main retail hub of the area. Square 2, which is adjacent, provides extended retail and dining options, as well as an NTUC FairPrice.
United Square Mall, which is about 380 metres away, is quite established as a centre for enrichment; The Learning Lab, Hua Language Centre, and The Ballet & Music Company are all here.
A toss-up factor is proximity to Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Neu at Novena is just 300 metres away, or a two-minute walk. Buyers tend to either love or hate being near hospitals; to some it’s noisy or a taboo, whereas to others it’s convenient healthcare access. This is 50-50 as an amenity.
In addition, Neu at Novena is in a fairly busy location, so do expect some noise and traffic; but that’s the inevitable trade-off for being so close to the hub of Novena.
Neu at Novena 4 Bedroom Floorplan
While Neu at Novena does fit in all the requirements that you might expect on paper, it does come with a few quirks. First off is that wasted foyer and walkway entrance to the living and dining. While it does mean it is really private, the space isn't big enough that that inefficiency is justified. The utility room is also strangely big, and the curvature of the unit (while unique) does mean that the master bedroom is not as efficient as you may like.
You do get a private balcony area just for the master bedroom though, which is nice.
5. Leedon Green
Source: Square Foot Research
Square Foot Research indicates a median price of $2,723 psf. The lowest developer price is $2,484 psf, while the highest is $2,908 psf. Around 21 per cent of units have been sold, at the time of writing.
If you want a freehold new launch condo near Holland V, Leedon Green should be on the shortlist. It’s just 760 metres, or about a 13-minute walk, to the Holland Village MRT station (this is also the hub of the area). You do actually have a shorter walk to Farrer Road MRT station at 11-minutes, but do note it is on the same Circle line.
When you live this close to Holland V, dining is never an issue; and there’s a Cold Storage at Holland Village. Retail is a little more limited, as Holland V has always been more of a lifestyle area than a shopping area; but Star Vista at Buona Vista is just a seven-minute drive. That would change in 2025, however, when the One Holland Village development is completed.
As with Parksuites above, we see Leedon Green appealing to both home owners and tenants working in the One North area. Leedon Green is only a 4.7 km drive to One North, which usually takes only about 10 minutes.
The price point, coupled with MRT access and unit count, makes this condo viable for investors as well as home buyers. Rentability is high thanks to the Holland Village MRT station being within walking distance, and the freehold status will appeal to investors looking at long-term assets. One of the drawbacks though, with regard to investment appeal, is the close proximity of competing developments in the Leedon Heights area.
You should know too, that at this juncture it does point to an oversupply of new launch condos in the Holland area, so if you are considering a new launch in Holland you do still have a good pick of units.
Leedon Green 4 Bedroom Floorplan
The Leedon Green unit is probably the most exclusive one on this list, as it does come with a private lift and a lift lobby. While it does have a dry and wet kitchen with a utility and yard do note that there may be some compromise there in terms of space.
Other than than, those who are looking for a proper master bedroom setup would probably enjoy this layout. It comes with a walk-in wardrobe, a bathtub, and his and hers sinks.
4-bedders in the prime region are increasingly hard to find, at a quantum of below $4 million
These days, it’s almost assumed that a 4-bedder in the CCR is going to be upward of $4 million. We expect that this will likely be the case, in the next five or six years to follow – there’s only so much space available in the already crowded CCR districts. However, you can still find units if you get in early enough, and the five-year ABSD deadline on developers can only work in favour of buyers.
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A shortlist sorted by one variable is a fast way to narrow your options, but the pick that's cheapest, biggest, or most convenient isn't always the one that fits your situation best.
If you'd like to discuss how this applies to your own circumstances, you can reach out for a one-to-one consultation here.
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Frequently asked questions
What are some new condos in the Core Central Region of Singapore that are priced below $2,500 per square foot?
Some new launches in the CCR with prices below $2,500 psf include Fourth Avenue Residences, Dunearn 386, Parksuites, Neu at Novena, and Leedon Green.
Which new condo in the CCR offers the most affordable 4-bedroom units?
Parksuites offers 4-bedroom units with a median price of around $2,018 psf, making it one of the more affordable options in the CCR for 4-bedroom condos.
Are there freehold new launch condos in the CCR under $2,500 psf?
Yes, Dunearn 386 and Neu at Novena are freehold condos in the CCR with prices below $2,500 psf.
What are some key factors to consider when choosing a new launch condo in the CCR under $2,500 psf?
Consider location, leasehold status, unit size, proximity to schools and MRT stations, and the development's facilities and view.
Which condo in the CCR is suitable for families looking for proximity to schools?
Dunearn 386 is close to several schools like St. Margaret’s Secondary, Raffles Girls Primary, and Hwa Chong Institution, making it suitable for families.
What are some potential drawbacks of buying a new launch condo in the CCR at this price point?
Potential drawbacks include small unit sizes, limited facilities, low transaction volumes affecting resale, and proximity to busy areas or hospitals which may cause noise.
A seasoned content strategist with over 17 years in the real estate and financial journalism sectors, Ryan has built a reputation for transforming complex industry jargon into accessible knowledge. With a track record of writing and editing for leading financial platforms and publications, Ryan’s expertise has been recognised across various media outlets. His role as a former content editor for 99.co and a co-host for CNA 938’s Open House programme underscores his commitment to providing valuable insights into the property market.
2 Comments
David
Hey, Dunearn 386 TOP should be sooner? In 2023? Or do you have news of postponement?
Actually, on this topic, could you do an article on what actually happens when a developer is unable to complete construction on time? I have never heard of it happening in Singapore, but with covid… we might start seeing such cases… and parties don’t really have any precedence to start calculating compensations right?
2 Comments
Hey, Dunearn 386 TOP should be sooner? In 2023? Or do you have news of postponement?
Actually, on this topic, could you do an article on what actually happens when a developer is unable to complete construction on time? I have never heard of it happening in Singapore, but with covid… we might start seeing such cases… and parties don’t really have any precedence to start calculating compensations right?