Analysis

45 New Profitable Condos Since 2017: 6 Key Things You Can Learn From The Numbers

1. Larger units tended to perform better

BedroomsVolumeHolding Period (Years)Average $ GainAverage % Gain
13053.9$118,34715.5%
24433.8$220,16819.2%
32363.7$348,23522.4%
4483.6$606,30822.3%
5103.5$559,86924.9%

In general, larger units tended to do better. And we aren’t talking in terms of average $ gain (because that would be obvious), but from a percentage gain. This isn’t really a surprise, as it’s been part of a trend we’ve seen over the last few years.

Given current prices, it’s rare for a condo buyer to be a first-time buyer. More commonly, buyers are those who have upgraded from HDB properties, and are riding on record-high resale flat prices. As these buyers also tend to be families, there’s a marked preference for larger units.

One of the realtors we spoke to also had another explanation:

Five-bedders are usually the most expensive units. Buyers who can afford these units are usually high-flyer types, who are maybe not as price-sensitive. If they really want a unit, they are willing to buy even TOP units at higher prices, or buy subsales. They are not really interested in gains. Some are even moving from landed properties, so they are used to a certain amount of space.”

2. Subsales beat resales within a 4+ year holding period

Type of SaleHolding Period (Years)Average $ GainAverage % Gain
New Sale to Resale4.37$238,63918.63%
New Sale to Sub Sale3.71$240,95919.13%

This isn’t common, but the gains for new sales to sub-sales won out by a slim margin (a difference of half a percentage point). Usually, new sales to resale will tend to do a bit better just because it would typically be a longer holding period.

Given the very slight gap, however, this is likely just a quirk; and one for which we don’t see any discernible cause.

We wouldn’t count on it to happen very often.

3. North and West regions saw the highest percentage gains

RegionVolumeHolding Period (Years)Average $ GainAverage % Gain
Central Region4923.8$291,60119.7%
East Region1563.7$176,39917.2%
North East Region3103.9$175,96617.5%
North Region43.9$522,25021.5%
West Region823.4$288,65624.6%

Condos in the North and West technically saw the highest percentage gains; but we need to consider the low volume of transactions. In the West region, for example, the strong gains were mostly on the back of Whistler Grand, rather than being indicative of the region as a whole.

Whistler Grand was a rather fast-selling project (100 per cent of available units sold on launch weekend), and CDL had initially priced lower in response to recent cooling measures. This has helped the early phase buyers to recognise stronger gains.

If we take into account the volume, then Central region condos have also seen strong results. Parc Esta may be the driving force behind this:

Parc Esta sold fast from the beginning (73 per cent of available units sold on launch weekend), and several eager buyers may have failed to secure a unit. Given the condo’s location (next to Eunos MRT, and one stop from Paya Lebar Quarter), it’s not surprising if latecomers made high offers for whatever they could get.

4. Leasehold properties generally fared better

VolumeHolding Period (Years)Average $ GainAverage % Gain
313.3$486,66015.6%
10133.8$233,17719.2%

This isn’t unexpected, given that freehold only shows its advantage over long holding periods. Over a short time period like four years, freehold tends to fare worse than leasehold, as buyers paid a high premium to begin with.

That said, do note that freehold has a much lower volume of transactions (almost always the case, as there are far more leasehold than freehold land parcels). Even if the transaction volumes were comparable though, we’d bet on the leasehold properties outperforming freehold.

5. District 5 fared best overall

DistrictVolumeHolding Period (Years)Average $ GainAverage % Gain
5853.6$276,92524.3%
141333.6$284,37822.7%
2743.9$522,25021.5%
20633.7$306,12921.5%
3983.8$283,47421.4%
9344.2$483,62418.7%
13824.0$236,40018.0%
193103.9$175,96617.5%
181423.8$176,40917.2%
17133.5$149,47716.2%
21433.6$233,20915.8%
2332.3$164,72915.0%
1113.4$255,00014.0%
1593.6$228,10813.2%
10133.6$696,05412.7%
742.7$171,63011.1%
253.2$144,3246.3%
124.4$60,1252.1%

This coincides with some of the points we made above.

District 5 (Buona Vista, Clementi, Dover) topped the list, and this is likely due to Whistler Grand (see above). District 14 (Paya Lebar, Eunos, Geylang) came second, and this is probably on the back of Parc Esta’s strong showing.

Do note that most of the stronger gains came from the OCR, except for District 5, which is in the RCR.

Prime regions such as the Orchard area (District 9) often feature luxury units, with less room for gains over such short periods; but some realtors have added that recent cooling measures will worsen gains here, in the years to come.

This is due to the new 60 per cent ABSD levied on foreigners, as well as higher overall stamp duties on second or third homes. Realtors opined that foreigners and investors make up a bigger share of buyers in the CCR; and going forward, there’s an expectation of weaker gains in the region.

6. Gains across different floors are quite similar, though the high-floor units takes the lead

We categorised low, medium and high floors based on the following range:

Floor RangeAverage % ReturnsVolume
Low18.01%303
Medium19.08%579
High21.06%157

Low floors: 5 storeys and below

Medium floors: 6th to 15th storey

High floors: above 15 storeys

From the profitable transactions so far, high-floor units had the highest returns so far – albeit marginally, at 21.06%.

This could be due to the fact that condos with high floors tend to have more units and so the odds of a boutique development being inside the data is reduced. In addition, Boulevard 88 which saw stellar gains form 2 out of the 157 data points here. While it’s insignificant in volume, the gain from the sale is pretty substantial.

As such, the data here may have little to do with gains from floor range but simply have more projects that are profitable.

Overall, we can see that most new launch buyers would be sitting on profits, even if they sold as sub sales or very soon after the launch. This is mostly a matter of timing, as the post-pandemic period has been characterised by a notable housing shortage. It’s uncertain if we’ll see a repeat performance next year, however, as the combination of higher interest rates, new cooling measures, and gradually increasing supply kick in.

For more updates on the Singapore private property market, follow us on Stacked. You can also check out our reviews of new and resale properties alike. If you’d like to get in touch for a more in-depth consultation, you can do so here.

Join our Telegram group for instant notifications
Join Now

Ryan J

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.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest Posts

How An Old Singaporean Shophouse Was Transformed Into A Beautiful Creative Home 1
Living In How An Old Shophouse In Singapore Was Transformed Into An Art-Filled Home
October 12, 2024
Bournemouth Estate 28
Advice We Make $500k Per Year And Own 2 Condos: Should We Sell Both To Buy A Landed Or Cluster Home?
October 11, 2024
prime plus hdb
Commentary October 2024 BTO Breakdown: Prime And Plus Projects Revealed (And Key Details To Note)
October 10, 2024
5 Old But Huge HDB Flats Above 1,700 Sqft In Size
Units Of The Week 5 Old But Huge HDB Flats Above 1,700 Sqft In Size
October 10, 2024
Norwood Grand Model 1 Edited
New Launch Reviews Norwood Grand Review: First New Launch Condo Since 2012 And 5-mins From Woodlands South MRT
October 9, 2024
Condo Maisonettes
Property Picks Where To Find Rare Condo Maisonettes For Multi-Gen Living In Singapore
October 9, 2024
queens peak
Buying 10 Condos With The Highest Density: A Look At The Most Crowded Condos In Singapore
October 8, 2024
Bedok South Horizon 117 top view buildings
Commentary An Overview Of The Bedok Property Market In 2024: HDB Price Trends And Key Developments
October 8, 2024
parc rosewood review
Property Picks 26 Cheapest One-bedder Condo Units In Each District In 2024 (From $545,000)
October 7, 2024
Bournemouth Estate 3
Editors' Pick Touring A Prime Freehold Landed Estate In Katong With Prices From $5m
October 6, 2024
A Playful Young Couple’s 93 Sqm Dream Home With A Pottery Studio 1
Living In How A 4-Room Tampines BTO Was Transformed Into A Colourful Home With A Pottery Studio
October 6, 2024
sembawang mrt
News What’s Better Than A Condo Next To An MRT?
October 6, 2024
Chuan Park Price Comparison
Buying Is Chuan Park Residences The Next Hot Mega Development? Here’s What You Should Know
October 5, 2024
natura loft review
Advice Should We Sell Our Bishan DBSS And Pay $1m More To Upgrade To A Condo?
October 5, 2024
picking right property
Editors' Pick Looking For A High-Floor HDB Flat? Here Are The Cheapest Options In 2024 (From $490,000)
October 4, 2024
5 Affordable Lesser Known Freehold 3 Bedroom Condos Under $2 Million
Units Of The Week 5 Affordable Lesser-Known Freehold 3-Bedroom Condos Under $2 Million
October 3, 2024