Property News

2 Different Locations In Singapore Getting Upgrades: Exploring Bukit Merah & Marina Square’s Future Transformations

Bukit Merah is currently known for two things: Tiong Bahru, and VivoCity. But beyond that, there’s a negative reputation for overpriced, ageing flats. Meanwhile, Marina Square is a gigantic mall that’s far more empty than it should be – unlike…

• 19 Sep 2023
• 6 min read
• 1

This “Unpopular” Scheme May Be The Secret To Retiring In Your HDB: What The Lease Buyback Scheme Is All About

In a recent Straits Times report, it said that more senior citizens are using the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS). About 2,860 seniors used the scheme in 2022, up from 2,790 the year before. To be clear, these are still rookie…

• 4 Sep 2023
• 2 min read
• 0

Why The New Prime, Plus & Standard HDB Classification Makes Sense And How It Impacts Singaporeans

The big news for the National Day Rally 2023 is the new classification of HDB flats, to prime, plus, and standard. This will replace the old system of mature versus non-mature estates, which we’ve used since around 1992. More importantly…

• 21 Aug 2023
• 4 min read
• 5

Is The Property Market Going To Slow Down? 5 Reasons Why Only 53 New Units Moved This Weekend

For home buyers, at least, the weekend following National Day may be a happy one. New launch sales for three properties, on the 12th and 13th of August 2023, were at a crawl. According to more than one realtor, at…

• 16 Aug 2023
• 2 min read
• 0

Expecting New Condo Prices To Drop In Singapore? Here’s 6 Factors Why You Shouldn’t

While the recent unveiling of eight new GLS sites will undoubtedly provide some relief to soaring property prices, it’s essential to temper expectations. While increased land availability can bolster housing supply, and possibly lead to more moderate property prices over…

• 17 Jul 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

Singapore’s Private Home Market Sees First Price Drop in Three Years: What’s Next?

We don’t usually focus too much on the results of a single quarter, but this is an exception. Q2 of 2023 marks the first time we’ve seen a faint dip in property prices, since around Q1 of 2020. But does…

• 3 Jul 2023
• 8 min read
• 0

The Myst, A New Launch Condo With Prices Under $1 Million: A 5-Minute Overview Of Upper Bukit Timah’s Latest Launch

The new condo launches are coming in thick and fast, with City Developments Limited (CDL) launching The Myst (yes, I didn’t spell it wrongly, it’s supposed to represent the misty mornings in the nearby Bukit Timah Nature Reserve) on the…

• 23 Jun 2023
• 5 min read
• 0

8 New GLS Sites Revealed For 2023: We Explore Each Site And How They May Impact Homebuyers

In an unexpected move, the government has announced eight new GLS sites for the second half of 2023; one of the biggest land sales events we’ve seen in around a decade. On top of that, two of the GLS sites…

• 22 Jun 2023
• 8 min read
• 0

The First New Launch In 14 Years In Ulu Pandan: Pinetree Hill And What You Need To Know

Pinetree Hill will be an interesting launch to note, as it’s a little less in the limelight because Ulu Pandan isn’t traditionally an area that will pop into mind for buyers. But it’s been apparently 14 years since there was…

• 21 Jun 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

Inside 2023’s Biggest Condo Launch: Everything You Need to Know About Grand Dunman

It’s been a while since we’ve had two new condos launching on the very same weekend – Grand Dunman (near Old Airport Road and Dakota), and Pinetree Hill (along Ulu Pandan Road in Clementi). For those looking for a new…

• 21 Jun 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

5 Reasons Why The Reserve Residences Sold 71% Of Its 732 Units During Launch

Several market watchers are surprised at the strong sales of The Reserve Residences, so soon after the latest cooling measures (although Blossoms by the Park was another that did well). This point in 2023 is also perceived as a market…

• 30 May 2023
• 8 min read
• 4

A Review Of New Launch Condos Performance In 2023: Here’s How Major Launches Have Fared So Far

As we approach the mid-year mark in 2023, we thought it would be appropriate to look back and see how the new launches have been doing. With the new cooling measures just announced recently, it certainly has dampened things, with…

• 10 May 2023
• 7 min read
• 0

Property Cooling Measures In Singapore: Will 60% Foreigner ABSD Really Affect Singapore’s Property Market?

April 2023 has brought a new set of property cooling measures in Singapore, and as has been typical for the past few – it was announced at a time close to midnight so that no one has any time to…

• 27 Apr 2023
• 5 min read
• 2

3 Surprising Upcoming Changes That May Affect Property Prices (And En Bloc) In 2023

Back in 2022, we were told that URA, BCA, SLA, and even the SCDF were going to acknowledge a new and shared definition of the term Gross Floor Area (GFA). That’s about to come into effect as of June this…

• 19 Apr 2023
• 5 min read
• 0

Is The 99-1 Loophole Illegal? We Clear Up 6 Common Property Misconceptions In 2023

As we head into 2023, some erroneous beliefs about the property market are starting to surface. Some are new, but many are from a few years before. This may be related to recent shake-ups and changes to the rules, such…

• 12 Apr 2023
• 6 min read
• 2

The Rise Of The Telegram/WhatsApp Group Chat: How These Chat Groups Affect Condo Living

A subtle, powerful, change has taken place in the way condos are run. From older resale properties to new launches in recent years, condos have seen a surge in collective action, active resident committees, and – unfortunately – snooping around…

• 8 Mar 2023
• 6 min read
• 0

Slimmer Chance Of Getting A BTO If You Cancel The First Time: Here’s What Singaporeans Think

It may be time to stop being choosy or gaming the system, as HDB clamps down with a new “choose it or lose it” policy. Those who fail to show up at BTO selection won’t just lose their chance at…

• 7 Mar 2023
• 5 min read
• 1

2022 Year-End Review Of The Singapore Property Market: Key Numbers And Trends You Need To Know

At the end of 2021, we expressed hopes that 2022 would see a return to normalcy. We shouldn’t have done that, because we jinxed it. 2022 ended up being even more volatile than the previous year, as we move from…

• 31 Dec 2022
• 9 min read
• 0