Here’s Why Some New Launch Condos Sell Better Than Others

Get The Property Insights Serious Buyers Read First: Join 50,000+ readers who rely on our weekly breakdowns of Singapore’s property market.

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.
Bigger condo projects tend to sell better these days

News reports have a whole host of reasons why Lentor Mansion managed to sell 75 per cent of its units, despite slower sales of projects like The Arcady at Boon Keng or Hillhaven (both sold about a third of their units). Now we in the industry have a hardwired response to this sort of thing: and that’s to give you long-winded explanations on price, location, layout, etc.
But there is also an underrated reason, and I think it boils down to something simpler: show of hands all, who here has heard of Lentor Mansion? And who has heard of The Arcady or Hillhaven? Okay so I can’t actually see you, but I’m betting the majority have seen some kind of Lentor Mansion advertisement and know what it is, whilst the other two may as well be exotic European handbag brands or something.

And this may come down to an issue of size: Lentor Mansion is the bigger project here, and gets more marketing. To be clear, I’m not saying that’s the only reason a bigger project (by unit count at least) fares better – there are other factors like more land space, more facilities, generally lower maintenance costs, etc. But besides that, a large project is going to get more aggressive marketing from the developer.
Not only can the developer not afford to fail, there’s the simple fact that there are more units to move. Regardless of whether there are 20 units or 1,000+ units, developers are working on the same five-year time limit (although their ABSD rule has somewhat relaxed). So with a bigger resulting budget, developers of bigger condos are bound to spend more on print/bus ads, buy more online ads, invite more press visits, invest in a better showroom, etc.
They have the scale to really push the awareness of the project, and that in turn makes it easier for the property agents to push to their clients as well. It’s much easier when the prospect has heard of the development in some form, as compared to one that needs a completely new introduction.
Contrast that to smaller, or boutique condos: when there are 50 or fewer units, developers tend to leave it more to property agents. They leave it to realtors’ blogs, personal networks, fake “official” websites, and roadshows. And if sales aren’t happening, it’s grumbling about the agents’ being subpar.

The thing is, realtors act as individuals first and foremost – and when you do that, it’s like one of those amateur tug-of-war teams where no one is all pulling at the same time. Some of them may not even be pulling in the same direction.
Also, property agencies want a big win. New projects are where they make a large chunk of their money, and they would want to put more into it as they also want to get repeated business from the developer. As such, you’d see a greater emphasis on these projects from the agencies as there’s more effort put into marketing materials and sales kits for their agents. We’ve seen examples, where the marketing slides can go into the 100s, as compared to smaller developments where such material is hard to come by.
More from Stacked
Loss Aversion: Why Do People Fail To Act During Downturns
You’ve probably heard these phrases countless times:
Couple this with the natural advantages that larger developments have, and it may explain why bigger developments tend to see better launch day results, or sell out much faster. And given how expensive a certain property portal is becoming, plus a more cautious turn among buyers, this is definitely a playbook that we will be seeing more as consumers get more selective over their purchases.
Meanwhile, it looks like coffin homes may not be unique to Hong Kong
Some landlords have supposedly started to rent out utility rooms to tenants. Looking at the size of those things, I can’t help but feel it’s by definition taking advantage of someone – nobody but the most desperate or impoverished is going to live there by choice (and for the record, I think those tiny “rooms” provided to domestic helpers are a disgrace too).

These utility rooms are typically found in older, first generation executive flats or maisonettes. The others are from flats that underwent an upgrading programme between 1989 to the early ‘00s. These rooms are typically around 50 to 55 sq. ft., which is about the size of a small office cubicle.
And to be clear, it is illegal to rent out utility rooms to tenants. The problem is, who’s going to make a report?
The people forced to rent these often have no other options; and if they complain, they have as much to lose as the landlord. The landlord may get fined, but they’ll be back out on the street with no affordable accommodation. It’s pretty clear who wins in that scenario. So in a twisted way, the very nature of the tenant demographic is also what allows this to happen.
The best way to prevent this kind of thing isn’t just fines and threats to landlords (not that those should stop if they’re deserved), but more rental options or better controlled rental rates. People won’t roll over and accept a utility room if they can afford better options.
In other property news…
- Did you know there are HDB flats above 1,700 sq. ft., which would be like, 31 utility rooms put together? Here’s where you can find some.
- The price tags on those are too high? Here’s where to find the cheapest and biggest flats in 2024, starting from a more reasonable $690,000.
- There’s been a big price drop at Cuscaden Reserve, following its relaunch. Does that mean it’s now a huge bargain? Eh, it’s a bit more nuanced than that.
- Circular balconies (which tend to go with circular layouts): if you think these are cool, and you love that whole old-school flying saucer vibe, check out the rare condos that have them.
Weekly Sales Roundup
As Friday was a public holiday, there are no new transaction data for the week. Keep a look out for next week’s newsletter for the latest transaction update!
For more on the Singapore property scene, follow us on Stacked.
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.Read next from Singapore Property News

Singapore Property News This 5-Room HDB in Clementi Just Sold For $1.458M: Here’s What The Seller Could Have Made

Singapore Property News 14,000 Homes In Kranji And A Transformed Woodlands — Will The North Become Singapore’s Next Hotspot?

Singapore Property News NDP Rally 2025: The 4 Key Housing Takeaways for Singaporeans

Singapore Property News Springleaf Residence Sells 870 of 941 Units (92%) At Launch — What’s Driving Demand?
Latest Posts

Overseas Property Investing Singaporeans Are Buying More Overseas Homes — But Few Have Prepared For These Things

On The Market We Found The Cheapest And Biggest 5-room Flats Over 1,400 Sq ft You Can Buy Right Now

Pro Low Floor vs. High Floor: What Transaction Data Reveals About the Premium

Editor's Pick Why I Bought A $1.47M 2-Bedroom Stirling Residences Condo Unit: A Buyer’s Case Study

Property Advice The Math Behind Why 30–35 Is The Sweet Spot To Upgrade From HDB To Condo

Pro Can a One-Bedder Outperform a Two-Bedder? We Analysed 5 Years of Data

Editor's Pick We Toured A Freehold Landed Estate In Singapore With Vintage Properties and Top Thai Restaurants

On The Market 5 Cheapest 3-Bedroom Condos To Buy Right Now In 2025 (From $980K)

Homeowner Stories I’m a Former Police Officer Who Now Co-Owns 40 Property Investments Without Managing a Single Tenant: Here’s How

Pro Analysing 10 Years of District 15 Boutique Condo Transactions: Insights Into What Drives Profitability

Editor's Pick The Ideal Size for Each Room of Your Condo to Actually Feel Liveable Revealed

Property Advice 5 Mistakes You Make When Comparing Condo Prices – Your ‘Good Deal’ Might Be Hiding a Secret

Pro District 7 vs District 9: Which Prime Location Has Delivered Better Condo Value?

Overseas Property Investing 4 Hidden Risks To Avoid When Buying Property In Malaysia (A Guide For Singaporeans)

Homeowner Stories I Bought a Freehold Property in Singapore and Regret It — Here’s the Big Mistake I Made
