Demand drops for latest BTO projects
By Mustafa Shafawi | Posted: 07 February 2011 1035 hrs
SINGAPORE: The latest three Build-To-Order (BTO) projects by the Housing Board Development in Bukit Batok and Yishun are not seeing the same level of interest as the previous project in Punggol.
At the latest available update, the three developments in Yishun and Bukit Batok drew about 1.99 applicants for each unit offered.
In contrast, the Punggol Topaz BTO project launched in December had nearly seven applicants for each unit offered.
The Golden Daisy BTO project in Bukit Batok, which comprises 180 studio apartments, had three applicants for each unit.
Studio apartments are only available to those aged 55 and above and have elderly-friendly features such as support grab bars and ramps.
The two other projects are Orchid Spring and Vista Spring in Yishun, offering 1548 units.
Vista Spring is the more popular of the two BTO projects in Yishun.
There were more than two applicants for each of the 276 five-room units.
The other BTO project in Yishun, Orchid Spring, had about 1.5 applicants for each unit.
Five-room flats proved to be more popular, with 2.5 applications for each unit offered.
In contrast, the 192 two-room units received only 124 applications, or 0.7 applications per unit.
Market watchers said launching the projects over the Lunar New Year period could have been the reason for the poorer response as property activity usually slows down during this period.
Flat buyers may also be waiting for upcoming launches.
ERA key executive officer Eugene Lim said: "I would suspect that many of the first-time buyers are actually waiting on the wings for the DBSS (Design, Build and Sell Scheme) site to launch, because for DBSS you can expect condo-style finishes and fittings as well as layout".
Mr Lim added that DBSS flat buyers paid only a slightly higher price than a BTO flat.
The DBSS project is expected to be launched in the first half of this year. Application closes at midnight.
-CNA/fa/wk
- wong chee tat :)
Showing posts with label Punggol Topaz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Punggol Topaz. Show all posts
Monday, February 7, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Punggol Topaz popular with home buyers
Punggol Topaz popular with home buyers
By Joanne Chan | Posted: 04 January 2011 1147 hrs
SINGAPORE : The Housing and Development Board's (HDB) latest public housing project, Punggol Topaz, is a hit with home buyers.
As at 5pm on Tuesday, it received 6,846 applications for the 1,010 units available. This works out to nearly 7 applications for each unit offered. Applications close at midnight.
But the strong demand for new flats is proving to be a continuing problem for those in search of their first home.
27-year-old Han Heyuan and his fiancee Kristin Chan have been house-hunting for the past two years.
Put off by high asking prices in the resale market, they set their sights on a new flat.
But it has been four times unlucky for the couple.
They said: "We have tried for four different applications - two BTO (Build-To-Order) flats and two Sale of Balance Flats. And so far, we have not been successful. We had a few opportunities to do an HDB (first) appointment. But unfortunately, by the time our queue number arrived, we received the unfortunate SMS from HDB that our ethnic quota has been filled."
Hoping their fifth attempt proves to be the winner, the couple recently applied for a five-room flat in Punggol Topaz.
HDB sets aside 95 per cent of all new flats for first timers. But for couples like Mr Han and his fiancee, the odds do not appear to be in their favour. Short of a successful ballot this time, their only option is to continue staying with their parents or to fork out thousands of dollars in cash to secure a resale flat.
Market watchers are not surprised by the strong interest in Punggol Topaz, due to its good location - it is walking distance to Punggol MRT station and Punggol Reservoir.
Another factor is the price.
Eugene Lim, associate director at ERA Asia Pacific, said: "The pricing of the flats is about 20 to 25 per cent cheaper than resale flats in the area. And these resale flats are already 10 years old. So this makes the new flats attractive to first-time buyers."
For example, a four-room unit in Punggol Topaz costs S$329,000, while a similar sized resale flat in the surrounding area can fetch up to S$432,000.
Market watchers said Punggol Topaz is unique in its attributes and not all projects will see such a high demand.
The last BTO project in Yishun drew just over three applicants for each unit offered.
HDB has said it plans to release 11,000 new flats in the first half of this year.
- CNA/ac/ms
- wong chee tat :)
By Joanne Chan | Posted: 04 January 2011 1147 hrs
SINGAPORE : The Housing and Development Board's (HDB) latest public housing project, Punggol Topaz, is a hit with home buyers.
As at 5pm on Tuesday, it received 6,846 applications for the 1,010 units available. This works out to nearly 7 applications for each unit offered. Applications close at midnight.
But the strong demand for new flats is proving to be a continuing problem for those in search of their first home.
27-year-old Han Heyuan and his fiancee Kristin Chan have been house-hunting for the past two years.
Put off by high asking prices in the resale market, they set their sights on a new flat.
But it has been four times unlucky for the couple.
They said: "We have tried for four different applications - two BTO (Build-To-Order) flats and two Sale of Balance Flats. And so far, we have not been successful. We had a few opportunities to do an HDB (first) appointment. But unfortunately, by the time our queue number arrived, we received the unfortunate SMS from HDB that our ethnic quota has been filled."
Hoping their fifth attempt proves to be the winner, the couple recently applied for a five-room flat in Punggol Topaz.
HDB sets aside 95 per cent of all new flats for first timers. But for couples like Mr Han and his fiancee, the odds do not appear to be in their favour. Short of a successful ballot this time, their only option is to continue staying with their parents or to fork out thousands of dollars in cash to secure a resale flat.
Market watchers are not surprised by the strong interest in Punggol Topaz, due to its good location - it is walking distance to Punggol MRT station and Punggol Reservoir.
Another factor is the price.
Eugene Lim, associate director at ERA Asia Pacific, said: "The pricing of the flats is about 20 to 25 per cent cheaper than resale flats in the area. And these resale flats are already 10 years old. So this makes the new flats attractive to first-time buyers."
For example, a four-room unit in Punggol Topaz costs S$329,000, while a similar sized resale flat in the surrounding area can fetch up to S$432,000.
Market watchers said Punggol Topaz is unique in its attributes and not all projects will see such a high demand.
The last BTO project in Yishun drew just over three applicants for each unit offered.
HDB has said it plans to release 11,000 new flats in the first half of this year.
- CNA/ac/ms
- wong chee tat :)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
BTO project in Punggol launched
BTO project in Punggol launched
By S Ramesh | Posted: 22 December 2010 1234 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has launched another Build-To-Order (BTO) project - the Punggol Topaz with 1,010 standard flats - in Punggol.
HDB said 95 per cent of the flat supply would be set aside for first-timer households.
With the launch on Wednesday, HDB would have offered a total of 17,713 new flats for sale under the BTO and Sale of Balance Flat exercise in 2010.
Punggol Topaz, located along Punggol Way and Punggol Field, comprises 184 units of three-room, 542 units of four-room and 284 units of five-room flats.
Facilities to be provided at this development include a supermarket, an eating house, shops, a child care centre, and a Residents' Committee Centre.
Other facilities available in Punggol town to serve the future residents include the nearby Punggol MRT/LRT station, bus interchange, and the future town centre.
The Tampines Expressway (TPE) and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) are a short drive away, offering good connectivity to the rest of Singapore.
In line with HDB's plans to develop Punggol as an Eco-Town, Punggol Topaz is designed for Green Mark Certification, with eco-friendly features.
The layout of blocks and units is oriented to minimise heat gain from the sun.
It is designed with ecologically friendly features such as dry ponds and rain gardens that help to maintain the quality of surface runoff from rainwater before it is discharged into the drainage system.
The selling prices for the flats range from S$166,000 to S$207,000 for a three-room flat, S$267,000 to S$329,000 for a four-room flat and S$335,000 to S$406,000 for a five-room flat.
For 2011, HDB said it is prepared to launch up to 22,000 new BTO flats, if demand is sustained.
In the first quarter of next year, HDB will launch about 5,000 BTO flats. These BTO flats will be located in towns such as Bukit Panjang, Jurong West, Yishun and Sengkang.
The next BTO launch in January 2011 will offer 1,700 flats in Bukit Batok and Yishun.
- CNA/wk
- wong chee tat :)
By S Ramesh | Posted: 22 December 2010 1234 hrs
SINGAPORE: The Housing & Development Board (HDB) has launched another Build-To-Order (BTO) project - the Punggol Topaz with 1,010 standard flats - in Punggol.
HDB said 95 per cent of the flat supply would be set aside for first-timer households.
With the launch on Wednesday, HDB would have offered a total of 17,713 new flats for sale under the BTO and Sale of Balance Flat exercise in 2010.
Punggol Topaz, located along Punggol Way and Punggol Field, comprises 184 units of three-room, 542 units of four-room and 284 units of five-room flats.
Facilities to be provided at this development include a supermarket, an eating house, shops, a child care centre, and a Residents' Committee Centre.
Other facilities available in Punggol town to serve the future residents include the nearby Punggol MRT/LRT station, bus interchange, and the future town centre.
The Tampines Expressway (TPE) and Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) are a short drive away, offering good connectivity to the rest of Singapore.
In line with HDB's plans to develop Punggol as an Eco-Town, Punggol Topaz is designed for Green Mark Certification, with eco-friendly features.
The layout of blocks and units is oriented to minimise heat gain from the sun.
It is designed with ecologically friendly features such as dry ponds and rain gardens that help to maintain the quality of surface runoff from rainwater before it is discharged into the drainage system.
The selling prices for the flats range from S$166,000 to S$207,000 for a three-room flat, S$267,000 to S$329,000 for a four-room flat and S$335,000 to S$406,000 for a five-room flat.
For 2011, HDB said it is prepared to launch up to 22,000 new BTO flats, if demand is sustained.
In the first quarter of next year, HDB will launch about 5,000 BTO flats. These BTO flats will be located in towns such as Bukit Panjang, Jurong West, Yishun and Sengkang.
The next BTO launch in January 2011 will offer 1,700 flats in Bukit Batok and Yishun.
- CNA/wk
- wong chee tat :)
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