Housing
Four Bidadari flats sold for over S$1 Million after reaching MOP
Bidadari’s Alkaff Vista estate has witnessed a surge in million-dollar HDB resale flat sales, with four units surpassing S$1 million after meeting their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP). A five-room flat fetched S$1.2 million in September. Meanwhile, some residents have resorted to placing signs on their doors to deter persistent property agents.
SINGAPORE: Bidadari’s Alkaff Vista estate has seen a surge in million-dollar Housing and Development Board (HDB) resale flat transactions, with four units crossing the S$1 million mark following the completion of their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).
These high-value sales took place between August and September, showcasing the rising appeal of the centrally located estate.
Alkaff Vista, a Build-to-Order (BTO) project consisting of four blocks, was initially launched between 2015 and 2016.
Prices for four-room flats ranged from S$433,000 to S$682,000 during that period, depending on factors such as floor level and location, according to PropertyNets.SG.
Now, four out of the five resale flats in the estate have fetched prices exceeding S$1 million.
A check on HDB website indicated that the highest resale transaction recorded so far is a five-room flat at Block 106A Bidadari Park Drive, which sold for a staggering S$1.2 million in September.
This unit, located mid-level in the 17-storey block, is classified as an “improved” flat model.
Other significant transactions include:
- A high-floor unit at Block 106B, sold for S$1.17 million.
- A flat at Block 106A, between the 13th and 15th floors, sold for S$1.13 million.
- A unit at Block 106B, between the 10th and 12th floors, sold for S$1.08 million.
Meanwhile, the only unit sold below S$1 million was a low-floor flat at Block 105A, which changed hands for S$937,500.
Demand Fueled by Strategic Location and Design
Alkaff Vista’s strategic location plays a pivotal role in the skyrocketing prices.
Situated within a five-minute walk from Potong Pasir MRT Station and a 13-minute walk from Woodleigh MRT, the estate offers residents easy access to Singapore’s public transport network.
Both stations lie on the North-East Line (NEL), providing seamless connectivity to key destinations like Dhoby Ghaut and HarbourFront.
Bidadari, part of the mature estate of Toa Payoh, has been designed as a “community in a garden,” featuring vast green spaces, parks, and walkable areas.
The 10-hectare Bidadari Park adds to the estate’s appeal, offering residents a serene environment amidst urban living.
Additionally, the estate is located near well-regarded schools such as Cedar Primary and Secondary, Maris Stella High School, and Stamford American International School, making it a prime choice for families.
PropertyNets.SG also attributes the rise in prices to the estate’s well-thought-out housing layouts and proximity to these public transport hubs, which significantly increase its attractiveness to potential buyers.
Residents at Alkaff Vista Urge Property Agents to ‘Stop Knocking on Our Doors’
While some homeowners have benefited from the lucrative resale market, not all are pleased with the increased attention.
According to Shin Min Daily News, several residents have reported being bombarded by property agents who visit their homes nearly every day, prompting some to place signs outside their doors, requesting that agents refrain from knocking as they have no intention to sell.
Housing
Flash data: HDB resale prices rise 2.5% in Q3 2024 as demand remains strong
The HDB’s latest flash data reported a 2.5% increase in resale prices for Q3 2024, up from 2.3% in Q2 and significantly higher than the 1.3% rise in the same period last year. Transaction volumes also surged to 8,035 units as of 29 Sept, compared to 7,352 in Q2. HDB defended that million-dollar transactions made up a small proportion, with most flats sold at “much lower prices” in Q3.
SINGAPORE: The Housing and Development Board (HDB) reported an acceleration in resale-price growth for the third quarter of 2024, with prices increasing by 2.5% compared to a 2.3% rise in the previous quarter.
This growth marks a significant increase from the 1.3% recorded in the same period last year, as indicated by HDB’s flash estimates released on 1 October.
Transaction volumes of resale flats also showed robust performance, reaching 8,035 units sold as of 29 September. This figure represents a 20% increase from the same period last year and a notable rise from the 7,352 units sold in Q2.
Despite the rise in prices and volumes, million-dollar transactions continued to make up a small proportion of total resales, with the majority of flats being transacted at “much lower prices,” according to HDB.
The agency attributed the surge in both resale prices and transaction volumes to “strong broad-based demand,” coupled with a tightening supply in the market.
Fewer new flats have met the minimum occupation period this year compared to the previous year.
HDB noted that these trends reflect market conditions prior to the recent policy change that lowered the loan-to-value limit for HDB loans from 80% to 75%, effective 20 August.
This move aims to cool the resale market and encourage greater financial prudence among homebuyers.
“The government will continue to monitor the property market closely and adjust its policies as necessary to promote a stable and sustainable property market,” HDB stated.
It also urged households to exercise caution in their property purchases, warning that the cyclical nature of the market means those who buy at high prices may face greater challenges when prices eventually decline.
Since the beginning of the year, HDB resale prices have risen by 6.8%, a faster pace than the 3.8% increase observed during the same timeframe last year.
However, this growth rate still lags behind the 8% spike recorded in the first three quarters of 2022.
Looking ahead, HDB is set to offer approximately 8,500 flats across 15 Build-to-Order (BTO) projects in its October 2024 BTO exercise, which is the final exercise scheduled for the year.
This offering will account for 40% of the total BTO flats supplied this year.
The October BTO exercise will also introduce a new classification of HDB flats into Standard, Plus, or Prime categories based on their location attributes.
Housing
Bukit Panjang makes history with first-ever million-dollar resale flat
In September, a Bukit Panjang HDB executive resale flat achieved a historic milestone, selling for $1.02 million, the first in the estate to breach the million-dollar mark.
As per SRI, 2023 has seen 322 million-dollar HDB resale deals to date, compared to 369 in 2022.
SINGAPORE: The serene residential enclave of Bukit Panjang has witnessed its first-ever million-dollar Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat sale, sending shockwaves through the local real estate market.
The record-breaking transaction occurred in September when a spacious 127 square meter (1,367 square feet) executive apartment, situated on levels 28 to 38 of Block 181 Jelebu Road, changed hands for a staggering $1.02 million, equating to a price per square foot (psf) of $746.
As per Singapore Realtors Inc (SRI), this highly coveted flat boasts a prime location nestled between the 28th and 30th floors of Block 181, a well-established development along Jelebu Road, completed in 2003.
Block 181 is renowned for its diverse mix of four-room, five-room, and executive flats.
The flat’s lease commenced in 2003, making the development approximately 20 years old.
SRI highlighted that Bukit Panjang has faced a scarcity of Build-to-Order (BTO) projects in recent years, with the last BTO launch dating back to 2016.
Consequently, resale properties within this sought-after enclave of Bukit Panjang have become a preferred choice among homebuyers seeking a place to call their own.
The strategic positioning of this development further enhances its appeal, offering close proximity to key amenities such as the Bukit Panjang MRT station on the downtown line (approximately 148 meters away), the bustling Hillion Mall, and the Bukit Panjang Integrated Transport Hub, just a short 5-minute walk away.
This enviable accessibility to public transportation and shopping centers positions this resale flat as an attractive and practical option for those seeking a convenient and comfortable living experience in Bukit Panjang.
A range of schools is conveniently located within a 1 to 2-kilometer radius of the HDB resale flat, including West View Primary School, Zhenghua Primary School, Greenridge Primary School, Bukit Panjang Primary School, Chua Chu Kang Secondary School, and West Spring Secondary School.
322 Million-Dollar deals to date
According to SRI, to date, a total of 322 million-dollar HDB resale deals have transpired within the first nine months of 2023, in contrast to the 369 million-dollar deals recorded in 2022.
Over the past few years, numerous residential estates across the island have borne witness to the phenomenon of million-dollar transactions, with notable exceptions being Choa Chu Kang, Jurong West, Sembawang, and Sengkang.
Singapore in August this year witnessed a significant surge in the resale market for HDB flats, a total of 54 HDB resale flats were transacted for at least $1,000,000, marking a notable increase compared to July 2023, which saw 32 such transactions, and June of the same year, with 34 million-dollar flat sales.
This is also the highest volume of resale flats transacted for at least $1 million to date, according to data from the Singapore Real Estate Exchange (SRX) issued on September.
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