http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/...72740,00.html?

Published October 15, 2010

More than half of new Handy Rd project sold

Suites at Orchard prices range from $1.18m for 1-bedder to $3m for 3-bedroom duplex

By KALPANA RASHIWALA


ROBERT Kuok's Singapore-listed property unit Allgreen Properties had sold about 65 apartments in its 118-unit Suites at Orchard project at Handy Road as of 630 pm yesterday.


Suites at Orchard attraction: Buyers are said to be drawn to the $2,000-$2,200 per sq ft 99-year leasehold units for their good location, including the convenience of the MRT station nearby, the investment potential plus the reputation of the developer

The average price for the 99-year leasehold project, a stone's throw from The Cathay and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations, is in the $2,000-$2,200 per square foot range, said Margaret Thean, executive director of DTZ, the project's sole marketing agent.

In absolute price terms, units cost from about $1.18 million for a one-bedder to about $3 million for a three-bedroom duplex unit of 1,550 sq ft or 1,571 sq ft.

About 40 per cent of the units are one bedders or one bedders with study: 37 per cent are two bedders or two bedders with study.

There are 10 duplex units (all three bedders) and 16 penthouses (one, two and three-bedroom units).

Unit sizes range from 548 sq ft for a one bedder to 2,551 sq ft for a two-bedroom apartment with study and private enclosed space.

Allgreen previewed the development to its directors and staff on Wednesday; sales to VVIPs on the developer's and DTZ's lists started yesterday.

The 10-storey project is expected to receive Temporary Occupation Permit in about two-and-a-half years.

'About 65 per cent of buyers are Singaporeans. Many of those who purchased were young professionals although we've also had families picking up two units. Some bought for their children, some for investment with a view to renting out the units perhaps to foreign students and lecturers in the nearby educational institutions like SMU,' Ms Thean said.

'Buyers have been drawn by the project's attractive location, including the convenience of the MRT station nearby, the investment potential plus the reputation of the developer,' she added.