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Shoebox flats rake in higher rental yields
But experts warn rosy times are not expected to last as increasing supply hits market
Published on Apr 20, 2012
The interior of a 388 sq ft unit at Soho 188 in Race Course Road. Data from the Singapore Real Estate Exchange found gross yields for shoebox units were 5.4 per cent in the first three months of the year. This is well above the 2.5 to 3.5 per cent yields that residential properties typically return to investors. But experts expect the yield gap to narrow. -- ST PHOTO: MUGILAN RAJASEGERAN
By Esther Teo, Property Reporter
TINY 'shoebox' homes here are raking in much higher rental yields for investors than other apartment types but experts warn the good times might not last.
Data from the Singapore Real Estate Exchange (SRX) found that gross yields for shoebox apartments were 5.4 per cent in the first three months of the year.
This is well above the 2.5 to 3.5 per cent yields that residential properties typically return to investors.
The SRX shoebox yield was based on the average rent of $6.51 per sq ft (psf) per month for the 197 leasing deals inked in the period. The average unit price of the 123 shoebox homes sold then was $1,450 psf.
Typically, rental yield is calculated by dividing the rental sum received over 12 months into the cost of the unit. But SRX calculated the yield by dividing the average psf rent over 12 months by the average psf price of units sold in the first quarter.
Shoebox units are typically 500 sq ft or smaller and can be found in projects like Parc Imperial, Thomson V One and Prestige Heights.
A total of 42 shoebox units at Prestige Heights have been rented out since the start of the year, SRX's data showed. They enjoyed average rents of $6.89 psf per month with yields at 4.9 per cent.
Just last month, a 409 sq ft unit at the Balestier Road project was leased for $2,850 while another 420 sq ft apartment secured a tenant at $2,700 a month in February.
There were 16 leases signed for shoebox units at Heritage East in East Coast Road, with average rents of $6.30 psf and yields of about 5.1 per cent.
SRX collates and displays transactions by the major property agencies, accounting for more than 80 per cent of resale transactions in the market.
Experts say investors have flocked to the shoebox segment in droves, attracted by the affordable prices - typically less than $1 million. In fact, about one in seven buyers picked up new homes 500 sq ft and smaller last year, according to R'ST Research.
And the climbing yields seem to be the main driver pulling investors in.
Yields of these tiny apartments have climbed from 4.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 to 5.4 per cent in the first quarter this year.
This is more than double the rental yield of 2.4 per cent in the luxury segment, according to analysis by Citi Investment Research. It also dwarfs the 3.6 per cent yield in the mid-end segment and 4.1 per cent yield for mass market homes.
But these high yields are not expected to last as an increasing supply of completed shoebox homes enters the market.
The number of these small homes is expected to double from about 4,100 units later this year to 8,200 units by the end of 2015.
Experts note that many of the completed shoebox apartments are in good locations such as in the city fringe area and River Valley area and are thus commanding decent rentals now.
Many of the upcoming units, however, are in suburban areas, which might not be able to support similar rent levels.
Mr Tan Kok Keong, OrangeTee's research and consultancy head, said that while a dip in prices of shoebox flats could cause yields to rise temporarily, yields are likely to trend towards the norm of 2.5 to 3.5 per cent in the long run as supply picks up.
He expects the yield gap between shoebox units and typical residential yields to narrow to between 0.5 and 1 per cent from 2014 onwards.
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Tips on making a success of a shoebox
Originally Posted by carbuncle
