http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/...ities-20130209
Show-flats open despite festivities
Published on Feb 09, 2013
By Esther Teo Property Correspondent
THE notion that property takes a back seat during the festive weekend seems to have gone out the window going by the number of show-flats that will be open.
Changing lifestyles and interests and smaller family units mean many people find themselves with more free time during the Chinese New Year break, experts say.
Developers have been quick to spot the trend.
Far East Organization, for one, will keep all its show-flats open.
It will also throw in a special festive treat in the form of a 3.88 per cent discount for projects like Hillsta in Choa Chu Kang, Seastrand in Pasir Ris and Seawind in the East Coast area.
The Frasers Centrepoint Homes project Q Bay Residences in Tampines will be open as will EL Development's La Fiesta in Sengkang and CapitaLand condos d'Leedon in Leedon Heights, The Interlace in Alexandra Road and Sky Habitat in Bishan.
Buyers have shown in the past that Chinese New Year celebrations can involve plonking down cash on a new home.
An impressive 224 homes were snapped up at Watertown in Punggol Central during the festival in January last year.
Sales are often assumed to slow during seasonal lulls such as the December school holidays, the Hungry Ghost Festival and Chinese New Year but things have been changing in recent years with home-seekers willing to buy all year round.
EL Development managing director Lim Yew Soon said he decided to keep the La Fiesta show-flat open as marketing agents had mentioned that buyers had expressed interest in viewing the project despite the festivities. "People might take time to browse after visiting their relatives and so sales might still happen on the first day of Chinese New Year," he said.
"In the past, there was no proven track record but the success of Watertown's launch last year proved that people are still willing to visit and buy homes during this period."
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