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Buyers look at transport options, waterfront views

Page views on the STProperty website give an instant snapshot of what projects buyers are keen on. This week, we look at what's attracting attention in District 3 and 4.

Published on Jun 01, 2013


BUYERS typically look at accessibility and transportation options when picking a home.

This makes District 3 appealing to them as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) East-West Line runs through the Alexandra, Queenstown and Tiong Bahru areas.

The top five projects in District 3 (see table) by page views on STProperty in the May 20-26 period were mostly 99-year leaseholds.

Ascentia Sky topped the list, with an average asking price of $1,694 per sq ft (psf) for its two- and three-bedder units during the period.

Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) data showed that the average transacted price per unit for the project between Nov 1 and April 30 this year was $1,595 psf, for the five or fewer units sold during the six-month period.

Alexis - the only freehold property among the top five projects - was second in terms of page views, followed by River Place, Echelon and The Metropolitan Condominium.

The 293-unit Alexis, located on Alexandra Road, also had the highest average asking price of $1,828 psf for its one-, two- and three-bedder units.

Conversely, the 509-unit River Place had the lowest average asking price among the top five at $1,531 psf for its one- and three-bedder units.

District 4, on the other hand, appeals to buyers who want a waterfront view or a spot close to nature and greenery.

It covers the Sentosa, Telok Blangah and HarbourFront areas.

Both freehold condominiums and 99-year leaseholds have attracted attention from buyers.

The recently launched 366-unit Corals at Keppel Bay led the list of top five projects in terms of page views on STProperty for the district in the May 20-26 period.

Corals is the third residential project by Keppel Corporation and Keppel Land on the former Keppel Harbour site, after the 969-unit Caribbean at Keppel Bay and the 1,129-unit Reflections at Keppel Bay.

A Keppel Land spokesman said more than 120 of the 160 launched two- and three-bedder units at Corals have been sold at asking prices ranging from $2,100 psf to $2,500 psf.

Reflections and Caribbean were ranked second and fourth, respectively, on STProperty's top five projects in District 4.

Keppel Land also said that 901 of the 950 launched units for Reflections have been sold since it was released for sale in April 2007. Another 150 units have been set aside for companies to lease.

The Interlace, located at the end of Alexandra Road, and Skyline Residences in the tranquil estate of Telok Blangah, completed the list.

With 124 one-, two- and three-bedder units, Skyline Residences is the only freehold project among the top five and had the highest average asking price of $2,178 psf.

URA data showed that the average transacted price for the project from Nov 1 to April 30 this year was $1,993 psf, based on five or fewer sales transactions.

RACHEL SCULLY