New condos that saw prices fall soon after completion: What went wrong?

We all say we want a running start to our home values; but we don’t mean a running start off a cliff.

Sometimes though, that’s exactly what happens: The price looks like it’s going to hike up all the surrounding properties, then falls flat when the market turns up its nose.

In this article, we look at some Singapore new condos that have seen their prices fall shortly after completion; and some commentary into what could possibly have gone wrong:

Note: For all of the following except Sky Habitat, we compared the new condos median selling price to the property’s price based on transactions in the last six months.

1. Sky Habitat

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Price drop: $1,589 psf to $1,508 psf, around 5.1 per cent from initial (2012) launch price*

Probable cause: Initial asking price was too high

Sky Habitat is a condo in the Bishan area, and is the tallest skyscraper in Bishan at 38 storeys. When it was initially launched in 2012, the asking prices ranged between $1,435 to $1,893 psf.

Many interested buyers needed to sit down for a few minutes when they heard it.

At that price point, Sky Habitat was the most expensive suburban condo Singapore had ever seen; you’d be looking at prices like $2.18 million for a three-room condo in Bishan (in 2012 mind you).

In 2014 Sky Habitat was relaunched, with asking prices slashed by 10 to 15 per cent. Asking prices ranged from $1,276 to $1,590 psf, with the median price from real transactions being at $1,377 psf.

As such, Sky Habitat’s first price drop after launch can be chalked up to developer overconfidence.

The last property peak was in 2013, so in 2012 developer optimism was still strong; but at a price that could get you a small unit in Orchard, Sky Habitat was a tough sell.

Today, the indicative price range is around $1,446 psf; a roughly five per cent increase from the 2014 relaunch. However, it’s still down around 9.9 per cent from the initial median launch price (in 2012).

Info sheet:

Address: Bishan Street 15 (District 20)

Developer: CapitaLand, Mitsubishi Estate Asia, Shimizu Corp.

Site Area: Approx. 129,137 sq.ft.

Tenure: 99-years

TOP: 2015

Units: 509

2. The Siena

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Price drop: From $1,763 psf to $1,667 psf, around 3.74 per cent

Probable cause: Boutique development with few transactions, and three unprofitable transactions in a short span.

First, we should note that The Siena has only 54 units. A prevalent problem with small developments is the limited number of transactions; even a handful of units selling low can quickly drag down the pricing.

So it doesn’t help that between 2019 to this year, we saw three unprofitable transactions at The Siena:

• Transaction on September 9, 2019 at $1,745 psf (purchased at $2,311 psf, for an overall loss of $451,000)
• Transaction on March 19, 2020 at $1,765 psf (purchased at $1,979 psf, for an overall loss of $115,140
• Transaction on April 27 at $1,629 psf (purchased at $1,717 psf, for an overall loss of $69,456)

There’s also the current market situation to consider. In light of Covid-19, buyers may hold off on high-end developments like The Siena for now, given the higher price tag.

Info sheet:

Address: Tan Kim Cheng Road (District 10)

Developer: Far East Organization

Site Area: Approx. 29,536 sq.ft.

Tenure: 99-years

TOP: 2016

Units: 54

3. Cluny Park Residence

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Price drop: $2,620 psf to $2,345 psf, around 10.5 per cent

Probable cause: More or less the same issue with The Siena

Cluny Park Residence is just 600 metres from The Siena (see #2). It’s also a boutique development, with just 52 units; so you can see the two developments share largely similar issues.

Note that Cluny Park Residence started off on a much higher price, however, as it’s just next to the Botanic Gardens MRT station.

Another reason for the much higher initial price is that Cluny Park Residence is a freehold property; but at its young age (it was completed in 2016), the freehold status doesn’t make enough of a difference to the resale price yet.

Units are also quite small in comparison to the rest of the immediate area, so at the initial asking prices it was quite a tough ask as those who could afford such prices would probably prefer bigger living spaces.

Info sheet:

Address: Cluny Park Road (District 10)

Developer: Shelford Properties Pte. Ltd.

Site Area: Approx. 48,907 sq.ft.

Tenure: Freehold

TOP: 2016

Units: 52

4. Hills TwoOne

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Price drop: $1,386 psf to $1,052 psf, around 24 per cent

Probable cause: Units are on the small end, although there’s only 71 of them. It’s far from the MRT station and amenities.

This development has mainly one to three-room units only, despite having 71 units. Most units don’t go beyond 947 sq.ft. (the largest are up to 1,055 sq.ft).

All of this is in a single, six-storey block. You may feel that tight interior space, even if the developer did a good job keeping the common facilities green and open.

You’ll also want to drive if you live here. West Mall, the nearest major mall, is around a kilometre away; as are the Bukit Batok town centre and MRT station.

The main issue could be the combination of small units, in a less urbanised area like Bukit Batok.

Buyers who choose this sort of location tend to be willing to sacrifice convenience for space; but with all the small units squeezed into one block, they may feel like they’re getting neither.

Info sheet:

Address: 21 Hillview Terrace (District 23)

Developer: MACLY RL PTE LTD.

Site Area: Approx. 28,175 sq.ft.

Tenure: Freehold

TOP: 2016

Units: 71

5. Marina One Residences

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Price drop: $2,400 psf to $2,340 psf, around 2.5 per cent

Probable cause: Strong alternatives in prime region properties, rental market jitters

If you’ve bought a unit here, don’t panic. It’s hard for a Marina Bay area condo to go wrong. However, the slight dip in price is likely due to the strong slate of offerings in central districts.

In particular, buyers and investors have paid more attention to new condos in areas like District 7 of late. This is where prices are rising to beat out Orchard, and we’ve seen low quantum offerings like Midtown Bay and The M.

Besides this, there are fears of a weakening rental market in the aftermath of Covid-19. Apart from travel restrictions, there are the usual fears that a global downturn will see companies cut housing allowances, and bring in fewer expatriates.

That means a tough rental market for prime region condos, such as Marina One (and consequently, investor interest in lower quantum properties as mentioned above).

This dip is likely to be a short-term issue for Marina One Residences .

Info sheet:

Address: Marina Way (District 1)

Developer: M + S Pte. Ltd.

Site Area: Approx. 282,017 sq.ft.

Tenure: 99-years

TOP: 2017

Units: 1,042

This article was first published in Stackedhomes.