Buying a flat in Singapore now is so amazingly different compared to just a decade ago. Today, you can pop into this website and make yr purchase w/o leaving your armchair! ;)

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu001.nsf/gallery_bto.html

I'm gonna show you guys an example of the units being iffered for sale for this month. Real cool! Even public housing can have marketing! ;)

The Build-To-Order Scheme

The Build-to-Order (BTO) is a responsive system that offers flexibility to applicants in location and timing when buying a flat. Eligible flat buyers planning to set up a family or upgrade to a bigger flat in the near future, can apply for flats in their preferred location from specific sites launched in the non-mature estates.

Sites launched under BTO offer either 4-room or 5-room apartments, or both, with standard or premium finishes. Tender for construction will be called only when most of the apartments in a specific site have been booked.

Construction of the successful contracts will complete in approximately 21/2 to 3 years' time.

Build-to-Order Launch September 2003

HDB has just launched the BTO on 4th September 2003 for three sites in Punggol, Sengkang and Sembawang. Applications close in three weeks on 24 September 2003.

Visit the Exhibition now on at the Habitat Forum (HDB Showroom), BizFour 3rd Storey, HDB Hub, during office hours. Town maps, estate layout models, information panels and mock-up show flats are available for viewing.

For those interested in 4-room apartments in existing contracts in Punggol and Sengkang, applications are now opened under this BTO.

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_img_logo.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_t_img_abt1.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_t_img_Abt2.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_t_img_Abt3.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_t_img_Abt4.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_nav_abt_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_abt_1atos.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_abt_2AGS.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_abt_3AILS.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_abt_4LC.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_nav_townmap_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_townmap.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_nav_3dmodel_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_1.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_2.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_3.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_4.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_5.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_6.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_7.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_8.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_9.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_3dbig_10.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_nav_specs_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPG_images/$file/0308BTOPG_specs.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_img_logo.gif
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_img.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_nav_about_r.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_img_abt.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_hdr_about.gif
Once acclaimed for its sumptuous seafood and boatels that provided services like docking
and renting of boats for boating, waterskiing and skin-diving lessons, Punggol is now
developing into a Waterfront Town of the 21st Century. At Punggol, everyday is a new
adventure, every activity a new lifestyle.

A ripple has started and is about to make waves...
Experience a new lifestyle at Punggol!

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_img_travel.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_hdr_travel.gif
Catching a flight for a business trip? You will be pleasantly surprised that getting round to
the airport, or nearby towns like Pasir Ris, Tampines and Sengkang, is such a breeze.
The Tampines Expressway is just minutes away.

With the North-East MRT line up and running, enjoy quick and hassle-free connections islandwide
with the comprehensive rail network.

That's not all. Look forward to upcoming facilities like a temporary bus interchange and the Punggol LRT.
Planned from the start, transportation is well integrated and most residents would not need to
walk more than 300 metres to the nearest LRT stop.

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_img_shopping.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_hdr_shop.gif

The Town Centre and 2 commercial centres in Punggol promise to be alive with youthful energy.
With a wide range of commercial facilities comprising retail, entertainment and eating
establishments, your needs are well taken care of.

What's more … you will find clusters of shops strategically located near the LRT stations. You are
never too far from getting your urgently-needed groceries or satisfying your sudden crave for
that favourite food.

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_img_housing.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_hdr_housing.gif

Punggol boasts a new and exciting design concept that will encourage interaction with your
new neighbours and spark off a vibrant community spirit.

Intimately yours
Smaller and more intimate estates of about 1000 and 3000 dwelling units are clustered
around a common green. This lush and manicured stretch of greenery is also complemented
with playground, hardcourt, fitness corner, pavilions, and linkways. Definitely a great place
for relaxation and communal get-togethers with relatives, neighbours and friends.

Seamless Integration
Blocks are meticulously integrated with the car park, offering seamless convenience as you
make your way from the car to the lift lobby. Such a feature is almost exclusive to Punggol 21.

Green Transformation
Adding to the greenery of your estate is the top-most deck of the multi-storey car park that is
ingenuously transformed into a landscaped garden. Accentuated by pergolas and timber-decked
areas, you now have more intimate spaces for recreation and interaction.

Grand Entrance
Announcing your arrival are block entrances and lift lobbies that are adorned with luxurious
granite cladding, colourful mosaic murals, and interesting floor patterns. An identity you will
certainly be proud to be associated with.

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_nav_townmap_R.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_townmap_4room.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_t_legend.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_nav_specs_r.gif

GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOPGE_images/$file/0308BTOPGE_specs.jpg

WOW!....The first project's design is exquisite!!...Yet move all my paraphernalia to there is an exuberant idea!!

Kaoz...what a bunch of words there chad!! :D

How about this project then? ;)

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSk_images/$file/0308BTOSk_img_logo.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_t_img_abt1.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_t_img_abt2.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_t_img_abt3.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_t_img_abt4.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSk_images/$file/0308BTOSk_nav_abt_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_abt_1BDF.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_abt_2TAYD.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_abt_3AHYD.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_abt_4TTOML.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_nav_townmap_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_townmap.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_nav_3dmodel_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_1.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_2.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_3.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_4.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_5.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_6.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_7.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_8.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_9.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSK_images/$file/0308BTOSK_3dbig_10.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_img_logo.gif
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_t_img.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_nav_abt_r.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_content_abt.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_content_transportation_links.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_content_community_activities.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_content_shopping_and_dining.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_content_sport_and_recreation.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_content_educational_institutions.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_nav_townmap_r.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_townmap_4room.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_nav_specs_r.gif

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSKB_images/$file/0308BTOSKB_specs.jpg

i thought you can't buy land in SG unless you were from SG and married? or something like that:?

Third and final project launch for this month:

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_img_logo.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_t_img_Abt2.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_t_img_Abt1.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_t_img_Abt3.jpghttp://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_t_img_Abt4.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_nav_abt_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_abt_1PQS.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_abt_2JS.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_abt_3BTEI.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_abt_4AIEFG.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_nav_townmap_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_townmap.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_nav_3dmodel.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_1.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_2.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_3.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_4.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_5.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_6.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_7.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_8.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_9.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_10.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_3dbig_11.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_nav_specs_r.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu08p.nsf/0/0308BTOSB_images/$file/0308BTOSB_specs.jpg

there's a problem-----i'm poor>(

Neon...these are supposed to be the cheapest form of housing in Singapore! :D

Some information for the above projects (chk out the prices):


Punggol
New BTO site, The Sundial (PGE S1 C24 & 24A)
Number of 4-Rooms: 903
Indicative Minimum Selling Price: SG$138,000
Existing contracts (PGE S1 C5A & S6 C31)
Number of 4-Rooms: 136
Indicative Minimum Selling Price: SG$137,000

Sengkang
New BTO site, The Coris (SK N2 C32)
Number of 4-Rooms: 448
Indicative Minimum Selling Price: SG$157,000
Existing contracts (Sk N2 C2, N2 C31, N4 C2 & N4 C5)
Number of 4-Rooms: 485
Indicative Minimum Selling Price: SG$115,000

Sembawang
New BTO site, Spring Lodge (SB N4 C10)
Number of 4-Rooms: 432
Indicative Minimum Selling Price: SG$126,000


These flats can only be sold to Singaporeans and Permanant Residents. As every citizen has a govt pension fund, they can use these savings to pay for the installments for their flats. Also, each Singaporean has, in theory, a grant of SG$20,000 as a form of subsidy for flats, because the selling price of flats are usually lowered for first-time-buyers and for new flats.

Foreigners can buy the flats, but they must be part of a family with at least one member being a Singaporean. They can only buy from the resale market. Homeowners can sell their flat after a period of 5 years of taking possession of their flat (this is to avoid speculative buyers, which caused prices to sky rocket).

what's SG$126,000 in US dollars?

I used an online currency converter.

1 USD = 1.75754 SGD

Therefore:

126,000.00 SGD = 71,691.14 USD

How is that price? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei
I used an online currency converter.

1 USD = 1.75754 SGD

Therefore:

126,000.00 SGD = 71,691.14 USD

How is that price? ;)

thats a nice price:)

what are the rules of ownership of apartment in Singapore..is it allowed for foreigners/turists to own a apartment in Singapore?
:)

that's a good price:D

hmm.. so even single singaporeans can buy flats? i thought only married couples can buy flats, as you tell me?

to buy hdb flats you have to be married, or be over 35. and even if you're over 35 but not married you can only get the three room flats i think... but you can buy private property at any age....

oh right.. hdb flats are? and they are different from flats built by private companies? and if so why did huaiwei put "public flat" in his thread:?

seriously, i'm confused..

HDB stands for Housing and Development Authority, which is the sole govenmental Public Housing Authority here. Of coz if i keep going "HDB flats", non-singaporeans arent going to noe what I am talking about.

Basically, the idea of this thread is to show just how far public housing has come to since its humble beginings in the 1950s under the British. If I did not mention these are public flats, no one, even Singaporeans, would have realised they are public flats!! ;)

ok. and the ones you posted are HDB flats right?

but still some of my questions are still left unanswered clearly. and i'd like to ask some more questions

are non-singaporeans able to buy a flat/apartment, such as the ones you posted?

are there such things are flats built by private developers? if yes, are there any striking differences between the two?

Yes they are ALL HDB flats. I tot its quite obvious from the beginning.

I said a non-Singaporean can only buy a flat if he/she has a spouse who is a Singaporean.

There are, of coz, plenty of private residential developments as well, which may be landed or high rise like these public blocks. You can see so many of them here:

http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54176

Increasingly today, the differences between public and private developments have narrowed till it is almost impossible to differentiate them in many cases, at least via physical appearences alone. The only big physical difference left now is that private developments are fenced in, and tend to have their own recreational facilities.

I am still collecting photos of both developments. Hopefully one fine day I can do a mini quiz on their differences. :D

I have been meaning to do this thread for some time, although it is delayed due to me not having much time to take more photos. I still do not have many so far, but nonetheless, why wait? :D

Here is just a small sampling of some blocks being built, all of which are in mature estates that are already built-up. There are mass-building programs in the newer towns which I will photograph soon. ;)

Clementi New Town

Block 461

January 2003
http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/01/179984.jpg

July 2003
http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/11/228633.jpg

November 2003
http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/11/230196.jpg

Block 462

December 2002
http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2002/12/175264.jpg

January 2003
http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/01/179986.jpg

July 2003
http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/11/228635.jpg

November 2003
http://www.emporis.co.uk/files/transfer/6/2003/11/230197.jpg

huaiwei cool!..more singapore-pics!!!:)

Here's some more! :D

March 2003

Toa Payoh Block 145

http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/03/185525.jpg

This is the Obayashi Construction canopy system I mentioned somewhere earlier. I did not go near to the site till now, but the building has risen so high, I can see the canopy from my flat!

Those u/c in Clementi look very untypical for HDB Blocks. Why is it a new-town? Clementi has been around for a long time.
The coffeeshop at the bus-interchange there used to be my favourite hangout with colleagues after camp. Great fried chicken!

I thought Toa Payoh is already saturated, being the first HDB estate in Singapore?:?

Why is there a canopy? That is something I haven't ever seen before..........

Originally posted by rj2uman

Why is there a canopy? That is something I haven't ever seen before.......... It is to allow for all-weather construction to be carried out. Obayashi was supposedly the company that invented it, and they have used it for several other buildings. I think this is the first time they are using it on a public block, most like as an experiment, as it is the only block in that precinct with it.

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Those u/c in Clementi look very untypical for HDB Blocks. Why is it a new-town? Clementi has been around for a long time.
The coffeeshop at the bus-interchange there used to be my favourite hangout with colleagues after camp. Great fried chicken!

I thought Toa Payoh is already saturated, being the first HDB estate in Singapore?:? Haha! Basically all towns from Queenstown onwards are known as New Towns. Actually the term does not mean they are "new". The name actually came from the planning concept impliment, which was know as the "New Town Concept" coined by the British.

These photos I am showing are all redevelopment projects (SERS - Selective En-block Redevelopment Scheme), whereby old blocks were demolished and rebuilt. These towers are usually at leadt 25 floors high, with the latest batch going up to 40 floors. I will be taking photos of them once they start building.

Here are the other blocks belonging to the same batch of flats as the above in Toa Payoh, all taken at the same time:

March 2003

Toa Payoh Block 146

http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/03/185526.jpg
(The Obayashi Canopy can be seen to the right)

Toa Payoh Block 147

http://www.imagenode.com/files/transfer/6/2003/03/185527.jpg

wah interesting construction method ...

what are the different style of public housing in sing?

they look quite nice ...

Looks like a nice place to live.:D
I can see that it will turn out to be fine buildings when finished.;)

So many projects going on in Sigapore~sounds nice too.

It seems like there are thousands of units being built in SG all the time. Is there a housing shortage?

I think so...:rant:

Originally posted by RafflesCity

I think so...:rant: Housing shortage?? :D In theory, there is always demand due to a never ending flow of coubles getting married, and they basically try to match the pace of building with remand levels. Of coz they cant always do it accurately, like how the resent sudden economic meltdown caused flats to be allocated to the public faster then expected....and they had to scale down on. At other times, when the demand was so great, you can wait up to 5 years to get a flat!

These problems should be roughly curtailed now thanks to the new Build-to-order system. The HDB would put up a batch of flats for offering, and if over a certain % of applicants is received, that batch will be built.

Originally posted by InitialD18

wah interesting construction method ...

what are the different style of public housing in sing?

they look quite nice ... You mean the exterior design or something? ;)

i am not too familiar with sing.public housing ...
i mean how are they categorized???
in terms of floorplan?

InitialD18, hmm....ok I shall try to answer your queries as precisely as I can. Its not easy to summarise 43 years of development! :D

In a nutshell, all public housing flats are built by one agency...the Housing and Development Board (HDB), founded in 1960 to replace the British equivalent (The Singapore Improvement Trust, or SIT). At that time, Singapore was not independent yet. The city was suffering from serious over crowding. Housing at that time was...

...like this in downtown (Chinatown, Rochor Canal)...
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005860-8120-3181-2493/img0081.jpg
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005143-8073-3222-0229/img0007.jpg

...and like this in the suburbs (Geylang Serai):
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005517-8073-3222-3980/img0020.jpg

Basically most people are squeezing into downtown, and each of those shophouses you see above can be home to over 10 families. That accounts to nearly 80 persons per unit or more, all sharing one toilet and one kitchen.

A typical shophouse:
http://www.ura.gov.sg/conservation/images/keyele.jpg

The Singapore Improvement Trust was therefore setup by the British to try to rehouse these people in multi-floor flats in area just outside the city. However, in 10 years, they were basically unable to solve most of the housing problems.

Some views of SIT flats in the 1950s:
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005861-8120-3181-2494/img0062.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005752-8106-3181-7876/img0010.jpg

SIT's plans for Queenstown:
http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980000898-8514-3112-3147/img0024.jpg

The overcrowding in the city continues, until things got to a head in 1959, when the fire of Bukit Ho Swee raged through a slum, causing massive homelessness:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007236-8105-3181-1040/img0084.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007236-8105-3181-1040/img0088.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007236-8105-3181-1040/img0075.jpg

There was no way the SIT could do anything about it. Lee Kuan Yew from the PAP, fedup with the inefficiencies of the British, setup the HDB in 1960 after negotiations with the British. In 1961, you can see him giving a speech in Bukit Ho Swee:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980007240-8105-3181-1044/img0085.jpg

The HDB moved in to redevelop Bukit Ho Swee en-mass. In 1961, this is the state of affairs there:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005590-8073-3222-5007/img0117.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005591-8073-3222-5008/img0015.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005591-8073-3222-5008/img0018.jpg

From its inception in 1960, HDBs flats are sold by what they call "number of rooms". They range from 1 room to 5 room, and the executive maisonettes and executive apartments. During the 1960s, the biggest was 3 room. The people could not afford bigger flats then that.

These are the floor plans of these flats from the very first to today:

1-Room Emergency
These are called emergency, because they were built in the most simple form you can expect in a block, so simple that they can be built extremely rapidly, in response chiefly due to the Bukit Ho Swee fire, and the horrifying overcrowding in the city itself.

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/569248bc8eefd04048256697000f40d7/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

2-Room Emergency
A bigger version of the above was built at the same time for larger families:

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/8d32c1842366c5dc48256697000f40d9/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

1-Room Improved
Subsequently, when most of the most critical problems were solved, the one room flat was improved:

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/28f8b1085097b3c348256697000f40d8/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

And the 2-Flat had various versions available:

2-Room Standard

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/0646f1ecd9f5ca9748256697000f40da/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

2-Room Improved

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/34ae3e274a6b7a3548256697000f40db/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

The 3-room flats subsequently became like the 737 of Boeing, particularly in the 1960s and 70s. They became the most popular flat size, and were built en-mass throughout the country. Being built over a far longer period of time, they had various versions:

3-Room Standard

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/647603fb988330ff48256697000f40dc/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

3-Room Improved

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/5e0cdd68c6d04a1748256697000f40dd/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

3-Room Simplified

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/d3104326fa7999a448256697000f40e0/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

3-Room New Generation

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/cb67a0541ce9cc9448256697000f40de/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

3-Room Model 'A'

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/0a760c15deecb87a48256697000f40df/WebPageBody/0.EE?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

Here are some views of the first generation flats. Queenstown was the first town to be planned comprehensively under the New Town concept (incorporating the existing flats built by the SIT). Some views of Queenstown in the 1960s:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005624-8073-3222-4648/img0033.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005624-8073-3222-4648/img0038.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980005642-8073-3222-5011/img0052.jpg

While Queenstown had to incorporate aspects of SIT flats, Toa Payoh New Town was the first town to be built from the ground up completely by the HDB. Toa Payoh means "Big Swamp" in Hokkien. It was once a huge swampy area along the tributaries of the Kallang River, but the land was filled up, and a new town sprouts like mushrooms all over, also from the mid-1960s:

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980001353-8151-3231-2011/img0034.jpg

And this is the most cute one...the National Day Parade being held at Toa Payoh Sport Complex in 1975 (check out the old army uniforms)!

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006783-8262-3202-0656/img0021.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006783-8262-3202-0656/img0036.jpg

http://picas.nhb.gov.sg/data/tn_pcd/19980006782-8262-3202-0657/img0085.jpg

WOW how odd that you have to access the bathrooms from outside of the house! LOL

You shold post some of the new housing. I hope that there has been improvements!

thank you huaiwei
that was very comprehensive ...
;) ;) ;)

Originally posted by InitialD18

thank you huaiwei
that was very comprehensive ...
;) ;) ;) You are most welcome, although I have only talked up to the 1960s! :D Maybe I will continue on later if anyone is interested (ok i notice rj did express his interest already...:D)

Anyway, I updated the progress for the first two blocks. Check it out! ;)

Yeah more more more!!! :D

Originally posted by rj2uman

Yeah more more more!!! :D

More!

Originally posted by RafflesCity

More! Haha..that sounds like a sharp reminder...okok..I will get it done by tomorrow? ;)

Originally posted by huaiwei

Haha..that sounds like a sharp reminder...okok..I will get it done by tomorrow? ;)

....go on.....I'm reading.......you know how interested I am rite? :D

Huaiwei now that you are done with exams perhaps you can finish up on this.......... perhaps?????

Hahaha..okok...here goes with a little more info about the flat sizes. From 4-room size onwards, the flat layouts are no longer standardised, and come in customised versions. Here are some examples:

Floor Plans-4-Room Model "A"
The four room flat is currently the most popular flat size here. Countless modifications exist, of which this is just one representative model:

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/6e540dbc67f9d60d48256697000f40e2/WebPageBody/0.1A0?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

Floor Plans-5-Room Improved
Five room flats used to come in standardised versions which fit into 25 storey blocks with only 4 units per floor, known as "point blocks" as opposed to "slab blocks" which most other units are arranged into. Refer to the following pictures for examples. Now however, they too come in customised versions.

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/isoa031p.nsf/8a13fb18a89327d3482564f20012752c/ea2758dda8cbb9af48256697000f40e3/WebPageBody/0.1A0?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=gif

The latest project to go on sale! ;)

Build-To-Order launch
December 2003

This Build-To-Order (BTO) launch, we present you brand new 4-room Premium Apartments at Aspella in Sengkang - ideally located, tastefully designed and exquisitely adorned with quality finishes and fittings. Apply under this BTO and be on your way to owning one of the desirable apartments at Aspella.

Visit our BTO Exhibition and Sales Office at the Habitat Forum*, BizFour 3rd Storey, HDB Hub today! View the 3-D model, perspectives and get more information on how to apply.

*Exhibition now on till 9 January 2004. Opening Hours: Monday to Friday - 8am to 5pm; Sat - 8 am to 1pm; Sun & Public Holiday - Closed

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_img_logo.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_t_img_abt1.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_abt_0More.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_abt_2APL.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_abt_3ANH.jpg
http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_abt_4ACH.jpg

3D MODEL VIEW

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_1.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_2.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_3.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_4.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_5.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_6.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_7.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_8.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_9.jpg

http://www7.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eampu12p.nsf/0/0312BTOSK_images/$file/0312BTOSK_3dbig_10.jpg

General Specifications (Aspella)

Foundation

Steel H-piling/reinforced concrete piling to HDB’s design and specification.

Structure

Reinforced concrete structural framework with reinforced concrete slabs to HDB’s design and specification.

Roof

Reinforced concrete roof slab with precast concrete secondary roofing.

Walls

All external and internal walls are constructed with reinforced concrete/solid blocks/bricks with cement plastering/facing bricks/precast panels/precast lightweight concrete partitions.

Windows

Aluminium frame windows with tinted glass.

Doors

Entrance : decorative timber door and metal gate
Bedrooms : three decorative timber doors (Type D5)
Bath/WC : two laminated timber doors
Household Shelter : metal door
Service Yard : aluminium framed door with glass

Finishes

Ceilings : skim coated or plastered and painted
Bathrooms/WC & Kitchen Walls : glazed wall tiles
Other walls : skim coated or plastered and painted

Floor Finishes

Living/Dining : ceramic tiles with timber skirting
Bedrooms : timber strip flooring with timber skirting
Others : ceramic tiles

Fittings

Quality locksets.
Quality sanitary fittings.
Vanity top wash basin at bath/WC, hot water pipes and tap/shower/bath mixer.

Services

All units have gas service and concealed water supply pipes.
Concealed electrical wiring to lighting and power points (including water heater and air conditioning points) is provided.
A master antenna with CATV outlets.
Telephone points.

Important Notes:

Kitchen sink will not be provided. A central refuse chute is located near the lift lobby in all apartment blocks to serve all units. The Household Shelter is designed for use as civil defence shelter. The walls, ceiling, floor tiles and door of the Household Shelter shall not be hacked, drilled, altered or removed. There is a three-year restriction on the removal of wall and floor tiles in Bath/ WC.

The floor areas are scaled Strata Areas.

New flats in old estates a hit with walk-ins

Most are surplus units built under Sers and were not taken up

THE flats are 'leftovers' from previous balloting exercises, but tell that to the 5,000 people who thronged the Housing Board's latest walk-in selection exercise for mature estates. Eager to get their hands on the 1,726 four-room, five-room and executive flats on sale, as many as 3,800 potential buyers went down to the HDB's office in Toa Payoh on Tuesday, the first day of the exercise.

Some even camped overnight, determined to get their hands on flats in mature estates such as Bukit Merah, Queenstown and Bedok. By 5pm yesterday, more than 200 units had been snapped up, with older estates such as Bukit Batok, Queenstown and Ang Mo Kio proving to be a hit.

Priced between $102,000 and $462,000 each, the bulk of the flats are surplus units built under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (Sers), in which old flats torn down are replaced with new ones. Many were not taken up in the balloting exercises in 2002 and June last year.

The HDB yesterday described the response so far as 'good'.
Its spokesman said: 'Many flat applicants prefer these flats which are either near their parents' place, or located in areas with good facilities and transport networks and are near the city centre.'

The HDB's latest fourth-quarter flat valuation estimates also point to the trend of a growing preference for new flats in mature estates. Flats in Queenstown and Bukit Merah, for instance, have some of the highest valuations around, matching or even surpassing those of long-time favourites such as those in Bishan and Marine Parade.

Being able to get a flat on the spot is also an added draw, as opposed to having to wait three months or more under a balloting exercise. 'Under balloting, flats on offer...are likely to be oversubscribed due to the popularity of locations,' said the HDB. 'Walk-in selection is more suitable in instances where there are many flats available or where they have remained unselected after being offered to the public applicants.'

For soon-to-be married couple James Lim, 31, and Mok Ai Ling, 27, the appeal of a hassle-free application for a flat in a good location was reason enough for them to opt for the walk-in selection. 'The waiting time is shorter for a mature estate because we can get the keys easily,' said Mr Lim.

Big on Woodlands

The boondocks no longer, Woodlands flats are now sought after, especially the larger units - all because they're cheaper

THEY may be located in the boondocks but Housing Board flats in Woodlands are turning out to be some of the most sought after simply because they are much cheaper than those in town.

ERA Realty, one of the largest property agencies here, said it sold 1,852 four-room HDB flats in Woodlands last year, almost double the 945 that it sold in the next most popular area, Tampines. ERA also sold significantly more five-room and executive flats in Woodlands than in any other area in Singapore. That, said ERA, is not surprising given that a five-room unit in Woodlands costs about $280,000, compared to about $380,000 for a similar one in a more central location such as Toa Payoh.

The fact that Woodlands is a self-contained township is a plus point, said Mr C. C. Chia, 37. The automation consultant is looking to upgrade from his current five-room flat in Woodlands to an executive or 'jumbo' flat in the same area. Mr Chia cites the Central Provident Fund building, the library, MRT station and many parks as key attractions.

Mr Chris Koh, director of Dennis Wee Properties, said that the growing popularity of large flats in Woodlands was good news for those in other areas. The logic is simple: As demand for big flats in outlying areas grow, their prices will increase. Eventually, the price differential between flats in the outlying areas and the central region could become so small that buyers will opt for those in town, and therefore raise demand for those.

Indeed, some property watchers are predicting that the prices of residential properties will rise by between 5 and 10 per cent this year. Mr William Wong, chief executive of RealStar Property, said: 'When the employment situation is not good, even those with the money to buy bigger flats hold back. But with the improved situation, people are now willing to stretch their budgets and go for bigger flats.'

Those new towns in Woodlands seem quite pleasant and self contained especially with that new mall in 1998(forgot the name).

What are the newest blocks in the HDB range anyway?

its causeway point.. i always wonder why suburban shopping centres have to look so hdb-ish.. the colour schemes are almost always wrong... sohpping centres should always be glossy and pretty, and so should apartments.. but shopping centres have more responsibility to be glossy.

Originally posted by heirloom

its causeway point.. i always wonder why suburban shopping centres have to look so hdb-ish.. the colour schemes are almost always wrong... sohpping centres should always be glossy and pretty, and so should apartments.. but shopping centres have more responsibility to be glossy. Have you seen Bukit Panjang Plaza?

Originally posted by RafflesCity

What are the newest blocks in the HDB range anyway? They tend to be scattered in several newer towns, such as Sengkang, Pungol, Sembawang, and parts of Jurong West and Woodlands. However, there are also numerous redeveloped precincts amongst many of the older towns as well, and they tend to be much taller too. The first 40-storey blocks, for eg, will be in Toa Payoh and Queenstown, two of our oldest new towns! :colgate:

Originally posted by huaiwei

Have you seen Bukit Panjang Plaza?

no i haven't? is it nice? why did hdb wait til now to build 40 storey blocks?

Originally posted by huaiwei

They tend to be scattered in several newer towns, such as Sengkang, Pungol, Sembawang, and parts of Jurong West and Woodlands. However, there are also numerous redeveloped precincts amongst many of the older towns as well, and they tend to be much taller too. The first 40-storey blocks, for eg, will be in Toa Payoh and Queenstown, two of our oldest new towns! :colgate:

Those designs in the newer towns look so much like private residentials. HDB designs have evolved just like the Honda Accord:colgate:

40 storey blocks? u/c or built already?

I also agree with heirloom that the older malls look dirty like Toa Payoh central but I am sure they will be refacaded.:cheers:

i wish hdb designs were more like alfa romeos or saabs than hondas..

Originally posted by RafflesCity

40 storey blocks? u/c or built already?

I also agree with heirloom that the older malls look dirty like Toa Payoh central but I am sure they will be refacaded.:cheers: They have not commenced construction yet...and most likely will be built this year.

Toa Payoh Central has already undergone a refurbishment some time ago, and hardly looks as old and dirty as claimed!! :D

Originally posted by huaiwei

They have not commenced construction yet...and most likely will be built this year.



Hope so ah..I heard that the Duxton Project was on hold or what?

Originally posted by RafflesCity

Hope so ah..I heard that the Duxton Project was on hold or what? It appears to be so....until the economy perks up a little somewhat, and the demand for flats increases?

HDB to resume building 3-room flats as more Singaporeans downgrade

13 March 2004

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phphpMU4a.jpg

SINGAPORE : National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the HDB would start building three-room flats again as more Singaporeans downgrade.

He told Parliament on Saturday that the new flats will probably be located in non-mature estates like Punggol and Sengkang.

For many years now, Singaporeans have wanted bigger flats, so no new three-room flats have been built since 1985.

But as many MPs noted, the recent economic downturn and retrenchments have left many families tightening their belts.

Mr Othman Haron Eusofe, MP for Marine Parade GRC, said: "Many want to downgrade to smaller flats, and they cannot afford to buy three-room flats from the open market. Will HDB review policy to allow existing flatowners who are downgrading to purchase three-room flats directly from HDB?"

Dr Amy Khor, MP for Hong Kah GRC, said: "The Ministry should consider reviving the building of three-room flats, perhaps starting out as a small percentage of the total stock. This will provide families with tighter budgets an option to own a smaller flat that is more affordable."

The valuation of three-room flats has gone up more than 17 percent because of growing demand from singles and downgraders.

Mr Mah said: "It is also possible that there may be a sustained demand for three-room flats in the future, due to our changing demographics. As our population ages, older lessees may opt to downgrade to a three-room flat so that they can cash out to meet their retirement needs."

This is why the Government is starting to build three-room flats again under the Build-To-Order scheme.

Any extra three-room flats in SERS sites will also be sold off, and the income ceiling is being raised to $3,000, which means half of all households will qualify.

As for upgrading, Mr Mah agreed with MPs that having lifts that stop on every floor is a priority, but it cannot be free.

Mr Mah said: "Lift upgrading is an expensive programme. It is very heavily subsidised by the Government. Having residents poll and co-pay for the programme actually ensures that the upgrading proceeds at a pace in which people are happy with, and also gives them a sense of ownership of the programme, makes them appreciate the programme."

As for rental, Mr Mah said since the freeing up of the rules, more than 700 flat owners have rented out their entire flats.

But the Government's emphasis is still for Singaporeans to buy their flats.

"To own a home is to own a part of this country, it makes Singapore worth contributing to and defending," he said. - CNA

A good day for home downgraders and soul upgraders

By Tan Tarn How

FROM THE GALLERY

PUT together, two announcements made in the House yesterday, each wonderful news in itself, tell of a new and still-changing Singapore.

First is the decision to build an arts school for secondary and pre-university students by 2007. It is a move that must be applauded because the school will continue the trend towards giving yet more choice to the young in their education.

Second is the move to restart the building of three-room flats after a hiatus of 19 years. The U-turn, after a number of years of calls by the public and Members of Parliament, must also be welcomed because it will offer a wider range of housing options to Singaporeans.

Both decisions are evidence of a Singapore that is different from 10, or even five, years ago. A 'significant U-turn in demand preferences' of Singaporeans is how Dr Amy Khor (Hong Kah GRC) described it.

She was referring to the growing demand for smaller Housing Board flats as seen in property market transactions, but could well have been talking about the evolving educational aspirations of Singaporeans. Parents and students are no longer content with a one-size-fits-all school system, preferring one that recognises different abilities and interests via a variety of products.

In response partly to this, the Government has introduced the through-train stream that does away with O levels in the mainstream schools and opened the specialist sports school this year.

The arts school adds another much-needed path to excellence for talented kids. The clamour by parents and artists for the arts schools also shows the increasing sophistication of Singaporeans.

Many parents used to agonise over whether there is a career to be had in the horribly-termed 'culture industry', with some doing all they can to dissuade their children from going down that uncertain road.

Now, it happens less often because it is easier to be an artist and survive, if not do well. The ever-growing list of arts groups shows that many have taken the plunge.

The arts school graduates can only help things along by feeding on and feeding into this industry. Furthermore, the call for the school shows that many parents and students believe that the arts is not just an economic activity, a way to make a living, but has in itself intrinsic value.

This stance, more than anything else, underlines how far Singapore has come from the days when it was, justifiably, dismissed as a cultural desert.

Regrettably, the need to build three-room flats reflects a less happy state of affairs. The sputtering economy of the last few years has taken its toll on many, forcing them to buy a smaller first flat or to downgrade from a bigger one.

Figures firmly support the shift: Valuations for three-room flats went up by 17.6 per cent last year, those for four-room flats rose by 8.8 per cent and for five-room units, by 1.8 per cent, while for executive flats, they dipped 1.2 per cent.

There is some irony in the fact that the arts school announcement came on the same day when the Government decided that another group of Singaporeans, with more basic physical needs, ought to be taken care of.

How different these two constituencies are, though there are some who are probably members of both: property downgraders and soul upgraders at the same time? The emergence of the two groups is a sign of the ever-increasing diversity and complexity of Singapore society.

More groups will no doubt spring up or old ones grow in number: people who want more rental flats, parents who want better facilities for their infants in public places, the aged who want more elderly-friendly public amenities? Who knows.

Some of their needs can be met by the private sector: after all the Government cannot and shouldn't be the provider of everything.

As for the rest, the challenge for the Government is in catering to the diverse, even diverging, interests of the many sub-sections of society.

How, for instance, should it balance the allocation of limited resources? After all, both the arts school and three-room flats will have to be subsidised. In the end, success in reconciling the myriad needs of many minorities will be a measure of how far Singapore has come.

HDB dwellers give thumbs up to upgrading

By Eugene Low

HOUSING Board dwellers do like having their flats upgraded, contrary to the perception of some Singaporeans and even of MPs who described it yesterday as an unnecessary and extravagant exercise.

The evidence cited by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan: an HDB survey last year which showed 95 per cent of households were satisfied with the Main and Interim Upgrading Programmes (MUP and IUP) - higher than its survey in 2000.

The Board sought the views of nearly 60,000 households that underwent upgrading between 1996 and 2002.

'Improvement items which respondents appreciated most included covered linkways, upgraded lifts, letterboxes and improved toilets,' Mr Mah told the House yesterday.

Support was also strong from those living in areas that had yet to be upgraded. Residents in six out of the seven precincts asked by the HDB last year whether they wanted MUP were mostly in favour of it.

The exception was Pandan Gardens, which did not meet the 75 per cent requirement for upgrading to take place. Only 68.8 per cent of owners in Blocks 401 to 408 Pandan Gardens voted 'yes' last July - the first precinct to reject upgrading since the programme began in 1992.

But the average support level in all nine precincts polled for the Lift Upgrading Programme in 2003 was a 'high 85 per cent'. 'The message we get is loud and clear - that upgrading, especially lift upgrading, is still very relevant and very much desired by residents,' he said.

Yesterday, several MPs also wanted HDB to relook its upgrading programmes. One of them, Dr Teo Ho Pin (Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC), said the programme's cost was a financial strain on some residents in 'these difficult times'.

Dr Amy Khor (Hong Kah GRC) also wanted HDB to 'cut away the frills'. Their point was taken by Mr Mah, who said: 'Less functional items like amphitheatres, facade works and extensive landscaping are no longer encouraged.'

the three room flats hdb is to resume building - are there going to be new designs or are the old 'long block' designs going to be reused? i dont think they could reuse the long block designs could they?

Originally posted by heirloom

the three room flats hdb is to resume building - are there going to be new designs or are the old 'long block' designs going to be reused? i dont think they could reuse the long block designs could they? Of coz they will be contemporary designs right?

Hope they'll build them as tall as possible ,in the Art Deco and Postmodern styles!:D

any pics so far?

Pics of what?Art Deco highrise flats?:?

umm pics of new 3 room flat blocks

Originally posted by heirloom

umm pics of new 3 room flat blocks How to have pictures when they dont even exist?? :?

um... aren't they gonna start building?
dont htey have to have plans?

Originally posted by huaiwei

Of coz they will be contemporary designs right?

Oh thats good! I cant imagine if they still used those 70s designs!:cheers:

Originally posted by heirloom

um... aren't they gonna start building?
dont htey have to have plans? Walao eh...go read the article again lah!!

:bash: :bash:

huh i read but i'm still blur leh..

HDB launches sale of 760 units of 4-rm BTO flats at Sengkang

22 March 2004

SINGAPORE : More 4-room premium flats will be added to Sengkang estate as the HDB is launching the sale of 760 units, under the project Atrina, under its Built-To-Order (BTO) system.

Interested buyers can start applying for the flats, located at Compassvale Link next to the Buangkok MRT station from 23 March till 12 April.

While new units are coming up, HDB says it will temporarily suspend walk-in sales of flats in Sengkang, Hougang and Punggol from 1 April.

Interested buyers have until the end of this month to book a unit on-the-spot at the HDB Hub's sales office.

HDB says the temporary suspension is to allow them to take stock of the balance flats and to include some flats that have become available for sale.

But applicants interested in flats in non-mature towns like Choa Chu Kang and established estates like Bukit Merah can continue to book a unit at the HDB Hub. - CNA

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i like that all the full windows are full length but i wish some apartments didn't have to face one another...

Then face where?? How is it possible in the middle of a housing estate? :D

I guess the old 'HDB Look' is long and gone:cool:

Yeah...the top profile of the blocks reminds me of star wars fighter planes. :D

LOL..if I didnt know what they were I would have assumed theyre just one of the many private residentials being built in sg:angel1:

How HDB can sell its 10,000 flats

I REFER to HDB's decision to stop building five-room and bigger flats because of oversupply. To sell the 10,000 units, HDB should relax its 10-year occupation requirement before first-time flat owners can purchase another new flat.

There could be a sizeable demand for five-room or executive flats among HDB dwellers who had bought three-room and four-room flats because their children have grown up and they need more space.

HDB should conduct a survey among first-time buyers of three-room and four-room flats to gauge the response.

EE TECK SIEW


I AM glad that HDB is building three-room flats again, and I hope that singles would be allowed to buy these new flats, along with first-timers. It would not be fair to allow downgraders to buy these flats but exclude singles. The downgraders have already had a bite of subsidised public housing.

Furthermore, if there is a lot of downgrading, there may be a hollowing out of demand for larger flats and singles cannot fill this gap as they are not eligible to buy larger flats.

Last but not least, singles too need affordable housing.

PHUA KOK HEE

Why buyers shun 5-room, exec flats

PROSPECTIVE Housing Board flat buyers say they are shunning new five-room and executive flats on offer in estates like Sengkang and Jurong West for these reasons.

The HDB said more than 8,000 of the 10,000 surplus flats it has on its hands are these larger ones, which were actually popular with flat buyers just five years ago.

However, the ailing economy over the past two years means buyers are scaling down their expectations or finding bargains on the resale market. Such flats in established estates come with all the amenities and are larger than the new flats. Others are opting for more affordable three- and four-room units.

Resale five-room flats are valued at between $267,500 and $431,600, depending on location, but property agents said most go for about $10,000 below valuation.

While the HDB would not give the range of prices for its new five-room flats, judging from previous news reports, prices range from $161,800 for a unit in Jurong West to $251,000 for one in Sengkang. However, the new flats, at about 110 sq m, are some 10 sq m smaller than resale ones and are in ulu, or remote, areas such as Sengkang and Punggol. These reasons conspire to make these larger flats unpopular.

Businessman Kenneth Yeoh, 33, for example, chose a five-room resale flat in Woodlands for $240,000 over a similarly priced, brand new one in Jurong West he was considering. 'Some of these resale flats are going for more than $30,000 under valuation. We thought it was a steal over the new ones, which are too far away for what they cost,' he said.

Software engineer Louis Boo, 29, opted for a four-room resale flat in Bukit Merah that cost $250,000, after deciding not to buy a new five-room flat in Sengkang for about the same price. 'Sengkang is just too far away,' he said.

For those like account executive Andrew Ling, 27, five-room flats are simply too expensive. He hopes to buy a three-room unit with his wife. 'Even if we paid a high $160,000 for a three-room flat in Bedok, it's still a good $100,000 cheaper than a new five-room one, which is way too big and way beyond my reach.' What a difference from five years ago. At that time, some applicants were called up to select their flats three years after they applied.

So what can the HDB do with all these units no one seems to want? Suggestions from prospective buyers and analysts include selling them to singles and renting them to foreign workers.

Dr Steven Choo, 52, senior vice-president of research and corporate development with property developer CapitaLand, thinks better amenities is one answer: 'They could increase the mix of facilities to help demand, like putting good schools in a certain location.'

For others, the answer is simple: Make them cheaper. Property agent Gui Boon Sim, 49, suggested lowering prices by 10 to 20 per cent, or giving buyers money for renovations. Added Mr Yeoh: 'If prices went down, this would be a major draw over other less attractive factors like size and location.'

I guess town centres need to be further developer as they are still 'ulu' lol:D

Overwhelming response to The Pinnacle@Duxton but what of other unsold HDB flats?

7 June 2004

by Han Huan Mei

It has only been a week since The Pinnacle@Duxton was open for booking but already more than 2,000 applications have been received for the 528 units offered in Phase 1. The closing date for application is 18 June but due to the response, the HDB will release more units in this first phase to meet the huge demand.

The Pinnacle was first mooted in Concept Plan 2001as part of the government’s long-term plan to increase the resident population in the city by four times from the present 30,000 to 120,000. It comprises 1,848 HDB flats in seven 50-storey blocks, with sky gardens, playgrounds, jogging tracks, basketball courts, shops, food court, childcare/education centres and other amenities. Each unit comes with a bay window, a balcony or planter, ceramic floor tiles in the living/dining rooms, kitchen and bathrooms, timber strips in the bedrooms and bathroom fittings. The estimated completion date is 2010. We understand that HDB will decide on whether to develop this massive project only after all the units have been released for application. The decision will be based on a minimum commitment of 70% in the entire project by homebuyers, under the Build-To-Order (BTO) scheme.

The overwhelming response may not be that unusual as applications for the HDB’s other BTO flats often exceed supply. When the HDB launched its 862-unit Aspella in December 2003 and 760-unit Atrina in March 2004, there were 1,800 and 1,779 applicants respectively. Both of them are situated in Sengkang New Town, near the yet-to-open Buangkok MRT station.

For The Pinnacle, its city location and landmark status are enough reasons to garner an overwhelming response. This project is moreover marketed aggressively – with a showflat built on-site (other BTO projects only have a showroom at the HDB Hub), a special booth at Raffles Place and shuttle services to the showflat, glossy brochures, TV commercials and print ads depicting the high-rise lifestyle, much like how major private residential projects are marketed. To top it off, it also costs so little to make an application: only $10 if done on-line, or $20 if submitted at the sales office.

The elaborate marketing efforts suggest that HDB was initially uncertain of the response. Indeed, at a community event held on 11 December 2003, National Development Minister, Mah Bow Tan said in reference to The Pinnacle, “If, for some reason, demand is poor, we will not proceed. That will help us to avoid some of the problems we used to have … and we ended up with a lot of unsold flats.” He was referring to the 17,000 unsold new flats that HDB was laden with in 2001. This has been reduced but today there are still some 10,000 flats, completed and ready for occupation, yet to find buyers.

It appears that the HDB need not worry about the lack of buyers for The Pinnacle now. However, the 10,000 existing completed flats remain unsold. Evidently there is no lack of demand for HDB flats judging by the good response to new BTO projects. So the difference, we believe, is in the product on offer.

Generally, new HDB projects do well for obvious reasons: proximity to MRT station, better value-for-money based on sizing, design and finishes and better locations. On the other hand, the completed flats are perceived to be less attractive. It has been reported that these flats are unpopular because they are too big – mostly five-room and executive flats –and they are too far – located in outlying areas like Boon Lay, Punggol, Sengkang and Woodlands. Moreover, their design and layout are somewhat outdated compared with the new projects.

To clear the 10,000 unsold flats is a great challenge. In the past two years, HDB has already lowered their prices by 15-20% and yet sales are not encouraging. It does not help that the new projects are probably cannibalizing sales of these flats. Thus if the HDB were to continue to supply new flats, especially touting premier designs with slick marketing or offering more affordable three-room flats, it will take even longer to clear its backlog. While three-room flats may be necessary to cater to a particular segment, any other new project will just prevent the completed flats from being sold. Perhaps the only solution is to stop building any more new flats in the next few years. If that does not move the existing flats because people still perceive them to be unattractive, then maybe prices simply have to be lowered till they are irresistible.

maybe they should just demolish those ugly flats and build new nice ones like duxton plain standard but not identical or similar to the duxton plain one in anyway

maybe they should just demolish those ugly flats and build new nice ones like duxton plain standard but not identical or similar to the duxton plain one in anyway
Erm...duxton's design is PATENTED!! :D Haha...just kidding, but they are unlikely to dublicate it because it came out from an international architectural competition.

Location and publicity for height probably explain the immense popularity of Duxton.

Two Havelock blocks to get interim upgrade

HOME owners of 192 flats in two Housing Board blocks in Havelock Road have voted in favour of the Interim Plus Upgrading Programme, which will improve their common areas and provide a lift that opens on every floor.

Almost 94 per cent of residents in blocks 94 and 95, both point blocks with five-room flats, supported the programme when voting ended on Monday.

Their vote contrasts with that of residents in Paya Lebar Way who, earlier this week, rejected a refurbishment under the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) that included retiling their toilets and building a multistorey carpark. Only 71.4 per cent voted for it, less than the required 75 per cent.

It was the second MUP rejection since the programme began in 1992. Pandan Gardens was the first precinct to turn down the opportunity in July last year.

The Interim Plus programme was introduced in 2002. A less extensive alternative to the MUP, it marries the HDB Interim Upgrading and Lift Upgrading programmes.

So far, 32 precincts have been picked for the programme.

In the Interim Plus programme, improvements to the common area are done for free and can include such features as passenger drop-off porches, sheltered staircase and waiting areas, and new void-deck seating areas.

However, flat owners who benefit from upgraded lifts must pay up to $3,000 each.

Renovation of the Havelock flats starts in the second quarter of next year and is expected to take two years.

design and sky gardens and height must count for alot of the popularity as well.. and of course hdb should never duplicate this design - but they should build stuff of similar quality..

HDB would have to build more 'condo-style' flats. :cool:

Minister sees no need to overhaul upgrading plans

Only two precincts have rejected the scheme in 14 years; most residents in these areas wanted it, says Mah Bow Tan

By Daryl Loo

TWO rejections over the past 14 years does not mean that the HDB's Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) no longer resonates with residents, said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday.

'Over a hundred precincts have said yes. So far, two have said no... I think this is a pretty good indication of the usefulness of the upgrading programme, so I don't think there is a need to do major changes,' he said.

He pointed out that the majority of residents in the two precincts, Pandan Gardens and Paya Lebar Way, voted in favour of upgrading - still a large number even if it was short of the 'high pass mark' of 75 per cent. In Pandan Gardens, the vote was was 68.8 per cent while it was 71.4 per cent at Paya Lebar.

The two rejections had led Dr Teo Ho Pin, the chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development and the Environment, to suggest that the MUP had lost its lustre.

He felt that residents preferred to have the Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme, where entire blocks of flats are acquired and redeveloped, and residents get to buy a new flat built nearby.

Mr Mah pointed out that some residents have specific reasons for saying no. In Paya Lebar, some had already renovated their flats. Others thought they were being asked to vote for the more expensive package involving additional space, instead of the standard package, he added.

The Government has been making minor revisions to the upgrading programme to suit flat owners' changing needs. In 2002, for example, the less extensive Interim Plus programme, which combines the Interim Upgrading and Lift Upgrading programmes, was introduced.

It decided not to reveal the list of precincts for MUP this year because several others announced in the past have yet to get to the polling stage.

While he expressed confidence in the effectiveness of MUP, Mr Mah added: 'But... if the programme is really not popular, we will scrap it.

'If in the next few rounds, people say they don't want it, then I think we will save the budget and use it for some other form of upgrading or for something else.'

Mr Mah was speaking to reporters after officiating at his ministry's National Day observance ceremony at URA Centre. In his speech, he said in recent years, the ministry has involved the public in drawing up its development plans, through focus groups and online consultations.

'But there is still a sense of cynicism among some members of the public that this is all a 'wayang', that we have already kept the plans in our drawer and are just going through the motions.'

'The sooner we get over this mental barrier, the better. The more people we can involve who are willing to take ownership of issues and problems, the better.'

SEPT 11, 2004
HDB should negotiate bulk rates for window checks

NEW rules require Housing Board case-ment windows to be checked and, if necessary, for the rivets to be changed from aluminium to stainless steel.

The contractors are making hay while the sun shines by charging an inspection fee. Come next October, when the new rules come into effect, the building authorities will have to spend a fortune going from house to house to check whether this has been done.

In the interest of efficiency and so as not to waste money, could I suggest that the building authorities negotiate, on behalf of householders, bulk rates with the authorised contractors to perform the inspections and, where necessary, change the rivets to stainless-steel ones.

Contractors would be able to save time and money by not having to go from door to door, block to block, and the authorities would know every house has been inspected.

JAMES PURVES

AT TELOK Blangah Drive, where the Main Upgrading Pro-gramme is about to be completed, window screws are already rusting. Even stainless-steel railings have rusted! Balcony drainage pipes leak, and it is only 1 1/2 years after they were replaced.

ONG KWEE BENG

Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

Change windows or face the consequence?

Another uniquely Singapore law! :D

Change windows or face the consequence?

Another uniquely Singapore law! :D

Haha....if not nobody will want to change mah.....:lol:

SEPT 12, 2004
More singles going for bigger flats
And some are rushing to lock in their dream homes while they still qualify for the grant

By Jeremy Au Yong

FOR almost a year, Mr N.K. Tamilselvan had been on the hunt for the perfect three-room flat, the biggest kind available to singles like him.

But when the Government announced on Aug 29 that singles would be able to buy Housing Board flats of any size, he quickly locked in a three-room flat in Marine Parade he had been eyeing.

The reason: the Government lowered the income ceiling for singles who want the $11,000 housing grant. From Wednesday, only those who earn $3,000 or less a month will qualify, compared with $8,000 before.

The 38-year-old civil servant, who earns $3,800 a month, finalised the paperwork on his new flat last Monday.

'I had been looking at the flat for about month, but I hadn't really decided,' he said. 'The announcement really put the wind in my sails.

Singles looking to buy HDB flats, and those who own them, have been busy since the announcement.

Some, like Mr Tamilselvan, need to buy flats fast to qualify for the grant. Others, who now have more choice, are asking to see larger flats - notably four-room units.

Among them is Ms Carol Tay, who turned 35 in July. She earns $2,800 a month and wants to buy a larger flat before annual increments push her pay over the limit.

Ms Tay, a purchaser at a water treatment company, wants to buy a four-room flat before the end of the year.

She said: 'I wasn't really house hunting before. There was no rush. Now, there is an opportunity to buy a larger flat, and I want to get one while I can get the grant.'

The five real estate firms The Sunday Times spoke to said they had seen a noticeable increase in singles' interest in larger HDB units.

Real estate firm Propnex, which said it has 40 per cent of the HDB resale market, has been receiving at least 20 calls a day from singles wanting to look at bigger flats, up from less than five a day.

Mr Eugene Lim, assistant vice-president at ERA Singapore said: 'Some of our agents are experiencing about a 20 to 30 per cent increase in enquiries and interest among singles.'

Similarly, the Dennis Wee Group said inquiries from singles are up, with most wanting to see four-room units in the older estates like Clementi and Bishan.

Its valuation director, Ms Carina Loh, said: 'Most of the singles are looking for four-room units. Only those who want to buy it to live with their parents look at bigger ones.

'They like areas where the facilities are all built up. New areas like Sengkang are not so popular.'

Housing agents are also reporting that singles who own three-room flats are nervous as they anticipate a drop in value of small flats.

Said Mr Lim: 'We have also noticed that three-room sellers are now more open to price discussions.'

Property agents expect the price of three-room units to drop by about 3 per cent over the next six months, as the interest seems to be on four-room units.

But though three-room flats will be cheaper for singles wanting to buy, agents advise them to think bigger, if they can afford it.

Said Propnex chief executive Mohamed Ismail: 'The four-room units are more value for money. A three-room flat in the Clementi area can cost up to $175,000. But if you go to an area like Jurong West or Yishun, a four-room flat is only about $180,000.

'Three-room flats went up in price by 18 per cent last year, so there won't be any short-run capital appreciation. Four-room units only went up by 9 per cent and with increased demand from singles, it will be a better investment.'

Copyright @ 2004 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved.

The New Paper - 13 Sep 2004

ARE BIG NEW HDB ESTATES DEAD?

SOME BLOCKS LIKE THIS ONE IN SENGKANG ARE STILL EMPTY. NOW HDB SAYS NO MORE NEW ESTATES UNTIL...

By Desmond Ng

IN the 1980s, all over Singapore, housing estates sprouted with instant trees, swimming pools and community centres.

In record time, Ang Mo Kio and Bishan and Tampines mushroomed over swamp and farm land.

But now, analysts say we might no longer see big new estates coming up.

Most unsold HDB units are in big new estates such as Sengkang, Jurong West and Sembawang.

For HDB, the 'boutique developments' - often just a few blocks in mature estates - have done much better.

There is no need to wait for a critical mass before hawker centres and MRT stations are built. You get instant neighbours and amenities.

While new five-room flats in Toa Payoh are being snapped up at a hefty $400,000, empty executive flats in amenities-lacking Sengkang are being offered at around $330,000.

To fill up the empty flats in Sengkang, HDB has been cutting prices. (See report on facing page.)

But is there a choice?

Of the 10,000 flats HDB has been unable to sell, many are executive flats in Sengkang.

HDB told The New Paper on Sunday that newer towns such as Jurong West, Bukit Panjang, Punggol and Sengkang account for about 80 per cent of the unsold flats, most of which are 5-room or executive flats.

Prices in these estates have been tumbling, said property experts.

Most of the big new estates just aren't popular.

Punggol 21 was pitched as a waterfront estate with a target of about 96,000 homes when construction started
in 1998.

Today, it has only 15,000 HDB flats.

In 2002, HDB halted its building programme and embarked on an extensive marketing campaign to sell these new flats in the newer estates.

Now, instead of developing a new estate, HDB will be building new three-room flats in Sengkang.

With birth rates falling, HDB has to look at alternatives. Chesterton International's research director Nicholas Mak said the shift is towards estate renewal - the upgrading and re-development of current HDB towns.

Said Mr Mak: 'There'll be pressing needs on the land from different quarters, the need for parks, water catchment areas.

'You can't just keep building new HDB estates.'

Assistant Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim of the NUS Department of Real Estate said the economic downturn also affected the demand for flats, especially in the newer estates.

And the lack of amenities in some of these estates also means that fewer people are willing to buy, he said.

'Before making a decision, a buyer would look at the options available. If the price difference between an old and new estate is not much, most will buy one with better location and amenities,' he said.

Dr Faishal feels more behavioral studies need to be done to track the changing patterns and needs of home-buyers here.

Dr Faishal, like other housing experts we spoke to, said the solution would be to make the maximum use of the current estates, instead of building new ones.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE

He said: 'Since older towns are relatively favoured over the new ones, because of accessibility and amenities, I think we can look at ideas of re-developing some of the older estates.

'In this way, the take-up rate could be higher and it reduces potential wastage of land resources when you create new estates.'

HDB is already moving in this direction with the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme.

For now, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung executive director Ong Choon Fah feels filling up Punggol town should be the priority.

And she too suggested giving existing estates a new lease of life.

'There are pros and cons, if you build a new town, you create new spaces and new businesses according to what you want instead of working with existing amenities in the older estates,' she said.

POPULATION INCREASE?

So is it the end of the big new estates?

HDB told The New Paper on Sunday it will build new flats when there is strong housing demand.

A spokesman said: 'As land is still available in existing towns, HDB will focus the developments in towns where the demand is good, rather than opening up new estates.'

With the new immigration policy, the population could increase from the present four million to perhaps six or even eight million over the long term, according to recent Morgan Stanley research.

And if that policy is successful, then maybe the creation of a new town is not that far off, said Dr Faishal.

The Bidadari site, earmarked for future residential development, may be one of them.

But he added: 'Unless our population base increases, where family-formation, birth rate and immigration goes up in tandem, then it's unlikely a new town will be planned. It will be more prudent to maximise our current estates.'

RESIDENTS GRAPPLE WITH NEW MARKET REALITY

THE executive flat next to Madam Catherine Ng's one was empty for almost four years.

As were many others in her block on Compassvale Street.

But last year, strangers started knocking on her door, asking if they could have a look at her flat for which she had paid $450,000.

That's when she found out that HDB was re-launching the executive flats in her area at $100,000 less than what she had paid.

Madam Ng, 56, can't accept the market reality and still thinks HDB flats should either appreciate in value or at least remain the same.

Housing analysts said that HDB prices its flats based on the market.

Madam Ng felt she had to take up the executive flat back then.

She stood to lose her deposit, and in the mid-1990s, while waiting for her flat, an entry level condominium was about $600,000 and a resale executive flat even hit $700,000.

But while she waited seven years to get her flat, it took her neighbour only two months from the time he decided to buy a flat in a walk-in selection to the day he got his keys.

Engineer Chew Chee Ping, 29, paid $354,000 for an identical flat next door to Madam Ng. He bought it in January.

In July, he found out from another home-buyer that the price of the flat directly above his fell by almost $30,000 to $325,000.

He said: 'I was a little disappointed when I heard that prices had fallen further. It dropped by so much in just six months, and I hadn't even moved in yet.'

Across the street in another block, residents said they had approached their MP. One of them claimed he has also written twice to the CEO of HDB. There are 4,548 executive flats in Sengkang, many still unoccupied.

The walk-in selection in non-mature estates has had some success. About 2,400 of the 6,000 executive flats offered for sale since 2002 have been taken up.

Analysts said market forces have pushed down prices. Today, you can get a brand new condominium unit for about $400,000.

But residents who own executive flats in Sengkang still cannot fully accept the ups and downs of the marketplace. They feel the price shouldn't fall so much for public housing.

HDB has explained previously that when it prices a flat, it also looks at market value.

Chesterton's Mr Mak added: 'Those at Sengkang who bought in the late 1990s probably paid a relatively high price.

'Now, HDB has to sell the unsold units to other buyers to fill the whole block. And it has to do it at the prevailing price - which is low.'

In the resale market, executive flats in Sengkang go for between $360,000 and $370,000. The lowest transacted price this year was $328,000 for a flat at Rivervale Walk, said Mr Mak. - TAN MAY PING

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

Wierd analysis.

the plain fact as to why the "big new estates" are not popular is simply because they are so ulu!

If you destroy Bukit Timah and turn it into a super huge HDB estate, are they sure they wont be huge demand? ;)

well judging by recent condominium prices i imagine people would rather condominiums than hdb flats also.

HDB launches new balloting exercise for 1,529 flats in established estates

18 Oct 2004

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/imagegallery/store/phpqIocO6.jpg

By Joanne Leow, Channel NewsAsia



SINGAPORE : The HDB is launching a balloting exercise for studio apartments, 4-room and 5-room flats in established towns on Monday.

100 studio apartments, 638 four-room flats and 791 five-room flats are available.

These are surplus flats built originally to rehouse families under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme.

Applications are open till November 7.

The studio apartments are in Geylang Town, while the 4- and 5-room flats are in Ang Mo Kio, Kallang/Whampoa, Bukit Merah, Bukit Batok, Bedok and Geylang Towns.

The majority of the larger flats have been completed, while the studio apartments are scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Starting from this balloting exercise, HDB will extend the revised Third Child Priority scheme, setting aside 5 percent of the flat supply for eligible applicants.

All other priority schemes will also apply.

Show flats will be open for public viewing at the HDB Hub and other locations.

Interested buyers can find out more by logging on to e-Sales or tuning in to Teletext at Channel NewsAsia and Channel 8 on page 670. - CNA

Wierd analysis.

the plain fact as to why the "big new estates" are not popular is simply because they are so ulu!

If you destroy Bukit Timah and turn it into a super huge HDB estate, are they sure they wont be huge demand? ;)

but for 100000$ i should buy a HDB-apartment;)

Business Times - 20 Oct 2004

S'pore housing market looking up

This is about as good a time as any in about a decade to buy that home, says LIM SAY BOON

SENTIMENT is swinging back towards Singapore residential property - finally. And the ongoing recovery will see the return of the home as a major instrument of wealth accumulation here.

But unlike the 1990s, when queues and widespread speculation accompanied heady price rises, this upturn is likely to be more gradual - something in the region of 6-10 per cent over the course of 2004-2005.

Mind you, ceteris paribus, the residential property market might even see the return of the heady price appreciation of the early mid-1990s. But in a market where the government is a major supply factor through land auctions, the assumption of 'all other things being equal' is unrealistic. The return of gains of, say, 20 to 30 per cent over two years is unlikely - simply because the government is almost certain to pump out more land supply if it feels another boom-bust cycle coming on.

But mind you, I suspect the government would probably not object to steady gains averaging even 5-10 per cent a year as long as the economy is growing at a comparable pace.

Three months ago, writing in this same column, I argued that there was hope yet for a return of price inflation for Singapore property as investors switch out of over-valued Western markets (including Australia) into Singapore and other Asian markets.

Since then, we have seen a bottoming out of property prices with the URA property index registering a marginal gain in Q2. But more importantly, the latest anecdotal evidence is indicating a lot more interest at launches. The feedback over Q3 of this year is that interest at new project launches has exceeded expectations.

Indeed, it was reported that over the Hungry Ghost Month - when you would have expected buyers to stay away - some 800 units were sold. This compares with only 2,500 units being sold in the whole first half of the year.

Was that just a whiff of buyer impatience wafting back into the market?

Possibly. Of the recent launches, Centrepoint's Ris Grandeur stands out. Unlike some other projects whose number of launched units is lower than its total units, Ris Grandeur launched all its 453 units. It is one of the most recent projects; a freehold development in Pasir Ris; selling at a reported average price of $500 per sq ft; and it is already reportedly 40 per cent taken up.

Looking ahead, a lot of market attention will focus on City Developments/AIG's The Sail@Marina. Located at Marina Bay and marketed as the tallest residential tower in Singapore and among the top 10 tallest in the world - that is, a 'world class' development - pricing expectations have rapidly ratcheted up from $850 to $950 psf, with some observers even talking about $1,000 psf. A bullish response at this high-end development is likely to filter down to the mass end of the private market before too long.

Speculative money

Indeed, the financial markets are now talking about speculative money - in the hands of Indonesian and North Asian high net worth individuals - seeking investment opportunities in the region. And it is this excess liquidity, wary of the overheated property and stagnant stock markets of the West and now sloshing around the region, that had been driving up stock and property prices in most of Asia. Well, 'most', with the notable exception of the Singapore property market - to date anyway.

Jones Lang LaSalle figures were reported to have pointed to close to 50 per cent price appreciation for top-end Hong Kong residential properties over the year from Q2 '03 to Q2 '04. Indeed, a land auction earlier this month in Hong Kong appeared to confirm developers' bullishness. The sites - at Homantin and San Po Kong - were clinched by Cheung Kong and Sun Hung Kai at prices way above market expectations.

According to analysts, the prices achieved at the sites implied expectations of another 50-60 per cent price upside over the next three years.

Okay, maybe Singaporeans are not surprised by Hong Kong's bullishness on property. But even New Delhi reportedly achieved gains just under 50 per cent for its high-end homes in that same period. And Bangalore and Bangkok notched up gains just a shade below 20 per cent over those 12 months.

Does Singapore deserve to remain the clear laggard that it had been to-date? The fundamentals don't suggest so. The much talked about supply overhang is history. The number of unsold units as tracked by URA now stands at only 13,695. That is the lowest figure in four years. Further, it is estimated that some 60-80 per cent of that supply is freehold as a result of the suspension of land sales from the Asian crisis in 1998.

And since the bulk of the supply is freehold, there is generally less urgency for developers to launch until prices improve. Land sales have only resumed recently. But even then the bulk of the releases have been into the so-called 'reserve list', to be released into the market only where there is indication of interest from developers.

Meanwhile, with the economy growing at a healthy pace and unemployment edging down, demand is likely to be on the rise. But that is only the domestic side of the equation. What is more difficult to gauge is the extent of foreign interest sitting on the sidelines, waiting for a 'buy signal' from, say, a major development such as The Sail@Marina.

Indeed, foreign buying has reportedly increased from 14.5 per cent of foreign properties transacted in 1998 to nearly 29 per cent in the first half of this year. And apart from the 'rotation of speculative money' possibility, there is a longer-term factor - the government's more open attitude towards skilled foreign migrants.

In fact, looking purely at the market's dynamics at the moment, all other things being equal, one might even be tempted to call for a more robust period of price inflation for Singapore to catch up with the gains made elsewhere in the world over recent years.

But - and this is huge 'but' - other things are not likely to remain equal if prices start to run ahead of economic growth. Given the Singapore government's sensitivity about cost competitiveness, and its understandable wariness of the dangers of another short boom-bust cycle for property, it is almost certain that price gains beyond the rate of economic growth are likely to provoke intervention by the government. That is, it will provoke the government to pump more supply out to moderate demand.

Lower valuations

But my bottom-line opinion is that this is about as good a time for Singaporeans to buy that home as any seen in something like a decade. The economy is back in growth again and valuations have been beaten down.

Besides, the maths is rather simple. With interest rates on term deposits ranging from 0.2 per cent to one per cent, depending on the amounts deposited and the time period, and with rental yields running at around 2 per cent, there is a positive 'carry' on the property proposition versus cash.

And with the attractive home loan packages being offered by banks, there is not that much difference these days between renting and buying your own property.

The inhibitor has for some time been confidence. That is, notwithstanding the yield versus interest rate factor, buyers have stayed sidelined for fear of capital losses. That inhibition might just be about to be swept aside.

The writer is head of OCBC Investment Research. The views expressed in this column are his own. The above column is for general information purposes only and readers should not make investment decisions on the basis of this article without verifying its contents independently.

Copyright © 2004 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved.

En-bloc for privatised HUDC apartments?

30 Nov 04

Owners' reluctance to part with spacious apts and insufficient premium to buy replacement apt may be deterring factors. KALPANA RASHIWALA reports

WITH Eng Cheong Towers recently making history for being the first 99-year leasehold private property to be put up for collective sale, could the en-bloc door open wider and be extended to privatised HUDC estates?

http://business-times.asia1.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2004-11-30/301104_krhudc30_p30.gif

The potential is not to be scoffed at, given that the 10 HUDC estates that have been privatised to date have a total land area of about 6.3 million square feet. These include Pine Grove, Gillman Heights and Farrer Court.

In addition, another four estates, including Laguna Park and Eunosville, with 1.8 million sq ft in combined site area, are in various stages of privatisation.

Besides all these estates, which were developed by the now defunct Housing and Urban Development Company (HUDC), there are also other government-initiated estates that have since been effectively privatised like Normanton Park and Lagoon View.

All these estates are built on sites that originally had 99-year leases but in some cases, only about 70-plus years of the original lease remain. However, approval can be obtained from the Singapore Land Authority to have their leases topped up to 99 years, as in the case of Eng Cheong Towers - although each case will be considered on its own merits, taking into account the government's long-term plans for the area, among other factors.

Not surprisingly, some owners of privatised HUDC apartments are hoping that they can soon join the ranks of freehold private estates doing en-bloc sales.

However, most property consultants who've done preliminary studies on privatised HUDC estates tend to think collective sales are still some way off.

One of the biggest deterrents is resistance from most owners, especially older ones used to living in spacious HUDC apartments, some as big as 1,600 to 1,800 sq ft.

To be sure, say property consultants, in some cases, there may be a financial incentive in the form of a premium ranging from 15 to 30 per cent cent for privatised HUDC apartment owners if they team up to sell their units to a developer for the redevelopment potential of the site compared with the individual values of their apartments. But this may not be big enough to persuade owners controlling at least 80 per cent of share values in the estate - the minimum consent level required - to agree to an en-bloc sale, especially given the large number of owners involved, as many as 600-plus, in some HUDC estates.

Even in a normal freehold collective sale, very often it takes a price premium of nearly 40 per cent to entice owners to do an en-bloc sale, says Jones Lang LaSalle associate director Quek Soh Hoon.

An interesting issue is that based on current land values, a good number of owners could suffer a clear financial loss. The proceeds from selling their apartments could be lower than their original purchase price as many may have bought their apartments at the height of the market in the mid-1990s. Agents say that generally, HUDC apartment prices today are about two-thirds of their peak levels.

Agents say such clear-cut cases of financial loss would provide strong grounds for minority owners who want to block an en-bloc sale to win their case when it goes before the Strata Titles Board (STB). The board mediates in en-bloc sale disputes and decides whether or not to approve the sale in cases where owners' unanimous consent is not obtained.

Says Credo Real Estate executive director Tan Hong Boon: 'If there are a lot of loss cases, then the other owners would have to find some way to compensate them - if they want an en-bloc deal to materialise. But if the collective sale premium for those in the black is only 20-30 per cent at most, there may not be enough gains to spread around.'

Then there's another big issue. The proceeds from selling their apartments collectively - even if it does not result in a loss - may still not be enough to buy a new replacement 99-year leasehold private apartment.

For instance, Pine Grove in the Mt Sinai area has seen transactions at $500,000 to $533,000 for apartments ranging from 1,668 to 1,755 sq ft in the roughly 20-year-old estate, according to data supplied by ERA Realty. Factoring in a 25 per cent collective sale premium over these individual unit prices, owners should be able to pocket $625,000 to $666,000.

If any of these owners wanted to move into a newer 99-year leasehold condo in the vicinity like Faber Crest, a similar-sized unit of 1,744 to 1,787 sq ft unit would cost them $760,000 to $780,000.

In addition, there seems to be a mountain of resistance from the majority of owners in privatised HUDC estates.

'It's very hard to convince them to part with their homes. Many of them have been living there for decades, and are used to living in spacious apartments - which are bigger than HDB executive flats and maisonettes,' said DTZ Debenham Tie Leung director Tang Wei Leng.

Agreeing, JLL's Ms Quek says that another reason owners of privatised HUDC apartments don't quite have an incentive to sell is that many of the estates are in relatively good condition, with facilities like tennis courts, a swimming pool and clubhouse. In contrast, many old freehold walk-up apartments put up for en-bloc sale often don't have such facilities and are pretty run down.

Despite all these problems, property consultants are not writing off en-bloc deals for privatised HUDC estates just yet. They're putting them on hold.

'It'll be a gradual process,' as Credo's Mr Tan put it. 'With time, land values could rise and this may increase the collective sale premium. At the same time, as the estates age and owners need to pump in a substantial sum of money to spruce them up, they may be more inclined to part with their apartments - although replacement cost will probably still be an issue.'

Agents see HDB resale market rising strongly next year

18 Dec 04

Improving economy, more jobs augur well

By ANDREA TAN

(SINGAPORE) What does 2005 hold for the Housing and Development Board resale market? Depending on whom you talk to, the picture could be a brighter one or a steady state.

C&H Realty MD Albert Lu is optimistic. 'The outlook is bright - the economy is improving, the employment situation too, and the real estate business is also picking up,' he said.

'Next year, we should see 33,000 resale transactions, up from an estimated 30,000 this year. Pricing will be firmer too, especially for the larger flats, by 3-4 per cent.'

According to Mr Lu, more people will upgrade, compared with the downgrading trend in recent years. But prices for three and four-room flats may decline 3 per cent.

Prices of three-room flats have climbed as more Singaporeans downgraded and the government freed the market for singles. But steps have been taken to cool the sector, including building three-room flats after a two-decade hiatus and allowing singles above 35 to buy any flat type.

ERA Real Estate group centre director Mark Teo also has a fairly bullish view. 'Three and four-room prices have peaked in the past few months. It's now time for the larger five-room and exec flats to see price increases of about 5 per cent next year.'

He added: 'Volumes should be 10-15 per cent higher in 2004 and another 10-15 per cent more in 2005. People will make their HDB purchases sooner rather than later because of the increasing cash downpayment.' From Jan 1, HDB resale flat buyers who take a loan from a bank will have to make a 4 per cent cash downpayment, up from 2 per cent this year. This will be stepped up until it reaches 10 per cent in 2008. The aim is to eventually align HDB flat purchases that use bank loans with private property purchases.

For the whole of 2003, resale transactions totalled 33,586, down 12.4 per cent from 38,343 a year earlier. HDB resale applications amounted to 21,859 in the first three quarters of the year.

This means ERA's Mr Teo is expecting resale transactions to cross 40,000 in 2005 and to hit more than 36,000 this year.

But he warned that there could be 'some migration to the lower end of the private market as the gap narrows between the larger flats and private apartments'.

Resale flats cost on average 2.7 per cent more in the third quarter of this year than they did a year earlier. Resale flat prices rose one per cent in the first nine months of 2004 and property agents reckon they could close the year 2-4 per cent higher.

But some agents, like Steven Tan, executive director at OrangeTee, have a more sanguine outlook.

'Volumes should drop at least 10 per cent due to the implementation of the 4 per cent cash payment and more negative equity sales as many sellers had bought their flats at higher price,' Mr Tan said. Prices, however, should remain stable, thanks to continued economic recovery, fewer completed new HDB flats and a projected 5-10 per cent increase in private property prices, he reckons.

PropNex CEO Mohamed Ismail said: 'The main challenge next year is the 4 per cent cash outlay. I don't expect it to dampen sentiment much but it will hurt the larger five-room and executive flats. Next year could be a major hurdle for some when they make up their minds about buying or selling the flat, as the cash downpayment creeps closer to the 10 per cent mark.

'In the near future there will be less incentive to buy a resale flat, especially larger ones because of the cash downpayment. The private sector has deferred payment, which has always been an attraction to some buyers.'

How does 2004 look for the HDB resale market? While other sectors are winding down for the festive season, housing agents are still busy closing deals.

'There's a good chance Q4 will have a strong finish,' said Mr Ismail. 'People are rushing to beat the 4 per cent cash downpayment next year and are driving up sales in the last few weeks of 2004.' He believes the number of resale transactions could exceed 10,000 in Q4, making it the best showing of the year.

Second batch of build-to-order flats launched

28 Dec 04

THE Housing Board has launched its second batch of flats this year under the build-to-order scheme.

The new projects are The Anthias in Punggol, which will have 134 three-room and 600 four-room standard units; and Coral Green in Sengkang, with 655 four-room premium flats.

In August, after a 19-year break, HDB launched its first batch of three-room flats at Fernvale Grove in Sengkang.

Three-room flats are restricted to applicants with monthly household incomes of $3,000 or less, while four-room units are open to families which earn up to $8,000.

An HDB spokesman said 92 per cent of Fernvale Grove's 156 three-room units and 89 per cent of its 352 four-room flats have been sold.

'With such a good take-up rate, HDB has proceeded to prepare for the tender for the construction of the flats,' he added.

HDB is banking on the proximity of the two new projects to two completed but unoperational Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations to attract applicants.

The Anthias, at the corner of Punggol Drive and Punggol Road, is next to Damai station along the Punggol LRT line.

Coral Green, at the corner of Fernvale Road and Sengkang West Avenue, is 50m away from Fernvale station on the Sengkang LRT West Loop.

The Land Transport Authority announced earlier this month that part of the Punggol LRT - including Damai station - will start operating by next March. p> LRT operator SBS Transit is still reviewing the Sengkang West Loop and has yet to finalise its opening.

Both lines should be operational by mid-2010, when the projects are scheduled for completion.

The Anthias' three-room units, with up to 68 sq m each, are priced between $101,000 and $119,000, while the four-room units, with up to 94 sq m, will cost between $150,000 and $185,000.

Coral Green's 95 sq m four-room flats are priced between $142,000 and $180,000.

PropNex chief executive Mohamed Ismail said: 'Even though 1,255 units is a large number, I expect most of the four-room flats will be taken up... as they have proven to be the most popular kind of flats for Singaporeans.'

Sales brochures are available at the Habitat Forum at HDB Hub, Toa Payoh, where HDB is exhibiting models of the two projects.

Applications for the new flats opened yesterday and close on Jan 16. For further information, visit www.hdb.gov.sg or call 1800-866-3066.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/redstone/amkhdbconst.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v606/redstone/amkhdbconst2.jpg
30 storey blocks at AMK Ave 1.

woo..i hope the views from there will be nice :)

Btw, any other pictures of the 40 storey ones at TP u/c?

if i have i'll post them in the other thread :)

btw check out the Public Housing thread in the main Singapore forum, I think I took a pic of redhill, maybe your flat is in there? ^^

you ought to go up those flats, great views :yes:

Haha, checked your pic, and my flat is nearly on it ^^

http://img162.exs.cx/img162/1583/redhill1ec.jpg
It is actually just behind the small old grey one in front of the new cluster, so it's out of the frame ;-)

Btw, after all I didn't go that, way, I went the opposite direction... Couldn't resist the call of the new Queenstown HDB cluster ^^
And I'm gonna tell you one thing:
The views from the top storey flats are gonna be OVERKILL !!!!

Wait till I finish sorting-assembling-naming-uploading the pics... ^^

Haha, checked your pic, and my flat is nearly on it ^^
It is actually just behind the small old grey one in front of the new cluster, so it's out of the frame ;-)

Btw, after all I didn't go that, way, I went the opposite direction... Couldn't resist the call of the new Queenstown HDB cluster ^^
And I'm gonna tell you one thing:
The views from the top storey flats are gonna be OVERKILL !!!!

Wait till I finish sorting-assembling-naming-uploading the pics... ^^

well, I just posted a pic in WALLPAPERS, i think your block is in it! ^^

oh, and I highly recommend you go up that huge curved block opposite Gan Eng Seng School :eek:

OK, I think now I spotted that Tiong Bahru HDB development growing in my backyard ^^ Here are some views from the kitchen:

January 12th
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/blk86view_050112.jpg

January 30th
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/blk86view_050130.jpg

Can you notice the difference ?
It seems that my view on SGX is gonna disappear soon :-/

hmm..I dont think that is the HDB construction

That should be Twin Regency (36 floors) ^^

the HDB site is further to the right

but you have nice view of Capital Tower!^^

You live near to the conservation area?

@redstone: yep

@Raf: huh, might be indeed :-) I can't believe how many constructions near Tiong Bahru that I never noticed ^^

Oooh!
Can take many pics of the area? :colgate:

Those in the conservation area... those Art Deco apartment blocks, shophouse row and 2 Chinese temples. :colgate:

And also those Bauhaus blocks opposite it? :colgate:


They are, after all, Singapore's first housing estate! :D

Can try to have a walk there one of those days :-)

Singapore announces policy changes for public housing

SINGAPORE : The public housing sector is up for a makeover, starting with a pilot plan to allow private developers to design, build and sell HDB flats.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan also announced other changes in Parliament, like relaxation of rental rules to encourage residents to be more self-reliant.

MPs wanted the government to keep public housing affordable and to relax rules to help lower income families.

A 2.4-hectare plot along Tampines Avenue 6 is where the first Design, Build and Sell blocks will be built by the private sector for the HDB.

Gan Kim Yong, MP for Holland-Bukit Panjang, said, "HDB should focus on building smaller flats such as 2-room or 3-room flats, leaving the larger ones to the private sector, which is more than capable of building them. Smaller units will also be more affordable and take up less of the savings."

Developers get to decide on flat mix and layout, but preserve the character of public housing by not having fences or facilities like a swimming pool.

The flats will be treated like other HDB-developed flats. The National Development Minister called this a liberalisation of the market and a milestone.

Mr Mah said, "They will be sold to Singaporeans who are eligible to purchase subsidised public housing. The Ethnic Integration Policy will also continue to apply. The liberalisation of the public housing market is a key milestone in the development of our public housing programme. I believe it will re-shape the way HDB provides public housing in future. It will introduce different ideas; it will bring different designs, different minds to bear on how we can provide good public housing.

"But I want to assure Singaporeans, that even as we involve the participation of the private sector in our public housing programme, we will continue to provide housing subsidies for young couples to set up home, to start a family and for those who need to upgrade from their smaller flat. I hope that private sector participation in the development of public housing will help to enhance and enrich the HDB experience."

Flat buyers can expect modern designs and features, which property watchers say could come at a premium.

Said Eric Cheng, division director at PropNex Realty, "I feel that the prices will be at least 30 to 45 percent higher than the current prices. The developer will be putting in more effort on the concept of living. The developer will probably have the rights for deferment payment, progressive payment and even collection of keys. The developer therefore will probably renovate the place, where there will be marble flooring with all the features and buyers themselves would have saved $30,000 to $40,000."

Mr Mah made clear in Parliament that prices will be affordable.

Said Mr Mah, "HDB-developed flats, along with HDB resale prices, will set the benchmark for the prices of DBSS flats. This will ensure that public housing remains affordable for Singaporeans. MND will evaluate the pilot DBSS project carefully before deciding whether to implement more widely. If we do, it will be done selectively, probably in the more mature estates."

To keep them affordable, eligible first timers will receive a 30,000 or 40,000-dollar grant from the government.

Keeping flats affordable was topmost of MPs concerns, as well as helping financially strapped flatowners.

Many urged a relaxation of eligibility for rental flats.

MP for Ayer Rajah, Tan Cheng Bock, said, "Ask HDB to apply this rule but with a widened scope -- to buy back the flats at market rates, especially the three-roomers for those in severe hardship, and then rent them back the flat at subsidised rates."

Yatiman Yusoff, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Information, Communications and the Arts, said, "Over the last three years, I have seen an increasing number of cases where HDB flat owners who want to downgrade to smaller flats or sell their flats and move to rental flats, facing great difficulties in financing their needs."

But the answer was no, though Mr Mah said flexibility will be exercised for those in genuine hardship.

He also announced new flexibility in sub-letting, such as reducing the occupation period from 10 years to five, to allow elderly Singaporeans and others to rent out their flats and earn some income.

Other changes include reducing the time bar for those who wish to apply for a second subsidised flat from 10 years to five.

Another announcement was the introduction of the Town Council Lift Upgrading Programme, or TC LUP, where the Town Councils will be allowed to use part of their sinking funds for lift upgrading works.

It is estimated that some 300 to 400 blocks around Singapore will benefit from this programme.

It is part of a plan to speed up the lift upgrading programme island-wide, which will also see it extended to low-rise four- and five-floor blocks.

But the cost must not be more than S$30,000 per unit.

The programme will also be speeded up, with more precincts eligible this year.

The measures are part of plans to complete lift upgrading for all eligible blocks in 10 years instead of 15, and will cost the government some S$5 billion. - CNA

HDB gives developers a bigger role

8 Mar 05

In a trial project, private developers will design, build, price and sell the flats

By Joyce Teo

HOME-BUYERS looking to buy a newly-constructed Housing Board flat in Tampines in the next year or two are set for a big surprise.

Instead of arranging the purchase with the HDB, they will find themselves face-to-face with a private developer.

In a bold experiment, the Government announced yesterday that it will allow private developers to design, build, price and sell some HDB flats in Tampines Avenue 6.

The site, with space for 500 flats, will go up for tender later this year.

Industry insiders say this outsourcing of the whole HDB development process is set to result in a wider choice of flats, better quality housing, such as more condo-style features, and shorter waiting lists.

However, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan stressed the Government was stepping warily in the move to open up more public housing to the private sector.

For years, private firms have played a role in the design and building of HDB flats.

But letting developers price and sell the flats - with no price ceiling - is a major change.

Mr Mah said the idea 'is untested and unfamiliar to HDB as well as flat buyers'.

'We will therefore take a cautious approach and test out the concept via a pilot project,' he told Parliament.

Mr Mah expects most HDB projects outsourced privately to be done under the 'tried and tested' design and build system, where the HDB takes over as the seller.

The experiment is part of the Government's continued efforts to liberalise public housing, which now accounts for about 80 per cent of total housing stock.

Almost nine in 10 Singaporeans are HDB dwellers, and almost all of them own their flats.

Under the scheme, private players will tender for land on a 103-year lease, and design, build and price the flats, which will be subject to HDB rules and conditions.

So, for example, a policy designed to ensure a balanced mix of Singapore's ethnic groups will apply.

To ensure affordability, first-time buyers will receive a government CPF housing grant of $30,000 or $40,000, similar to the grant for first-timers buying HDB resale flats.

Permanent resident households, households earning above $8,000 a month, and others now ineligible for new HDB flats will not qualify.

The Real Estate Developers Association of Singapore said: 'With an enlarged market, there will be new opportunities for private enterprise to contribute fresh ideas and be creative in building and design. This will result in more choices for the home-buyers.'

Jones Lang LaSalle's associate director, residential, Ms Jacqueline Wong, said developers could throw in more 'condominium' standard finishes, such as split-level air-conditioning or completed kitchens with built-in hobs and ovens.

PropNex chief executive Mohamed Ismail said: 'There won't be a long three to five year time lag to buy a flat. The HDB will only have the build-to-order scheme in future, after all their surplus flats are taken.'

But the flats' pricing will not be far from current levels.

Ms Wong said: 'Generally, the public should be prepared to pay a slight premium of, say, 5 per cent to 10 per cent.'

One developer, who declined to be named, said: 'With a monthly income ceiling of $8,000, how much higher can you price it?'

Another, who wished to remain anonymous, said: 'If you want to build a super-duper HDB flat, consumers may not be able to afford it. It will be a challenge for developers if you want to have better designs and still keep it affordable.'

It's about time..... :yes: :D

^ Darn, Raffles beat me to posting that.. :(

Looks interesting, must keep track of this pilot project.

^ Darn, Raffles beat me to posting that.. :(


oh dont worry...I'd be glad if you posted it..haha..next time you can try to do it :D

the article didnt state which area they would start off with though

They did...I saw the plot marked out in the Chinese paper. That makes me abit dissapointed...coz the site is within what I hoped would be the enlarged town centre of Tampines...

so it is not part of Tampines?

lowrise?

Now it will be...smack in the middle some more. I wont expect it to be very tall, since the surrounding blocks are no taller then 15 floors or someting like that. But it is within what was supposed to be the entire size of the Tampinese Regional Centre.

so its going to be sited in the middle of nowhere?

not very attractive for buyers if thats the case

No lah...its at the junction between Tampines Avenue 5 and 6. Need a map?

eheh..yes that would be helpful I guess..to visualise it :D

Haha...here here:

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/genmap.cgi?x=39768.31&y=37666.47&sizex=700&sizey=650&level=6&iconlist=;star84,40526.8345,38776.8405;star1,39768.31,37666.47;

You guys might want to consider using that site to explain locations....quite useful siah. :D

thanks..looks like a nice undeveloped plot to start

see some parks too :yes:

Serious and sincerely, I recommend U remove the image linking of the map as soon as possible before streetdirectory (Map owner) comes knocking your mailbox.

You can provide the link for people to look at the map, but not putting up the images....

Haha...here here:

http://www.streetdirectory.com.sg/genmap.cgi?x=39768.31&y=37666.47&sizex=700&sizey=650&level=6&iconlist=;star84,40526.8345,38776.8405;star1,39768.31,37666.47;

You guys might want to consider using that site to explain locations....quite useful siah. :D

And as taller ones are being built, the shorter ones are disappearing ;-)

Demolition of 4-storeys HDB blocks 14 and 16 Tiong Bahru Road (opposite the conservation area, and next to Central Plaza) has begun.

^

those 'Bauhaus' looking ones that redstone was raving about? :lol:

374 units offered in new HDB Sengkang project

But board cans two other planned projects in the area because of insufficient demand

1 Apr 05

By Tan Hui Yee

A PREMIUM batch of 374 new Housing Board flats in Sengkang is being offered for sale at the same time that the HDB has pulled the plug on two planned housing projects in the area.

It is canning The Anthias, a 134 three-room and 600 four-room development of standard units in Punggol Drive, and Coral Green, the 655 four-room premium flat project in Fernvale Road.

The reason: There is not enough demand for these homes, said the HDB.

Both projects were put on the market late last year on a build-to-order basis.

However, the orders for them have not hit the necessary level which the HDB requires before it starts putting up the homes.

Only 63 per cent of The Anthias' units were snapped up and 53 per cent of Coral Green's.

A division director of property agency PropNex, Mr Eric Cheng, said the low prices of resale four-room flats in Sengkang could have drawn buyers away from the HDB queue.

He estimated that one of these would be going for $210,000, fully renovated.

The two aborted developments are the latest casualties in the four-year-old build-to-order scheme. Two others have been scrapped, but nine have attracted enough interest to get the green light.

Part of another project - The Sundial in Punggol - was also canned because the response was not good enough.

Asked why the HDB is launching its latest development, called Tivela, the board put it down to the 'public's response to earlier projects in the Buangkok area'.

That indicated that there is a demand for flats in the southern part of Sengkang town.

'As Tivela is in a good location and is a smaller project, we anticipate there will be sufficient take-up rate for it to proceed,' the HDB said in an e-mail reply.

Tivela's four-room flats will be located in Sengkang Central near the yet unopened Buangkok MRT station along the North-East Line. Each flat will be about 93 sq m, have extras such as timber-strip flooring in the bedrooms and glazed porcelain ceramic floor tiles in the living and dining areas.

They are expected to cost between $172,000 and $202,000.

Prospective buyers have until April 20 to submit their applications.

An MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Mr Charles Chong, is keeping his fingers crossed that the project goes through, as it will give ballast to his arguments for the opening of the Buangkok MRT station, something he has been fighting for since 2003.

The operator of the North-East Line, SBS Transit, has maintained that there are not enough people living near the station to justify opening the station.

Mr Chong reckons about 1,500 more homes in the vicinity should tip the balance.

Commenting on the HDB's latest development, Mr Chong said: 'I'd be delighted if the response rate is high, as it would mean an earlier opening for the station.'

those 'Bauhaus' looking ones that redstone was raving about? :lol:


No, no, those are in the conservation area ^^
The one being demolished are not Bauhaus, they are just ugly-makeshift-no-style ;-) Maybe can take some pics of the remaining ones before all of them are gone.

http://img228.exs.cx/img228/4329/tbsitdem24rq.jpg

http://img228.exs.cx/img228/2401/tbsitdem4af.jpg
Feb 27, 2005....

^

at least we have those for memories sake, but they arent anything special..I'm sure there are more of those elsewhere in singapore^^

Whese is that?

Whese is that?

Tiong Bahru

whese is that looks really hilarious :D

I still prefer "and yeah, that site man obviously anyhow say one lah!" ^^
Good enough to make a signature :-ppPppp

where's that from?

letter in the ST Forum

No need for HDB to cancel both projects

9 Apr 05

I AM utterly disappointed by the HDB's decision to call off The Anthias and Coral Green projects.

I got a unit at Coral Green during my day of selection. However, on March 31, I learnt from the news that the HDB had called off both projects due to low take-up rates.

At the same time, it launched a new Build-To-Order project, Tivela, with 374 units. The affected applicants from the abandoned projects were given a choice of transferring or cancelling their applications.

As the take-up rates for Coral Green and The Anthias were 53 per cent and 63 per cent respectively, the HDB could have easily continued with one of the projects and called off the other one.

The take-up rates, when combined, would have been enough for approval of one project. The HDB could have lumped the affected applicants together and perhaps done a reselection, thereby minimising the number of those affected.

If the HDB had done this, there would not be such a large pool of people 'fighting' for the 374 units of Tivela.

At the same time, has the HDB considered why the take-up rates were low for Coral Green and The Anthias? Could it have been because two Build-To-Order projects were launched at the same time?

We received the official letter from the HDB informing us of the cancellation of the projects only on April 2. By then, there were already many applicants for Tivela. And since the affected applicants were not given any priority, does that mean that they might not get a unit this time?

I hope the HDB can look into this matter and reconsider its decision to cancel the two projects.

Jael Teo Tze Hoon (Ms)

buy private lah... :D

Tivela so far... though near Buangkok station (not opened yet, right?)... must think twice going home late... sian if working place is in the city...

with these names..its getting harder to know their location!

Premium HDB flats in Punggol up for sale


2 Jul 05

THE Housing Board has put up for sale 369 four-room flats in Punggol. These premium apartments, with better finish, go for $169,000 to $206,000.

They will be built only if the majority, say 70 per cent, are booked.

This is the second build-to-order project the HDB has launched this year.

The first, a 374-unit project called Tivela in Sengkang, received 1,528 applications.

Almost 90 per cent of the flats have been booked, so the HDB will call for a tender to build them.

The board had earlier canned two projects because of poor response.

They are The Anthias, with 134 three-room and 600 four-room standard units in Punggol Drive, and Coral Green, with 655 four-room premium flats in Fernvale Road in Sengkang.

The latest offer, called Coralinus, is in Punggol Central, a five-minute walk from Punggol MRT and LRT stations.

Schools such as Edgefield Primary, Punggol Secondary and Mee Toh primary are also nearby.

These flats, about 94 sq m each, are a notch better than standard HDB flats.

The bedrooms will have timber-strip flooring and the living and dining areas, glazed porcelain ceramic floor tiles. Buyers can also opt to have timber doors installed in the flat by paying about $1,600 more.

Would-be owners can apply until July 20. If the response is good, applicants can expect to book their flats in September.

The chief executive of property agency PropNex, Mr Mohamed Ismail, expects the flats to be popular as they are near an MRT station.

Four-room units have also tended to be the most sought-after type, he added.

Sims Dr, Upper Boon Keng Rd flats for Sers

26 Nov 05




MORE than 1,500 HDB households at Sims Drive and Upper Boon Keng Road will have to move - as the site of their flats has been picked for selective en-bloc redevelopment (Sers).


The affected flats are at Blocks 54, 56, 57, 59, 60 and 62 Sims Drive and Block 20 Upper Boon Keng Road. The blocks vary from 27 to 31 years old. The number of sites earmarked for Sers now stands at 58 since the programme was started in 1995.

The Housing & Development Board (HDB) will in 2007 start construction of 1,670 new 3, 4, and 5-room flats at Bendemeer Road and Upper Boon Keng Road to house the people displaced. The homeowners are expected to move out by 2010 while they can start registering for their replacement flats in end-2006. They are entitled to buy the new flats at subsidised rates.

At the same time, HDB said that it will also be clearing a rental block - Block 55 Sims Drive. The block has 352 one-room flats. Tenants will be accorded relocation benefits. Twelve shops and one eating house in the area - all of which have been sold by HDB - will similarly be affected.

I feel this Kallang HDB estate development is taking forever...

17th December
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/05/051217_kallang_hdb01.jpg

:lol:

maybe, contractor went bust... and a new one has just been awarded...

Hmm.... 2 blocks at AMK are to be demolished... Now in the process of hoarding....

Any chance of 40 flrs?

why are they being demolished?

I think the south-western corridor has very good chances for more 40-storey blocks....like Tiong Bahru perhaps

why are they being demolished?

I think the south-western corridor has very good chances for more 40-storey blocks....like Tiong Bahru perhaps

SERS.

Demolition of Blocks 318 and 317 at AMK Ave 2 junction had begun.

http://img477.imageshack.us/img477/7664/amk2hy.jpg

New flats at Kallang

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8896/kallanghdb1yt.jpg

Hmmm....with the height, it could be a nice place for future fireworks at the sports hub....:cool:

why yes...unfortunately it doesnt have those long corridors of yesteryear...but got to wait till after 2010 ^^

The flats at Kallang look quite nice. Cannot tell if it is condo or HDB.

:) :) :) The flats at Kallang look quite nice. Cannot really tell if it is condo or HDB.

Toa Payoh new 40 stories blocks can be seen here in the background:

http://membres.lycos.fr/pengssc/img/060522_goodwood_park_hotel01.jpg
(photo taken 22nd may)

Why AMK no 40 floor?

Don't tell me cos of Seletar...

Write in to URA/HDB lah

^ Excellent suggestion.....:lol:

CAAS regulates the height restriction. :)

for sure, nevertheless, all planning parameters will be coordinated by URA :yes:

and it isnt just CAAS that determines height controls, DSTA is also consulted, and the lower value of the two agencies' requirement define the height limit.

HDB cluster under construction next to Fernvale LRT station (Sengkang line)
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070204_fernvale_hdbs01.jpg

Seen from nearby block 407B:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070204_fernvale_hdbs02.jpg

A new shopping arcade just opened next to the construction site:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070204_fernvale_point01.jpg
The food court is nice, Chatelain recommends the noodle soups stall :-)

There's something very weird about Fernvale, it feels very much like a countryside village, but with metropolitan features such as a train line (navigating through the jungle o_O ) and highrise buildings.

A pic illustrating the contrast:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070204_fernvale01.jpg

A new shopping arcade just opened next to the construction site:
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070204_fernvale_hdbs02.jpg


When the construction is completed, a night picture showing light trails from the train will be nice.

btw, some 40-storey blocks under construction at the TPY have reached the top.

When the construction is completed, a night picture showing light trails from the train will be nice.

Huh... I think light radiating from the housing block will have whitened the whole picture long before you actually get to see a trail of light in this case... It's not like heavy traffic on those rails !

How many stories are these HDBS?

HDB cluster under construction next to Fernvale LRT station (Sengkang line)
http://ssc.singapenguin.net/07/070204_fernvale_hdbs01.jpg


Sorry but can't help it. This photo is really eerie....

How tall are the HDBs?

How tall are the HDBs?

20 to 25 stories in this area.

@Kit: I'll take it as a compliment ^ ^; There IS something eerie about the place.

20 to 25 stories in this area.

@Kit: I'll take it as a compliment ^ ^; There IS something eerie about the place.

Wait a minute.... do you see what I see???

Not very tall :(. And yes, quite eerie, reminds me of some horror movies.

Who is the lady????? Eeeeeeeee.......

Who is the lady????? Eeeeeeeee.......

what lady??

what lady??

You didn't see the lady in green t-shirt???????!!!! Don't scare me....... :eek:

Lady in green t-shirt?? Where??

Sorry but can't help it. This photo is really eerie....

Agreed. It looks like a wandering female ghost is looking around for her next target location to haunt, and there in the distance is this group of old condemned buildings...

FREAKY....

When the construction is completed, a night picture showing light trails from the train will be nice.

I did not know that SKLRT had side platforms. Always thought platforms were island style, unlike those of BPLRT.

Among all the new/recnet HDB developments, my faves has to be the cluster blks 76-77 just next to Redhill station and blks 815-816 just next to Lavender station, opposite the ICA building.

Both have excellent locations and unblocked views of the skyline (for Redhill) and the Kallang/East Coast waterfront (for Lavender) that easily rivals those of condos.

Your Friendly Guru is predicting that the party is ending by the end of this year ... so ... in the year of Golden Pig ... make sure you are the Golden Pig ok ? Not the Running Rat coming next year ... haha ...

But if u read this forum ... I am sure you will be at the fore front ...

YFG ... ...

Guru, what makes you predict that? Pretty new to this forum. However there is a hearsay outside this forum about this too. pretty curious.

Guru, what makes you predict that? Pretty new to this forum. However there is a hearsay outside this forum about this too. pretty curious.

DKSG

Like Timeless I'm also very keen to pick your thoughts on why you are bearish. I'm definately no guru but I'm definately all ears to hear one.

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/PressReleases/1641F9E3BD5A678E482573250002EBCD?OpenDocument

Finally, HDB has done the right thing and released the average resale prices of all HDB towns.

This should cool down the resale speculative activities and clamp down on owners who ask for ridiculous prices in the 600-700k range.

This should also serve as a wake-up call to condo speculators who suddenly realise that, hey, you can get a HDB flat at one third or one fifth of the price of that oversized condo pad you're eyeing for so long :)

http://www.hdb.gov.sg/fi10/fi10296p.nsf/PressReleases/1641F9E3BD5A678E482573250002EBCD?OpenDocument

Finally, HDB has done the right thing and released the average resale prices of all HDB towns.

This should cool down the resale speculative activities and clamp down on owners who ask for ridiculous prices in the 600-700k range.

I have a look at their numbers and felt it is quite useless. There is no categorization by location (near MRT, near shopping mall or not), high floor/low floor, blocked/unblocked views, age of the units, floor sizes, condition of flat and maintenance etc.

They just give one average price for an area or town which can be very large. This average price thus can be very misleading..... so they might as well not publish anything.

I agree with what you said totally.

Take for example, 5rm flats in Bukit Merah consists of near MRT 5-year old HDB flat in Jalan Membina & Kim Tian, which obviously would definitely costs much more than a 30-year old Telok Blangah Way 5-rm HDB. They are however all lumped together as 5rm HDB flat in Bukit Merah.

So, if in a quarter period where there are more 30-year old Telok Blangah 5rms sold and very few Kim Tian 5-rms transacted, we may even see 5rm flat in Bukit Merah medium transacted price become lower compared to previous quarter ?? Kind of very misleading, isn't it.

The best way to compared is still to look at the detailed transaction of individual housing precinct.

More than 7,000 new flats expected over next 7 months
Over 1,000 flats in 2 projects launched yesterday; 6,000 more to come by next June
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
November 29, 2007
Prime News, Pg 1
Author: Tan Hui Yee, Housing Correspondent

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1045/picture17jw3.png

NEWLY-WEDS need not worry about not having a new HDB roof over their heads.

More than 7,000 new Housing Board flats will be offered for sale over the next seven months, as well as seven plots of land which could boast another 3,200 units.

To cater to different income groups, flats on the drawing board range from the humble two-room flat to privately-designed estates and executive condominiums.

This increase in flat supply, the biggest in recent years, is expected to ease the bottleneck that has emerged in recent months as buyers, put off by the high prices of private homes and resale flats, turned to new subsidised HDB flats.

Prices of resale HDB flats grew by 11 per cent in the first nine months of this year, while prices of private homes shot up 22.9 per cent.

An indication of the rush for new flats: the HDB recently received almost 8,000 applications for just 400 flats in Telok Blangah and more than 1,600 applications for 516 homes in Punggol.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan yesterday made clear the HDB was stepping up flat building 'in a very major way'.

At 4,800 units, the number of HDB's build-to-order flats offered by the end of this year is already more than double the number launched last year.

Property agents say the move will also encourage HDB flat sellers to be more realistic about their asking prices.

Mr Albert Lu, managing director of C&H Realty, thinks that prices may drop. 'But it's a good thing, as more people will be able to afford flats,' he added.

Two build-to-order projects were launched yesterday:

Segar Meadows in Bukit Panjang Ring Road, comprising 412 three- and four-room flats.

Compassvale Beacon in Punggol Road, comprising 750 two-, three-, and four-room flats.

From next month till June, the HDB will also launch for sale another 6,000 new flats under the build-to-order system, where projects are built only if the majority of flats are booked.

It will also launch for sale four plots of land in Bishan, Simei, Toa Payoh and Bedok for flats to be built and sold by private developers. Another three sites - in Yishun, Jurong, and Sengkang - will be made available next year for development of executive condominiums.

Mr Mah reassured homebuyers - especially those buying their first subsidised home - that there were enough flats as well as a variety of properties to meet their needs.

About 80 to 90 per cent of applicants for each build-to-order project are such 'first-timers', many of whom are newly-weds. In the two recent balloting sales exercises, 92 per cent of shortlisted buyers fell into that category.

He urged them: 'Don't be too choosy...It's not possible or realistic for the HDB to offer only new flats in mature estates in the heart of the city.'

The boost in supply buoyed buyers like Ms Affizah Aziz, 40, who turned to the HDB resale market after failing to get a new flat in a recent ballot. The housewife said: 'I still would like to have a new flat. Its surroundings and atmosphere are much better.'

Mr Mah promised that new flats will remain affordable. Their prices, long pegged to the values of resale HDB flats, will not be affected by a rise in building costs.

He also rejected suggestions that the release of the flats was meant to prevent a property bubble from forming. 'I don't see any bubble forming,' he said. Unlike the private property sector, the HDB market is a much bigger and more stable. 'The growth we are seeing is a healthy one in the resale market,' he said.

tanhy@sph.com.sg

Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

New plum plots for high-end HDB flats
Govt to release 7 sites for executive condos and flats built by private developers
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
November 29, 2007
Money, Pg H26
Author: Tan Hui Yee, Housing Correspondent and Fiona Chan, Property Reporter

http://img503.imageshack.us/img503/8871/picture1qv6.jpg

IF THE property pundits are right, Bishan and Toa Payoh will be the next areas to be buzzing with hot property market action.

A plot in each location is about to go on sale, and both are earmarked for public housing to be built by private developers.

The exact locations of the two choice sites were released yesterday, along with those of two others in Simei and Bedok slated for the same kind of development.

They were part of a package of more than 7,000 new HDB flats and seven land plots, meant for a mix of higher-end public housing and executive condominiums, to be released between now and June.

They also include 1,162 new flats on Bukit Panjang Ring Road and Punggol Road that were put up for sale yesterday.

The four sites for developer-built public housing can yield 1,900 homes. They will be put up for tender progressively, starting from next month until June.

Meanwhile, another three plots meant for executive condominiums - at Yishun, Jurong West and Sengkang East Avenue - will be put on the reserve list in the first half of next year. This means they will be put up for tender once an interested buyer submits a minimum bid acceptable to the Government.

Property consultants and analysts contacted by The Straits Times did not think this move would lead to any oversupply in the market. There was healthy demand for new HDB flats, they said, and this was supported by economic growth.

Citigroup economist Chua Hak Bin said: 'The market has to pay a price for the sites, has to feel comfortable that there is a demand, so it is still market-driven.'

There was a general consensus that developers would make a beeline for the plots in Bishan and Toa Payoh when they were put up for tender.

The Bishan site, which can fit about 390 homes, will be put on the market next month. It is at Bishan Street 24, near public housing blocks and schools, and a short walk from Bishan North Shopping Mall.

The other, to be put up for tender in April, is located at Lorong 1A Toa Payoh. It sits between the Braddell and Toa Payoh MRT Stations and is also a stone's throw from the bustling HDB Hub.

Developers who bag the sites will have to build flats according to the general rules of public housing, which means their common spaces will have to be easy to maintain, for example.

While they are free to design, build and price the flats, they can sell the properties only to families who earn not more than $8,000 a month, and they must maintain an ethnic quota within the estate.

The first such hybrid housing project, developed by Sim Lian Land in Tampines, was launched to overwhelming response last year. The second, to be developed by a Hoi Hup Realty-led consortium in Boon Keng, is expected to be launched soon.

The tender for a third such plot in Ang Mo Kio closed earlier this week with a higher-than-expected top bid of $212.40 per sq ft (psf) per plot ratio. This means flats there could be launched from $580 psf.

Mr Ku Swee Yong, the director of business development and marketing at Savills Singapore, predicted an even better response to the Bishan and Toa Payoh projects. He said: 'Selling prices of the finished units could hit $600 psf or even more, which means HDB prices may reach the levels of private 99-year leasehold condos.'

tanhy@sph.com.sg

fiochan@sph.com.sg

PRICIER FLATS
'Selling prices of the finished units could hit $600 per sq ft or even more, which means HDB prices may reach the levels of private 99-year leasehold condos.'
- MR KU SWEE YONG, Savills Singapore's director of business development and marketing, on the prices of the HDB flats that private developers are to build on the Bishan and Toa Payoh plots

Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

1,100 flats go on sale in Punggol and Yishun
Projects, ready by 2011, signal to the market that there is adequate supply
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
Prime News, Pg 3
December 28, 2007
Author: Jessica Cheam

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7910/picture1zz2.jpg

MORE than 1,100 Housing Board flats went on sale in Punggol and Yishun yesterday, just a day after a plum Bishan site reserved for condo-style flats was launched.

The new projects - Damai Grove in Punggol town and Jade Spring @ Yishun - are being offered under the build-to-order (BTO) system where flats are built only when a certain demand is reached.

On Wednesday, the HDB released a site in Bishan Street 24 that can accommodate 460 upmarket flats built by private developers.

Market watchers say the consecutive HDB sales are a clear sign the Government is addressing the housing shortage that has worsened amid soaring resale prices.

ERA Singapore assistant vice-president Eugene Lim said the sales sent a clear message to the market - that there is 'housing for everyone' across all segments.

'This is to alleviate fears that there's a shortage of homes, and to prevent people making rash decisions,' said Mr Lim.

Damai Grove, which consists of 738 flats - 62 three-roomers and 676 four-room units - caught the industry's eye due to the potential of its location.

The estate is next to Damai Light Rapid Transit (LRT) station and a stone's throw from Punggol MRT, but its proximity to Punggol's proposed waterway is its greatest selling point.

This 5.5km waterway is part of the ambitious 'Punggol 21-plus' vision Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled in his National Day Rally speech in August.

The town will boast features like a freshwater lake while homes and a town centre will line the waterway's banks with recreational facilities and nearby amenities.

The chief executive of property agency Propnex, Mr Mohamed Ismail, said the HDB's latest project meant 'Punggol 21-plus is taking shape'.

Mr Ismail added that the sale was 'timely' given the high demand for housing.

Prices at Damai Grove will range from $123,000 to $152,000 for a 65 sq m three-room flat and $195,000 to $240,000 for a 90 sq m four-room unit.

These are significantly lower than in the resale market, where a four-room unit's median price in Punggol is about $271,000, according to HDB's third-quarter data.

Damai Grove is Punggol's ninth BTO project and the fourth for the year.

Jade Spring @ Yishun offers 384 flats - 48 three-room units and 336 four-room units - at the junction of Yishun Ring Road and Yishun Avenue 11. It is also near the Khatib and Yishun MRT stations.

Prices range from $118,000 to $134,000 for a three-roomer to $183,000 to $246,000 for a four-roomer.

At the close of the HDB's last BTO sale, 7,970 people applied for 400 flats at Telok Blangah while 1,626 applications were lodged for 516 flats in Punggol Lodge, which is next door to Damai Grove.

The HDB website www.hdb.gov.sg yesterday showed 112 applications for Damai Grove and 106 for Jade Spring. Applications close on Jan 16.

Both projects are expected to be completed by 2011, and the construction of the waterway, which will take up to four years, will likely start at the end of 2009.

Models of the two estates are being exhibited at the HDB Hub Habitat Forum at Toa Payoh until Jan 16.

jcheam@sph.com.sg

Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

1,100 flats go on sale in Punggol and Yishun
Projects, ready by 2011, signal to the market that there is adequate supply
Straits Times, The (Singapore)
Prime News, Pg 3
December 28, 2007
Author: Jessica Cheam

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/7910/picture1zz2.jpg

MORE than 1,100 Housing Board flats went on sale in Punggol and Yishun yesterday, just a day after a plum Bishan site reserved for condo-style flats was launched.

The new projects - Damai Grove in Punggol town and Jade Spring @ Yishun - are being offered under the build-to-order (BTO) system where flats are built only when a certain demand is reached.

On Wednesday, the HDB released a site in Bishan Street 24 that can accommodate 460 upmarket flats built by private developers.

Market watchers say the consecutive HDB sales are a clear sign the Government is addressing the housing shortage that has worsened amid soaring resale prices.

ERA Singapore assistant vice-president Eugene Lim said the sales sent a clear message to the market - that there is 'housing for everyone' across all segments.

'This is to alleviate fears that there's a shortage of homes, and to prevent people making rash decisions,' said Mr Lim.

Damai Grove, which consists of 738 flats - 62 three-roomers and 676 four-room units - caught the industry's eye due to the potential of its location.

The estate is next to Damai Light Rapid Transit (LRT) station and a stone's throw from Punggol MRT, but its proximity to Punggol's proposed waterway is its greatest selling point.

This 5.5km waterway is part of the ambitious 'Punggol 21-plus' vision Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong unveiled in his National Day Rally speech in August.

The town will boast features like a freshwater lake while homes and a town centre will line the waterway's banks with recreational facilities and nearby amenities.

The chief executive of property agency Propnex, Mr Mohamed Ismail, said the HDB's latest project meant 'Punggol 21-plus is taking shape'.

Mr Ismail added that the sale was 'timely' given the high demand for housing.

Prices at Damai Grove will range from $123,000 to $152,000 for a 65 sq m three-room flat and $195,000 to $240,000 for a 90 sq m four-room unit.

These are significantly lower than in the resale market, where a four-room unit's median price in Punggol is about $271,000, according to HDB's third-quarter data.

Damai Grove is Punggol's ninth BTO project and the fourth for the year.

Jade Spring @ Yishun offers 384 flats - 48 three-room units and 336 four-room units - at the junction of Yishun Ring Road and Yishun Avenue 11. It is also near the Khatib and Yishun MRT stations.

Prices range from $118,000 to $134,000 for a three-roomer to $183,000 to $246,000 for a four-roomer.

At the close of the HDB's last BTO sale, 7,970 people applied for 400 flats at Telok Blangah while 1,626 applications were lodged for 516 flats in Punggol Lodge, which is next door to Damai Grove.

The HDB website www.hdb.gov.sg yesterday showed 112 applications for Damai Grove and 106 for Jade Spring. Applications close on Jan 16.

Both projects are expected to be completed by 2011, and the construction of the waterway, which will take up to four years, will likely start at the end of 2009.

Models of the two estates are being exhibited at the HDB Hub Habitat Forum at Toa Payoh until Jan 16.

jcheam@sph.com.sg

Copyright, 2007, Singapore Press Holdings Limited

Damai Grove should be a good buy since the Punggol 21+ plans are well underway. In todays advertisement, HDB even marketed Damai Grove as the "new waterfront estate in Singapore" or something like that.

HDB ads are cheesy and misleading. Sure, Damai Grove is a good buy now. But years later, it's one of the many developments in the middle of Punggol which has no nice views except looking down on the artificial waterway.

HDB ads are cheesy and misleading. Sure, Damai Grove is a good buy now. But years later, it's one of the many developments in the middle of Punggol which has no nice views except looking down on the artificial waterway.

Wow, shrewd they are indeed, after people buy for the water views, they get "conned" by HDB for misleading them :ohno: