City Gate, a 99-year leasehold mixed-development in Beach Road, has pulled in solid sales over the weekend. This is after its developers launched it at lower-than-expected prices and enlisted as many as six real state agencies to market it.
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Skyline Residences (Review)
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Project Name: Skyline Residences
Tenure: Freehold
Location: 608 – 612 Telok Blangah Road
District: 04
Site Area: 154,810sqft
TOP (estimated): 1st October 2015
Total Units: 283
No. of Blocks/Storey: 3 blocks of 24-storey
Car Park Lots: 300
Developer: Bukit Sembawang
The wife and I were at the sales gallery of Skyline Residences over the weekend. This is a freehold project by Bukit Sembawang located along Telok Blangah Road.
Skyline Residences sits on the plot of land that is currently occupied by Fairways. Bukit Sembawang bought the site in a collective sale back in 2007 for $244.3 million, which worked out to around $785psf ppr. It sure took them quite a while before they decided to launch the new project that is Skyline Residences. The sales gallery is located on the actual site itself.
The first thing that delighted us when we stepped into the sales gallery was the scale model of the project – in addition to highlighting the condo and its facilities, the model also has mock-up of some of the landmarks that surrounds Skyline Residences. These include the cable car towers at Harbourfront/Sentosa with tiny cable cars that actually move!
Skyline Residences consists of 3 blocks of 24-storey each. However, the apartments are located from the 3rd storey onwards and are elevated by pillars of some 21 metres from the ground level. So units on the 3rd storey of Skyline Residences is actually about 8-storey high. The three blocks form the corners of a triangle:
• Block 608 (which consists of only 3+Study and 4-bedders) is closest to the main road.
• Blocks 610 and 612 are tucked behind Block 608 – we were told the distance between Block 610/612 and Block 608 is about 60 metres.
• The condo facilities are located in between the 3 Blocks.
The main entrance to Skyline Residences is along Telok Blangah Road, while a pedestrian gate located at the back of the development will provide access to Telok Blangah Drive (where the wet market and other amenities are found).
The project offers a mix of 1- to 4-bedroom units as well as penthouses (4+Study or 5-bedroom):
• 1-Bedroom (44 units): 484sqft
• 2-Bedroom (88 units): 829sqft
• 3-Bedroom (88 units): 1292 or 1346sqft
• 3+Study (20 units): 1475sqft
• 4-Bedroom (40 units): 1615 or 1722sqft
• Penthouses (3 units): 3165sqft (4+S), 3251 & 3681sqft (5-bedder)
There are two showflat on display at the sales gallery:
– 1346sqft, 3-bedroom (Type C1)
– 1722sqft, 4-bedroom (Type D1)
All the 3- and 4-bedder units as well as penthouses come with their own private lift/lift lobby.
For the purpose of this review, we shall look at the 1346sqft, 3-bedder unit.
As you enter the unit, you see the living/dining room. This is rectangular-shaped area and quite decent in size for a 1300+sqft unit. It comes with ducted air-con and for flooring, you have a choice of either 60cm x 30cm marble-slab or “engineered timber” (see photo below).
The master bedroom is quite good-sized for a change. It comes with engineered timber floors, which is standard for all the bedrooms. By now you are probably wondering… what is “engineered timber”? We have done some checking and discovered that engineered timber is a structural timber product composed of several layers of dimensioned lumber glued together. It has the advantage of being free from excessive shrinking and setting and is generally stronger and longer lasting than whole timber.
The master bedroom not only has bay windows, but also an additional planter area (accessible via a set of glass doors). The later is especially a waste of good space (do you really need a planter box in your bedroom?) that you have to pay for.
The master bathroom is quite spacious and comes with marble floors/walls. You get “Grohe/Duravit” fittings and both bath tub and standing shower (located across from each other). Although the shower stall is not fitted with rain-shower, we do find the “industrial-like” design quite appealing.
Price wise, below are what you can expect to pay for selected 3- and 3+Study units that are still available as of last weekend:
• 1475sqft, 3+Study (Block 608, #06-02): $2,731,520 or $1,852psf
• 1475sqft, 3+Study (Block 608, #21-02): $2,896,420 or $1,963psf
• 1346sqft, 3-Bedder (Block 610, #06-08): $2,471,560 or $1,836psf
The wife and I actually prefer the layout for the 3+Study over the 3-Bedder. Only issue we have with the former is that it is directly West-facing. So the living and master bedroom in this one and only stack of 3+Study can get quite warm in the afternoon.
Skyline Residences started previewing about 2 weeks ago and as of last weekend, about 90 of the 283 units have been sold.
What we like:
• The view, especially from units in Block 608, should be quite spectacular. Check out the photos we took (if you have not seen them yet):
http://sgproptalk.blogspot.com/2011/07/skyline-residences-wanna-know-views-you.html
Also, the design of the 3 blocks is such that most of the units will have at least some unblocked view.
• For those seeking larger units (3+Study or 4-bedder), you be pleased to know that Block 608 (only block where such units are found) offers you the best view – the balcony of these units will likely get some sea/golf course view while the bedrooms will face the condo facilities.
• The main orientation of the project is North-South, which means the units should be quite windy. This may help you save on electrical bill as less air-conditioning may be required.
• Telok Blangah MRT station (on Stage 5 of the Circle Line that is expected to be operational in the later part of this year) is just across from Skyline Residences and about 4-mins’ walk away.
• Residents have the choice of wet market/supermarket/neighbourhood shops and other amenities at the HDB estate located across from Telok Blangah Drive. Alternatively, Vivocity and Harbourfront is just a 5-mins’ drive away. Skyline Residences is also about 10 – 15 mins’ drive to CDB and Orchard Road. So one can hardly argue against the convenience of its location.
What we dislike:
• The space within the units can be better optimized. In the case of the 1346sqft 3-bedder, the yard space (long and narrow) is hardly functional. We can also make do with smaller balcony and fewer planter boxes.
• While the wife and I liked some of the interior furnishing, we were not exactly “wowed” over by what we saw. This is especially when the units come with asking prices in excess of $1800psf.
• The common bedrooms of the 3- and even 4-bedders are too small for our liking.
• Although units in Block 608 are likely to get the best view, they are also “nosier” given that the block is nearest to the main road. When we were at the viewing gallery on the 11th floor of an existing block, the traffic noise was quite deafening even with the glass enclosure.
• We can only identify one primary school that is within 1-km from Skyline Residences – Blangah Rise Primary. Consolation is that this is a co-ed school.
Our Verdict: Skyline Residences is probably a decent buy on account of its location, freehold status and great view. However, we are not exactly sold on the quality as seen in the showflat. This is especially in relation to its asking price. If we compare Skyline Residences with Foresta @Mount Faber just further down the road, we will definitely prefer the former, although some may argue that they are not exactly “apple to apple” (high-rise condo versus low-rise boutique).
But being the realists that the wife and I are, we will probably go with the cheaper alternative – Harbour View Towers. This is a 99-year leasehold condo located right next to Skyline Residences. It is already 17-years old and with far fewer facilities. However, the 3- and 4-bedders in Harbour View Towers are equivalent in sizes (some even bigger) than those of Skyline Residences and they do not have balcony/planter boxes. You also enjoy the same kind of view (and traffic noise) and distances from MRT station/amenities, but at a much lower $1,000 – $1,300psf!
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Foresta @Mount Faber: Review (Part 2)
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For those who are not interested in ground floor units (read: large PES), the typical Type C2 unit is 786sqft.
The kitchen is on your left as you enter the unit. And unlike the 1-bedroom apartment, the kitchen is distinctly separated from the living/dining room. It comes equipped with similar furnishing and kitchen appliances as the 1-bedder. However, you get homogenous tiles for the kitchen floor, which we reckon is more appropriate than marble. The wife and I also like the “pull out” storage cabinet between the integrated fridge and washing machine (see photo).
The master bedroom seems surprisingly smaller than the one in the 1-bedder showflat. And instead of separate “His” and “Hers” set of wardrobe, you get the standard “2-panel” wardrobe here.
Price wise, this is what you can expect to pay for a 2-bedder unit in Foresta:
• #02-28 (721sqft, inward-facing): $1,369,900 nett or $1,900psf
• #02-01 (667sqft, inward-facing): $1,267,000 nett or $1,900psf
What we like:
• Foresta is about 450m away from the upcoming Telok Blangah MRT station and 980m away from Harbourfront MRT station – not exactly at your doorsteps but still within reasonable walking distances. Vivocity is also supposedly a 10-minutes walk away, which may appeal to those working in Harbourfront or thereabouts.
• The high ceiling (4.2m/3.2m), which is especially welcomed given the (small) size of the units.
• The quality of furnishing provided – we like the well-designed kitchen, the good quality marble floors and the appealing wardrobes.
• Two primary schools are within 1-km of Foresta – Radin Mas & Blangah Rise Primary.
What we dislike:
• Location – We were unimpressed with the “sights” around Foresta. The surrounding buildings looked rather dated and poorly maintained, which gives the whole area a rather “sad” look. Granted that all these may change by the time Foresta is completed in 4 years’ time, so one can always hope!
• We suspect the stretch of roads outside Foresta (i.e. Morse Road & Wishart Road) will be rather congested during the weekends, as you probably find cars belonging to church-goers (there are at least 4 churches along that short stretch of roads) parking on both sides of the narrow roads.
• Many marketing agents for Foresta will tell you that the project faces Keppel Club and Reflections at Keppel Bay. But in reality, there is not much in terms of view for “outward facing” units in Foresta given the height of the project (5-storey) – you either face the row of old shophouses/the flyover along Telok Blangah Road (for front-facing units) or Pender Road along the foot of Mount Faber (for back-facing units). So the “best facing” units are probably the inward (pool-facing) ones.
• Speaking of inward-facing units – the distance between Blocks 100/102 and Blocks 106/108 is a mere 15 metres. This is a tad too close for our comfort but good news for curtain/window-blind makers.
• The amount of PES/balcony space is disproportionately large compared to the overall size of the unit. Do you really need two balconies (one in the living room and one in the master bedroom) for a 700sqft, 2-bedroom unit? This is especially when you are paying full price for the balcony space!
Our Verdict: The wife and I feel that Foresta is hardly value for money by any stretch of our imaginations. The project is average at best in terms of location (at the wrong “foot” of Mount Faber), mediocre in terms of its facility offerings and not quite “high end” enough in terms of interior quality (some furnishing in the showflat we really like but not enough to pay the kind of money the developer is asking). At $1,900psf or above, one can still have quite a few options for freehold projects even at current market prices. However, given the rate at which units in Foresta have been snapped up so far, maybe the buyers knew something that we don’t…?!
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Foresta @Mount Faber: Review (Part 1)
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Project Name: The Foresta @ Mount Faber
Tenure: Freehold
Location: 100 – 108 Wishart Road
District: 4
Site Area: 65,480sqft
TOP (estimated): 31 June 2015
Total Units: 141
No. of Blocks/Storey: 4 Blocks of 5-Storey each
Car Park Lots: Basement Parking 144 lots (including 3 handicap lots)
Developer: Hoi Hup Realty Pte Ltd
Facing: North-South Orientation
The wife and I went to check out Foresta @Mount Faber last week. This is the latest freehold project by Hoi Hup Realty located at the foot of Mount Faber.
As some of you may recall, Hoi Hup bough the site (where Pender Court is currently located) for $95 million in June 2010. The land price worked out to around $1,007psf ppr.
The Foresta’s sales gallery is located off-site (since Pender Court is currently occupied) on an open ground at the end of Wishart Road. One actually will pass by the actual site (Pender Court) before arriving at the sales gallery.
The Foresta consists of 4 blocks, each of 5-Storey high. Preview for this project officially started last Wednesday and to date, 50% of the 141 units are already sold.
The freehold project offers a mix of 1 to 3-bedder apartment units, as well as 1+Study to 4-bedroom penthouses:
• 1 Bedroom (43 units): 431 – 506sqft
• 1+Study (11 units): 538 – 624sqft
• 2 Bedrooms (54 units): 667 – 947sqft
• 3 Bedrooms (4 units): 1076/1109/1,238sqft
• 1+Study Penthouse (11 units): 775sqft
• 2 Bedrooms Penthouse (3 units): 958sqft
• 2+Study Penthouse (4 units): 1195sqft
• 3+Utility Penthouse (10 units): 1356/1378/1453sqft
• 4 Bedrooms Penthouse (1 unit): 1755sqft
All ground-floor units come with 4.2m high ceiling, while the ceiling height of 2nd – 5th floor apartments are 3.2m.
Foresta is marketed as a full-facility condominium project, MINUS the tennis court. But given the small site area, the facility offerings are rather basic for supposedly a “high-end” project.
There are only sufficient parking lots in the basement for 1 car per household, unless one wishes to be demonised for parking your second car in the 3 handicapped lots.
There are 2 showflat types on display at the sales gallery:
• A 484sqft, 1-bedroom ground-floor unit (Type A1G)
• A 926sqft, 2-bedroom ground-floor unit (Type C2G)
For the first part of our review on Foresta, we shall concentrate on the Type A1G unit.
For those of you who are not interested in ground-floor units, you be pleased to know that the typical Type A units (i.e. 2nd – 4th floor, balcony instead of PES) is 431sqft and have the exact same interior layout as Type A1G.
As you enter the unit, the small kitchenette is immediately on your left. We called this a “kitchenette” (rather than a kitchen) because it is not really designed for “heavy” cooking – the induction hob is a dead giveaway.The wife and I were rather impressed with the quality of furnishing, which include
• Kitchen cabinets that come with “anti-slam” mechanism
• Doors of top-hung cabinets that open upwards i/o outwards
• Sauce rack provided inside the bottom cabinet
• Excellent quality solid-surfaced kitchen top
The developer is also very generous on kitchen appliances. You get “Teka” hob/hood, fridge, oven and washing machine. The integrated oven, fridge and washing machine keep the kitchenette area clutter-free and frees up much needed “manoeuvring” space.
We also love the 90cm x 90cm large marble-slab floors in the kitchen & living/dining areas.
The living/dining room is TINY and has barely enough space for a two-seater dining table and a small sofa (see photo). The wife and I actually felt a little claustrophobic with just the 3 of us (i.e. ourselves and the sales agent) standing inside the living room.
The master bedroom is surprising spacious compared to the living/dining room. It comes with large timber-strip floors and very appealing set of “His” and “Hers” wardrobes.
There is only one bathroom in the whole unit and this is located inside the master bedroom. The bathroom is decent-sized and comes with branded “Keramag” toilet and “Grohe” bathroom fittings. But given the size of the unit, you only get a standing shower stall (no bath tub). The wife and I were somewhat disappointed with the developer for not “marbling up” the bathroom, especially given the kind of money that one is expected to pay.
Price-wise, a 431sqft, 1-bedroom unit on the 4th floor (#04-04, facing Wishart Road) will cost you $859,900 after discount. This translates to $1,995psf!.
We will continue our review on the 2-bedroom unit (Type C2) and our likes/dislikes of Foresta in our next post.
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New Project Launching: The Foresta @Mount Faber
For those who are seeking a freehold (albeit smallish) property near Mount Faber.
Project Name : The Foresta @ Mount Faber
Developer : Hoi Hup Realty Pte Ltd
Description : Proposed Condominium Housing Development Comprising 5 Storey Residential Flats (total 141 units) with an Attic, a Basement Car Park and Provision for a Swimming Pool
Tenure : Freehold
Location : 100 – 108 Wishart Road
District : 4
Site Area : 65,480.64 sqft
TOP (Est) : 31 June 2015
Total Units : 141
Car Park Lots : Basement Parking 144 lots (including 3 handicap lots)
Facing : North-South Orientation
Unit Type:
• 1 Bedroom : 431sqft – 506sqft (43 units)
• 1+Study : 538sqft – 624 sqft (11 units)
• 2 Bedrooms : 667sqft – 947sqft (54 units)
• 3 Bedrooms : 1,076/1109/1,238sqft (4 units)
• 1+Study Penthouse : 775 sqft (11 units)
• 2 Bedrooms Penthouse : 958sqft (3 units)
• 2+Study Penthouse : 1,195sqft (4 units)
• 3+Utility Penthouse : 1,356/1,378/1,453sqft (10 units)
• 4 Bedrooms Penthouse : 1,755sqft (1 unit)
The wife and I understand that registration for VVIP Preview (sometime in May) has already begun. And in order to register, the following documents are COMPULSORY:
1) Particular of Purchaser form
2) Letter of Authorization
3) Photocopy of buyers’ NRIC
4) Signed cheque with payee to developer’s project account
So… we are reverting back to the good ‘o days of cheque collection. Deja vue indeed!
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SkySuites @Anson: Preview details and brochure
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The wife and I have finally received details about the impending preview of SkySuites@Anson, a project located along Anson Road/Enggor Street in the CBD. The preview is targeted to start on 19th March.
Here are some information on the project
Location: No. 8 Enggor Street (District 2, behind Icon & 4 mins walk to Tg Pagar MRT)
Tenure: 99-years leasehold
Developer: Allgreen Properties Ltd
No of Units: 360
Type of Units: 1 to 3-bedrooms and penthouses
Some unique features of SkySuites @Anson:
- Tallest residential building in Singapore at 250 meters (71 storeys).
- 360 deg viewing and entertainment deck on the roof-top.
- Full condo facilities including tennis court.
- Maintenance charge is inclusive of a carpark lot, as opposed to most other CBD projects where residents have to pay for season parking separately.
- Fully fitted, integrated and concealable kitchen.
- Provision of cooker hood/hob, integrated fridge, integrated washer cum dryer, wine cooler (even for 1-bedroom units) and oven, coffee machine, dish washer (for 3-bedroom units).
- No household shelter in units.
- 2-bedroom units are fully en-suite.
We understand that price start from $700+K for the 1-bedders and $1.3m for the 2-bedroom units.
SkySuites E-Brochurehttp://www.scribd.com/embeds/51021415/content?start_page=1&view_mode=list(function() { var scribd = document.createElement(“script”); scribd.type = “text/javascript”; scribd.async = true; scribd.src = “/javascripts/embed_code/inject.js?1300395014”; var s = document.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(scribd, s); })();
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New Project: SKYSUITES @ANSON
This is the latest project in the CBD that will be launching soon.
SkySuites is slated to be the tallest residential building in Singapore – 72-storey high! The 99-year leasehold development has a total of 360 apartment units plus 5 commercial units on the first level, and is expected to TOP in Nov 2015.
SkySuites is developed by Arcadia Developments Pte Ltd, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Allgreen Properties Limited.
The wife and I understand that SkySuites is open for pre-booking now, with the VIP Preview to be held in the mid of March. We have no information on the expected price though.
SkySuites @Anson (Project Details) http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=49517352&access_key=key-27znpayyyc066p5b69nl&page=1&viewMode=list
SkySuites (Facilities) http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=49517464&access_key=key-1q50va1xtlpghcphvcli&page=1&viewMode=list
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Spottiswoode Residences (Type C1 – 3-Bedroom)
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The wife and I was at the sales gallery of Spottiswoode Residences today.
Below are photos we took of the 1421sqft, 3-bedroom (Type C1) showflat.
Before you get too excited, all the 3-bedders have been sold. But we reckon units are most certainly available in the resale market if you are still interested.
What we like:
• All bedrooms are tucked on one side of the unit, which ensue privacy.
• The common bathroom actually has two doors – one leading to the walkway into the kitchen/bedrooms and the other into the common bedroom next door. So you actually get two ensuite bedrooms.
• The home-shelter is located in the kitchen, unlike the one- and two-bedders where the shelter is in the master bedroom. This is especially when we need to use this space for the maid’s room.
• Very good-sized yard area with window.
What we dislike:
• The wooden flooring in the kitchen is appealing to the eyes but is not very functional, especially if you are into heavy cooking.
• The common bedrooms are rather small, with the bay windows eating further into the already small space.
• The kitchen entrance is located too close to the bedrooms (especially common bedroom 1) for our comfort.
• Given that the unit is only 1421sqft, it really cannot afford a huge balcony. We reckon the balcony/planter box takes up about 150sqft (mabe even more) of the total unit area.
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Spottiswoode 18: Soft launch starts today!
According to a BT report, Roxy-Pacific Holdings will roll out its new residential project, Spottiswoode 18 today.
Prices at the project on Spottiswoode Park Road will start from $688,900, the developer said yesterday.
The 251-unit Spottiswoode 18 has one- and two-bedroom units as well as duplexes and penthouses. Units range in size from 387sqft to 1,324sqft.
More than half of the units – 150 out of 251 – are 387sqft.
Spottiswoode 18 will be built on the site which now houses Dragon Mansion. Roxy-Pacific bought the 72-unit Dragon Mansion in a collective sale for $100.8 million, or $863psf ppr including the estimated development charge.
From the original 72 units that was Dragon Mansion to the 251 units that will be Spottiswoode 18, this translates to a 3.5 times increase in the number of apartments on the same site area. And assuming that the start price of $688,900 is for the smallest apartment at 387sqft, this equates to about $1,780psf.
But yes, the quantum amount is affordable…
Spottiswoode 18 (Project Info) http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=47077878&access_key=key-1j3hls64u7d3163oxnu1&page=1&viewMode=list
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Spottiswoode Residences: Sales status
The BT today reported that 130 of the 150 units released at Spottiswoode Residences last week were sold during the project’s preview.
The units sold thus far have achieved prices ranging from $1,720psf to $2,150psf. Four of the project’s seven penthouses were sold, with one fetching $1,850psf. 86% of the buyers were Singaporean.
The freehold 36-storey development comprises 351 apartments – mostly one- and two-bedroom apartments. It is near Outram MRT Station.
The 130 units sold include a dozen bought by former owners of apartments in the two developments that used to stand on the site – Spottiswoode Apartment and Oakswood Heights.
UOL Group acquired the two adjoining sites through separate collective sales in 2007. It paid $740psf ppr for Oakswood Heights; no development charge was payable for this site.
UOL bought the next-door Spottiswoode Apartment site for $732psf ppr including a development charge based on an earlier media report.
UOL said it will release another 80 units for the project’s official launch today.
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