SINGAPORE – Singapore’s collective sale market appears to be heating up, with at least two freehold residential properties renewing their bids to sell en bloc, as developers look to increase their landbanks amid robust sales at new launches.
Euro-Asia Apartments, an 84-unit development in Serangoon Road, was put up for collective sale via public tender at a guide price of $218 million, while Jansen Mansions in the Kovan area is trying its luck for a third time at $18.9 million.
According to Cushman & Wakefield, five residential developments were sold en bloc for $447.7 million in the first five months of 2022, compared with three deals totalling just $74.4 million in the same period last year.
For the whole of 2021, eight residential collective sale deals totalling $1.17 billion were done.
Mr Wong Xian Yang, head of research at Cushman & Wakefield, credited the $273.89 million sale of Lakeside Apartments for the sharp increase in residential collective sale deal value so far this year.
He said: “This suggests that developers remain keen to replenish their landbanks amid limited inventory and still-strong buying demand for new launches post the new cooling measures. Developers would be encouraged by the favourable market response for recent new launches such as Piccadilly Grand and Liv@MB.”
But the current activity is still a far cry from the 2018 peak of more than $10 billion in total for residential collective sale transaction volume, he added.
At $218 million, the land rate for Euro-Asia Apartments translates to $1,288 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr), including bonus balcony gross floor area. No development charge is payable, and the tender will close on July 25 at 2.30pm.
If successful, the owners of units ranging from 840 sq ft to 2,443 sq ft will each stand to get between $1.7 million and $3.9 million, marketing agent SRI Capital Market told The Straits Times.
Euro-Asia Apartments has tried for a collective sale more than four times, including in 2010 when it was put up for sale at $142 million. The most recent attempt was in 2018 at $200 million.
Mr Low Choon Sin, SRI’s managing partner, said he expects interest to be strong due to the location, palatable price quantum and redevelopment potential.
“Euro-Asia Apartments is situated within the mature estate of Boon Keng and Bendemeer, and within proximity to the growing catchment of Farrer Park.
“There is limited supply of land sale opportunities in District 12 and recent new launches in the city fringe have shown a healthy take-up rate,” he said.
Located near Boon Keng MRT station, the 56,476 sq ft site is zoned for residential use with an allowable plot ratio of 2.8. The maximum permissible gross floor area is about 158,132 sq ft. Based on latest Urban Redevelopment Authority guidelines, a new residential development could potentially yield 173 units.
Meanwhile, the 12-unit Jansen Mansions in Kovan will be launched for sale via public tender on June 2.
Each owner stands to receive $1.575 million based on a $18.9 million reserve price, said marketing agent PropNex Realty.
The price works out to a land rate of $863 psf ppr, including development charges. After factoring in the 7 per cent bonus balcony space, the land rate is $855 psf ppr. The tender will close on June 28 at 2pm.
After its first stab at a collective sale in 2018, Jansen Mansions tried again in February 2021 at a reserve price of $19.8 million. The price was cut to $18.5 million in a relaunch in August 2021 that was unsuccessful.
Ms Tracy Goh, head of investment and collective sales at PropNex, noted that despite the latest property cooling measures, demand for new units has remained strong, as evidenced by robust sales at new launches Piccadilly Grand and Liv@MB.
The 999-year site can be redeveloped into a 21-unit project, with units averaging 100 sq m each.
The 16,592.7 sq ft is zoned for residential use with a plot ratio of 1.4 and a gross floor area of 23,229.8 sq ft.
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MCI (P) 031/10/2021, MCI (P) 032/10/2021. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2021 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.