Huttons’ comments on Sep 2023 developer’s sales

16 October 2023

Launches and Sales

It was another quiet month in September.

The absence of major launches took a toll on the sales volume. Developers sold an estimated 217 private residential units in September 2023, 44.9% and 78.0% lower month-on-month and year-on-year, respectively. This is the lowest monthly sales in 2023 and the lowest since Dec 2022 where only 170 units were sold.

The bright spot in September 2023 was the EC market. 118 EC units were estimated to be sold in September 2023. Demand for ECs have been very strong as price sensitive buyers look for the next best alternative to private homes. Furthermore, buyers of ECs are given upfront remission on ABSD.

Altura, the only EC project in 2023. It sold another 100 units after the first balloting, bringing overall sales close to 90%. Altura has seen very strong demand as there had not been an EC project in Bukit Batok in 22 years. North Gaia has also seen steady double-digit sales since April 2023.

Purchases by Foreigners

There is a slight pick up in purchases by foreigners in September 2023 to 13 from 10 in August 2023. Although foreigners remained confident in Singapore, the level of interest is unlikely to return to the pre-cooling measures level. Due to the low volume of transaction, the proportion of foreigners jumped to 5.9% in September 2023.

12 of the purchases by foreigners are in the CCR with the remaining in the RCR.

Proportion of Purchase by Foreigners

Huttons’ comments on Sep 2023 developer’s sales
Source: URA, Huttons Data Analytics as of 16 Oct 2023

Purchases by Market Segments and Price Range

Sales in the CCR made up 35.0% of total sales in September 2023, driven by Pullman Residences Newton, Midtown Modern, One Bernam, Klimt Cairnhill, Leedon Green and Orchard Sophia. However, the average monthly sales volume in the CCR since Jun 2023 was suppressed by almost 50% due to the cooling measures in April 2023.

The RCR accounted for 32.7% while the OCR made up 32.3%.

Almost 60% of the transactions in September 2023 are priced $2 to <$5 million due to more higher value properties sold in the CCR. The highest value transaction in September 2023 was the sale of a 2,164 sq ft unit at Dalvey Haus to a foreigner for $7 million.

Purchases by Residential Status and Price Range in Sep

<$1.5 million $1.5 to <$2
million
$2 to <$5
million
>$5 million Total
Singaporeans 26 44 106 4 180
Permanent Residents 3 4 14 5 26
Foreigners 0 2 8 3 13
Companies 0 0 0 0 0
Total 29 50 128 12 219

Source: URA, Huttons Data Analytics as of 16 Oct 2023

Top 10 Projects by Sales in Sep

Project Name Region Units Sold in
the Month
Median
Price ($psf)
Lowest
Price ($psf)
Highest Price
($psf)
PULLMAN RESIDENCES
NEWTON
CCR 21 3,258 2,913 3,483
LENTOR HILLS RESIDENCES OCR 17 2,231 1,917 2,307
GRAND DUNMAN RCR 16 2,571 2,371 2,757
THE RESERVE RESIDENCES RCR 11 2,446 2,285 2,656
THE CONTINUUM RCR 10 2,790 2,628 2,883
MIDTOWN MODERN CCR 9 3,061 2,813 3,222
ONE BERNAM CCR 9 2,584 2,429 2,856
POLLEN COLLECTION OCR 8 2,185 1,858 2,242
THE LANDMARK RCR 8 2,832 2,629 3,108
THE MYST OCR 8 2,147 1,932 2,255
PINETREE HILL RCR 7 2,395 2,354 2,590
THE ARDEN OCR 7 1,799 1,565 1,852
KLIMT CAIRNHILL CCR 6 3,388 3,336 3,823
LEEDON GREEN CCR 6 2,774 2,532 3,159
ORCHARD SOPHIA CCR 5 2,826 2,806 2,855
SKY EDEN@BEDOK OCR 5 2,113 2,067 2,177
THE BOTANY AT DAIRY
FARM
OCR 5 2,047 1,969 2,144

Source: URA, Huttons Data Analytics as of 16 Oct 2023

Outlook

Huttons Data Analytics estimate developer sales to be between 5,200 and 5,500 units in the first nine months of 2023.

Hillock Green, J’den, Mattar Residences and Watten House are estimated to be launched for sale in 4Q 2023. Developer sales could end the year between 6,500 and 7,500 units. Prices of new homes are likely to increase up to 5% in 2023 on the back of higher inflation and resilient demand.

Upcoming launches in 4Q 2023

No. Project Name Developer Location District Tenure Est
Units
Est Launch
Period
1 Mattar
Residences
L.K. Ang Construction Mattar Road 14 FH 26 Oct 2023
2 J’den CapitaLand
Development
Jurong East
Central 1
22 99 368 Nov 2023
3 Hillock Green United Engineers,
Soilbuild Group
Holdings Ltd and
Forsea Holdings Pte
Ltd
Lentor Central 26 99 474 Nov 2023
4 Watten House UOL Group Limited &
Singapore Land Group
Shelford Road 11 FH 180 Nov 2023

* in alphabetical order
Source: URA, Huttons Data Analytics as of 16 Oct 2023