HDB upgraders buying smaller private homes; private home owners buying bigger units
Residential buildings stand in the Grange Road area of Singapore. Buyers with HDB addresses are opting for smaller apartments when they venture into the private housing market, according to DTZ Research. -- ST PHOTO: BLOOMBERG
BUYERS with HDB addresses are opting for smaller apartments when they venture into the private housing market, according to DTZ Research.
It found that 66 per cent of HDB home owners bought units of less than 100 sq m in the first quarter of this year, up from the 62 per cent in the final three months of last year. The median size of the purchased units fell 2.3 per cent to 85 sq m.
Of the 913 units bought by people with HDB addresses in the first quarter, about 36 per cent were priced from $750,000 to $1.05 million. The median price they paid dropped 8.6 per cent to about $1 million in the first quarter of this year from the fourth quarter of 2014.
Home buyers with private addresses, on the other hand, were buying bigger homes, with the median size increasing 6.8 per cent to 110 sq m over the same period.
On the whole, home purchases in the private market continued to slow, falling 27 per cent quarter-on-quarter to 2,120 transactions - the lowest since the global financial crisis in 2008.
This was due partly to a drop in primary sales in the first quarter, which slumped 43 per cent to 864 transactions, said the report, which was released on Thursday.
It added: "While sales tend to be slower in the first quarter due to festivities, many developers and buyers were also waiting on the sidelines.
"They were anticipating whether the cooling measures would be adjusted during the announcement of the Budget."
Notably, about 42 per cent of the non-landed units that changed hands during the first quarter fell within the price range of $750,000 to $1.4 million - about 5.4 percentage points higher than in the previous three months.
There were fewer purchases by foreign buyers in the first quarter, with transactions down 48 per cent from the fourth quarter of 2014 to 146.
Purchases by Singaporeans declined 26 per cent, permanent residents by 17 per cent and companies by 27 per cent in the same period.
But sales in both the primary and secondary markets are expected to have picked up in this quarter, said the report, noting that the market is growing accustomed to cooling measures and the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) framework.
It added that preliminary figures from caveats lodged in April suggest that there was more foreign interest in luxury homes costing more than $5 million. This is further corroborated by what was observed on the ground and anecdotal evidence.
"Despite facing higher stamp duties to buy properties in Singapore, foreign investors continue to be drawn to Singapore for its infrastructure, security, political stability and high education standards," said the report.
"There are also investors scouring for value-for-money properties."
Background story
FROM HDB TO PRIVATE
66%
HDB homeowners who bought units of less than 100 sq m in the first quarter of this year. Up from 62 per cent in the last three months of last year
85 sq m
Median size of the units bought
About $1m
Median price they paid in the first quarter this year
The Straits Times / Singapore Published on Saturday, 13 June 2015
By Jacqueline Woo tsjwoo@sph.com.sgHDB upgraders buying smaller private homes; private home owners buying bigger units
Please click the following for other Related Readings:
Sales of 2 condos at Sentosa Cove raise hopes of rebound
Corridors of discontent at Pasir Ris One
Freehold redevelopment site in Katong up for tender
33 Parklane basement units for sale
Warehouse market faces challenges in short term: Reit boss
Slower sales, fewer visitors hit Q2 shop rents
$483m top bid for private home site in Queenstown
More details of new HDB scheme revealed
Pasir Panjang Terminal's $3.5b expansion kicks off
Eye on Lavender: Transformation in progress
Centrale 8 in spotlight over defects
Private home prices 'could fall another 10% in next 2 years'
Buy resale flat near parents? Financial help is key: Experts
Dawson's SkyVille and SkyTerrace projects are raising the bar for stylish public housing
In pictures: Stylish BTO projects at Dawson's SkyTerrace and SkyVille
24% apply for BTO flats under schemes to help families live closer together: Minister Khaw Boon Wan
Singapore surprised by Malaysian transport agency stating preference to end high-speed rail in Johor
Sungei Pandan waterfront site may yield 600 homes
Toa Payoh private residential site draws 14 bids
Protecting property agents and consumers
Frasers Hospitality buys boutique hotel group in Britain
Sales of 2 condos at Sentosa Cove raise hopes of rebound
Freehold redevelopment site in Katong up for tender
33 Parklane basement units for sale
Slower sales, fewer visitors hit Q2 shop rents
$483m top bid for private home site in Queenstown
More details of new HDB scheme revealed
Pasir Panjang Terminal's $3.5b expansion kicks off
Eye on Lavender: Transformation in progress
Centrale 8 in spotlight over defects
Private home prices 'could fall another 10% in next 2 years'
Buy resale flat near parents? Financial help is key: Experts
Dawson's SkyVille and SkyTerrace projects are raising the bar for stylish public housing
In pictures: Stylish BTO projects at Dawson's SkyTerrace and SkyVille
24% apply for BTO flats under schemes to help families live closer together: Minister Khaw Boon Wan
Singapore surprised by Malaysian transport agency stating preference to end high-speed rail in Johor
Sungei Pandan waterfront site may yield 600 homes
Toa Payoh private residential site draws 14 bids
Frasers Hospitality buys boutique hotel group in Britain
PM suggests cycling track option for Rail Corridor
Economists lower Singapore's growth forecast to 2.7%
No comments:
Post a Comment