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Covid pandemic that has wrecked havoc across the world has failed to dent Singapore's status as a global wealth hub with well-off individuals choosing to invest their wealth here. Singapore has seen more private banks like UBS, Citi and HSBC expanding their wealth businesses despite the Covid-19 crisis as large numbers of family offices and wealth management firms are lured to this sunny island by its attractive fundamentals.
With Covid and political unrest seen in many countries, high-net-worth individuals are choosing to stay and even become residents in what is one of the safest countries in the world - Singapore.
Singapore is definitely still growing as a wealth hub due to its strong legal system and sophisticated private banking community with a light touch framework that assures the (high-net-worth) community of the safety of their investments, while encouraging ongoing innovation and strengthening Singapore's growing reputation as a wealth-tech hub.
Singapore may have leapfrogged many advanced cities, including Hong Kong, to be one of the most popular investment destinations for the rich and famous. Over the past decade, efforts to build the country's economic infrastructure and financial hub have raised its global profile and allure to wealthy investors.
The rising incomes of many locals have raised their aspirations to own luxury properties. Affluent families and wealthy millennials are moving up the ladder from their first purchase to owning premium homes. Even the middle income group among Singaporeans is snagging a slice of the pie by purchasing smaller luxury units.
Real estate advisor Kiwi Lim from Huttons Asia believe that the wealthy are attracted to Singapore's unique combination of factors like low crime rates, multi-racial environment with the ability of its people to communicate fluently to both Chinese & English speaking nationalities, Singapore's political stability, business friendliness, clear banking laws, very transparent land ownership and conveyancing procedures, legal transparency, convenience, very comprehensive infrastructure, etc as these combined factors reduce the downside risks to part their excess cash or for their investments in Singapore as compared to other major cities worldwide. Singapore is also a unique gateway for Asian & Western countries to trade in a comfortable organised business friendly manner. Such factors greatly enhanced Singapore's property values allowing investors to enjoy attractive capital appreciation in the long run.
Fourth Avenue Residences is a collection of 476 exclusive homes nestled amidst lush greenery and Good Class Bungalow Areas in Prime District 10 served by Sixth Ave MRT at its doorstep, surrounded by Singapore’s prestigious schools. Click for more info, ebrochure, developer pricings and exclusive viewings.
At the luxury end, well-heeled buyers snapped up 272 luxury condominium units that cost over $5 million in the first half of this year, the highest half-year transactions since the first half of 2014. Out of these condominium units, about 70 were super luxury homes above $10 million - one of them was a 611 sq m sprawling luxury apartment at Les Maisons Nassim that was sold for $39 million in May 2021.
On a per square foot (psf) basis, the most expensive luxury condo transaction was a 282 sqm resale condo unit at Eden in Draycott Park, which changed hands for $6,024 psf in March.
Top-selling new luxury condominiums include Midtown Modern, Irwell Hill Residences, Leedon Green, Fourth Avenue Residences, Hyll on Holland, The Avenir, Royalgreen, Kopar At Newton and The M. In the resale condo market, D'Leedon, 8 Saint Thomas, Wallich Residences and Marina One Residences were among the most popular resale projects in the CCR.
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Avenue South Residence is a new condo by UOL to be a gateway to the live-work-play lifestyle of the future Greater Southern Waterfront - a dynamic city centre with exuberant business and lifestyle opportunities. You may click this image for ebrochure & prices. Expected to TOP in 3rd qtr next year, its nearly 80% sold
Sectors such as bio-medical, manufacturing, construction, transportation and logistics are likely to see healthy growth next year as nations open up for more trade and tourism. External demand for goods and services produced in Singapore is also expected to see an increase as global trade resumes slowly to pre-Covid levels.
After a better-than-expected first half of 2021, driven partly by strong manufacturing and finance sector output, the second half of this year should see outward-oriented sectors remain healthy barring a major setback for the global economy.
Singapore's economy is expected to grow 6.5% this year and 4.1% in 2022 on expectations of revived global demand, as well as relaxing of domestic and border restrictions as its vaccination rate hit more than 80% of the overall populace.
Real estate professional Kiwi Lim from Huttons Asia believe developers in Singapore are starting to keep a serious lookout for enbloc opportunities among the older private residential developments as they expect the broader economy to continue recovering in the years ahead anticipating broad-based property market recovery.
Developers are no longer expecting the government to release more Government Land Sites than the usual scheduled releases. This means developers will have to look towards older private estates for choice developments to acquire if they hope to top up their much needed land banks to generate more revenue in the years to come.
Kiwi Lim believe that this time round, developers may be more focused on acquiring smaller private residential developments as developers expect pay higher prices to the enbloc sellers in this current sellers market in the face of acute shortage of upcoming new launch condo projects in the market from now till end of 2023. If domestic demand for properties continue to be strong, supply will be further squeezed to record low levels.
Meanwhile we've been receiving enquiries from potential Asian investors who are keen on Singapore real estate. Since Covid-19, Singapore has become an even more popular investment market for foreign investors who are very positive on the outlook for the Singapore real estate market.
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Real estate professional Kiwi Lim from Huttons Asia believe that this move by MOE to favour Proximity versus Affiliation will mean that parents who are school alumni of good schools will no longer have a strong advantage over those who stay near the school when registering their children for Primary 1 admission at the respective schools if a school has more applications than vacancies in phase 2C of registration, priority will be given to Singaporeans living closer to the school.
This may see prices of homes near top schools soar even higher than their current high prices in the market right now after the Ministry of Education's (MOE) announcement on Thursday. However home prices within the area may not jump drastically as more homes will be in the new school radius (see diagram below).
While 40 places will be set aside for Phase 2C, Phase 2B will continue to have 20 places. This phase is for children of parent volunteers and those with links to clan associations. On top of this, applicants in Phase 2C will also be allocated two-thirds of the remaining vacancies from earlier phases while those eligible for Phase 2B, will be allocated one-third of the places. Previously, remaining vacancies from earlier phases were split evenly between both phases.
MOE said this decision is in line with its broader objective of setting aside more places for Phase 2C to ensure that more children with no prior connection to the school can go to a school near their home.
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Upcoming Infrastructure Developments in the Eastern Part of Singapore - Straits Times
From independence, Singapore's urban planning policies and redevelopment strategies paid close attention to holistic economic, social and environmental outcomes. Almost all Singaporeans have a home. Most live in quality public housing, with parks and water bodies in the vicinity. Our heartlands are lively with community activities. Our people move around with ease and peace of mind.
Parc Komo is a Japanese inspired freehold mixed development condo above a shopping mall, cafes, amenities & NTUC supermarket in a private enclave near Changi Region, with attractive prices starting from $1,4xx psf. Don't miss our spacious 2 bedroom apts from below $1.1 mil. Click for ebrochure & developer's VIP price list.
Changi Region's Future Developments - URA
The Singapore government has huge plans for the eastern part of the island in Changi Region to transform it into a vibrant “live-work-play-learn” ecosystem around the airport to become a - Business Gateway To The World.
Changi Region is set to be a vibrant and thriving economic hub, hosting industries that maximise synergies with Changi Airport. To keep pace with growing air travel and freight demands, Changi Airport is increasing its capacity and enhancing its offerings progressively with the completion of Terminal 1’s expansion and the upcoming opening of Jewel Changi Airport in mid-April 2019. Looking forward, the future Terminal 5, Changi East Industrial Zone and Changi East Urban District will provide additional capacity for Changi Airport’s future growth.
Changi Aviation Park: New aviation-related industries
The existing Changi Aviation Park will be expanded with the development of Changi East Industrial Zone, providing a home for new aviation-related sectors and businesses. The expansion of cargo facilities will allow Changi’s handling capabilities to increase to three million to 5.4 million tonnes a year when the project is completed to cater to new aviation-related sectors and businesses that rely on air connectivity to the world.
Changi City: Waterfront District
Possibly a waterfront district in the longer term, it offers exciting new recreational and tourism possibilities and seamless inter-modal “fly-ferry” linkages from Terminal 5. The new waterfront district will be linked to the Changi East Urban District, which may provide new offices, conference facilities, hotels and serviced apartments. Freight transport and aviation-related organisations may also conduct research and development in Changi Business Park, leveraging expertise from the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
Changi City: Innovative lifestyle business district – SUTD & Changi Business Park
Leveraging on Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Changi Business Park (CBP), an innovative ecosystem with a live-in community would attract businesses and institutions involved with freight transportation/aviation-related research and development, including artificial intelligence and robotics technology.
Changi City: Innovative lifestyle business centre– Changi East Urban District
A fifth terminal for Changi Airport is in the pipeline, and will be the airport’s largest when completed, able to serve up to 50 million passengers annually. The airport’s expansion will also see a third runway added, allowing it to run on a three-runway system by the mid-2020s. Located at the doorstep of the future Terminal 5, there could be new offices, smart work centres, flexible conference rooms and halls, hotels and serviced apartments, set amidst lushly landscaped public spaces within the new Changi East Urban District.
The Jovell is a brand new condo near the Changi Region of Singapore. With a huge sprawling land size of more than 240,000 sqft, The Jovell condo features extraordinary waterscape and lush tropical gardens with an amazing lagoon swimming pool that is more than 200m long. 2 bedroom from below $900k. Click to for more info & prices
Connectivity to Changi Region will be improved to support the growth of Changi Airport. The newly announced Cross Island Line Phase 1 will complement existing MRT lines and reduce travel time to Changi Region. We are also studying the extension of the Cross Island Line and the Thomson-East Coast Line to serve Changi Airport. There will be new road corridors and other road improvements. With the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at the doorstep of the future Terminal 5, there is potential for seamless “fly-ferry” linkages.
Changi Region is much more than just an employment node. It can have a diverse range of recreation and tourism attractions. From the rich, rustic heritage of Changi Point to the iconic lifestyle and entertainment options within Jewel Changi Airport, a wide range of unique leisure attractions will be connected by the Round Island Route and cycling network. In the longer-term, a waterfront district could be developed to offer exciting new recreational and tourism possibilities.