Home mortgage interest rates look set to rise sometime this year, and while new properties continue to come into the market, buyers will be spoiled for choice with executive condominiums, resale private apartments and new condominium units all competing for their attention.
Pricing might then be the differentiating factor in the current property market which is still finding its footing. In January, Symphony Suites in Yishun proved to be one of the best sellers in the non-landed private property market. Prices averaged at $1,010 psf, which was not considered to be on the higher end of the price spectrum. Most suburban properties fared better, making up 62 per cent of the total sales numbers last month. City fringe properties followed behind with 28 per cent and city centre homes took up only 10 per cent.
The TDSR (total debt servicing ratio) continues to be the main obstacle for buyers as the loan amounts they are now able to receive have been largely reduced. However, developers are unlikely to make drastic price reductions as land prices have been high for the past two years.
Contrary to concerns that new properties may outshine previous older launches and resale properties, some older developments have fared well in the last month. Trilive in Kovan sold 22 units at a $1,562 psf median price while 20 units in Jurong West’s Lakeville also exchanged hands at the average selling price of $1, 378 psf.
While the influx of new units and restrictive loan limits may be the way things go for the year ahead, the demand for residential properties may not necessarily have disappeared altogether. It may simply be a matter of buyers taking longer to weigh their options.
