After many consecutive quarters of market stagnation, buyers are coming to accept current resale HDB flat prices as the new norm.
Many have remained in inertia as they waited for HDB flat prices to fall. But even with the introduction of massive new BTO flat supply, prices have not budged beyond the 11.3 per cent drop since the April 2013 peak. And property analysts are not expecting any further fall in prices, saying that the current resale flat prices are probably as low as they can get, especially as the government is closely monitoring the market in order to create some sort of balance between individual profit and public housing provision.
Though the number of resale HDB units sold increased by 0.4 per cent in October, prices fell slightly by 0.1 per cent. Prices of the larger 5-room flats fell the most, at 0.9 per cent, though the rarer 3-room flats segment saw a 0.6 per cent rise and similarly a 0.8 per cent rise was reflected in the executive flat market as these units are in higher demand.
The past quarter has seen the resale HDB flat price index fluctuating within the 1 per cent range, with a fall in August likely due to the Hungry Ghost month, followed by some correction in September. In the months ahead, prices of HDB flats are not expected to swing either ways though the number of transactions may increase as buyers begin to realise that the numbers are unlikely to drop any further.
