If you were looking to buy a condominium unit to call home, competition from the rising number of new homes might be good news for you. But if you were looking to invest in a unit to reap rental profits, it might be wise to consider your options carefully.
The rental market for suburban condominiums has been falling, especially as more new properties enter the market. Private condominium rentals have fallen 0.6 per cent last month and is 6 per cent lower than last May on a year-on-year comparison. More new condominiums will receive their TOP (temporary occupation permits) in the next few months, which may suppress the rental market even more. Property analysts are expecting a fall of up to 7 per cent for the private property rental market this year.
The effects may also trickle down to the HDB rental market as competition heats up across the board. The price gap may be narrowing between HDB and private apartment rents, thus giving tenants a much wider pool of options. A five-bedroom HDB flat now usually rents for up to $2,400 per month while a 2-bedder private condo unit rents at just under $3,000.
Location is still king and units in mature estates or near MRT stations will still command slightly higher rents.
