HDB launches 1,010 BTO flats in Punggol

[mr funny]

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/suite/story/0,4574,418815,00.html?

Published December 23, 2010

HDB launches 1,010 BTO flats in Punggol

By UMA SHANKARI


THE Housing & Development Board (HDB) yesterday launched another 1,010 new flats for sale in its latest build-to-order (BTO) project, Punggol Topaz.

Including this launch, HDB has now offered a total of 17,713 new flats for sale under its BTO and sale of balance flat exercises in 2010, it said.

And the agency will continue to roll out new supply at a steady rate next year. It plans to launch about 5,000 new BTO flats in the first quarter of 2011, including 1,700 flats in Bukit Batok and Yishun in January.

For the whole of 2011, HDB is prepared to launch up to 22,000 new BTO flats if demand is sustained, it said.

Punggol Topaz, located along Punggol Way and Punggol Field, comprises 184 three-room, 542 four-room and 284 five-room standard flats. Some 95 per cent of the flat supply will be set aside for first-timer households.

Selling prices range from $166,000 to $207,000 for a three-room flat; $267,000 to $329,000 for a four-room flat; and $335,000 to $406,000 for a five-room flat.

In line with HDB's plans to develop Punggol as an eco-town, Punggol Topaz is designed with eco-friendly features to receive Green Mark certification.

PropNex expects the attractive pricing of the flats to be the biggest pull factor for potential applicants.

Based on transactions handled by the property firm in November 2010, the prices for four-room and five-room flats in Punggol Topaz are 25 per cent and 19 per cent cheaper than prevailing resale prices.

'Despite the slight drop in median resale prices in Punggol since 3Q10, this still translates to a hefty price difference and greater affordability for the BTO flats in Punggol Topaz,' said PropNex corporate communications manager Adam Tan.

He expects strong demand for the new flats due to the current popularity of Punggol - even though the number of new flats introduced by HDB this year is at a high of almost 18,000.

[mr funny]

http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_616646.html

Dec 23, 2010

HDB launches 1,010 BTO flats in Punggol


THE Housing Board has launched 1,010 eco-friendly Build-to-Order (BTO) flats near Punggol Reservoir, bringing the total number of BTO flats launched this year to nearly 18,000.

Property experts expect healthy demand for the Punggol Topaz development since the prices of four- and five-room flats in the project are up to 25 per cent lower than current resale prices.

The BTO project launched yesterday will comprise 12 17-storey blocks featuring three-, four- and five-room standard flats. More than half of these will be four-room flats of 1,001 sq ft each. They will cost between $267,000 and $329,000.

Also on offer will be 284 five-room flats of 1,216 sq ft each, costing between $335,000 and $406,000. There will be 184 three-room flats of 731 sq ft, priced at between $166,000 and $207,000.

Up to 95 per cent of the flats will be reserved for first-time buyers.

PropNex corporate communications manager Adam Tan expects the flats to be oversubscribed four times, thanks to the project's appeal to young couples with plans to start a family.

'There are many schools in the vicinity, all of which are easily accessible by the LRT network,' he said. 'Punggol is a fast-maturing estate. Its image is now of a waterfront town with an exciting future.'

In line with the Housing Board's plans to turn Punggol into Singapore's first eco-town, Punggol Topaz will be specially designed. Units and blocks in the estate will face away from the sun to minimise heat. It will feature rain gardens and dry ponds to collect rainwater and prevent soil erosion.

The project is located in Punggol Central and will be next to Soo Teck LRT station. It will be a stone's throw from the newly completed Punggol Reservoir.