reporter2
12-08-13, 11:11
http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/tuesday/premium/top-the-news/story/singles-demand-2-room-flats-hits-55-1-20130806
Singles' demand for 2-room flats hits 55 to 1
Applicants' data shows focus of BTO launch was appropriate: Khaw
Published on Aug 06, 2013
By Charissa Yong
AN OVERWHELMING response from singles to a Build-To-Order (BTO) launch has silenced sceptics who had predicted a low take-up rate, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.
With the exercise due to close at midnight last night, there were around 55 singles vying for each flat on offer by 5pm.
"This is not lukewarm at all," Mr Khaw wrote in his blog.
He added that the flood of applications from singles had not affected first-timer families also applying for two-room flats. Their application rate was below one per flat, which means they are highly likely to get the home they are seeking.
The launch marked the first time singles are able to buy new Housing Board flats, with up to 30 per cent of the 519 two-room units in Sengkang and Yishun reserved for them.
Sengkang's two-room flats were particularly popular, attracting 77 singles per flat - twice as many as the 36.6 singles each Yishun flat attracted.
ERA Realty key executive officer Eugene Lim said it was a "no-brainer that such a high number of singles applied".
He noted that the new flats are priced "very affordably" from $76,000 to $133,000, compared to resale three-room flats in the same area, which go for close to $400,000.
OrangeTee head of research and consultancy Christine Li said the shorter waiting times for some two-room flats could also be a draw. These units are leftovers from previous launches.
For example, the 57 Rivervale Arc units in Sengkang are already completed, while another 108 flats at Orchid Spring @ Yishun are estimated to be finished by the end of next year.
The two-room flats were not the only ones in the limelight. Larger flats also proved to be magnets for families buying their second home, with some in Bukit Merah nearly 19 times over-subscribed by this group.
"Four-room flats have three bedrooms and better serve the needs of families than three-room flats that have only two bedrooms," said ERA Realty's Mr Lim.
But first-timer families will still get top pick of the Bukit Merah flats, with at least 95 per cent of the supply set aside for them.
The average application rate was 4.6 for all 4,079 flats in Bukit Merah, Sengkang and Yishun.
"Over the next few weeks, we will analyse the BTO data in greater detail to see how we can refine our next BTOs," said Mr Khaw.
He revealed that the median age of the nearly 8,500 singles who applied was about 43, and their median monthly income about $1,800.
"Our decision to focus on singles aged 35 years and above and up to $5,000 (a month) income level was therefore appropriate," he said.
Administrative assistant Wong Chui Ling, who is in her early 50s, hopes new three-room flats will soon be made available to singles.
She chose not to apply for a two-room flat this time round, as she feels the 35 sq m or 45 sq m sizes are too small for her mother and herself to live comfortably.
"Age is catching up with me," she said.
"I hope it will be soon. I've been waiting donkey's years."
[email protected]
Singles' demand for 2-room flats hits 55 to 1
Applicants' data shows focus of BTO launch was appropriate: Khaw
Published on Aug 06, 2013
By Charissa Yong
AN OVERWHELMING response from singles to a Build-To-Order (BTO) launch has silenced sceptics who had predicted a low take-up rate, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday.
With the exercise due to close at midnight last night, there were around 55 singles vying for each flat on offer by 5pm.
"This is not lukewarm at all," Mr Khaw wrote in his blog.
He added that the flood of applications from singles had not affected first-timer families also applying for two-room flats. Their application rate was below one per flat, which means they are highly likely to get the home they are seeking.
The launch marked the first time singles are able to buy new Housing Board flats, with up to 30 per cent of the 519 two-room units in Sengkang and Yishun reserved for them.
Sengkang's two-room flats were particularly popular, attracting 77 singles per flat - twice as many as the 36.6 singles each Yishun flat attracted.
ERA Realty key executive officer Eugene Lim said it was a "no-brainer that such a high number of singles applied".
He noted that the new flats are priced "very affordably" from $76,000 to $133,000, compared to resale three-room flats in the same area, which go for close to $400,000.
OrangeTee head of research and consultancy Christine Li said the shorter waiting times for some two-room flats could also be a draw. These units are leftovers from previous launches.
For example, the 57 Rivervale Arc units in Sengkang are already completed, while another 108 flats at Orchid Spring @ Yishun are estimated to be finished by the end of next year.
The two-room flats were not the only ones in the limelight. Larger flats also proved to be magnets for families buying their second home, with some in Bukit Merah nearly 19 times over-subscribed by this group.
"Four-room flats have three bedrooms and better serve the needs of families than three-room flats that have only two bedrooms," said ERA Realty's Mr Lim.
But first-timer families will still get top pick of the Bukit Merah flats, with at least 95 per cent of the supply set aside for them.
The average application rate was 4.6 for all 4,079 flats in Bukit Merah, Sengkang and Yishun.
"Over the next few weeks, we will analyse the BTO data in greater detail to see how we can refine our next BTOs," said Mr Khaw.
He revealed that the median age of the nearly 8,500 singles who applied was about 43, and their median monthly income about $1,800.
"Our decision to focus on singles aged 35 years and above and up to $5,000 (a month) income level was therefore appropriate," he said.
Administrative assistant Wong Chui Ling, who is in her early 50s, hopes new three-room flats will soon be made available to singles.
She chose not to apply for a two-room flat this time round, as she feels the 35 sq m or 45 sq m sizes are too small for her mother and herself to live comfortably.
"Age is catching up with me," she said.
"I hope it will be soon. I've been waiting donkey's years."
[email protected]