Dawson BTO flats a hit

[mr funny]

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,4574,364060,00.html?

Published December 16, 2009

HDB launches four more BTO projects

By UMA SHANKARI


THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) yesterday launched four new build-to-order (BTO) projects - including two highly anticipated developments in Queenstown - bringing the total supply of BTO units to 13,500 this year.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/mnt/media/image/launched/2009-12-16/BT_IMAGES_UMHDB16.jpg
SkyVille@Dawson: A new flexi-layout scheme will give buyers more flat design options

2,670 new units are being offered in the latest BTO exercise - the largest number of flats at any one launch in recent years, HDB said.

The Queenstown projects are SkyVille@Dawson and SkyTerrace@Dawson. HDB expects an overwhelming response for the 1,718 premium flats in these developments, even though the homes are dearer than units at the other two BTO developments.

This is because SkyVille@Dawson and SkyTerrace@Dawson are near Singapore's city centre and also close to Queenstown MRT station. Plans to rejuvenate Dawson estate were announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2007.

The two other projects are Montreal Dale at Sembawang and Segar Grove at Bukit Panjang.

The total flat supply at all four projects comprises 105 studio apartments, and 231 two-room, 643 three-room, 1,489 four-room and 202 five-room flats.

'These four projects, spread across three towns, offer home-buyers a wide range of options to suit their budgets and preferences,' HDB said.

Some 95 per cent of the two, three, four and five-room flats will be set aside for first-timers.

Flat buyers can also look forward to more BTO projects next year. HDB said that it is prepared to launch at least one BTO project every month if there is sustained demand for new flats. For starters, in January, prospective buyers can expect 1,300 BTO flats at Choa Chu Kang and Hougang.

HDB also said that it is piloting two schemes for the Dawson projects - a flexi-layout scheme for SkyVille@Dawson and a multi-generational living scheme in SkyTerrace@Dawson. The former will give buyers more flat design options, while the latter allows parents and married children to buy paired flats.

[mr funny]

http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNews/Story/STIStory_467077.html

Dec 16, 2009

Pick-your-layout flats for Dawson estate

Scheme for the young to live close to parents revived and tweaked

By Esther Teo


THE eagerly anticipated new flats in the mature Dawson estate in Queenstown were launched for sale yesterday - complete with plenty of wow factors.

For the first time, the Housing Board (HDB) is offering flexible flat layouts to best suit individual family needs. Three floor plans are available: a standard layout, a larger living room option or a larger master bedroom option.

The HDB is also tweaking a plan first tried 22 years ago which allows young families to live close to elderly parents by selling flats in pairs.

HDB deputy chief executive (estates and corporate) Yap Chin Beng said that in 1987, these flats in estates such as Bishan were sold like a single unit.

'Under this new arrangement, however, there are two units with each applicant - the married child and elderly parents - needing to meet the respective conditions. We believe that through this arrangement we can relook this multi-generation living arrangement,' he said.

In 1987, 367 units were built but the plan was scrapped due to poor demand.

The studio apartments housing elderly parents will have separate entrances to maintain privacy, with connecting doors to the young families' flats.

Mr Yap said the HDB was trying to offer more options to homebuyers to suit different lifestyles. 'Depending on the response we will consider extending these two schemes to other projects as well.'

The upgrading of Dawson estate was always going to be a head-turner, with two towers soaring more than 40 storeys amid the charm of the older style estate. The towers will feature sustainable and environmentally friendly features, and classy finishing touches.

The flats are being built under the HDB's build-to-order (BTO) scheme with 1,718 premium flats being launched.

They are among 2,670 new flats announced by HDB yesterday, which included two other BTO projects - Montreal Dale in Sembawang and Segar Grove in Bukit Panjang. Together, they form the final batch to complete the 5,000 new units announced by National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan in October.

There are 105 studio apartments, 231 two-roomers, 643 three-roomers, 1,489 four-roomers and 202 five-room flats.

Marketing executive Desiree Ng, 23, is drawn by the affordable prices and prime location. She plans to marry within three years so the 2015 completion is ideal.

'I will probably choose the larger living room option as my family tends to spend more time there. I think it's great that HDB is offering such flexibility and thinking about catering to different lifestyle needs,' she said.

The rejuvenation plans for Dawson estate were announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in his National Day Rally speech in 2007 as part of HDB's Remaking Our Heartland (ROH) initiative.

Laid-back Dawson estate was earmarked for about 10,000 new HDB and private flats to inject new life there.

The two new Dawson projects - SkyVille and SkyTerrace - were designed by award-winning local architects.

Typical three-room units of 63 sq m are priced from $280,000 to $365,000, four-roomers of 81 sq m to 85 sq m cost $373,000 to $504,000, while five-room flats of 98 sq m to 101 sq m cost $532,000 to $643,000.

Conveniently located along Margaret Drive and Dawson Road, the area is well served by the Queenstown MRT station and bus services, parks, recreational facilities and eateries.

The Dawson homes will boast touches such as timber flooring for bedrooms and porcelain ceramic tiles for living rooms. The facade and landscaping are also more elaborate, with features such as sky gardens throughout.

HDB expects the Dawson flats to be many times oversubscribed.

The flexi-layout scheme applies in SkyVille and the multi-generation living scheme in SkyTerrace, which will offer 65 studio apartments linked to four-room or five-room flats. These will be allocated to married children and their parents for joint application.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic real estate lecturer Nicholas Mak said that these initiatives, coupled with the Dawson flats' prime location in a mature estate, appear certain to generate strong interest. 'Initiatives like the flexi-layout will put pressure on private developers to offer more innovative products for homebuyers.'

Montreal Dale and Segar Grove will offer 424 and 528 standard flats respectively, comprising two-, three- and four-room units. Applications for these new flats can be submitted online until Dec 28 at www.hdb.gov.sg .

[email protected]

[mr funny]

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_467330.html

Dec 16, 2009

Dawson BTO flats a hit

By Esther Teo

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/image/20091215/sg-dawson-hdb.jpg
As of 5 pm on Wednesday, most flat types - studio apartment, four-room and five-room flats - were over subscribed. -- PHOTO: HDB

The much-anticipated Dawson estate Housing Board (HDB) build-to-order (BTO) flats have drawn an overwhelming response, just two days after they were opened for bookings.

As of 5 pm on Wednesday, most flat types - studio apartment, four-room and five-room flats - were over subscribed, with the exception of the three-room flats and the paired flats under the multi-generation living scheme. The scheme allows a young couple to live close to their elderly parents, with a studio apartment attached to a four-room or five-room flat.

There were 104 applications for the 40 studio apartments, 159 for the 270 three-room units, 1,440 for 1,102 four-room flats, and 507 for 176 five-room units. For the 65 paired flats under the multi-generation living scheme, there were 44 bookings.

Some applicants like Mr Lingeswaran, 29, even took a day off from work to register for the Dawson flats. Currently living at Telok Blangah, he cited the prime location of the flats and its proximity to his daughter's school as the main reasons for his selection.

"This is something new and different that the HDB is offering. It will take longer to build but we think that with its nicer features, it's worth waiting for," he added.

The other two BTO projects in Sembawang and Bukit Panjang also attracted good response, with the four-room flats in both estates already oversubscribed. Applicants said they found the prices more affordable.

[aerosmith]

how to buy ar?
they like never say go where to see showflats or where to buy.

if i am a first time buyer, age 21 , single, no job, studying, can buy?