Largest supply of BTO flats launched since 2002

[mr funny]

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_660943.html

Apr 25, 2011

Largest supply of BTO flats launched since 2002


THE Housing and Development Board (HDB) has released its largest supply of Build-to-Order (BTO) flats in a single launch since 2002 on Monday.

Totalling 3,185 new flats, the four BTO projects will offer 105 two-room units, 541 three-room units, 1,797 four-room units and 742 five-room units.

They are:

* Anchorvale Cove in Sengkang

* Hougang Parkview in Hougang

* Montreal Ville in Sembawang

* Waterway Terraces II in Punggol

At least 95 per cent of the public flat supply will be set aside for first-timer applicants.

In May and June 2011, the HDB has plans to offer another 6,070 BTO flats.

This will bring the BTO flats launched by HDB in the first six months of 2011 to 14,100 units.

[azeoprop]

Their last burst of fire before the elections haa haa....

http://www101.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eamp...tm?open&ft=bto

[land118]

Their last burst of fire before the elections haa haa....

http://www101.hdb.gov.sg/hdbvsf/eamp...tm?open&ft=bto

Wonder if it come a bit too late to save MBT...

[devilplate]

Wonder if it come a bit too late to save MBT...

i believe many MBT supporterd out there.....only home buyers bey song him....LOL

i aso bey song him when he impose 4yrs SSD

[land118]

i believe many MBT supporterd out there.....only home buyers bey song him....LOL

i aso bey song him when he impose 4yrs SSD

Ya, I also....not that he is wrong to impose but the timing and the quantum...., would be interesting if he really craft the 4 year SSD or he just sign some proposal by some scholar..and endorse it...

[devilplate]

Ya, I also....not that he is wrong to impose but the timing and the quantum...., would be interesting if he really craft the 4 year SSD or he just sign some proposal by some scholar..and endorse it...

actually, i tink he copy and modify HK one....ops

but he garang....tighter den HK

[romeo]

i dun like the smirk on his face.. n the fear tactic response to WP..

[devilplate]

i dun like the smirk on his face.. n the fear tactic response to WP..

personal issues aside(regardless of his face etc)

i am wif mbt

[mr funny]

http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNew...ry_661174.html

Apr 26, 2011

HDB rolls out bumper crop of BTO flats

3,185 new homes launched, with 6,070 more on the way

By Daryl Chin


The flats in the 804-unit Waterway Terraces II (above) along Punggol Walk and 1,011-unit Anchorvale Cove near Sengkang's Farmway LRT station - two of the four projects launched yesterday - will come with quality finishes such as glazed porcelain ceramic tiles. The other two BTO projects, standard ones with minimal fittings, are in Hougang and Sembawang. -- PHOTOS: HDB

A BUMPER crop of new homes are in the pipeline, even as latest figures show that housing prices rose at a slower pace in the first three months of the year.

The Housing Board (HDB) will roll out 3,185 build-to-order (BTO) flats in Hougang, Sembawang, Sengkang and Punggol - its biggest launch since 2002.

It also unveiled plans to release another 6,070 BTO flats in the next two months, bringing the number of flats launched in the first six months of the year to 14,100 - within the Government's promise to offer up to 22,000 new flats this year.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) yesterday said 68,887 homes in the private housing market are in the works, the most since the URA began keeping records in 1999.

Of these, half - or 34,266 units - remain unsold, which works out to three years' supply of homes, based on an average take-up of about 11,400 units a year over the last three years, it said.

Analysts see the steady entry of new homes into the market as evidence of the Government's efforts to stem the tide of rising home prices.

HDB resale prices rose 14.1 per cent last year and another 1.6 per cent between January and March; private home prices gained 17.6 per cent last year and a further 2.2 per cent in the first quarter.

Mr Colin Tan, the research and consultancy director at real estate firm Chesterton Suntec International, said injecting supply has always been the weapon of choice when the market needs stabilising, followed by cooling measures where necessary.

PropNex spokesman Adam Tan added that the upcoming supply of new BTO flats would be a salve for first-time buyers, who find themselves priced out of the market for resale flats.

He noted that the demand for such flats, which are built only after eligible buyers register sufficient interest, is 'clearly there', going by how the last few launches of BTO flats have pulled in more applicants than the number of flats available.

HDB has raised the BTO flat supply, hiking the number of new units from about 9,000 in 2009 to 16,100 last year.

Its announcement of a fresh infusion of new homes comes amid a pre-General Election debate on the affordability of housing to first-time buyers; the Workers' Party and National Solidarity Party have taken on National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan on the subject.

In the four BTO projects launched yesterday, 95 per cent of the units available will be set aside for first-timers. Applications for these flats end on Sunday.

Of the four projects, the units in two will come with quality finishes such as glazed porcelain ceramic tiles.

These are the 1,011-unit Anchorvale Cove near Sengkang's Farmway LRT station and the 804-unit Waterway Terraces II along Punggol Walk. Unit prices range from $179,000 to $484,000.

The other two BTO projects, standard ones with minimal fittings, are the 792-unit Hougang Parkview in Upper Serangoon Crescent, and the 578-unit Montreal Ville next to Sembawang Community Club. These cost between $92,000 and $404,000.

HDB also said its upcoming launches include two projects in Bukit Panjang and a third in Sengkang.

First-time house hunter Tracy Kong, a 23-year-old communications manager, welcomed the news yesterday.

'Slowly but surely, owning a private property or resale flat will be harder. So it's time to buckle down and get a BTO - and be prepared for the wait,' she said.

But analysts like DTZ's Chua Chor Hoon are concerned over a possible oversupply down the road, especially of private homes.

Owners may plan to resell these homes or rent them out, creating competition for buyers and tenants, she said.

'Supposing there's another global shock, interest rates are high, all these units coming out- then that's a matter of concern,' she said.

[email protected]

[mr funny]

http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapor...ry_663577.html

May 2, 2011

Great demand for BTO waterfront flats

Oversubscription rate highest for Punggol among four projects


WATERFRONT living in Punggol proved the most irresistible when applications closed yesterday for four build-to-order (BTO) projects.

All in, there were 9,747 applications for the 3,185 flats on offer - in Sembawang, Hougang, Sengkang and Punggol West - in the largest supply of BTO flats since 2002.

The oversubscription rate was three times.

But at Waterway Terraces II in Punggol West, the five-room and four-room premium flats, which have better-quality finishes like glazed ceramic floor tiles, registered oversubscription rates of seven and six times respectively.

The five-room units cost from $400,000 to $484,000 while the four-room units cost from $307,000 to $390,000.

Least in demand were the two-room flats at Montreal Ville in Sembawang that were sold under the standard contract, which means minimal fittings.

There were only 78 applications for the 105 units, priced from $92,000 to $116,000.

A majority of BTO flats are set aside for first-time households and are built after enough eligible buyers register interest.

PropNex spokesman Adam Tan said he was not surprised by the popularity of Waterway Terraces II, given the Government's efforts to redevelop Punggol.

Punggol was part of the first Remaking Our Heartland programme unveiled in 2007, and waterfront parks, cycling paths and designer Housing Board blocks are being developed.

Earlier this year, the $16.7 million Punggol Promenade on the Serangoon Reservoir bank was launched.

Mr Tan said: 'People will gladly pay the premium as waterfront living is fast becoming a status symbol.'

In a press statement released yesterday, HDB said the higher interest from flat buyers for Waterway Terraces II was expected due to its good location and award-winning design.

The project, which has 804 units, has a Green Mark Platinum Award for incorporating eco-friendly features such as solar power and a facade designed to minimise heat. The award is the highest accolade for green buildings in Singapore, which is given by the Building and Construction Authority.

Besides these projects, HDB also announced recently that 6,070 more flats would be offered next month.

This brings the total BTO supply to 14,100 for the first half of the year.

The board said a total of 22,000 flats are slated to be sold this year if demand persists.

Last year, a total of 16,100 BTO flats were offered, up from 9,000 in the year before.

One hopeful applicant is Mr James Lim, 24.

The engineer said: 'Although there are more flats now, the high subscription rates still mean it's a tough road to take to get my dream home.'

Ballot results for the flats will be released this month.

DARYL CHIN