THOMSON GRAND - Jalan Tambur (Upper Thomson Rd), By Luxury Green Development Pte Ltd

[Wild Falcon]

Of course. Upgraders usually mean HDB upgraders lah. Come on, this is a 99LH suburban condo - it is the "lowest" form of condo already. One can only upgrade from a HDB to a 99LH condo. Anything else is a downgrade.

Cheung Kong said 30 per cent of the buyers were investors from Singapore, Malaysia, China, Indonesia and Taiwan while the rest were local upgraders.

local upgraders=HDB upgrader?

[devilplate]

Of course. Upgraders usually mean HDB upgraders lah. Come on, this is a 99LH suburban condo - it is the "lowest" form of condo already. One can only upgrade from a HDB to a 99LH condo. Anything else is a downgrade.

but the developer branded this project so UPmarket wor....hahahaha....for rich n famous....surely an upgrade to them! whahahaha

it will be suicidal for them to target hdb upgrader anyway....so they brand it as LUXURY CONDO!

[Wild Falcon]

Possible but mainly for investments. But if they buy for their future generation (as another bro suggested pple buying for their children in TG), most prefer freehold.

bro focus mentioned b4 tat his neighbour(ex-landed owner) bot dakota residences (99lh)

[proud owner]

Cheung Kong said 30 per cent of the buyers were investors from Singapore, Malaysia, China, Indonesia and Taiwan while the rest were local upgraders.

local upgraders=HDB upgrader?

wow they are rich ...

wonder why there are still complaints that HBD are expensive ?

[devilplate]

wow they are rich ...

wonder why there are still complaints that HBD are expensive ?

minority makes the most noise lor

[mantrix]

'upgrade' in prestige from HDB to condo

'downgrade' in living area (from 1300 sq ft 5rm to 1000 sq ft 2BR)?

[chiaberry]

woah we better not underestimate the purchasing power of the HDB upgrader. For 10 years they have been saving and investing. Maybe they have more liquid assets than a lot of other seemingly externally "rich" but highly leveraged people. Then now they decide is time to reward themselves. perhaps like some of the bros here, they flipped multiple properties before the CM/SSD and now they can afford the 3 or 4 bedders. (I still wouldn't consider TG good value at this price - however only time will tell if I will be wrong).

[devilplate]

(I still wouldn't consider TG good value at this price - however only time will tell if I will be wrong).

3-4yrs later when owners collect their keys, they will get a shock! how come so different from the showflat one? whahaha

[proud owner]

3-4yrs later when owners collect their keys, they will get a shock! how come so different from the showflat one? whahaha

by which time
they probably forget what they saw 3 yrs ago

[bargain hunter]

i agree with you that upgrader can be from other condo UPGRADE further to TG and not from hdb upgrader.

but the developer branded this project so UPmarket wor....hahahaha....for rich n famous....surely an upgrade to them! whahahaha

it will be suicidal for them to target hdb upgrader anyway....so they brand it as LUXURY CONDO!

[cl0ver]

seems like 99.9% of forumers here think it is the worse buy of the year
i wonder who has bought it or thinking of buying it apart from hk1231?

are the "upgraders" scared to share their views here?

[mantrix]

Maybe the buyers know something that we don't?

[hk2313]

well, just to clarify, I did think about it for own stay in a few years time, but didnt go ahead then ! Too many "ifs and buts"" there, not only pricingwise...when I spend that amount of money, I want it to be as perfect as possible, and without so many "ifs and buts

[mantrix]

well, just to clarify, I did think about it for own stay in a few years time, but didnt go ahead then ! Too many "ifs and buts"" there, not only pricingwise...when I spend that amount of money, I want it to be as perfect as possible, and without so many "ifs and buts

a few years back you could have gotten a house in sentosa cove with that money...

[hk2313]

wouldnt have been eligible to buy, but yes, I know --- well Europe is starting to look shakier by the day, if more problems there , maybe prices will start to slide again...

[ysyap]

woah we better not underestimate the purchasing power of the HDB upgrader. For 10 years they have been saving and investing. Maybe they have more liquid assets than a lot of other seemingly externally "rich" but highly leveraged people. Then now they decide is time to reward themselves. perhaps like some of the bros here, they flipped multiple properties before the CM/SSD and now they can afford the 3 or 4 bedders. (I still wouldn't consider TG good value at this price - however only time will tell if I will be wrong).

What are the Benz and BMW doing in those HDB carparks? Their pockets are deep!

[ysyap]

wouldnt have been eligible to buy, but yes, I know --- well Europe is starting to look shakier by the day, if more problems there , maybe prices will start to slide again...

Prices may well slide in 2012 but will bounce back up before the 4 yr SSD is up so not a problem... The housing prices in Singapore have shown to recover in really quick time!

[Condo Kaiser]

Prices may well slide in 2012 but will bounce back up before the 4 yr SSD is up so not a problem... The housing prices in Singapore have shown to recover in really quick time!

not all the time la.... go ask those people who bought a the peak before asian financial crisis..

some people until now still in red.... because they bought second hand 10 yr old 99lh at tht time at peak price... 14years later.... their lease only 75% left... how to recoup?

eve hdb... i personally know someone bought nice and big resale EA in 1997.... cos he made money from selling his old smaller hdb... at tht time he also considered upgrader right? haha

until now the valuation just breakeven with purchase price...

[devilplate]

not all the time la.... go ask those people who bought a the peak before asian financial crisis..

some people until now still in red.... because they bought second hand 10 yr old 99lh at tht time at peak price... 14years later.... their lease only 75% left... how to recoup?

eve hdb... i personally know someone bought nice and big resale EA in 1997.... cos he made money from selling his old smaller hdb... at tht time he also considered upgrader right? haha

until now the valuation just breakeven with purchase price...

Yes....the pain lasted from 97 till 2005

[proud owner]

Yes....the pain lasted from 97 till 2005

any idea how much is an Executive maisonette in Hougang / sengkang now ?

in 1993-5 they were 460-470 k ... unrenovated ...

[bargain hunter]

hougang ave 8 445k and hougang central 720k for the highest...so need to narrow down further, which part of hougang?

sengkang oldest executive is 98.

any idea how much is an Executive maisonette in Hougang / sengkang now ?

in 1993-5 they were 460-470 k ... unrenovated ...

[solsys]

Woodlands 5-Rm asking for S$450,000 - S$500,000.

Hmmm....

Not too sure if prices are peakish but let's compare this way.........

1995
S$1.50 - S$ 2.00 Chicken Rice : S$430,000 - S$470,000 Exec. Maisonette

2011
S$2.50 - S$3.00 Chicken Rice : S$580,000 - S$720,000 Exec. Maisonette

Chicken Rice increase approx 50% - 67%
EM increase approx 35% - 50%

I think houses were overvalued in 1997 but now..... perhaps it's in-line with inflation.

P.S: Thomas Grand is a luxury condo development..... asking S$1400-$1600psf, it's up to the rich to decide if it's appropriately priced.

[proud owner]

hougang ave 8 445k and hougang central 720k for the highest...so need to narrow down further, which part of hougang?

sengkang oldest executive is 98.

why i asked was becos at around that time 1993-95
a maisonette cost 450-470k and was bare ..meaning HDB didnt even private any flooring ... just raw unit ..

i estimated it would easily cost 50-70k for renov ...meaning the final sum would be over 500k ..
which didnt make sense ... thats when i bought condo instead .. elsewhere ..

do u think ..today..those who bought the maisonette would be making money ? or still in the red ? or just break even ?

[solsys]

Woodlands 5-Rm asking for S$450,000 - S$500,000.

Hmmm....

Not too sure if prices are peakish but let's compare this way.........

1995
S$1.50 - S$ 2.00 Chicken Rice : S$430,000 - S$470,000 Exec. Maisonette

2011
S$2.50 - S$3.00 Chicken Rice : S$580,000 - S$720,000 Exec. Maisonette

Chicken Rice increase approx 50% - 67%
EM increase approx 35% - 50%

I think houses were overvalued in 1997 but now..... perhaps it's in-line with inflation.

P.S: Thomas Grand is a luxury condo development..... asking S$1400-$1600psf, it's up to the rich to decide if it's appropriately priced.

If assume prices are peakish, correction of 20% will mean.....
1) EM of S$580,000 drop to S$464,000 and
2) EM of S$720,000 drop to S$576,000.

Can chicken rice drop back to S$2.00 or S$2.50?

[devilplate]

why i asked was becos at around that time 1993-95
a maisonette cost 450-470k and was bare ..meaning HDB didnt even private any flooring ... just raw unit ..

i estimated it would easily cost 50-70k for renov ...meaning the final sum would be over 500k ..
which didnt make sense ... thats when i bought condo instead .. elsewhere ..

do u think ..today..those who bought the maisonette would be making money ? or still in the red ? or just break even ?

So u r trying to say our current bubble not as big as 97 yet?

[Condo Kaiser]

Woodlands 5-Rm asking for S$450,000 - S$500,000.

Hmmm....

Not too sure if prices are peakish but let's compare this way.........

1995
S$1.50 - S$ 2.00 Chicken Rice : S$430,000 - S$470,000 Exec. Maisonette

2011
S$2.50 - S$3.00 Chicken Rice : S$580,000 - S$720,000 Exec. Maisonette

Chicken Rice increase approx 50% - 67%
EM increase approx 35% - 50%

I think houses were overvalued in 1997 but now..... perhaps it's in-line with inflation.

P.S: Thomas Grand is a luxury condo development..... asking S$1400-$1600psf, it's up to the rich to decide if it's appropriately priced.

Can not count like that... chicken rice in 1995 and 2011 almost the same.. just slightly less chicken...

but the EM already aged 16 years... even if FH also must take aging into consideration let alone lh HDB....

[Condo Kaiser]

Moreover... TG is not a luxury condo by any means....

but that's just individual's minimum standard for luxury..

[fclim]

Can not count like that... chicken rice in 1995 and 2011 almost the same.. just slightly less chicken......

Same Same. 3 bedder in 1995 - 1,300 sq ft. 3 bedder in 2011 - 1,000 sq ft.

Chicken and Condo both shrink in sizes.

[solsys]

Same Same. 3 bedder in 1995 - 1,300 sq ft. 3 bedder in 2011 - 1,000 sq ft.

Chicken and Condo both shrink in sizes.

That's what i had in mind too.

[ysyap]

Same Same. 3 bedder in 1995 - 1,300 sq ft. 3 bedder in 2011 - 1,000 sq ft.

Chicken and Condo both shrink in sizes.

I do observe that there are some developers daring enough to venture into large units like 1,500 sq ft for 3 bedders but not sure how it'll be received. Maybe the market is still not ready for such huge units but I'm sure when people are generally used to 1000 sq ft 3 bedders, they'll opt for larger ones again!