http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/...xtras-20120913
EC developers woo buyers with lavish extras
Published on Sep 13, 2012
By Esther Teo, Property reporter
DEVELOPERS of executive condominiums (ECs) are adding upmarket features and tantalising extras as they battle for buyers spoilt for choice by the flood of new home launches.
One of the more lavish entrants in the field is the 394-unit Heron Bay in Upper Serangoon Road, which will be launched on Sunday.
It will have amenities that rival some high-end developments but with average selling price expected to be between $715 and $720 per sq ft (psf).
Some ground floor units can opt to have a jacuzzi pool of up to 6m in length or a garden pond. European household appliances, free fibre broadband service for a year, a basement carpark and a swimming pool with hydrocavitated water that is said to have health benefits, are among the other features.
A sea sports recreational centre with kayaks and tandem bikes will also be available. The project is sandwiched between Serangoon River and Punggol Park.
The project will offer the usual two-, three- and four-bedder units, and five-bedroom apartments - a first for an EC.
Sizes range from 775 sq ft for a two-bedder to 2,841 sq ft for a five-bedroom penthouse.
Mr Vincent Ong, managing partner of Evia Real Estate Management, said the luxury condo features will differentiate Heron Bay from the competition.
"(It will also) provide home buyers with more value for their home investment, and higher prestige," he added.
"In particular, we believe the five-bedroom units will see a strong response, especially with the increasing number of families who value larger home spaces at a price tag comparable to smaller three-bedroom units in some private condominiums."
Experts say that with at least four other ECs in the area and six private condo projects launched since the start of last year - and with more likely in the future - competition is heating up. Developers are pulling out all the stops to woo buyers.
Potential home buyer Linda Quek, 30, who works in the financial industry, said size and accessibility are her key considerations when choosing a home.
"The extra touches are nice but they still come in second to location. Unless we're talking about two projects in the same area with the same price, then these added features might be the clincher," she added.
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