http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/...malls-20130727

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Popular homes close to nature, shopping malls

Checking out the page views on the STProperty website gives an instant snapshot of what projects buyers are keen on. This week, we look at the developments in districts 21 and 22 which have drawn the most attention.

Published on Jul 27, 2013

By Rachel Scully


NATURE lovers will be drawn to District 21 which covers the Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park and Ulu Pandan areas.

A prominent landmark in the district is Singapore's highest point - Bukit Timah Hill - in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Home buyers will be served by the Downtown MRT line, which runs from Bukit Panjang to Bugis, when it is completed in a few years.

Topping the list of private homes by page views on STProperty's website between July 15 and 21 was 928-unit Signature Park.

The freehold project offered two-, three- and more bedder units at an average asking price of $1,209 per sq ft (psf).

It is near the famous Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre and rows of shophouses offering a mix of food choices and cuisines.

The development with the highest average asking price in District 21 was freehold Jardin, opposite King Albert Park.

Among its 140 units ranging from one-, two-, three- and more bedder units, the average asking price based on listings last week was $1,966 psf. It also registered the highest average transacted price among the top five between January and last month at $1,876 psf, based on data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Farther west lies District 22, which spans Jurong, Lakeside, Boon Lay and Tuas.

Residential, commercial and industrial property can be found in this district. Some iconic buildings include the Science Centre, shopping malls IMM, Jurong Point and newly opened Jem.

The East-West MRT line cuts through the area and can take home buyers to Singapore's Central Business District.

The project with the most number of page views on STProperty last week was the recently launched J Gateway.

The 99-year leasehold condo in Jurong East sold all but one of its 738 units when it was launched last month.

That was the first time since January's property cooling measures that buyers snapped up almost all the units on the first day of a launch.

It had an average asking price of $1,465 psf on STProperty between July 15 and 21.

Rounding out the top five by page views were 99-year leaseholds such as Caspian, Parc Oasis, Parc Vista as well as The Lakefront Residences.

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