Location Location Location

[iwant2buyproperty]

Redhill homes' selling point: Location

Home prices in the area around Alexandra Road, north of the Redhill MRT station, may fall in the short term but the medium-term outlook is positive.

Consultants say the appeal of the Redhill area lies in its location - close to both the Central Business District and the science parks in the Buona Vista area.

Another draw is that the area is more affordable than the neighbouring Tiong Bahru and Jervois districts, partly because projects in Redhill tend to be on 99-year leaseholds, rather than freehold.

The most recent Redhill launch is the 429-unit Alex Residences in Alexandra View by SingLand. The project's price was an average $1,650 per sq ft (psf) when its preview sales began this week.

That average price is cheaper than that of its next-door neighbour, Echelon, launched last December by City Developments and now fully sold.

The 508 units at Echelon were sold at an average $1,795 psf, according to Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) data.

Both Alex Residences and Echelon are on 99-year leaseholds.

Tenants in the Redhill area tend to be junior- to average-level expatriates with limited housing allowances, and foreign professionals working in the science and business parks around Buona Vista and one-north.

Recently completed projects include the 373-unit Ascentia Sky, which is sited on Echelon's west side. The Wing Tai project is on a 99-year leasehold.

The median resale price at Ascentia Sky was $1,709 psf in the third quarter, URA figures show.

Leasing demand at the project has remained decent, with 74 leases signed in July through September at a median rent of $4.74 psf per month.

However, rents in Redhill have been fairly stagnant over the past 12 months, consultants say.

For instance, median rents at The Metropolitan Condominium in Alexandra View, west of Ascentia Sky, have been between $4.19 psf and $4.22 psf per month, starting from the third quarter last year, with the exception of a spike to $4.54 psf per month in April through June this year. Its median rent was $4.22 psf per month across 34 leasing contracts signed in the third quarter.

Source: The Straits Times –16 November 2013

[star]

No more location location location, now is quantum quantum quantum.

[lionhill]

Location, Location, Location.

Located in inner city, yet oriented to tenants in the surburbs.

For tenants in the science and business parks around Buona Vista and one-north, are't condos in D4/D5 a better choice - faster bus/MRT access, and full condo falicities?

[teddybear]

No, because no prestige, don't want to live in same compound as ah lian and ah seng because can't stand their habits, like people who bath in swimming pool and common toilets, even ask maids to do washing there, use function room air-con extensively because free rather than use home's air-con, wash cars and create "ponding" everywhere in the car park, chop BBQ pits the first moment they are opened for booking, hog the gym facilities... (what else?)!

Location, Location, Location.

Located in inner city, yet oriented to tenants in the surburbs.

For tenants in the science and business parks around Buona Vista and one-north, are't condos in D4/D5 a better choice - faster bus/MRT access, and full condo falicities?