Launch Leak; Hillcrest Villas Sells, Well Before Shop Opens

Ah...

And so my friendly DTZ agent tells me that a third of Hillcrest Villas, the latest Breakthrough in Nanotechnology, has sold well before its Public Preview. Seems like this points where the market is going, especially for a project that hails from the realm of oh-not-so-popular Cluster Landed (99yr LH).

Economy and speculation aside, can someone please tell me how this 'Preview' thing works?

Select VIP Preview, Developer Staff Preview, Developer VIP Preview, Developer Shareholders Preview, Developer Preview, VIP Preview, Private Preview, Closed-Door Preview, Public Preview, Preview, VIP Launch, Pre-Launch, Soft-Launch, Launch and finally Open-House?

I'm pretty sure some top agent out there is probably reading this laughing at me for getting the simple order wrong though.

Horizon Towers: Lawsuit Still Hanging, New Sales Committee Sworn In

Source: The Business Times, Sept 21 2007

Light at the end of the tunnel perhaps? While a step in the right direction after 135 units voted in favor of pushing back the collective sale deadline to Dec 11, it is a long way from resolution with 42 units abstaining from last night's meeting.

Anyhow this has proved one thing: Pep talks sometimes work, and is especially favourable if you are backed by a gazillion dollars and a looming multimillion dollar lawsuit. Now put away the cane and go rethink your strategy to get your kids to study for the upcoming PSLE.

Coming Soon (Sept)

Source: The Business Times

Well the chart speaks for itself. Though I heard from a friend last month that the Hilltops by SC Global has been making a soft launch already even during the inauspicious Hungry Ghost Festival. Getting the sub-prime saga jitters eh SC Global?

Oh, and in a case of self-gratification it seems that my post about the Turquiose going for $2500psf was true. Snaps for me!


Source: The Business Times

In the related article by the Business Times, you got to be pretty daft not to figure out by now that the top is saturated and developers will be going after the mass market. Smaller cheaper condos will now be seen mushrooming out in the spillover areas. Something that India is going through now (correct me if i am wrong!).

Time to go shopping.

Punggol 21, the Next Pasir Ris?

Source: http://www.hdb.gov.sg/

Well don't say I dis you HDB folks. Personally while I prefer to get my hands dirty in private property, some of these new HDB flats give some new projects that I have seen a run for their money.


The Coral Spring is the latest Built-To-Order flats in Sengkang and runs along Sengkang West Avenue and Fernvale Road. It is served by Fernvale LRT station and bus services. Judging from the artist impression, it sure doesn't look too shabby, though i might want to add that driving from Sengkang all the way to town doesn't sound the least bit appealing - but wait, you got your LRT for that!


Hope all the Gahmen has promised works out. A waterfront HDB estate is what them working class needs, albeit slightly closer to town please.

Ong Beng Seng Smokes Peace Pipe; Horizon Tower Owners Get Pep Talk

Source: The Business Times

Well surprise surprise, one of Singapore's most respected hoteliers have passed around the peace pipe to Horizon Tower Owners.

The response would be fragmented at best judging from any of my (or even your) prior experiences with en-bloc. Add to that, most of the owner's staying there are likely you-know-who's and might take abit of getting used to receiving pep talks from another you-know-who.

As always, respect to the man.

Cascadia? Finally some news?

Source: Straits Times

Bukit Timah (D21) has been long slated to be the next 'spillover' area from escalating property prices along with Meyer Rd (D15).

However what the D15 area has achieved recently has only made its luscious green and hilly counterpart turn only more green in envy.

Projects that have been lined up to launch in D21 have been 'delayed' forever. Leaving agents red faced when clients demand they make good on their 'launching this weekend' promises. These projects are: Jardin, Cascadia, Hillcrest, Floridian and unnamed projects along Shelford Rd and Balmoral.

However the latest development was spotted in a one-liner in the Straits Times to conclude the article on a $2.02b bid on a prime site at Marina: "MGPA has been on an active buying spree here. In March, it agreed to buy Temasek Tower from CapitaLand for $1.04 billion. Last month , it also bought 162 units of Allgreen Properties' Cascadia condominium in Bukit Timah for a median price of $1,527 psf, sources said".

Well there you go folks. Finally after all the hush hush from Knight Frank, the exclusive marketing agent, we know whats going on - the cream of Cascadia is probably being made available for tenancy before brochures are even printed.

Now sit back and watch the Maplewoods, Sterling, Blossomvale and gang skyrocket.

Oh it's That Time of the Year Again...

Source: The Business Times

It's been pretty quiet around here lately, especially with that time of the year here again. Some agents I speak to tell me that calls slow down to a trickle. Some even whoop in joy if there is even a response from an ad during this inauspicious month for the local chinese.

Well in conclusion to the figures that The Business Times failed to point out: Speculators and very rich people are one superstitious lot.

Now that it's all over, let the games begin again!