Park Natura - Launching!

Hear ye' mass market peoplings! The Dukes and Duchess's had their fill in District 9, now feed on them scraps on the outer-outer-fringe areas - such as Bukit Batok and the latest project there, Park Natura from UIC!

Expertly guestimated to launch soon at around a 'modest' $900-1000psf by my agent, I would buy an older 99yr leasehold along East Coast anyday. Well for those enblocced people desperately looking for an affordable home, ho hum....just learn to suck it up and move on.

Be Warned!

Mdn Gardens 85% Says Yes; The Circus Begins!

One of my friends staying over at Mandarin Gardens today told me today that 85% of Mandarin Gardens has said Yes - well for the moment only to the forming of a sales committee.

While this is positive news to investors at my favourite project in District 16, I believe this might be a long and difficult process especially with over a thousand units within.

• Scale: The larger projects are, the more difficult to handle. Imagine getting 800 people to agree on a single thing.

• Timing: What if 80% of 1000 residents finally says yes to enbloc but no developers are interested then? It's almost 2008 already.
  

• Cost: Giving there are a thousand units, and a higher potential for development (up to 36 storeys, from 23 now) this has to be a very brave developer, or a joint project (1000 units x est. $1500psf = $1.5b just for land!!!).

• Sentimental Reasons: This is an old development with quite a number of old residents within. Some might not want to go.

On a lighter note, my friend added that along with the 400 civil Mandarin Garden Residents present, the usual enbloc crowd also invited themselves: Cat Call, Wolf Whistle, Jeer, Boo, Yelling and Name Calling.

As a benchmark, it took 2 hours for the present residents to amend a single typo.

Aalto Launches, District 15/16 Gains Momentum Again

The former Eastern Mansions in District 15 has finally launched over the last weekend (okay so I was a little busy and couldn't update). Prices range from a pretty affordable 1550psf to 2500psf, probably bringing the area to a new high if any of them penthouses are sold.

Me agent tells me I will get floorplans soon, but haven't heard from him for abit. Probably busy selling units there and making a big fat sum.

Far East Organization: 3% Cashback?

Well Far East Organization is on my radar once again. Apparently after discounting Hillview Regency heavily for a week, they are applying the same tactics on another recently completed mass market project: Lakeshore (beside Lakeshore MRT).

After purchasers buy the unit, they will refund in cash a total of 3% - equivalent to the amount paid for stamp fees. While i'm not sure if this is agianst any agreement or policy, all I can say is go homebuyers go!

Another Obsession With 'Eight': 8 Nassim Hill

Thursday is the best day to have Kopi with my Agent (treat them well and they literally be your eyes and ears!). It always seems like every thursday there's something new and this week's pick is yet another project with 'Eight' obsession: 8 Nassim Hill.

Judging from its location, it sure won't be friendly to those without $9m to spare (Guestimating 3000psf x 3000sf).

Grange Infinite Launches, Odd-Shaped Furniture Prices Skyrocket

The latest Scoop: The 36 Storey Grange Infinite (Known as the En-blocced Grange Towers) will be launching soon. While this will be embraced by those who can't stand being more then 2 minutes away from Takashimaya, there will be lots of demand for odd-shaped furniture.

One of my sources, allowed me to take a peek at the floorplans and behold: Not ONE bedroom in all 68 units is evenly shaped! Every bedroom had at least one odd angled wall. While I understand there isn't much land involved in this project, there is simply no excuse for not having at least one even-shaped bedroom.

Or maybe...I'm just getting Old-Fashioned. Or Old? Am I?

Tsk. Hope the Subject to Changes clause is for real this time!

Another Reason To Invest In Singapore: Smog

While Hong Kong might be the Gateway to China and a great place to invest in Property, the Pearl River Delta is dotted with somewhat Environmentally Friendly Factories (Chinese Standards).

A few years ago when I was there I mistook cool mist around the hills for smog (a not-so-happy-with-the-takeover local corrected me quickly). From the pictures all over the internet now, I'm guessing them Super Penthouses aren't as attractive as they used to be.

Unfortunately while the New Hong Kong Government seems to be handling the takeover pretty well, I doubt they have any pull on the Mainland Chinese agenda with Beijing being the focus until the Olympics.

So there you go Mr. Foreigner, please buy more Singapore Property. If it helps, you will be contributing to the Mr. Realgossip retirement fund.