Alexis!

Well its been a while since i posted, i have been busy keeping the hounding banks at bay....well anywayI visited Alexis at Alexandra, a new launch.

Not a bad development at all although the units sizes are extremely small. that was a big turnoff for me! I managed to get hold of the brochure, which was in limited supply. Let me know if you need it, I can share it with you.

Floridian Floorplan / Sitemap Leaked: Miami Theme?

There you go. Just remember you got it from Property Leak! Apparently only Tower 2 and 9 (Downtown and Hideawat respectively) are for sale (if i am not mistaken!).

Floridian: Update

Just got an update on the Floridian @ bukit timah and here are my thoughts.

A couple of stacks actually overlook the Good Class Bungalow (GCB) area in Bukit Timah, effectively removing the view that the Nexus currently enjoys. Somehow its a blessing to be behind this time! A long cascading pool runs through the estate and apparently one stack located at the end will enjoy the full view.

I always liked that area behind Bukit Timah Rd, it basically consists of really really huge houses and a nice large open field. Expect lots of greenery and a beautiful glow at night. If you are in the area, drive down Old Holland Road, and you might get what I mean. Now imagine that with a 10 storey view from the Floridian.

Price wise, I can't say that it is exactly a bargain, but it is merely following market prices from Cascadia's sale of an entire block earlier at ~$1500psf to a large investor (with mass discounts of course). Resale units of next door 10-year old Maplewoods was asking for $1350psf last time I checked, so this justifies the Floridian's pricing of ~$1680psf.

Floorplan wise, there are apparently large 4 rooms at 1800sf, rare in these days, as well as large 3+1 rooms. Oh, and for those MGS alumni, the school is just beside the condo.

Floridian Prices Leaked

Far East sure knows how to set the benchmark, $2000psf for Jardin and now the Floridian for an
estimated $1670psf upwards.

Floridian Details

Location: Bukit Timah, District 21
Tenure: Freehold
Units: 336, 10 storeys
Type: 2, 2+1, 3, 3+1, 4 & 4+1
Sizes: 840sf, 935sf, 1001sf, 1236sf, 1292sf, 1346sf, 1851sf, 2347sf

Floridian @ Bukit Timah Soft Launch! I Eat My Words!

Okay, big sorry to those people whom I led into believing that Floridian is holding out. Perhaps Far East Organization is finally using common sense and is launching the much awaited Floridian to sweep up the hungry mass market (Keep to the left along Bukit Timah Rd and there is a small slip road just after the white Cascadian showroom).

I always thought that Cascadia would launch before the Floridian, but this time its the later that will be doing the benchmarking.

Cheques are being collected already as I type...

Flippers Get the Shaft

Anti-Flippers, Wear Your Tag Proudly in Forums!

The almighty Government has just given Property Flippers the shaft! Deferred Payment schemes for NEW Condos will no longer be available - which to me is actually bloody good news.

Deferred Payment to me has always been a No-No mainly because:

• It generally encourages property bubbles. Flippers with no plan to see the project through to its completion might default, and if widespread might 'crash' the project as the developer has no cash


• If you get your bank loan later, the bank might not 'value' your property equal to its purchase price and you have to fork out alot of cash (also known as 'You Are Screwed')


• I always believe in REAL capital appreciation thank you

I am glad it has come to this. Now real investors and homeseekers who have the power to go for progressive payment schemes will get to play a more even field.

Oh, and I can't find a scrap of this announcement on URA's website even after all the yakking on the radio which is absolutely ridiculous.

Update 28th Oct: The URA website has been edited to include:

On 26 Oct 2007, the Government withdrew the deferred payment scheme, i.e. applications from developers to offer deferred payment scheme for new housing projects will not be approved. However, developers who have already obtained the Controller’s approval to offer a deferred payment scheme may continue to offer it to purchasers after 26 Oct 2007. Purchasers are advised to check with the developers on the payment scheme being offered.

This means that current launches that still have DPS can still go ahead with DPS!

The Sky Has Fallen! Jardin Launches!

The Jardin has FINALLY FRICKIN launched after more then half a year's 'launching this weekend'. For the past few weeks I've been noticing workmen adding the final touchups to the showflat while on my way home and I guess that adds up.

But for $1950psf upwards, thats surely a mighty blow to any pocket - though it will mean good news to Maplewoods, and the super undervalued Blossomvale (which has an amazing view of Bukit Timah Hill).

Heard that the showroom is mighty impressive and personally would like to drop by.

Lumos - I didn't Get Invited

So I was told that I wouldn't (and couldn't) get invited to the Lumos Preview along Orchard, because my usual banker isn't part of this little coup. Apparently only Maybank, Citibank and HSBC bankers get to invite their clients to the preview. For that, Koh Brothers Group Limited & Heeton Holdings get a special place in my Little Black Book.

Whining aside, expect to cough up 3-3.5k psf to live in a giant jewel case.

If someone gets their paws on the floorplans/brochure for this one, please email me at realgossip@gmail.com.

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!

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.

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).

New Project Behind Shangri-La Launching?

Image Source: Shangri-La Singapore

Well that plot of land behind the ancient Shangri-La is finally being launched next week. What was once known as the Green Anderson

While not everyone can boast a Hotel Pool View(hopefully!), a visit to the Shangri-La not so long ago sure hinted that the entire place may all soon go...for better or worse.

Here are some details that my Super Secret Source has informed me with:

Freehold
10 Storeys
Around 34 units
3 and 4 bedrooms 2000-2200 Square Feet

Starts at $2800psf ~ anyone got $5.6m to spare?

Turquoise Launches Friday, 28th Sept @ 3PM

There you go folks, the Turquoise at Sentosa by Ho Bee Grp will be launching tomorrow at 3pm. There are murmurs of a pre-3pm preview, but you got to be in the right circles to have a go at that. hint: DTZ

Update: Be there at 10am, and approach any agent. I am sure they will be only too glad to serve you.

Scotts Square @ $4000psf

Image Source: http://www.scottssquare.com/

So the other half of Scotts Square (former Scotts Shopping Centre) by Wheelock Properties is going at $4000psf, and is available for booking through...special means. The Public Launch will be soon, which means you could save a buck or two and get a better unit through...ahem...special means.

Approximately:
1 Bedroom -600sf
2 Bedroom -900sf
3 Bedroom -1200sf

To be Priced around $4000psf

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.

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.

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.

Get some Latitude

Source: http://www.latitude.com.sg/

Capitaland is launching its latest project along Jln Mutiara (off River Valley Rd for the uninitiated). Well it has been a while since anything there has happened and it sure doesn't look bad.

Launching this weekend. Really. Promise. Guaranteed.

Well heres a post in tribute of The Jardin by Fareast Organization.

Again my agent from Knight Frank called me to tell me how the amazing Jardin will be launching this weekend, and would like to have my blank cheque.

My response?

"Siao!"

Yes I have been watching The Jardin grow from whispers to now Universal Public Secret No.1. It's a really nice project (albeit surrounded by Garden Vista, King Albert Park and a Flyover) with modern designs and some green lungs at your doorstep.

But till now its the same every week.

Sigh.