28 Mar 2025
Retail Property Market 2025: Trends Shaping Investor Strategies
Property Insight

Singapore's retail landscape demonstrated resilience in 2024, underpinned by a sharp rebound in international visitor arrivals and strategic investor activity. Visitor arrivals surged by 21.5%, growing from 13.6 million in 2023 to 16.5 million in 2024, with strong contributions from Mainland China, Indonesia, and India. This growth was fueled by a robust calendar of high-profile events—including concerts by global artists like Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay, as well as the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix and Singapore Art Week—which bolstered tourism-related sectors like retail and hospitality.

Retail property transactions in 2024 moderated slightly, registering approximately 250 caveated transactions compared to 272 in 2023. Despite this moderation, District 7 (Middle Road/Golden Mile) emerged as the top-performing district with 52 transactions. This reflects investor confidence tied to the transformation of the Golden Mile Complex into The Golden Mile, integrating retail, office, and medical suites alongside the upcoming Aurea residential tower. Districts 14 (Geylang, Eunos) and 9 (Orchard, River Valley) followed with 35 and 32 transactions, respectively, underscoring demand for strategically located and historically stable commercial zones.

From a project perspective, Parklane Shopping Mall led with 12 transacted retail units, indicating sustained interest in older, strata-titled developments with flexible configurations. Far East Plaza and Sim Lim Square also recorded strong activity, each with 10 units transacted, appealing to niche businesses and tourist-centric trades.

Notably, City Developments Limited’s acquisition of Delfi Orchard for S$439 million highlighted institutional interest in Orchard Road’s rejuvenation. Other high-value deals included transactions along Irrawaddy Road, North Bridge Road, and Beach Road—signaling a preference for prime, high-footfall locations.

The leasing market also improved, with total retail rental value rising by 2.7% year-on-year from $254.5 million in 2023 to $261.2 million in 2024. Median rentals held firm across multiple regions, with the North and North-East regions commanding premium rates. Fringe and Central Areas also experienced rental recovery, reflecting sustained demand in key retail corridors.

Looking ahead to 2025, Singapore's retail sector is poised for continued growth. The Singapore Tourism Board projects 17.0 to 18.5 million visitors, generating up to $30.5 billion in tourism receipts. This optimism is supported by new attractions such as Illumination’s Minion Land at Universal Studios Singapore and the Disney Adventure Cruise Line, both expected to draw significant regional traffic.

Retail will also benefit from a vibrant MICE calendar, bringing in high-spending business travelers. Experiential retail, the integration of physical and digital commerce, and evolving consumer expectations will continue to shape leasing and investment trends. While external risks such as geopolitical uncertainties and macroeconomic fluctuations persist, the sector remains anchored by Singapore’s strong fundamentals, diversified tourism base, and investor confidence in well-located assets.

Click here for the full report 

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg  

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Property Insight
04 Jul 2025
Seller’s Stamp Duty Changes 2025: Minimal Impact on Genuine Buyers

On 3 July 2025, the Singapore government announced adjustments to the Seller’s Stamp Duty (SSD), effective from 4 July 2025. The changes involve extending the SSD holding period from three to four years and increasing SSD rates by four percentage points across all tiers. The revised rates restore the SSD framework to its pre-2017 structure, with a 16% duty for properties sold within the first year, tapering to 0% only after four years. Importantly, these changes do not apply to HDB flat owners.

Why This Matters

The policy is timely given the fragile global economic backdrop, including persistent trade tensions, tariff volatility, and geopolitical uncertainties. With Singapore’s 2025 GDP growth forecast set between 0.0% and 2.0%, the SSD revision serves as a preemptive safeguard. It is designed to discourage short-term speculative activity, moderate knee-jerk market reactions, and build long-term market resilience.

Market Reaction and Holding Periods

The revised SSD is expected to have minimal impact on genuine homebuyers and long-term investors. Transaction data from SRI Research shows that average holding periods already exceed the new 4-year requirement across various segments:

This reinforces that the market is primarily driven by owner-occupiers and long-horizon investors rather than speculative flippers.

Sustainable Market Momentum

The SSD revision aligns with a broader strategy to sustain healthy market momentum. According to URA’s 2Q2025 flash estimates, private home prices rose 0.5%, moderating slightly from the 0.8% increase in 1Q2025. Developers are adopting a more calibrated launch strategy, balancing supply with demand, and promoting sustainable absorption.

Outlook

Far from being a deterrent to long-term investment, the SSD changes are seen as a structural reinforcement of market stability. They protect long-term asset value, offer confidence to serious buyers, and enhance Singapore’s reputation as a safe and transparent investment hub. As more launches are expected in 2H2025, the policy provides developers and buyers with a clear framework to plan within a disciplined, fundamentals-driven property cycle.

Click

here

for the full report 

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: research@sri.com.sg

Property Insight
03 Jul 2025
CCR Property Prices Rise in 1H2025 Amid Renewed Luxury Market Confidence

The Core Central Region (CCR) continued to demonstrate resilience and growth in the first half of 2025. According to flash estimates, non-landed private residential prices in the CCR increased by 3.1%, slightly above the 3.0% growth in 1H2024. Notably, 2Q2025 alone contributed a 2.3% rise, rebounding from a more muted 0.8% gain in the first quarter. This sequential improvement underscores renewed confidence and a firmer price trajectory in the prime segment.

High-value transactions, particularly in the $10 million and above category, nearly doubled year-on-year to 29 deals in 1H2025, with 21 Anderson, Park Nova, and Skywaters Residences recording standout performances. This uplift reflects healthy demand for large-format luxury homes in coveted CCR addresses and has reinforced price resilience, especially in the new sale market.

New sale activity in CCR also showed signs of recovery, with an estimated 236 transactions in 1H2025, a 26.2% increase from the 187 units sold in 1H2024. While still below the peak of 986 units in 1H2023, the figures signal a gradual return of buyer confidence. The rebound follows the cautious sentiment in 2024, largely influenced by the April 2023 ABSD hike, including the steep 60% rate on foreign buyers.

Looking ahead, the market is poised for revitalisation with a slate of anticipated launches in 2H2025, including The Robertson Opus, W Residences – Marina View, Upperhouse at Orchard Boulevard, River Green, Skye at Holland, and One Leonie Residences. With limited fresh supply and evolving urban transformation under the Draft Master Plan 2025, these projects are expected to reignite interest in the CCR.

The evolving demand for well-positioned homes, stable macro fundamentals, and selective pricing strategies by developers have set the stage for a more sustained recovery in Singapore’s prime residential segment.

Click

here

for the full report 

 Prepared By: 

Mohan Sandrasegeran 

Head of Research & Data Analytics 

  

  

Email:

research@sri.com.sg

 

  

   

Property Insight
01 Jul 2025
Q2 2025 Flash Estimates Signal Steady Price Growth Across Private and HDB Segments

In the second quarter of 2025, Singapore’s private residential property market continued to show steady growth, with the price index rising by 0.5%, slightly below the 0.8% recorded in the first quarter. 

Developers adopted a more cautious approach in light of external uncertainties such as the Liberation Day tariff announcements and the General Election. This conservative stance helped support pricing levels amid a quieter launch pipeline.

The broader private residential market is expected to hold firm in the second half of 2025, buoyed by upcoming launches across a range of housing segments—from luxury freehold homes to Executive Condominiums (ECs) in emerging locations. 

In the public housing segment, the HDB resale market showed continued signs of price moderation. Resale prices rose by 0.9% in 2Q2025, following a 1.6% increase in the previous quarter. Cumulatively, prices grew by 2.5% in the first half of 2025, compared to 4.2% in the first half of 2024. 

Looking ahead, the HDB resale market is expected to remain resilient, supported by demand from families, couples, and unsuccessful BTO applicants. 

Over 50,000 new flats are set to be launched from 2025 to 2027, including Shorter Waiting Time flats and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF). Additionally, 50,000 existing flats will reach their Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) between 2026 to 2028, expanding resale supply and easing price pressures. 

Click

here

for the full report 

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: research@sri.com.sg

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