16 Sep 2024
August 2024 Developer Sales: OCR Shines Despite Hungry Ghost Festival Dip
Property Insight

In August 2024, developers sold a total of 208 units, excluding Executive Condominiums (ECs), marking a significant month-on-month decline of 63.6% from July's 571 units. This drop in sales aligns with the Hungry Ghost Festival, a period traditionally associated with reduced home-buying activity due to cultural beliefs. The sales volume during this month was the lowest since February 2024, when only 153 units were sold during the Chinese New Year period. Year-on-year, new home sales in August 2024 reflected a 47.2% drop from the 394 units sold in August 2023.

Despite the overall decline, the Outside Central Region (OCR) remained a bright spot, contributing 59.1% of the total sales. Projects such as Hillock Green, Lentor Hills Residences, and Hillhaven were among the key contributors. The Rest of Central Region (RCR) accounted for 31.3% of sales, while the Core Central Region (CCR) made up 9.6%. The OCR's continued strong performance highlights the demand for more affordable housing in non-central locations, attracting a mix of first-time homeowners and upgraders.

Tembusu Grand, located in the RCR, led the sales in August with 30 units sold at a median price of $2,455 per square foot (psf). Its strong performance was supported by the upcoming launch of Emerald of Katong, which boosted the neighborhood's profile. Enhanced connectivity due to new Thomson-East Coast Line stations further improved the attractiveness of the area.

The luxury property market, despite the broader market moderation, demonstrated resilience. The most notable transaction in August was a $14.7 million sale at 32 Gilstead, which was also the highest transacted freehold condominium in the first eight months of 2024. This transaction underscored the continued demand for prime properties among high-net-worth individuals, even during typically quieter periods.

Looking ahead, the market is expected to likely rebound with the conclusion of the Hungry Ghost Festival and several new project launches. Developers are strategically timing these launches to capture demand, and upcoming projects like 8@BT, Norwood Grand, and Meyer Blue are poised to drive interest. Additionally, a potential Federal Reserve rate cut could further ease global interest rates, including those in Singapore, potentially boosting buyer sentiment and market activity.

In conclusion, while August 2024 saw a slowdown in developer sales due to seasonal factors, the OCR and luxury property segments remained resilient. Upcoming launches and favourable economic conditions are expected to bolster the market in the coming months.

Click here for the full report  

Prepared By: 

Mohan Sandrasegeran 

Head of Research & Data Analytics  

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Property Insight
17 Sep 2026
Developer Sales August 2026: Existing Projects Sustain Buyer Interest

Singapore’s new private home market took a breather in August 2026, with 153 units sold excluding Executive Condominiums (ECs), compared with 731 units in July. The moderation was largely anticipated due to the absence of major new project launches and the Hungry Ghost Festival period, when developers traditionally take a more measured approach towards launches. As such, the lower sales volume primarily reflects launch timing and limited fresh supply rather than a significant shift in underlying homebuyer demand. 

The quieter launch calendar gave previously launched projects greater visibility and a longer window to sustain marketing efforts and convert buyer interest. July launches Dunearn House and Lentor Gardens Residences emerged as August’s two best-selling projects. Dunearn House recorded 18 units sold at a median price of $3,008 psf, while Lentor Gardens Residences sold another 15 units at a median $2,367 psf. Their continued sales indicate that buyer interest carried through beyond the initial launch period despite the quieter primary market. 

Other projects continued to record transactions. Coastal Cabana EC and The Sen each sold 12 units, followed by Union Square Residences with 10 units and Hudson Place Residences with nine. Arina East Residences recorded eight sales, while Chuan Park, Narra Residences and Rivelle Tampines EC each sold six units. The project table on page 2 shows that demand remained spread across the Core Central Region, Rest of Central Region and Outside Central Region. 

Existing EC projects under the previous framework also remained well absorbed. As of August, Aurelle of Tampines, North Gaia, Otto Place and Rivelle Tampines had each sold more than 97% of their units. Coastal Cabana was 82.1% sold, with 134 units remaining. The EC market is entering a transition following policy measures introduced in May and the subsequent National Day Rally announcement, which raised the EC household income ceiling from $16,000 to $18,000 for projects on sites where land sale tenders close on or after 24 August 2026. Existing projects and sites awarded before the effective date will continue under the previous framework. 

Looking ahead, September could remain relatively measured amid the school holiday period, although the new home market is positioned for a subsequent pickup. Upcoming projects including Amberwood at Holland, Lucerne Grand, Thomson Reserve and The Serra Residences are expected to introduce fresh residential supply and broaden homebuyer choices across different locations and market segments. 

The return of major launches should help reenergise primary market activity, with sales momentum for the remainder of 2026 increasingly shaped by the timing, pricing and market reception of these developments. External economic and financing conditions are also expected to become increasingly important considerations for homebuyers as the market moves into the next phase of its launch cycle. 

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here

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Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg

Property Insight
17 Sep 2026
Lorong Puntong GLS Tender: Eco World Tops Bid at $1,612 PSF PPR

The Lorong Puntong / Sin Ming Avenue Government Land Sales (GLS) site attracted seven bids, with Eco World Development (S) Pte. Ltd. submitting the highest offer of $208.1 million, equivalent to $1,612 psf ppr. The next highest bid, from Intrepid Investments Pte. Ltd. and TID Residential Pte. Ltd., was $187.3 million or $1,451 psf ppr. The site is expected to yield approximately 140 residential units, providing an opportunity for a relatively smaller-scale private residential development within the established Upper Thomson and Bishan catchment. 

A key attribute of the site is its proximity to Bright Hill MRT station, which provides convenient access to the Thomson-East Coast Line and direct connectivity towards Orchard, Marina Bay and the CBD. Longer term, Bright Hill is expected to become an interchange with the future Cross Island Line, further enhancing east-west connectivity and access to employment, commercial and lifestyle nodes across Singapore. The site also benefits from an established education catchment that includes Ai Tong School, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, Catholic High School and Raffles Institution. 

The wider Bishan area's continued evolution could further support the site's appeal. Planning initiatives associated with the rejuvenation of Bishan Town Centre are expected to strengthen commercial, community and public spaces while expanding employment and amenity offerings. Meanwhile, the upcoming launch of Thomson Reserve could build greater market awareness of the Upper Thomson and Sin Ming locality, establish fresh pricing benchmarks and demonstrate underlying demand ahead of the future Lorong Puntong development. 

From a developer perspective, the relatively modest unit count could offer a more manageable project with lower overall capital commitment and potentially reduced sales and execution risk compared with substantially larger developments. For buyers, the project could provide a smaller and potentially more intimate residential environment within the established Bishan and Upper Thomson catchment.

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for the full report:

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg

Property Insight
14 Sep 2026
Singapore Rental Property Market 1H2026: Stable Growth Amid Resilient Leasing Demand

Singapore’s residential rental market remained resilient in the first half of 2026, with the overall private residential rental index rising by 1.0%, following the 1.2% increase recorded in 1H2025. The measured increase points towards a more balanced and sustainable rental environment, as the market continues to absorb the wave of private housing completions delivered over the past two years. Leasing demand remains supported by Singapore’s resilient labour market, continued inflow of expatriate professionals and stable economic conditions. 

Leasing demand was also well distributed across individual developments. Normanton Park emerged as the most actively leased RCR project with an estimated 426 transactions, while Treasure at Tampines led the OCR with 301 transactions. Within the CCR, Marina One Residences recorded 289 transactions, ahead of The Sail @ Marina Bay and The M. These trends highlight tenant preferences for accessibility, proximity to employment centres, lifestyle amenities and value for money. 

Looking ahead, Singapore’s residential rental market is expected to remain broadly stable through the second half of 2026, with rental growth likely to stay measured. Approximately 5,012 private residential units are scheduled for completion over the remainder of 2026, expanding rental inventory and providing tenants with greater choice. The HDB market should also benefit from an expanding supply of flats reaching their Minimum Occupation Period, with around 18,000 flats expected to reach MOP in 2027 and approximately 21,000 in 2028. Overall, healthy underlying demand and increasing housing supply are expected to support a more balanced rental environment characterised by greater tenant choice, improved affordability and moderate rental growth. 

Click

here

for the full report:

Prepared By:

Mohan Sandrasegeran

Head of Research & Data Analytics

Email: mohan@sri.com.sg

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