Investing in a condo offers many advantages, one of which is the potential for leveraging its value for further investments. This means that investors can use their condo as collateral to secure additional financing for new investments, thereby diversifying their real estate portfolio. This approach can potentially increase returns, but it is important to carefully plan and consider the potential risks in light of market fluctuations. Singapore Projects can also be a valuable addition to this investment strategy.
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The Housing and Development Board (HDB) flash estimates released on January 2 showed that resale flat prices in Singapore rose by 2.5% quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter of 2024. This was a slightly slower growth from the 2.7% recorded in the previous quarter. The prices have been on a continuous rise for the past 19 quarters, indicating a strong demand in the HDB resale segment.
The flash estimates further revealed a 9.6% increase in resale flat prices in 2024, which is double the growth seen in 2023. However, this growth was still slower than the 10.4% recorded in 2022 and the 12.7% in 2021, according to Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at OrangeTee Group.
Based on HDB caveat data from data.gov.sg, retrieved at 8.15am on January 2, there was a slowdown in price growth for some flat types. OrangeTee noted that the median price of four-room flats saw a quarter-on-quarter increase of 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2024, which is slower than the 3.4% growth in the third quarter. Similarly, two-room flats rose by 2% quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter, while executive flats registered a 1.2% quarter-on-quarter increase, compared to 1.7% in the previous quarter. However, prices for five-room flats grew by 3.2% in the fourth quarter, which is faster than the 1.2% increase in the third quarter.
Resale volume saw a decline of 3.6% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2024, with 6,314 units changing hands compared to 6,547 transactions in the same period in 2023. The volume also decreased by 22.5% quarter-on-quarter from 8,142 units in the third quarter of 2024.
OrangeTee attributed this decline in HDB resale transactions to the launch of over 8,500 new flats in the October Build-to-Order (BTO) exercise, with many units located in prime and desirable locations. According to Sun, the attractive features of these flats, such as scenic views and proximity to MRT stations, diverted demand away from the resale market towards the BTO market. She also noted that the seasonal year-end school holidays, when many Singaporeans tend to travel abroad, may have contributed to the decrease in sales and activities in the market during this period.
The head of research and content at PropNex, Wong Siew Ying, also attributed the slower pace of growth in the fourth quarter of 2024 to government intervention in August of that year. This includes the reduction of the loan-to-value (LTV) limit for HDB loans by five percentage points to 75%. According to Wong, this decrease in sales and slower growth in the HDB resale price index in the fourth quarter could be a result of these measures. She also added that the lower resale volume during the quarter may have put a drag on prices.
However, despite the decline in resale transactions in the fourth quarter, the total number of million-dollar flat transactions reached a record high of 1,033 units in 2024, notes OrangeTee’s Sun. This figure is more than double the 469 million-dollar transactions recorded in the previous year. Toa Payoh town led the million-dollar resale flats deals in the fourth quarter of 2024, with 58 transactions. Out of these, 20 were for four- and five-room units at Alkaff Vista in Bidadari Park Drive, which had recently met the five-year minimum occupation period (MOP).
OrangeTee’s Sun believes that the new classification of Plus and Prime BTO flats may have driven more homebuyers to seek out HDB resale homes in central locations. Eugene Lim, key executive officer of ERA Singapore, also added that these buyers may be unwilling to accept resale restrictions such as a 10-year MOP, rental restrictions after MOP, subsidy clawback upon resale, and resale income cap on future buyers.
HDB resale prices are expected to continue rising in 2025, but at a slower rate than in previous years, says OrangeTee. According to Sun, prices have already reached new highs in many areas, creating affordability concerns for potential buyers. The ongoing supply of BTO flats is also expected to help moderate price growth in the secondary market. However, the extent of price stabilisation will depend on the number of BTO flats released by the government in the upcoming years.
In February 2025, HDB will launch its largest sale of balance flats (SBF) exercise, offering more than 5,500 flats across various towns. Lee Sze Teck, senior director of data analytics at Huttons Asia, notes that some prospective resale flat buyers may have decided to wait and see their luck in securing a flat from the SBF exercise. Both PropNex and ERA project the HDB resale market to perform well in 2025, with resale prices expected to grow by 5% to 7% and 3% to 6%, respectively. They also forecast resale volume to reach between 29,000 to 30,000 units and 26,000 to 27,000 units, respectively, by the end of the year.
Huttons projects that HDB resale flat transactions will remain strong in 2025, with resale prices expected to grow by 5% to 8%. The supply of BTO flats in 2025 is also projected to decrease to 17,290 units, which is about 12% lower than the supply in 2024. This may result in more buyers turning to the resale market for a new home. With the possibility of lower interest rates in 2025, some buyers may also set their sights on executive condos or resale condos. Huttons also foresees the million-dollar flat market to stabilise in the range of 900 to 1,200 units in 2025.…