21/05/2016

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Pinnacle@Duxton prices unlikely to climb much higher

The Pinnacle@Duxton in Tanjong Pagar has recorded three transactions of above $1 million so far this year for its 5-room flats, similar to the four deals seen in the first three months of 2015.

The development has regularly made headlines in recent months. For example, a unit was sold for $1.08 million ($945 psf) in November 2015, the most expensive sale ever for a 5-room flat in Singapore. In January this year, a unit changed hands for approximately $1.07 million.

According to Eugene Lim, Key Executive Officer of ERA Realty, which helped to broker both deals, these flats commanded sky-high prices due to their unblocked, panoramic views of the city, and the Pinnacle’s status as a landmark project.

Aside from its proximity to MRT stations, another key selling point is the scarcity of such units. “Not everyone at the Pinnacle wants to sell. Those who have decided to sell are leveraging to get the maximum premium for their units,” Lim said.

Based on statistics from ERA, the two said transactions were three percent higher than the average transacted price of $977,846 for a 5-room flat at the project. But compared to older flats in the area, such as those at Smith Street and Tanjong Pagar Plaza, this translates to a premium of 25 percent to 46 percent.

The current resale prices are also a far cry from the original selling price range of between $345,100 and $439,000 for the 5-roomers during the project’s launch in 2004.

Nevertheless, Lim noted that these record flat prices are unique to the Pinnacle. “They do not represent the majority of resale HDB transactions, which are trading at around valuation in the current market environment.”

It’s also unlikely that prices of 5-room flats there will rise significantly higher or reach the $2 million mark, as home buyers could easily purchase a private apartment within the area for the same price, he said.

Looking ahead, prices of HDB resale flats are expected to remain stable, while transaction volume is expected to pick up as the reduced focus on cash-over-valuation (COV) premiums would attract buyers in immediate need of housing, or those who do not qualify for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, added Lim.

Picture Source: Three flats at the landmark project have been sold for over $1 million in 2016.
Source copied: http://www.propertyguru.com.sg/property-management-news/2016/3/119729/pinnacleduxton-prices-unlikely-to-climb-much-higher

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