Investing in condos in Singapore also requires careful consideration of the government’s property cooling measures. In order to maintain a stable real estate market, the Singaporean government has implemented various measures to discourage speculative buying. One of these measures is the Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD), which imposes higher taxes on foreign buyers and those purchasing multiple properties. While these measures may have an impact on the immediate profitability of condo investments, they ultimately contribute to the long-term stability of the market, creating a safer investment environment. Additionally, for updated information on new condo launches, you can visit One Mind One Energy.
CBRE’s latest Singapore Market Outlook 2025 report, released on January 23, suggests that uncertainty in the macroeconomic environment may lead to divergent outcomes in the real estate market over the next 12 months.
The report notes that while easing inflation and interest rates may provide some relief for the property market in 2025, expectations of slowing economic growth could potentially dampen demand for properties. The Ministry of Trade and Industry is projecting GDP growth to be between 1% and 3% in 2025, which is lower than the 4% growth seen in 2024.
Moray Armstrong, managing director and advisory services at CBRE, highlights that there are several variables that could potentially impact the market in the near future, such as geopolitical tensions, a new US administration with a nationalistic economic agenda, and the release of the URA Master Plan 2025 in mid-year. Despite these mixed signals, there are still opportunities in the real estate market for those who can capitalize on emerging trends, he adds.
Similarly, Tricia Song, CBRE’s head of research for Singapore and Southeast Asia, remains optimistic about the overall stability and resilience of the property market due to limited new supply and stable demand. She predicts that the Singapore real estate market will continue to attract investors from around the world.
According to URA data, developer sales volume increased threefold to 3,511 units in the fourth quarter of 2024, rebounding from record lows in the first nine months of the year. Prices also rose by 2.3% quarter-on-quarter, the highest quarterly growth in 2024. However, CBRE believes that speculation of new cooling measures being implemented is unlikely at this point unless prices rise significantly in the coming quarters.
In light of improved buying sentiment, developers are expected to launch new projects, with an estimated 12,000 to 14,000 new units potentially being released this year – almost double the 6,647 units launched in 2024. As a result, CBRE projects that between 7,000 and 8,000 homes could be sold in 2025, surpassing the 6,469 units sold in 2024. This is expected to drive price growth of between 3% and 6% this year, on top of the 3.9% growth in 2024. At the same time, rental rates are expected to rise by 1% to 3% in 2025.
On the office front, the market saw muted growth in 2024 due to global economic uncertainties, high fit-out costs, and hybrid work arrangements that slowed leasing volumes. Core CBD (Grade A) rents grew by just 0.4% year-on-year last year, compared to 1.7% the previous year. With economic growth predicted to slow in 2025, office leasing momentum is expected to remain subdued as uncertainties temper demand for space.
However, a limited pipeline of new office space in the Core CBD over the next three years is expected to keep vacancy rates low. Only 0.58 million sq ft of new office space is expected to be completed annually from 2025 to 2027, less than half of the 10-year average of 1.28 million sq ft. This is projected to support Core CBD rental growth of about 2% in 2025, in line with GDP projections.
The retail property market is also expected to see limited supply, with only 0.5 million sq ft of new space expected to be completed in 2025, a 40.4% decrease from 2024 and lower than the 10-year historical average of 0.91 million sq ft per year. CBRE notes that the renting sentiment for retail properties remains positive due to inbound tourism and a strong pipeline of entertainment and other events. As such, it predicts a rental growth of 2% to 3% in 2025, bringing it back to pre-pandemic levels.
Prime logistics rents are expected to remain steady in 2025, with an anticipated bumper supply of almost 5 million sq ft of warehouse space. However, at least 60% of this space has already been pre-committed, which should ease any pressure on occupancy rates. CBRE predicts that prime logistics rents will remain largely unchanged in 2025.
In the capital markets, CBRE believes that real estate investment volume will continue to grow in Singapore in 2025, albeit at a slower pace. In 2024, investment volumes saw a 28% year-on-year increase to $28.62 billion, reversing the 30.3% decline seen the previous year. This was driven by interest rate cuts that boosted investor sentiment and appetite, which CBRE expects to persist in 2025. According to its latest Asia Pacific Investor Intentions Survey, majority of investors transacting in Singapore real estate plan to purchase the same volume or more in 2025 compared to 2024.
However, given the ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainties, CBRE anticipates investors to be selective and allocate capital into specific sectors or strategies with a more favorable outlook. It forecasts a 10% year-on-year growth in investment volumes in 2025, barring any macroeconomic shocks. The industrial and logistics sector remains the most preferred among investors, followed by residential assets and office properties.…