In the coming year, three executive condominiums (ECs) are set to be launched, with Sim Lian Group’s Aurelle of Tampines leading the pack. This 760-unit development at Tampines Street 62 is expected to debut in the first quarter of 2025, most likely after the Lunar New Year. Its launch follows the success of the 846-unit Emerald of Katong, which is now over 99% sold.
When it comes to investing in Singapore real estate, it is necessary for foreign investors to familiarize themselves with the regulations and restrictions. While they can easily purchase condos without much limitation, owning landed properties has stricter rules. Moreover, foreign buyers are required to pay an Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) of 20% for their first property purchase. Despite these expenses, the steady and promising growth of the Singapore property market remains a strong magnet for foreign investments. Additionally, keeping an eye on New Condo Launches can help investors make informed decisions.
Sim Lian Group acquired the land at Tampines Street 62 (Parcel B) for $543.28 million in the October 2023 government land sales (GLS) tender. This translates to a price of $721 per square foot per plot ratio (psf ppr). With construction costs on the rise and the harmonization of gross floor area (GFA) definitions, it is predicted by PropNex CEO Ismail Gafoor that Aurelle of Tampines may set a new price benchmark, potentially surpassing the $1,600 psf mark. This expectation is based on the success of Novo Place EC, which was launched in November and achieved an average price of $1,656 psf.
For more in-depth data on all ECs, including average profits at 5 and 10 years, explore EdgeProp’s comprehensive data.
Aurelle of Tampines, with 760 units, is located at Tampines St 62 (Parcel B), which was acquired by Sim Lian through a government land sale for $543.28 million or $721 psf ppr (Photo: EdgeProp Landlens)
Next to Aurelle of Tampines is Tenet EC, a 618-unit development by a joint venture between Qingjian Realty, Santarli Realty and Heeton Holdings. Since its launch in December 2022, Tenet has sold 617 units at an average price of $1,384 psf, with only one unit remaining as of December 19, 2024.
The site for Tenet, located at Tampines Street 62 (Parcel A), was acquired in August 2021 for $442 million ($659 psf ppr). This was a record high psf ppr price for an EC land plot at the time. Notably, Tenet was launched before the implementation of the GFA harmonization rule, which only applies to GLS sites launched for sale after September 1, 2022.
As of December 19, 2024, only one unit remains unsold at Tenet, with 617 units sold at an average price of $1,384 psf. The 618-unit EC is located at Tampines St 62 (Parcel A), next to Sim Lian’s upcoming 760-unit Aurelle of Tampines (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
Confident in the strong demand for homes in Tampines and the surrounding estates, Sim Lian Group acquired another EC site in early November, when it was awarded the Tampines Street 95 GLS site. With a bid of $465 million ($768 psf ppr), Sim Lian secured the site. This has set a new high for EC land prices.
The new EC project at Tampines Street 95 is expected to add 560 new units, further increasing the supply of ECs in the area. Sim Lian Group has a strong track record of developments in the eastern part of the island.
Sim Lian’s bid of $465 million ($768 psf ppr) for the EC site at Tampines St 95 set a new benchmark for land prices per psf ppr for ECs (Photo: EdgeProp Landlens)
Apart from the Emerald of Katong and the upcoming EC projects in Tampines, the group also successfully completed Treasure at Tampines, Singapore’s largest private condominium with 2,203 units, in 2023.
Located at Tampines Street 11, Treasure at Tampines is a redevelopment of the former privatised HUDC estate Tampines Court, which was acquired by Sim Lian through an en bloc purchase of $970 million in 2017.
Read also: Novo Place achieves 88.1% sales as 137 units snapped up in second balloting
Launched in February 2019, the 2,203-unit Treasure at Tampines was completely sold within three years at an average price of $1,356 psf. As of December 19, a total of 468 resales and sub-sales have been recorded. With an average price increase of 25.3% over the launch price, secondary market prices now average $1,699 psf.
Sim Lian Group’s private condominium, the 2,203-unit Treasure at Tampines, was fully sold and completed in phases in 2023 (Photo: Sim Lian Group website)
Second EC launch in Plantation Close, Tengah Town
Another EC project set to launch in 2025 is the 560-unit development in Plantation Close in Tengah Town, developed by a joint venture between Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments. These are the same developers behind Novo Place EC.
At its launch in mid-November, Novo Place sold 57% of its units over the opening weekend. In the second round of balloting for second-timers – buyers who have previously purchased a subsidised new or resale HDB flat – another 137 units were taken up, bringing total sales to 444 units, or 88.1% of the project as at December 16, 2024.
In the second round of balloting for second-timers – buyers who have previously purchased a subsidised new or resale HDB flat – another 137 units were taken up, bringing total sales to 444 units, or 88.1% of the project as at Dec 16, 2024 (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/EdgeProp Singapore)
With an average price of $1,656 psf, Novo Place set a new benchmark for EC prices. According to Gafoor, the “slightly elevated average pricing” at Novo Place can be attributed to the fact that 80% of buyers opted for the deferred payment scheme, which carries a 3% premium compared to the normal payment scheme.
Despite the higher benchmark price, Novo Place performed well due to several factors, Gafoor notes. These include the dwindling unsold inventory of EC units and the project’s favorable location. Situated at Plantation Close in Tengah, Novo Place benefits from its proximity to the upcoming Tengah Park MRT and Bukit Batok West MRT Stations on the Jurong Region Line, expected to be completed by 2029.
Based on caveats lodged on URA Realis, some transactions at Novo Place executive condo have crossed the $1,700 psf threshold (Source: EdgeProp Landlens)
Last EC launch in Pasir Ris was in 2013
A third EC project, potentially launching in late 2025, is located at Jalan Loyang Besar in Pasir Ris. This is a joint venture between Qingjian Realty, Forsea Holdings, and ZACD Group, which purchased the site for $557 million ($729 psf ppr) in August 2024. The project is expected to yield 710 units.
Read also: Novo Place hits 88.1% sales as 137 units snapped up in second balloting
The last EC launched in Pasir Ris was Sea Horizon, which debuted in September 2013 at an average price of $800 psf. By 2024, average resale prices for caveats lodged had risen to $1,290 psf, reflecting a 61.25% increase over the past decade. Given that Pasir Ris has not seen a new EC launch in nearly 12 years, pent-up demand is anticipated.
The last EC launched in Pasir Ris was Sea Horizon, which debuted in September 2013 at an average price of $800 psf. By 2024, average resale prices for caveats lodged had risen to $1,290 psf, reflecting a 61.25% increase over the past decade (Photo: Google Maps)
New EC supply to double in 2025
Gafoor notes that the three upcoming EC projects – Aurelle of Tampines, the Plantation Close EC and the Jalan Loyang Besar EC – will collectively add 2,030 units to the market. This represents a doubling of new supply compared to the 1,016 units launched in 2024.
The first EC launched in 2024 was Lumina Grand at the end of January. Located at Bukit Batok West Avenue 5, the 512-unit EC was developed by City Developments (CDL). On its launch weekend, 53% of the units were taken up. As of December 17, 444 units (87%) had been taken up. The average price achieved to date is $1,511 psf.
Launched at the end of January, the 512-unit Lumina Grand was over 87% sold at an average price of $1,511 psf as at Dec 17, 2024 (Picture: CDL)
“ECs, a hybrid of public and private housing, remain highly sought after by first-time homebuyers and HDB upgraders, as they are still more affordable than private new launches,” says Gafoor.
According to PropNex, the median price for new non-landed, 99-year leasehold private homes in the Outside Central Region (OCR) in 202…