The sizes of units at The Lincoln Residences range from 1,281 to 3,337 sq ft

THE EDGE SINGAPORE | JUNE 10,2013

|BY JO-ANN HUANG|

Buyers have turned their attention to the Novena and Newton area, snapping up units in condominiums such as The Lincoln Residences, Park Infinia @ Wee Nam and Rochelle @ Newton. Property agents say the renewed interest stems from the area’s affordability, considering its city-fringe location, as well as the condos’ larger unit sizes and the many entertainment and lifestyle options nearby.Rochelle @ Newton

On May 21, two units at The Lincoln Residences, a freehold condo on Surrey Road, off Newton Road, were transacted. One of the units was a 1,981 sq ft, three-bedroom apartment on the 22nd floor, which sold for $3.6 million ($1,820 psf). The other was a 1,884 sq ft, three-bedroom unit on the 18^th floor, which changed hands for $3.29 million ($1,744 psf).

The developer of The Lincoln Residences is Sim Lian Group. The project was completed in 2011 and contains 99 units. The property is a few minutes’ walk from United Square and the Novena MRT station. The 27-storey development comprises three-bedroom, three-bedroom-plus study and four-bedroom units as well as penthouses. The sizes of the units range from 1,281 to 3,337 sq ft.

Lyndy Sze, senior group associate director at Orange Tee, says buyers are attracted to The Lincoln Residences’ generous sizing. “Most properties in Novena and Newton offer small units of about 500 sq ft. The Lincoln Residences come in layouts of three to four bedrooms.” Facilities at the condo include swimming pools, tennis courts, a gym and a playground.

At $1,800 psf, The Lincoln Residences is selling at a more affordable psf price than properties such as Newton Imperial, a completed project that is selling at $2,000 psf, says Sze. The units at Newton Imperial are also large, with three-bedroom units starting from 1,711 sq ft. “The Lincoln Residences is a more affordable option compared with properties in Orchard. It also has full condo facilities, which are quite rare in the Newton and Novena area,” Sze says. Launched in July 2008, only 10 units, mainly four-bed room ones, are available for sale from the developer, she adds.

Meanwhile, on May 22, a 1,356 sq ft, three-bedroom unit at Rochelle @ Newton, a 99-year leasehold condo on Keng Lee Road, changed hands at $2.08 million ($1,534 psf). The 12th- floor unit was first sold in August 2009 for $1.46 million ($1,073 psf), which means the property saw a 43% price increase. On May 21, a 26th-floor 3,025 sq ft penthouse was sold for $4.2 million ($1,389 psf).

Developed by Sim Lian Group, Rochelle @ Newton comprises 129 units with sizes ranging from 1,012 sq ft for a two-bedroom unit to 3,283 sq ft for a penthouse.

According to Jimmy Lim, team associate director at Orange Tee, the property was completed last April and is about a few minutes’ walk to the Newton MRT station. It has large and practical layouts. Units on the higher floors offer city views, and from some units, you can see Marina Bay Sands,” says Lim, who has sold more than 10 units since the project’s completion. There are just two units — a 1,012 sqft, two-bedroom apartment and a 1,507 sqft, three-bedroom apartment — available for sale from the developer, he adds.

According to listings on propertyguru.com.sg, rents at Rochelle @ Newton begin at $6,500 a month for a threebedroom unit of 1,356 sq ft, which works out to a yield of about 4%. Lim, who is also marketing units for lease at Rochelle @ Newton, says it is popular with expatriates because of its proximity to offices at United Square, Revenue House and Novena Square. It is also a short commute to the Tanglin and Holland Road area, where many embassies are located. “Some senior employees from foreign embassies are renting at Rochelle @ Newton,” Lim says.

At the neighbouring Park Infinia @ Wee Nam, two units were transacted on May 20 and 22. One was a 969 sq ft, two-bed room unit on the 13th floor, which sold for $2.04 million ($2,106 psf). The unit was first transacted in October 2008 for $1.36 million ($1,399 psf), translating into a 51% price gain. On May 20, a 1,464 sq ft, three-bedroom unit on the eighth floor was sold at $3.03 million ($2,070 psf). It was first transacted in February 2006 for $1.42 million ($969 psf), which means prices have more than doubled since then.

Developed by Keppel Land, the freehold Park Infinia @ Wee Nam was completed in 2008 and contains 486 units. Unit sizes range from 560 sq ft for a studio apartment to 2,002 sq ft for a four-bedroom apartment that comes with a private lift lobby.