华京京(2012-01-25)
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| 在大年初一参观水之都示范单位的人，有些参观之后就决定购买。水之都在过年这个长周末共售出约200个单位。（萧紫薇摄） |
国人对私宅的热情还真是锐不可挡，尽管在忙着拜年的大年初一，还是有不少人“忙里偷闲”去参观新私宅项目的示范单位，买气也十分热烈。
远东机构今年特地在大年初一开放全岛15个项目的示范单位，上一次有发展商这么做已经是上世纪90年代的事。
记者年初一下午走访了远东机构位于榜鹅中的新项目“水之都”（Watertown），发现参观水之都示范单位的人潮虽然不至于人头攒动，但也算是络绎不绝，售楼经纪们几乎没有闲着的时候。很多公众都是携家带口一起前来，而且都穿得红红火火，让售楼处看起来好热闹。
虽然经济前景不明朗且面对政府一系列调控措施，买家却似乎毫不手软。远东机构发言人表示，水之都在过年这个长周末共售出约200个单位。
发言人也透露，自上周三开始预售以来，水之都截至昨日的一周里共售出483个单位，意味着这段期间共推向市场的596个单位，已经卖出超过80％。
水之都总共有992个单位，分为套房公寓（suites）、小办公家居（SOHO apartments）、住宅公寓（residences）、空中露台公寓（sky patios）四种，目前已售出单位的尺价介于980元至1500元。
远东机构总裁黄志达早前在水之都的推介仪式上曾表示，为了降低政府降温措施的影响，水之都的尺价较原先所决定的下调了5％至8％。不过，据了解这个价位在预售反应不错后，已经上调了3％至5％。
家住实龙岗的周永明（40岁，经理）带着一家五口祖孙三代，一起在年初一去看水之都的示范单位。他受访时透露，一家人是在去拜年的途中抽空来看看，因为听说水之都是近期推出的最大项目之一。不过，他表示看完后目前依然在考虑，还没有决定要购买。
这相信是因为买家毕竟对私宅市场的未来有所顾虑，另一名在年初一去看水之都的郭先生（38岁，电子业人员）便说：“房价前景不明朗，不知道会不会下跌。我看完后虽然觉得确实很不错，但最后想了想还是决定暂时不要买。”
远东在初一开放的其他示范单位还包括The Hillier、Waterfront系列、The Seawind、The Sound、The Shore Residences、Silversea、Floridian、优和苑（euHabitat）、The Scotts Tower等，基本都是比较新的项目。
其他本地发展商都没有在初一开放示范单位，但有的在初二开放，例如城市发展的执行共管公寓雨林阁（The Rainforest）和位于巴西立的The Palette。
城市发展公关受询时没有提供新年的销售数据，但表示公司在新年开放这两个较新推出的项目，是为了让公众可以借长周末的机会来选购，公司也预料反应将会不错。
*huajj@sph.com.sg
《联合早报》Over 90% of units sold in Watertown picked up by S'poreans | Business Times: Thu, Jan 26 |
| (SINGAPORE) Initial evidence suggests that the additional buyer's stamp duty (ABSD) may have succeeded in cooling foreign buying. More than 90 per cent of the over 550 units sold so far for Watertown condo in Punggol have been taken up by Singaporeans. This is down from a share of about 80 per cent for Singaporean buyers in other surburban condos - or 'transurban' condos as developer Far East Organization likes to call them - that were launched by the property giant last year, such as The Tennery above the Ten Mile Junction LRT Station in Bukit Panjang, The Greenwich in Seletar Hills and euHabitat at Jalan Eunos. Singaporean buyers have also accounted for about 80 per cent of buyers at The Hillier next to the upcoming Hillview MRT Station on the Downtown Line, which was previewed last month after the Dec 7 announcement of the introduction of the ABSD - although options to buyers were issued only from Jan 1 this year. A source reckons that foreigners and permanent residents may be drawn to the Hillview location given its proximity to the Bukit Timah area and good schools which many well-heeled PRs in particular would be familiar with. From Dec 8, 2011, foreigners pay 10 per cent ABSD on any residential property purchase in Singapore. Permanent residents pay 3 per cent ABSD on their second and subsequent residential property while Singaporeans pay the same ABSD rate on their third and subsequent residential property. As for Watertown, which Far East is developing jointly with Frasers Centrepoint and Japan's Sekisui House, about half of the buyers are from District 19 (Sengkang, Hougang, Punggol and Serangoon) and two thirds are residing in public housing flats. 'Interestingly, some of our buyers are purchasing the units at Watertown for their weekend/holiday homes and also for retirement. Many are also buying for their children as well,' said Far East's chief operating officer, property sales, Chia Boon Kuah. Explaining the strong sustained sales momentum for Watertown, which went on the market last Wednesday, Mr Chia pointed to the project's uniqueness. 'It's a one-of-its-kind mixed use development that offers waterfront living integrated with a mall (Waterway Point) and the Punggol MRT Station.' He also points to the strong appeal of homes in mixed-use developments, which was also seen in The Tennery, Greenwich and The Hillier. Another selling point for Watertown, which will have 992 residential units, is the expertise of Far East's partners in the project - Frasers Centrepoint in retail mall operations and Sekisui in innovative green construction technology - adding to the brand equity of Watertown, said Mr Chia.
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» More property launches on the way | Business Times: Thu, Jan 26 |
| A STRING of property launches are just around the corner as developers cash in on the current strong home buying momentum created by the release of Watertown condo in Punggol. These include Parc Rosewood in Woodlands and The Tampines Trilliant executive condo (EC), which are scheduled to be rolled out later this week. Another EC project, Twin Waterfalls near Punggol MRT Station, is expected to go on the market next month. Market watchers are also awaiting the release of The Bartley Residences, a 702-unit, 99-year leasehold private condo next to Bartley MRT Station. This week, Fragrance and World Class Land are slated to release Parc Rosewood along Woodlands Avenue 2/Rosewood Drive. The average price for the five-storey, 99-year private condo is expected to be slightly above $1,000 psf. The project's 689 units will be mostly one and two bedders, although the condo will also include some three bedders. One-bedders start from 431 sq ft. Word on the street is that starting prices will be nearly $400,000 for one-bedders, close to $570,000 for two bedders and slightly below $800,000 for three bedders. Sim Lian's EC project The Tampines Trilliant is a stone's throw away from the upcoming Tampines Station on the Downtown Line. It will have 670 units in 12 blocks of 15 and 16 storeys. Sources suggest e-applications could begin as early as tomorrow . Pricing has yet to be finalised. The majority of units will be either three bedders (127 units of between 872 sq ft and 1,141 sq ft) or three-bedroom-plus-utility units (397 units of 1,001-1,378 sq ft). Remaining units are either four bedders (1,302-1,593 sq ft) or penthouses. Frasers Centrepoint's Twin Waterfalls EC in Punggol will comprise 728 apartments in 17-storey blocks. Market watchers expect the average price to be slightly more than $700 psf. Apartment sizes range from 914 sq ft for a three-bedroom compact unit to 1,378 sq ft for a four-bedroom dual key unit. There will also be penthouses of up to 1,928 sq ft. The group also has a 99-year private condo slated for release later this quarter or in early Q2 - Palm Isles at Flora Drive in the Upper Changi area. The seven-storey development will have about 450 units. Analysts reckon the average price could be around $900-950 psf. Far East Organization is gunning to launch two projects by the second quarter - Greenwood Mews, a 62-unit cluster housing development on a 103-year leasehold site in the Bukit Timah vicinity, and Hillsta, a 416-unit condo project on a 99-year plot in Choa Chu Kang.
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