ECs resold in May 2023 made an average profit of S$470k; highest at S$995k

For the past few months, we have been covering monthly condo gains and losses. For instance, last month, we noticed that the condo units with at least a 200% gain in April 2023 were held for at least 15 years. We also noted that 32 condo units were sold at a loss in the same month.

Today, we’ll be focusing on the executive condominiums (ECs) that were resold in May 2023 (from URA data, captured as of 14 June 2023).

(Shout out to the data team at 99.co, who have helped us match the latest and previous transactions of the same units to calculate the capital gains and losses of the respective units. Other costs, such as stamp duty, legal fees and agent’s commissions, are not taken into account.)

Do also note that the data includes EC units that were initially sold by developers. Some of them have since been privatised when they’re resold last month.



ECs sold last month recorded an average profit of S$470k

In total, there were 215 profitable EC transactions in the resale market in May 2023. Among these transactions, the average profit is around S$470,000 (rounded off to 3 significant figures). Meanwhile, the holding period averaged around eight years. As of 14 June 2023, no capital losses by EC units were recorded last month.

The highest capital gain made by an EC in May 2023 was S$994,755 by a 1,551 sqft unit from Park Green. The unit was first bought in October 2002 for S$565,245. After a holding period of 21 years, it was sold in early May for S$1.56 million, translating to a 176% gain.

Park Green
Street view of Park Green.

This also means that it’s sold after privatisation. 10 years after an EC reaches its TOP date, there’s no restriction on who they can be sold to.

Meanwhile, the lowest capital gain was S$44,000 by a 979 sqft unit from La Casa. First bought in May 2013 for S$858,000, the unit was sold 10 years later for S$902,000. It made a gain of 5.1%.

Top 10 gains made by ECs in May 2023

Condo name TOP  District Size (sqft) Purchase price and date Sale price and date Capital gain  Years held  Annualised gain
Park Green 2004 19 1,551 S$565k

8 Oct 2002

S$1.56m

5 May 2023

S$995k

176%

21 4.95%
The Eden At Tampines 2003 18 1,485 S$631k

25 Jun 2001

S$1.58m

3 May 2023

S$949k

150%

22 4.26%
The Topiary 2016 28 2,228 S$1.47m

23 Jan 2013

S$2.4m

10 May 2023

S$930k

63.2%

10 5.02%
Simei Green Condominium 1999 18 1,194 S$410k

22 Oct 2004

S$1.21m

5 May 2023

S$800k

195%

19 5.86%
The Terrace 2017 19 1,443 S$1.14m

29 Jun 2015

S$1.9m

5 May 2023

S$765k

67.4%

8 6.65%
The Quintet 2006 23 1,291 S$457k

26 Nov 2003

S$1.22m

5 May 2023

S$763k

167%

20 5.03%
Esparina Residences 2013 19 1,001 S$768k

8 Nov 2010

S$1.53m

29 May 2023

S$760k

99%

13 5.43%
Bellewaters 2017 19 1,238 S$911k

28 Aug 2015

S$1.67m

12 May 2023

S$757k

83.1%

8 7.86%
Pinevale 1999 18 1,292 S$487k

8 Feb 2007

S$1.24m

12 May 2023

S$753k

155%

16 6.02%
The Florida 2000 19 1,227 S$537k

20 Aug 1998

S$1.29m

22 May 2023

S$753k

140%

25 3.57%

Figures (except floor area) in the table are rounded off to 3 significant figures.

70% of the top 10 EC gainers were sold after the 10-year privatisation

Among the 10 most profitable EC transactions last month, eight were sold after a holding period of at least 10 years. This is even as the average holding period of all the profitable transactions last month was around eight years.

When we looked closer at these 10 transactions, we noticed seven were sold after privatisation. As mentioned earlier, ECs are privatised 10 years after their TOP. This means that projects completed in 2013 or earlier are considered private property and can be sold to foreigners.

Esparina Residences
Street view of Esparina Residences.

Similar to HDB flats, new ECs are subject to a five-year MOP. After that, when they’re resold on the resale market between the fifth and ninth year, they can only be sold to Singaporeans and PRs.

This means that after privatisation, EC owners have a bigger pool of buyers they can sell their units to.

Given the recent ABSD hike for foreigners (now 60%), those looking for a more affordable home may also want to consider ECs. As they’re all located in the outside central region (OCR), they tend to command lower prices.

60% of the top 10 EC gainers are located in the north-east region

Another thing that caught our eye is that six of the most profitable EC units are located in the north-east region of Singapore.

These include four from Sengkang, one from Punggol and one from Hougang. We should also note that the most profitable EC last month is located in Sengkang.

Meanwhile, the other three units are from Tampines — not too far from the north-east region.

Only one unit in the top 10 is located in the west, at Choa Chu Kang.

Executive Condos (ECs) for sale











 

Interestingly, when we compare the price trends of ECs in these areas sold in the resale market in the last five years, Choa Chu Kang recorded the highest appreciation of 75.75%.

Price trend of resale ECs in Choa Chu Kang and Tampines in the last 5 years
Price trend of resale ECs in Choa Chu Kang and Tampines in the last 5 years.

This is followed by Hougang at 50.98%, Tampines at 45.09%, Punggol at 30.46% and Sengkang at 24.79%.

Price trend of resale ECs in Hougang, Punggol and Sengkang in the last 5 years
Price trend of resale ECs in Hougang, Punggol and Sengkang in the last 5 years.

Planning to sell your EC soon? Let us help you get the right price by connecting you with a premier property agent.

If you found this article helpful, 99.co recommends How much do you need to earn to buy a new or resale Executive Condo (EC)? and Resale ECs hitting MOP in 2023 (and should you sell right after MOP?)

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