19-09-2012: 租金近来攀升 达士岭组屋月租创4500元

洪奕婷 (2012-09-19)

达士岭能出租的组屋单位有限，又是靠近市区的优越地点，创下高达4500元的月租。（档案照片）

　　今年以来保持平稳的组屋租金近来又开始攀升，抢手的达士岭组屋更创下月租4500元的高价。

　　房地产经纪黄宝芬（30岁）刚在两个月前为达士岭（Pinnacle@Duxton）五房式单位的屋主以4500元租出面积约1023平方英尺的高楼层单位。据她了解，在同一时期，达士岭组屋里另外有两三个单位也同样以4500元出租。

　　她说：“本来有屋主甚至开价5000元，但最终以4500元月租成交。”

　　以达士岭组屋2004年推出时介于28万9200元到43万9400元的售价推算，4500元月租带来的租金回报率高达12.3％至18.7％。

　　博纳集团（PropNex）总裁伊斯迈指出，若以达士岭组屋的市价为100万元来推算，月租4500元带来5.4％的租金回报率，依然比一般私宅的3.5％至4％高。

　　伊斯迈说：“无论如何，达士岭组屋的租金回报率都是超群的，而它也是唯一能享有如此高租金回报率的组屋。”

　　达士岭约50单位获准出租

　　建有1848个面积相当于四房和五房式单位的50层楼高达士岭组屋，在2009年底迎来第一批住户。按理根据建屋发展局的条例，屋主未满五年最低居住年限（Minimum Occupation Period）不可以出租整个单位，但在特殊情况下，如屋主被派驻海外工作或到外国念书，当局会酌情处理，允许一些屋主暂时出租单位。

　　至今，达士岭有约50名屋主获准出租整个单位，建屋局透露大部分人是因为被派往海外工作而申请出租单位。另外，有145名屋主向建屋局申请出租一至两个房间。

　　由于获准出租整个单位的达士岭组屋有限，促使那里的组屋异常抢手，也相应推高了租金。黄宝芬说：“我手头上还有一些在找房子的租户，他们都是指定要达士岭组屋。”

　　据熟悉中区的房地产经纪透露，达士岭组屋两年前介于3200元至3500元的月租，如今的月租至少3800元起跳，最近甚至有人进一步挑战极限，开价4800元。

　　受访房地产经纪说，达士岭组屋尤其获洋人的青睐。他们大多是在中央商业区上班的白领专业人士，因此看中达士岭组屋靠近市区的优越地点及地标性地位。

　　房地产经纪李伟祥（34岁）说：“达士岭被视为介于公寓和一般组屋的一个优越选择。比较附近的私人公寓，400至500平方英尺的小型公寓租金就已经要3000多元了。至于其他邻近的组屋如丹戎巴葛坊、艾弗顿园和广东民弄，又相对比较老旧。”

　　中位数租金今年首次上涨

　　尽管有特殊因素促使达士岭组屋租金异常高，但是随着近来五房式和公寓式组屋的租金上涨，整体组屋租金价位也往上升。

　　根据新加坡房地产交易网站SRX提供的资料，各类型组屋的中位数租金在今年上半年持续保持平稳后，在第三季开始上升。这使整体组屋中位数租金今年以来第一次上涨，从2300元上升到2400元，增幅约4.3％。这个网站收录本地超过八成房屋交易量。

　　公寓式组屋的中位数租金从2700元增加至2800元，而五房式组屋中位数租金则从2500元提高至2600元。女皇镇和红山的五房式组屋中位数租金全岛最高，达3300元，甚至比加冷／黄埔公寓式组屋3250元中位数租金还高。

　　另一方面，组屋出租交易量却在过去一年连续上升后突然急转下降25％，从上一季的4613宗降至3433宗。

　　卓登新达国际（Chesterton Suntec）研究部主管陈瑞谨认为，今年上半年组屋转售交易量增加，意味着出租组屋的供应相对减少，而组屋出租交易量下降的最新数据也似乎证明了这点。“当需求相对平稳，但供应却减少时，这自然推高租金。”

　　基于租金上涨主要由大型组屋推动，德伟产业（DWG）咨询与研究高级经理李思德不排除一些私宅租户可能转向组屋市场。“私宅租金节节上升，可能促使一些愿意放弃私宅设备的白领外籍专业人士在续租时，转而选择较便宜的组屋。”

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《联合早报》

@ AsiaOne You aren't getting my million-dollar view Some Pinnacle@Duxton residents reluctant to sell their flats. -TNP  Linette Heng Thu, Sep 20, 2012 The New Paper Sell my HDB flat for $1 million? No way. Not even for $3 million. That's what one resident at the Pinnacle@Duxton claimed when The New Paper asked her if she would sell in two years' time, when her flat reaches the five-year mark. And that was the general sentiment of 10 people living there. But it's possible they will change their minds in 2014 when their flats can be resold on the open market. Some HDB flat owners in other areas have cashed in recently by selling their homes for record prices. When news of the sale of the first $1 million executive mansionette at Queenstown broke, National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan assured Singaporeans that HDB flats were still affordable. But he acknowledged that there would be "many millionaires" when the HDB flats at the Pinnacle@Duxton enter the resale market. It is the first 50-storey project in Singapore and consists of seven blocks, with a total of 1,848 units. But eight out of 10 residents interviewed by TNP last week were reluctant to sell their flats. Foodstall owner C.M. Foo, 54, said she wouldn't sell her flat even if someone were to offer her $3 million forit. She and her businessman-husband, Mr Foo Soo Lim, 57, bought the five-room flat on the 49th storey, the highest living level on the block, for $450,000 in 2004. There is a sky garden on the 50th storey. They live there with their 11-year-old daughter and Mrs Foo's 86-year-old mother. Mrs Foo cited easy access to transportation, with two train stations within walking distance, the gorgeous view and the proximity to town as reasons for not budging. And the excellent fengshui. Mrs Foo, whose popular yong tau foo stall at Tanjong Pagar Food Centre is just a stone's throw from the Pinnacle@Duxton, said: "I am facing the sea and harbour. It is very auspicious. "When we bought the place, people were saying that we were foolish because it was considered expensive then. But I had the foresight to realise that there probably won't be another new HDB development in this area in the future." The family moved into the 1,130 sq ft flat, which has a balcony outside the master bedroom, two years ago. The estate reaches the five-year minimum occupation period in December 2014, after which residents can start selling their flats. A self-employed resident of the 49th storey in another block, who wanted to be known as Mr Chan, 39, said he was a first-time buyer when he bought a four-room flat with his wife in 2004 for $370,000. Describing the price as high at the time, he said: "Single-home owners like us bought the place to live in, not for investment. "I grew up nearby at Tanjong Pagar. This area holds many memories for me. Every weekend, I can see the fireworks from Resorts World Sentosa from my living room. "If I buy a flat somewhere else, I would have to compromise something for the price difference." Desirable location The desirable location was cited by residents who were unwilling to sell. Mrs Karen Chan, 38, a housewife, said: "It is so convenient here. During non-peak hours, it costs only $5 to get to VivoCity and less than $10 to get to Orchard by taxi." Her husband, Mr W.L. Chan, 38, who works in logistics, sold his car after they moved to the estate. He joked: "If we move, I would have to buy a car and be her chauffeur." The Chans, who have a four-year-old daughter, bought the 969 sq ft, four-room flat for $375,000 in 2004 and moved in about 11/2 years ago. Mrs Chan said: "At night, the lights at the harbour are so beautiful. I have no intention of selling. I am keeping this flat for my little girl." Political scientist Reuben Wong said the residents may be coy about selling now, but they might change their minds when their flats can be sold in two years' time. "It is too early to say now because they don't have the freedom to sell yet. But people are rational," he said. "The Pinnacle@Duxton is a good place to live in, but there are other good places to live in at a cheaper price." Some residents agreed. Mr N.K. Foon, 39, a marketing manager who has a five-room unit on the 49th storey, was reluctant at first, but finally conceded that he would consider selling his flat for $1.5 million. The father of three primary school-going children, who bought the flat for $430,000 in 2004, said the family might move to a place nearer a secondary school. Mr Richard Ong, 62, a semi-retiree who was visiting his son, said that his son and daughter-in-law might have to look for a bigger place in the suburbs if they have more children. The couple, who have one child, live in a 1,184 sq ft five-room flat on the 48th storey. They had bought the flat for $600,000 in 2008. Mr Ong said: "The location is fantastic, but priorities will change when you have more children. This flat is simply not big enough to raise a family." Housing agents are confident that flats in the area will breach the $1 million mark. OrangeTee head of research and consultancy Tan Kok Keong said: "It depends on the market climate in two years' time, but if a flat at the Pinnacle@Duxton were put on sale in the market now, it would definitely fetch about $1 million." Associate branch director at PropNex Ron Lim agreed, and even upped the amount. He said: "Compared to the million-dollar HDB flat at Mei Ling Street, these flats are even more attractive because they are newer and at a better location. "The Pinnacle@Duxton is a landmark for HDB. There will definitely be a frenzy in two years' time. At least the housing agents will be excited." ERA Realty key executive officer Eugene Lim was more cautious about putting a price tag on properties that will be available only in two years' time. But he said there would definitely be a "hot response". "Yes, if they sell high, they will have to buy high, but they also bought their flats for a very low price. With the tidy profit, they can easily make the downpayment for a condominium unit." But the Foos are convinced there is no place better than their home. Mr Foo, who enjoys watching the sunset over Mount Faber from his flat every evening, said he can't set a definite price on his flat. He said: "Some things cannot be measured with money. The Chinese word 'jia' ('home' in Mandarin) has a lot of meaning, and this is 'jia' to me."