Prices of good class bungalows still going up, but volume falls

July 14, 2008
Prices of good class bungalows still going up, but volume falls
25 deals done in H1 worth $440.65m, against 87 deals for 2007 worth
$1.15b
By ARTHUR SIM

THE volume of transactions of good class bungalows (GCBs) may have
fallen along with other property sectors but values have not.

A GCB is one that sits on designated land no smaller than 15,000 sq
ft. And according to an analysis by CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), there
were 25 GCB transaction in the first half of 2008.

While this may be a fraction of the 87 transactions in 2007, the
total value for H1 2008 is already $440.65 million, almost 40 per
cent of the total value for the whole of 2007 which saw $1.15 billion
worth of deals.

There are several explanations for this, including the possibility
that bigger GCBs were sold this year, but it also seems clear that
prices have risen.

Upon closer analysis, CBRE found that some of the GCBs sold in 2008
had already changed hands once before in 2007. For instance, a house
at Fifth Avenue was sold for $17.4 million in June 2007 and then sold
again for $19.7 million in March this year - representing a gain of
about 13 per cent.

Another house in Cluny Hill was sold in January 2007 for $15 million,
re-sold six months later for $20.2 million and then sold again in May
this year for $21.5 million.

CBRE director (luxury homes) Douglas Wong says: 'There is still
buying interest in the GCB market as it is always regarded as an
attractive investment in the long term and/or for owner-occupation.'

This certainly seems to be supported by the fact that CBRE and Mr
Wong handled possibly the biggest GCB deal ever done here - a house
in Leedon Park which sold for $43.2 million in May, bought by a
Singaporean.

That locals make up the bulk of GCB buyers is interesting as
foreigners have been very much credited with bolstering the luxury
non-landed sector. Mr Wong also believes that of the estimated 2,400
GCBs in Singapore, these are owned by a small pool of about 1,000
wealthy individuals, suggesting that many own more than one GCB.

In tracking GCB transactions, CBRE found that there were two
recent 'peaks' in the sector. (CBRE defines 'peak' in terms of volume
rather than price).

The first peak occurred in 1999, when 77 transactions were recorded
after the property market bottomed out during the Asian financial
crisis.

The second peak occurred in 2006 with 119 deals done following a
protracted period of market stagnation from 2000 to 2004.

In 2006, the 119 GCBs were sold with transacted value totalling
$1.225 billion, double the value in 1999.

On average, each GCB cost $9 million to $10 million. In comparison,
at the bottom of the market in 2002, the average price of a GCB was
$6 million to $7 million.

Of the 25 GCBs sold in H1 2008, about half were sold for over $15
million. Of these, six were sold for more than $20 million.

And as CBRE notes, luxury properties are often seen as a barometer of
the health of the overall market. When there are signs of the market
turning, GCBs and luxury apartments will reflect this first and post
bigger gains ahead of the broader residential market.

So it is good news then that for the rest of the year, CBRE expects
GCB prices to remain firm or even see a marginal upside.