19-09-2012: 租金近來攀升 達士嶺組屋月租創4500元

洪奕婷 (2012-09-19)

達士嶺能出租的組屋單位有限，又是靠近市區的優越地點，創下高達4500元的月租。（檔案照片）

　　今年以來保持平穩的組屋租金近來又開始攀升，搶手的達士嶺組屋更創下月租4500元的高價。

　　房地產經紀黃寶芬（30歲）剛在兩個月前為達士嶺（Pinnacle@Duxton）五房式單位的屋主以4500元租出麵積約1023平方英尺的高樓層單位。據她了解，在同一時期，達士嶺組屋裏另外有兩三個單位也同樣以4500元出租。

　　她說：“本來有屋主甚至開價5000元，但最終以4500元月租成交。”

　　以達士嶺組屋2004年推出時介於28萬9200元到43萬9400元的售價推算，4500元月租帶來的租金回報率高達12.3％至18.7％。

　　博納集團（PropNex）總裁伊斯邁指出，若以達士嶺組屋的市價為100萬元來推算，月租4500元帶來5.4％的租金回報率，依然比一般私宅的3.5％至4％高。

　　伊斯邁說：“無論如何，達士嶺組屋的租金回報率都是超群的，而它也是唯一能享有如此高租金回報率的組屋。”

　　達士嶺約50單位獲準出租

　　建有1848個麵積相當於四房和五房式單位的50層樓高達士嶺組屋，在2009年底迎來第一批住戶。按理根據建屋發展局的條例，屋主未滿五年最低居住年限（Minimum Occupation Period）不可以出租整個單位，但在特殊情況下，如屋主被派駐海外工作或到外國念書，當局會酌情處理，允許一些屋主暫時出租單位。

　　至今，達士嶺有約50名屋主獲準出租整個單位，建屋局透露大部分人是因為被派往海外工作而申請出租單位。另外，有145名屋主向建屋局申請出租一至兩個房間。

　　由於獲準出租整個單位的達士嶺組屋有限，促使那裏的組屋異常搶手，也相應推高了租金。黃寶芬說：“我手頭上還有一些在找房子的租戶，他們都是指定要達士嶺組屋。”

　　據熟悉中區的房地產經紀透露，達士嶺組屋兩年前介於3200元至3500元的月租，如今的月租至少3800元起跳，最近甚至有人進一步挑戰極限，開價4800元。

　　受訪房地產經紀說，達士嶺組屋尤其獲洋人的青睞。他們大多是在中央商業區上班的白領專業人士，因此看中達士嶺組屋靠近市區的優越地點及地標性地位。

　　房地產經紀李偉祥（34歲）說：“達士嶺被視為介於公寓和一般組屋的一個優越選擇。比較附近的私人公寓，400至500平方英尺的小型公寓租金就已經要3000多元了。至於其他鄰近的組屋如丹戎巴葛坊、艾弗頓園和廣東民弄，又相對比較老舊。”

　　中位數租金今年首次上漲

　　盡管有特殊因素促使達士嶺組屋租金異常高，但是隨著近來五房式和公寓式組屋的租金上漲，整體組屋租金價位也往上升。

　　根據新加坡房地產交易網站SRX提供的資料，各類型組屋的中位數租金在今年上半年持續保持平穩後，在第三季開始上升。這使整體組屋中位數租金今年以來第一次上漲，從2300元上升到2400元，增幅約4.3％。這個網站收錄本地超過八成房屋交易量。

　　公寓式組屋的中位數租金從2700元增加至2800元，而五房式組屋中位數租金則從2500元提高至2600元。女皇鎮和紅山的五房式組屋中位數租金全島最高，達3300元，甚至比加冷／黃埔公寓式組屋3250元中位數租金還高。

　　另一方麵，組屋出租交易量卻在過去一年連續上升後突然急轉下降25％，從上一季的4613宗降至3433宗。

　　卓登新達國際（Chesterton Suntec）研究部主管陳瑞謹認為，今年上半年組屋轉售交易量增加，意味著出租組屋的供應相對減少，而組屋出租交易量下降的最新數據也似乎證明了這點。“當需求相對平穩，但供應卻減少時，這自然推高租金。”

　　基於租金上漲主要由大型組屋推動，德偉產業（DWG）谘詢與研究高級經理李思德不排除一些私宅租戶可能轉向組屋市場。“私宅租金節節上升，可能促使一些願意放棄私宅設備的白領外籍專業人士在續租時，轉而選擇較便宜的組屋。”

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《聯合早報》

@ 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."