During its launch weekend, Grand Dunman sold about 550 out of 1,008 units. With a take-up rate of over 54%, the development is the best-selling new launch project in over 2.5 years in terms of the number of units sold. The record was previously held by Normanton Park, which sold 600 units during its launch weekend in January 2021.
Grand Dunman’s sales volume is also the highest this year; it surpassed The Reserve Residences, which sold 520 units at its launch in May.
We analysed why Grand Dunman sold more than 50% of its units and why prospective homeowners and investors found it a good buy.
Proximity to an MRT station
The first reason is probably the most obvious; Grand Dunman is just a 2-minute walk from Dakota MRT station. As Singapore moves towards a car-lite society and the MRT network expands further, living near an MRT station is important for buyers, whether it’s investors or owner-occupiers.
Dakota MRT is just four stops to Promenade, five to Bayfront and six to Marina Bay. Hence, it would take around 10 minutes to travel to the city centre via MRT.
If we look at other projects which performed well this year, they are also close to or are linked to an MRT station:
- The Reserve Residences (71% sold on launch weekend) – connected to Beauty World MRT
- Blossoms by the Park (75% sold on launch weekend) – 4-min walk to Buona Vista MRT
- Sceneca Residence (60% sold on launch weekend) – connected to Tanah Merah MRT
- Lentor Hills Residences (50% sold on launch weekend) – 5-min walk to Lentor MRT
“Sweet spot” pricing that’s still affordable for buyers
Grand Dunman launched its units at an average price of S$2,490 psf. Based on 99.co’s Researcher data, the average psf price of new condo sale transactions in the RCR this year is S$2,508, while the figure is S$2,554 for those in District 15. On an average psf price basis, Grand Dunman seems to be priced lower than average in the RCR and District 15.
2-bedroom units saw the highest sales with 79% of available units sold, followed by 3-bedroom units with 62% sold and 1-bedroom units with 57% sold. Here are the starting prices.
| Unit type | Price (S$) | Psf price (S$) |
| 1-bedroom | From $1,093,000 | From 2,418 |
| 2-bedroom | From $1,554,000 | From 2,330 |
| 3-bedroom | From $2,212,000 | From 2,309 |
According to Marcus Chu, CEO of ERA Singapore, “Majority of the unit types that found buyers are priced within S$2.5 million. This is the current sweet spot pricing amongst the majority of homebuyers and investors.”
Assuming a family is interested in buying a 3-bedroom unit for S$2.5 million. Based on our calculations using 99.co’s Mortgage Calculator, the monthly mortgage payment* will be around S$8,951.
(*This assumes that the full 75% financing is taken to maximise the LTV ratio and the loan comes with a 30-year tenure and a 4% interest rate per annum. It also does not take into account other loans, including property loans, car loans, study loans and personal loans.)
That means the average monthly household income is S$16,275 (assuming a TDSR of 55%), which is not unreachable for home upgraders and first-time buyers in a higher income bracket (around S$8,138 per person).
Ismail Gafoor, CEO of PropNex, says, “The pricing is also seen as acceptable by buyers, given the project’s city fringe location, proximity to the MRT station, and easy access to the Paya Lebar commercial hub, Suntec City and Beach Road, as well as the central business district.”
Investment potential of Grand Dunman
Grand Dunman is the first new launch condo near Dakota MRT in over 10 years. The last project, Waterbank at Dakota TOP-ed in 2013. Hence, there’s huge investment potential in terms of resale and rental prospects.
ERA’s Chu says, “Grand Dunman presents an excellent opportunity for capital appreciation. The presence of numerous million-dollar HDBs in the surrounding area further strengthens the assurance of a reliable exit strategy.” He added that Grand Dunman’s large size would likely see a “greater number of resale transactions” compared to smaller projects.
In terms of rental prospects, the rental yield of the condos in the area are higher than average. 1 and 2-bedroom units also comprise almost half of Grand Dunman’s units. Plus, dual-key units allow residents to occupy one unit and rent out the other. These are perfect for rental opportunities, attracting those working in the city and the Paya Lebar business district.
Convenience of amenities for owner-occupiers and unblocked views
During Grand Dunman’s launch, 90% of buyers were Singaporeans and there was a good mix of investors and owner-occupiers. The latter was mostly interested in the 2-bedroom + Study and larger units.
Apart from its investment potential, Grand Dunman is also very liveable for owner-occupiers. Its proximity to reputable schools like Kong Hwa (within 1km), Chung Cheng High (Main), Dunman High and Tanjong Katong Primary makes it attractive for families. Many units get unblocked views of the landed estate and the sea, which is rare in Singapore.
In terms of amenities nearby, the famous Old Airport Road Food Centre is within walking distance, and major shopping malls like Suntec City and Marina Bay Sands are within a 10-minute drive. The Geylang Park Connector outside Grand Dunman also allows residents to jog or cycle to Marina Bay.
Highlights of Grand Dunman’s units
The 1- to 3-bedders are the most popular unit types as they target first-time buyers, home upgraders and young families. The 4- and 5-bedders are suitable for multi-generational families and those rightsizing from the nearby landed estate.
Majority of the 4-bedroom units (except 1 layout) and all the 5-bedroom units have a private lift, perfect if you enjoy some exclusivity and privacy.
Some highlights of Grand Dunman’s 4-bedroom units are its functional dry kitchen in the dining area, spacious living area and the junior master bedroom with an ensuite bathroom.
The 5-bedroom unit is for those who need a grander space as they come with generous living and dining areas which span the width of the balcony. There’s a sizeable dry kitchen and a powder room, great for those who like to entertain guests. There are also three bedrooms with an ensuite bathroom (including the main master bedroom and the junior master bedroom).
Developers provide premium fitting brands such as Gessi, Miele, Kohler and more. Read more about the unit layouts and facilities in our Grand Dunman review.
Grand Dunman’s showflat is along Eunos Ave 3 (opposite Hafary Gallery). If you’re looking for the latest updates or are booking a showflat visit, check out 99.co’s Grand Dunman page.
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Planning to sell your house to upgrade to a new launch condo? 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 6 exciting new launch condos to keep an eye on in Q3 of 2023 and Why some new launches will still do well despite the latest cooling measures.
About Faruq Senin
Faruq covers New Launch condo showflats in Singapore and writes comprehensive reviews of them. Outside of work, he is a foodie who enjoys going to cafes, exploring new places and travelling (pre-covid).
Looking to sell your property?
Whether your HDB apartment is reaching the end of its Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) or your condo has crossed its Seller Stamp Duty (SSD) window, it is always good to know how much you can potentially gain if you were to list and sell your property. Not only that, you’ll also need to know whether your gains would allow you to right-size to the dream home in the neighbourhood you and your family have been eyeing.
One easy way is to send us a request for a credible and trusted property consultant to reach out to you.
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