{"id":18889,"date":"2018-07-27T01:00:17","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T17:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/blog\/singapore\/?p=18889"},"modified":"2022-07-01T04:57:48","modified_gmt":"2022-06-30T20:57:48","slug":"in-demand-hdb-towns-q2-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.99.co\/singapore\/insider\/in-demand-hdb-towns-q2-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"These are the 5 most in-demand HDB towns of 2Q 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hot on the heels of our 2Q 2018 Quarterly Property Report<\/a>, we’re bringing you the top five HDB towns with the most resale transactions in that quarter<\/strong>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Overall, the HDB resale market had another soft quarter (with a projected Q-o-Q average price decline of 0.32%). In light of this and the July cooling measures<\/a>, handful property agents we’ve spoke to have suggested that tighter loan-to-value limits for bank loans imposed in July may drive some demand from condos to HDB resale flats. While we wouldn’t bet on that, there are indeed HDB towns that are much more in-demand than others, judging by their number of resale transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to find out which are the most popular HDB towns in Q2 2018 and what exactly makes them so desirable. <\/span><\/p>\n

5th place: Punggol<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"HDB<\/p>\n

Q2 2017 resale transactions: 329
\nQ2 2018 resale transactions: 334
\nQ2 2018 average HDB resale psf price: $420
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

With almost non-stop HDB BTO (build-to-order) sale launches in the past decade, Punggol is <\/span>the <\/span><\/i>neighbourhood for young couples who are buying their first home. With many flats now having reached the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), it\u2019s no surprise that the town is on this list. In Q2 2018, a total of 334 HDB resale flats changed hands in this neighbourhood.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aside from the famed Punggol Waterway Park with it’s man-made, otter-friendly river<\/a>, residents now have plenty of amenities at their fingertips. Shopping, daily necessities and communal facilities come in the form of Waterway Point at Punggol Central as well as neighbourhood centres such as the newly-opened Oasis Terraces.<\/strong> Punggol is also home to the SAFRA Punggol clubhouse and several F&B clusters such as Punggol East Container Park and The Punggol Settlement (where visitors can sample fresh seafood just like the old kampung days). <\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s not all that Punggol has up its sleeves; in fact, the government\u2019s goal is to develop Punggol into a \u201cmini Silicon Valley\u201d. While we don\u2019t have a ton of specifics as of yet, we do know that the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT)\u2019s new campus will be located at Punggol, and that several government agencies (including the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore) may also be moving to be the town’s Digital District<\/a>. By 2019, Punggol will also have its very own Regional Sports Centre.<\/span><\/p>\n

In any case, we expect Punggol to continue to appeal to young families, with five large childcare centres in the pipeline<\/a> adding to the already ample early education facilities in the town.<\/p>\n

What we like about Punggol:<\/strong> Self-contained township ideal for young families
\nWhat could be better:<\/strong> If driving, traffic out of Punggol can be a patience-tester in the morning peak hours<\/p>\n

**[Browse HDB resale listings in Punggol here<\/a>.]<\/p>\n

4th place: Woodlands <\/b><\/h3>\n

\"HDB<\/p>\n

Q2 2017 resale transactions: 427
\nQ2 2018 resale transactions: 472
\nQ2 2018 average HDB resale psf price: $328<\/strong><\/p>\n

Coming in fourth place is Woodlands, which clocked a total of 472 sales transactions in Q2 2018. <\/span><\/p>\n

To be honest, Woodlands doesn\u2019t have much going for it as of now. Yes, they do have Causeway Point, Woodlands Civic Centre, and Woodlands North Plaza, and the proximity to JB (no GST!) is a draw for Singaporeans on the hunt for a good bargain, affordable eats and cheap groceries, but that\u2019s about it.<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, Woodlands is set to undergo a huge transformation. When the Woodlands-Johor rail link terminus is completed in 2026<\/a>, there will be a new commercial and retail hub in the area. Residents can also look forward to a business hub and a waterfront leisure area. For active residents, there’s also the upcoming \u201csocial corridor\u201d, which is a 4.2 kilometre stretch of bike paths, pavilions, and exercise amenities that will run along the North-South MRT line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most importantly, Woodlands will also get a huge connectivity boost with the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n