Westwood Residences

The Singapore Media recently reported that Blackstone, a Global Investment and Advisory Company is doing its due diligence for the bulk purchase of Singaporean Luxury residential properties. There are rumours that Blackstone is negotiating to buy 18 four bedroom apartments at Paterson Suites for an estimated price of around two thousand, one hundred Singapore dollars per square foot.

The 18 flats totalling 39,535 square foot are currently owned by a Recap investment fund managed by SC Capital Partners, part of a block of 20 unite purchased by the Recap fund directly Westwood Residences Koh Brothers from the project developer Bukit Sembawang in 2010 for $118.61 million Zion Road Condo Singapore ($2,700 per square foot). Recap sold two of those units during 2013 at $2,596 per square foot and $2,775 per square foot. Paterson Suites, which is located in the Paterson Road Lengkok Angsa area, got a Temporary Occupation Permit during the 3rd quarter 2010.

Westwood Residences

Westwood Residences Units

Rumour also has it that Blackstone is also doing due diligence on a ten storey Westwood Residences for a price of around $159 million (Singapore) (around $1,860 per square foot assuming a strata area of around 85,552 square foot. Arch Capital, established by the Ayla Group, owns the property on Anderson Road. As of 5pm on Tuesday, the application rates for 2nd-timers for two plus three-room units in Westwood Residences stood at 0.3 and while two plus three-room flats in a Jurong West project posted an application rate from second-timers of 0.3 plus 1.6 respectively.

Westwood Residences EC Prices

The 159 million Singapore dollar price is markedly lower than the indicative price of $ 250 to $260 given in 2013 when listed for sale in an expression of interest scheme and also well below the $200 million ($2337 per square foot) paid by Arch in 2010.

Ku Swee Yong Century 21’s Chief Executive says that funds looking to make bulk purchases of residential properties such as Westwood Residences by Heeton Homes would expect prices of 30% to 40% below current market prices for Westwood Residences in the West, to allow for the 15% Additional Buyers Stamp Duty (ABSD), the extremely low 20% Loan to Value on the investment and their profit margin. He added that this would have a lowering effect on market valuations in the areas around these sites and thus is negative for the market.