New Launch Condos in District 15: Should You Buy One?

District 15 possesses a unique blend of heritage, convenience and quietness. It has always been lauded by Easties as one of the best places to live in Singapore.

Being a location well loved by both locals and expats alike, District 15 has always been a popular district among homebuyers. This is due to the allure and unique lifestyle offered by the seafront living experience.

If you have always dreamed of living along the East Coast, here’s your chance! There are several District 15 New Launch condos available on the market right now – which could end up becoming your dream home.

Table 1: New projects on sale in District 15 

Source: ERApro as of 14 May 2024, ERA Research and Market Intelligence

What’s There in District 15?

When someone says they live in a property with a sea view, areas such as “East Coast”, “along Siglap” or “the Marine Parade area” come to mind. These areas fall under District 15, where residents staying in high floor units often get to enjoy an immaculate view of Singapore’s South-Eastern coastline and East Coast park.

Source: Map data ©2019 Google, ERA Research and Market Intelligence

While people often associate East Coast Park with District 15, it does not include the entire 18km of reclaimed coastline. Located in both the Outside Central Region (OCR) and the Rest of Central Region (RCR), its locale includes Amber Road, East Coast, Joo Chiat, Katong, Marine Parade, Meyer, and Tanjong Rhu.

There is also a large landed enclave and many small developments scattered across the district, creating a quiet and exclusive atmosphere. In addition, much of the land at Meyer Road and Amber Road has a 999-year or freehold lease, a legacy from the 1800s. At the same time, these areas are within walking distance of amenities, making District 15 a highly coveted estate to live in.

Amenities and Conveniences in District 15 

District 15 is home to the famous and history-rich areas of Joo Chiat and Katong. Populated by colonial shophouses, these iconic buildings are now famous for their lifestyle offerings amon­­gst locals and the expat community, with cafes, bars, restaurants, and well-known eateries. There are also several popular schools in the district, such as Victoria School and CHIJ Katong Convent.

Great for nature, exercise and pet lovers

District 15 is a fantastic area to stay in if you are a pet lover. Areas such as Joo Chiat and Tanjong Katong are home to a variety of pet stores and vet practices. This ensures that your animal companions’ needs are always cared for.

There is also a high density of dog-friendly cafes and restaurants in the area. East Coast Park is another highlight for dog owners, as it is not only a fantastic place to walk your dog, but also houses the largest dog run in Singapore. A dog swimming pool, and a pet megamart can also be found there.

The park comes to life, especially on evenings and weekends. From cyclists and fitness enthusiasts, the vast park is home to people of all interests. There are also a variety of food options available, notably seafood restaurants, where families in the area often go to for their meals.

District 15 is seeing improved connectivity in 2024

Previously, the East Coast area used to be ‘neglected’ in terms of connectivity, without access to an MRT line. Partly due to reclaimed land requiring time to settle, there were only bus services to shuttle residents to their workplaces in the city centre or other parts of Singapore.

However, the eastern region of the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) will soon be ready by June 2024. It will connect passengers from Bayshore in the East to Woodlands in the North via the Central Business District.

Future plans

It is likely that further changes will come to the area in the future. This is part of the Government’s proposed “Long Island” plan to marry coastal protection measures with new homes, coastal parks, and recreational spaces.

Along the East Coast Parkway, east of District 15, Bayshore will be developed as a smart and sustainable car-lite estate with amenities and recreational spaces. Homes will have sea views. The East Coast Green Corridor will run through this town. This will provide residents with another 20km of upcoming coastal and waterfront parks.

Price Performance

District 15 has outperformed island-wide, in terms of average price per square foot (psf) of units transacted (see Chart 1). Historically, there has been a high demand for homes in District 15 due to its unique location. This has led to people flocking to buy both new and resale properties there.

Chart 1: Price performance of non-landed properties in District 15.

Source: URA as at 14 May 2024, ERA Research and Market Intelligence

We can also expect to see further price uplifts from the MRT effect, with Phase 4 of the TEL set to be opened in June 2024.

As District 15 becomes more connected through enhanced transportation infrastructure and improved amenities, both current owners and potential buyers can anticipate a significant increase in property value and quality of life.

Conclusion

Based on ERA’s proprietary data between 2021 and April 2024, 56.8% of buyers of District 15 new launches were previously living in the East.

For those who live in the East and proclaim “East side, best side”, many of their reasons to support this claim can be traced back to District 15.

If you would like to become an Eastie too, now is the perfect time to make your wish come true. The current inventory of new launch condominiums available will suit the criteria of any buyer. It includes exclusive boutique developments of as small as 16 units (the Straits at Joo Chiat) to sprawling mega developments that house up to 1,008 units (Grand Dunman).

The majority of these new launches are also freehold properties, which is a definite plus for most buyers. To find out more, check out the ERA Projects Online Gallery here, or speak to an ERA Trusted Adviser today!

Disclaimer

This information is provided solely on a goodwill basis and does not relieve parties of their responsibility to verify the information from the relevant sources and/or seek appropriate advice from relevant professionals such as valuers, financial advisers, bankers and lawyers. For avoidance of doubt, ERA Realty Network and its salesperson accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, reliability and/or completeness of the information provided. Copyright in this publication is owned by ERA and this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written approval.