Let's just get the 1 question that is on everybody's mind out of the way.
If the November BTO launches on 11.11, is there going to be a discount?
Yeah sure buddy, just like how you were hoping for 5-pax dine in by end October (cause apparently we don't contribute to the economy)
But alas, we have arrived at the final BTO launch of 2021.
After an entire year of doing Safe Entry to enter places, let’s switch things up and find out more about places that you can do safe entry instead ;)
Prepare your Singpasses, whip out your $10 and put on your reading glasses, cause it’s BTO time again baby.
Wait sorry, before we begin, shameless plug for our new ✨Telegram channel.✨
Tune in to see how I struggle to come up with a new copy by 8pm everyday.
Ok let's go.
Guides for the other sites in this launch,
Content Page
Hougang Nov’21
Units Available
Prices
Transport
Street & Amenities
Education
How much can you earn if you sell this BTO?
Hougang Nov'21
I just wanna give a warm "Welcome back!" to all the Hougang Aug’21 rejects.
You would have probably either gotten a message saying “your balloted queue position has far exceeded the flat supply”, or realized your ticket number was unlikely to get a unit at Kovan Wellspring.
Even though this November BTO sale isn’t at Kovan MRT, there’s no need to plan your exit strategy just yet ... because behind every cloud, there’s a sylvia lining.
BTO Name Prediction
What I think it'll be called: Hougang Carnelian, Hougang Aragonite, Hougang Selenite, Hougang Amber, Hougang Topaz
What it's actually called: [Updated] Tanjong Tree Residences @ Hougang, Hougang Olive
Units Available
There will be 2 plots of units, one with 300 units of 4 & 5-rm, and the other with 390 units of 4 & 5-rm.
Since you can’t choose which lot to apply for (and the fact that they’re literally right next to one another), it’s essentially a sale for 690 units of 4 & 5-rm.
Find out more: The different types of houses in Singapore
Prices
Transport
Good news and bad news.
Good news: You’re in the middle of 2 (soon to be 3) MRT stations.
Bad news: It’ll take at least 10-15 mins to reach either station.
While Bartley, Kovan (and the upcoming Defu) MRT will offer you different lines, it’s still a bit inconvenient to reach those stations. This is because the bus stop that’s right at your doorstep currently has 6 bus services, but none of which brings you to either of the nearby stations.
For those who drive, you’ll be in close vicinity of the TPE & KPE.
Street & Amenities
This block of units will be along Hougang Ave 1, which is … insignificant.
Just take note, it’ll be adjacent to Hong Lai Sze temple, meaning that stretch may get crowded and noisy during festive/auspicious days.
You’ll also be quite close to Paya Lebar Airbase, so you may have to get use to hearing planes flying over you during the day.
And you know there’s the saying,
"Wake up with bed head and hearing airplanes, and you’re successful in getting the Hougang BTO too"
"Wake up with a red head sitting in an airplane, and you’re not getting squid game season 2"
There are also a variety of amenities nearby.
Heartland mall @ Kovan, Hougang mall @ Hougang and NEX @ Serangoon are nearby, reliable shopping malls that offer more or less everything you need, from groceries to leisure to dropping your future kids off at tuition centres so you can finally get a rest.
All of these places are about 15 mins away via public transport, so good luck with finding excuses if your un-vaxxed neighbour asks you to buy groceries for them.
Retail aside, there are a couple of public sports facilities in the area.
The most distinctive one to Hougang would be JForté Sportainment Centre, consisting of Forté Bowl and an Anytime Fitness outlet. Alternatively, you have 3 straight buses from this BTO to Hougang Stadium, where there’s a stadium, a sports hall and a swimming complex.
Or you could always just walk to either of the MRT stations nearby, pretty sure that’s gon’ be quite a workout too.
Healthwise, there’s Hougang Polyclinic, right opposite the aforementioned Hougang Stadium.
Some of you may have also seen that there is an upcoming medical care facility right at your block.
My un-expert opinion? It’s not going to be a polyclinic/hospital, because the allocated plot size is wayyyy too small to be something of that magnitude.
The positive takeaway, as we’ve all learned this year, is that healthcare services have upgraded their forms of accepted payment to include NETS, Medisave and Clapping (only available from 8pm onwards).
Education
Overall, there are numerous schooling options (in the infographic) in Hougang that cover all levels of education.
Do take note that I didn’t include Anderson-Serangoon JC because it’s planned to continue it’s curriculum at the Anderson JC campus at Yio Chu Kang from here on out.
However, there will be 2 new schools near this BTO.
At the time of writing, we have no knowledge of what kind of schools these will be.
How much can you earn if you sell this BTO?
If you’re neurotic like me and think everything is a competition and want to know if this BTO will be the most “value”/”worth it”, this may be useful for you.
When it comes to looking at when's the best time to sell your house for maximum profit, the core concept here is the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).
Simply put, when you buy a house, you need to stay in it for at least 5 years before you can sell it.
This one Gahmen say one
Obligatory disclaimer, everything written below is completely my own opinion.
Here’s what I think the BTO lifespan for the Hougang BTO will look like.
Generally, I think this Hougang BTO will have reasons to experience a rise in resale prices in the future, should you decide to sell it.
The first rise in #1 is common in all BTOs.
Since it’s subsidized public housing, it starts below market price, and slowly gravitates towards the market value after 5 years, the period in which you can sell it.
However, the real rise will be at #2, and is dependent on 2 main factors.
Firstly, this BTO lot is opposite an industrial estate that’s currently due to future expansion.
With the possibility of it eventually becoming a business park, this may lead to an increase in value for properties nearby because the close proximity provides convenience for employees who will be working at that business park.
People who stay further away from Hougang may look to rent/purchase a unit nearby, thus providing demand (and leverage) for you to negotiate prices.
Secondly, another major reason is one that I’ve mentioned before, which is the upcoming Defu MRT Station.
Just a heads up, if you’re ever planning to sell a unit here, I PROMISE you, your property agent will be marketing the shit out of your unit based on the fact that it’s “located near 3 MRT Stations”.
While not much is known about the upcoming Cross-Island Line (CRL) yet, it’s set to be the longest underground MRT line, with greater connectivity between the “east, north-east and western major hubs”.
So ... basically a zhng-ed version of the green line.
And it’s precisely that it’s a zhng-ed version that will add value to the property because it will be a multi-functional line (for both residency & work).
Area #3 is the slow decline that every HDB flat faces as it gets closer to the end of its 99-year lease
Tl;dr - While the previous Hougang BTO was the most oversubscribed sale in awhile, I think it’s gonna take a dip this time with stronger contenders of Tengah & Rochor. I expect couples who may still be fresh out of school/not earning as much yet to be applying for this BTO, esp if they have thoughts of having kids in the future. It checks everything on the list - cheaper price, bigger flats, presence of schools/amenities.
