Property sales strong despite price moderation: analysts

The private residential property index rose by 0.6% QoQ, following a 2.3% increase in the previous quarter.

Analysts are weighing in on the moderation of Singapore's private residential property prices in the first quarter of 2025, with most suggesting a period of price stability despite robust demand.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) reported that the private residential property index rose by 0.6% QoQ, a slowdown from the 2.3% increase recorded in the previous quarter.

Experts from Huttons, Knight Frank, and Cushman & Wakefield noted that whilst price growth has slowed, the market remains strong, with healthy sales in new launches and sustained buyer interest.

Huttons pointed out that the 0.6% price increase is the smallest rise since Q3 2024, indicating that the market may be stabilising.

Knight Frank highlighted that the Rest of Central Region (RCR) led price increases, whilst the Core Central Region (CCR) continued to face pressure due to foreign buyer restrictions.

Despite the price moderation, home sales in Singapore remained strong. Over 3,400 private homes (excluding executive condominiums) were sold in 1Q 2025, marking the highest Q1 sales since 2021.

Key projects like Lentor Central Residences and Parktown Residence saw exceptional demand, with the latter selling over 1,000 units on launch weekend, a first since 2015. PropNex attributed the strong sales to a combination of economic stability, lower interest rates, and rising wealth amongst homebuyers.

Prices in the OCR grew by only 0.3%, a significant slowdown compared to the 3.3% increase in Q4 2024. This was despite several new launches in the area.

Cushman & Wakefield noted that the OCR’s limited price growth suggests that buyers are becoming more selective, although demand for newly launched homes remains high.

Meanwhile, the RCR saw the strongest price growth at 1.0%, though this was also down from 3% in the previous quarter.

Looking ahead, industry experts remain cautiously optimistic. Whilst price growth is expected to moderate, Huttons and Knight Frank estimate that prices will rise between 4% and 7% in 2025, driven by sustained demand and the continued launch of new residential projects.

As the year progresses, the market is expected to remain active, with more than 8,000 new homes slated for launch by the end of 2025, keeping developers and buyers engaged despite the slowing pace of price increases.