8,000 pack Boon Keng showflat; the 714 units will be sold only via online ballot
ABOUT 1,100 people had applied for 714 condominium-like flats in Boon Keng by 6pm yesterday on Day One of the application period.
Around 8,000 people packed the showflat, with some showing up as early as an hour before the 9am opening time. And this in spite of it not making a difference to their chances of getting a unit as the flats will be sold through an online ballot.
The development, called the City View @ Boon Keng, is the second public housing project to be built and sold by private developers.
POTENTIAL BUYERS VIEWING a scale model of a unit at City View @ Boon Keng. The development is the second public housing project to be built and sold by private developers. It comprises a mix of three- to five room flats which are priced between $349,000 and $727,000.The units cost between $349,000 and $727,000 and will come with built-in wardrobes, timber flooring, wall-to-wall balconies and air-conditioning. But they do not have more expensive common facilities such as swimming pools.
Early Bird
First in line for viewing was Mr Xue Xiao Dong, 40, who turned up with his wife and son at the showflat at 8am - one hour before it opened.
The engineer had applied for a standard Housing Board flat in Telok Blangah last year but was unsuccessful.
He said: 'I know it's a ballot. But still, I hope that if I come early, I will stand a higher chance.'
Keen To Buy
Home-seeker Mr V.S. Nathan, 37, came prepared with the necessary documents to apply for a flat on the spot.
'It seems nice,' said the manager of a trading company. 'My initial budget was about $500,000 for a five-room flat, but I may have to buy a four-room flat now.'
The project, which comprises 72 three-room flats, 168 four-room flats and 474 five-room flats, can be bought only by families earning no more than $8,000 a month.
Related Video Link - http://tinyurl.com/33fzeePrivate condo? No, HDB flat!
It looks like a private condominium, but it's selling at HDB prices.
At least 8,000 interested home buyers are expected to throng the showflats of City View@Boon Keng - the second batch of public housing development designed, built and sold by private developers - when it goes on sale on Saturday.
Those interested must apply online at www.hoihup.com or go down to the showflats along Bendemeer Road, should they need assistance from sales agents.
Given that the first lot of such units in Tampines - 616 units developed by Sim Lian Land - attracted almost 6,000 applications in October 2006, the Boon Keng flats were expected to be hot property from the start.
Developer Hoi Hup Sunway and its marketing agent HSR were prepared for the crowd: A large white marquee with seating for 300 acted as the holding area for potential buyers outside the showflat, while families and individuals who entered the showflat were guided by agents.
The spokesman for Hoi Hup Sunway, Mr Wong Chee Herng, said buyers felt the prices were high but liked the flats anyway.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC queuing up to view the City View @ Boon Keng showflat. Some turned up as early as an hour before the 9am opening time. -- PHOTOS: JOSEPH NAIR FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES'We didn't foresee that so many applications would come in so soon,' he said.
The results did not surprise property agency chiefs such as Mr Eugene Lim, assistant vice-president of ERA Singapore, who said the project's proximity to Boon Keng MRT station, the 'commanding views' from its 40-storey blocks and its location on the city fringe added up to an attractive product.
Another 2,500 such condo-like flats are being planned for Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh, Simei and Bedok in the coming months.
Applications for the Boon Keng flats can be made only online at www.hoihup.com and close on Jan 16.
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