Putting On The Ritz

Source : The Business Times, March 29, 2008

Luxury living goes up a notch with personal housekeeping and sommelier services at the first Ritz-Carlton Residences in Singapore.

THE first Ritz-Carlton Residences in Singapore - and Asia - is sparing no expense to make its residents feel right at home.

The 36-storey luxury residence in Cairnhill Road, which has 58 residential units, will feature three recreation sky terraces. Spanning over 5,000 sq ft each, the one on the fourth level will have a 34m-long lap pool, hydro pool, gym, yoga space and spa facilities.

There will also be a reading room and a cafe with billiard tables on the 14th floor. With a gourmet kitchen and a wine cellar on the 24th floor, a team of service staff can also help residents organise private parties for up to 20 people.

The project is a partnership between The Ritz-Carlton and Hayden Properties , which is a joint venture between real estate firm KOP Capital and Emirates Tarian Capital.

Prices for each 2,800 sq ft three-bedroom unit start from $11.5 million, while the 3,057 sq ft four-bedroom ones go from $15.5 million, says Hayden’s managing director Ong Chih Ching.

The junior penthouses, which are more than 3,500 sq ft, cost from $18 million. The project is expected to be completed in 2010.

At the launch last December, the development achieved a record price of $5,146 per sq ft (psf) or over $15 million for a four-bedroom unit. That month, it also sold four other units from $5,053 psf upwards.

But sales have slowed down since. Last month, only a three-bedroom unit was sold at $4,140 psf, which is about $11.6 million, and none in January.

The market is expected to remain lacklustre given the snowballing global financial crisis originating from the United States, say property experts.

Property developers in Singapore say they sold only 185 new units in February, down from the 328 sold in January.

So far, 30 per cent of the The Ritz-Carlton Residences’ apartments have been snapped up. Currently, more than 50 per cent of the buyers are from Russia, Indonesia, Japan, Korea and the Middle East. A few also intend to lease out their units, says Ms Ong.

Monthly rentals at The Ritz-Carlton Residences could fetch more than $25,000 for the four-bedroom units. Already, a 2,885 sq ft four-bedroom unit at the nearby Ardmore Park, which is located off Draycott Drive, is going for $22,000 a month.

However, all this luxury does come at a price. At The Ritz-Carlton Residences, residents have to pay a $2,500 monthly fee, which will include a 24-hour concierge service, housekeeping and sommelier service.