MATLOCK RESIDENCES Review

Condo Review
District 13 ·Freehold ·Completed 2011
Avg PSF (12-month)
2.9% Rental yield
6 Total units
Category Ratings
Facilities
5.0
Unit size & layout
8.5
Value for money
6.0
Neighbourhood
7.5
MRT accessibility
7.0
Lease remaining
10.0

Overview & Key Facts

Matlock Residences is one of Singapore's most discreet addresses — a six-unit strata landed enclave tucked along Matlock Rise in District 13, completed in 2011 by Dunsfold Residences Pte Ltd. With just six detached strata houses ranging from 5,295 to over 6,000 square feet each, this is not a condominium in the conventional sense: it is a private gated compound where each family occupies an entire multi-storey house with its own car porch, patio, and individual jacuzzi pool.

The development sits at the intersection of old Serangoon charm and new-generation family living. Matlock Rise is a quiet residential cul-de-sac, shielded from the bustle of Upper Serangoon Road, yet close enough to Lorong Chuan MRT and the Serangoon interchange for daily practicality. With only three recorded resale transactions since completion, Matlock Residences speaks to an owner profile that buys for the long term — the antithesis of speculative property investment.

Average transacted prices have ranged from approximately $3.35 million to $3.56 million, with individual unit values potentially reaching $7 million at the top of the range. At an effective PSF of $593 to $762 on strata area, Matlock Residences offers a genuinely rare proposition in Singapore's landed market: freehold strata bungalow living in a Catholic school belt location, without the outright landed restrictions that foreign buyers face.

Developer
DUNSFOLD RESIDENCES PTE LTD
Tenure
Freehold
Total units
6
TOP year
2011
District
13 — OCR
Street
MATLOCK RISE

Location & Connectivity

Matlock Rise sits within the Serangoon fringe of District 13, a leafy residential enclave bounded by Upper Serangoon Road to the north and the Braddell corridor to the south. The address is walkable to Lorong Chuan MRT (Circle Line) in approximately 0.47 km — a comfortable five-to-seven minute stroll — placing residents one stop from Serangoon interchange (NE/CC) and three stops from Bartley, where Cedar Girls' Secondary and the Bartley area secondary schools are clustered.

The immediate neighbourhood is characterised by low-rise private housing: detached and semi-detached bungalows along Matlock Rise and adjacent streets, interspersed with small-footprint condominiums that rose during the 2000s and 2010s. There is no commercial noise or hawker centre foot traffic directly on Matlock Rise itself, giving the street a suburban tranquillity that is rare this close to an MRT station. NEX Serangoon Mall — a major suburban shopping and F&B hub — is reachable in under 15 minutes on foot or a few minutes by car.

The Catholic school belt is a significant draw for families with school-going children. Maris Stella High (Primary and Secondary) is 1.09 km away, making the 1 km registration radius a realistic target for residents who move in early enough. De La Salle School at 1.35 km and Cedar Girls' Secondary at 1.60 km add to a concentration of well-regarded schools that parents in this district actively seek.

School Registration Note

Phase 2A of Primary 1 registration grants priority to children of alumni and staff. Maris Stella High Primary (1.09 km) and Stamford Primary (1.34 km) fall within practical consideration distance for Matlock Residences owners. Families prioritising school proximity should verify the latest registration radii, as the Ministry of Education reviews these periodically.


Schools & Education

Nearby Schools
SchoolTypeDistance
Maris Stella High School (Primary)primary~1.1 km
Maris Stella High Schoolsecondary~1.1 km
Stamford Primary Schoolprimary~1.3 km
Assumption Pathway Schoolsecondary~1.3 km
De La Salle Schoolprimary~1.4 km
Cedar Girls' Secondary Schoolsecondary~1.6 km
Ai Tong Schoolprimary~1.6 km
Cedar Primary Schoolprimary~1.6 km

Facilities

Given the ultra-boutique scale of just six units, Matlock Residences does not operate like a standard condominium with shared clubhouse facilities. Instead, the developer designed each unit with its own private patio-level jacuzzi and plunge pool — effectively eliminating the need to share a lap pool with neighbours. Each unit also includes a private car porch sized for two vehicles, a gym space, and a BBQ pit area. The compound as a whole is gated with 24-hour security, which at six units means an exceptionally low resident-to-guard ratio.

The trade-off is obvious: there is no full-length lap pool, no tennis court, no function room, and no concierge desk. Residents who value expansive clubhouse infrastructure and resort-style amenities will need to recalibrate their expectations. What Matlock Residences offers instead is privacy as an amenity in itself — the ability to use your own pool, your own patio, and your own outdoor space without scheduling, without noise, and without neighbours watching from surrounding units.

"Having our own pool and jacuzzi on the patio means we actually use it every week. In our previous condo the shared pool always felt like a public space — here it genuinely feels like a holiday home."


Pricing & Market Position

Based on 3 recorded transactions, sale prices range from $3,180,000 to $4,150,000, averaging $3,560,000.

Rents range from $8,000 to $8,000 per month across 1 rental transactions. Current rental yield sits at approximately 2.9%.


Price Appreciation

From 2021 to 2025, the average PSF has appreciated by 28.6% (from $593 to $762 psf).

2025
+28.6%
$762 psf

Neighbourhood Comparison

Competing D13 condominiums — The Woodleigh Residences ($2,227 PSF), Park Colonial ($2,142 PSF), and The Tre Ver ($1,919 PSF) — represent a fundamentally different product category. Those are high-density condominium towers offering shared facilities, professional management, and active secondary markets. Comparing them directly to Matlock Residences on PSF alone misses the point: at 5,400 sqft of strata landed house, you are buying a completely different mode of living. On absolute quantum, Matlock Residences at $3.35–3.56 million is actually cheaper than a large penthouse at The Woodleigh Residences or Park Colonial, while delivering twice to three times the floor area.

The more meaningful comparison is against other strata landed clusters in D13 and adjacent D19 — developments like Luxus Hills or boutique cluster projects along Caldecott and Thomson Road. Among those peers, Matlock Residences competes well on location (Lorong Chuan CC walkability is stronger than many Seletar or Yio Chu Kang cluster projects) and freehold tenure, though it trails significantly on shared amenities and transaction liquidity. Buyers comparing strata landed options in the $3–5 million bracket should weigh Matlock's extreme privacy and CC line access against the marginally better amenity packages of larger cluster developments in D19 and D28.

District 13 Comparables
DevelopmentTenureTOPUnits~Avg PSF
MATLOCK RESIDENCESFreehold20116
THE WOODLEIGH RESIDENCES99 yrs lease commencing from 20172021667$2,227
THE TRE VER99 yrs lease commencing from 20182021729$1,919
BARTLEY RIDGE99 yrs lease commencing from 20122018868$1,703
PARK COLONIAL99 yrs lease commencing from 20172021805$2,142
THE POIZ RESIDENCES99 yrs lease commencing from 20142019731$1,865

ShiokNest Scores

Our proprietary scoring system evaluates MATLOCK RESIDENCES across multiple dimensions.

Walkability
50/100
MRT: 25/25, School: 12/20, Hawker: 5/15, Mall: 0/15, Park: 5/10, Supermarket: 0/10, Clinic: 3/5
Investment
35/100
Insufficient data ·No data ·0 txns/yr ·Freehold ·0.47 km to MRT ·+2.4% district YoY ·En-bloc 40/100
En-Bloc Potential
40/100
Verdict: Moderate
Overall ShiokNest Score
30/100 — composite of walkability, investment, profitability, en-bloc, and market trend factors.

What Residents Say

"We looked at a number of boutique strata landed projects before choosing Matlock. The private pool was the clincher — with two young children, having your own water space without worrying about other residents is invaluable. The Lorong Chuan MRT distance is manageable on foot even in the heat."

"The scale of the unit was the main reason we bought here. We moved from a 1,700 sqft condo and the difference in liveable space is night and day. Six units means almost zero corridor traffic and noise — it genuinely feels like a private estate. The downside is that it's very quiet; if you're used to condo community life, the adjustment takes time."

"For families with children at Maris Stella, this is a location that works extremely well. The school run is short, the neighbourhood is safe and low-traffic, and the house is big enough that everyone has their own space. We have no plans to move."


Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths
  • Freehold tenure — permanent ownership with no lease decay
  • Exceptional unit size (5,295–6,049 sqft) — genuine house-scale living
  • Each unit has its own private jacuzzi and patio pool
  • Lorong Chuan CC MRT walkable at 0.47 km
  • Ultra-boutique at 6 units — virtually zero shared-space congestion
  • Maris Stella High Primary within 1.09 km (1 km P1 registration catchment)
  • Strata title allows potential eligibility for PRs and some foreigners
  • Low-traffic, quiet cul-de-sac address on Matlock Rise
  • Double car porch per unit — rare in condominium context
  • PSF ($593–$762) competitive for freehold strata landed of this size
Weaknesses
  • Extremely illiquid — only 3 resale transactions in 13+ years
  • Minimal shared amenities (no lap pool, tennis court, or function room)
  • Low investment score (35/100) — not suitable for short-term buyers
  • Only 1 rental record — near-impossible to rent out profitably
  • Gross yield of 2.87% is modest for the quantum
  • D13 Serangoon fringe lacks the capital growth profile of CCR landed
  • Six-unit MCST — any disagreement among owners on maintenance decisions is amplified
  • Limited price discovery — valuations are uncertain due to thin transaction volume
  • No full-length lap pool (individual jacuzzis only)
  • High absolute quantum ($3.35–3.56M average) limits buyer pool
Best for — Singapore Citizen Families Multi-Generational Households Maris Stella Families Privacy-Focused Downsizers Not for Investors

Verdict

Matlock Residences is a property that demands a very specific buyer: a Singapore family — typically citizens or long-term PRs — seeking the privacy and floor area of landed living without the full maintenance obligations of an outright bungalow, and willing to accept extremely limited resale liquidity in exchange for a freehold strata title and a Lorong Chuan MRT address. For that buyer, it is close to ideal. For any buyer with a near-term investment horizon, it is almost entirely unsuitable.

The investment metrics are stark. Only three resale transactions have been recorded since completion in 2011, and just one rental record exists. A gross yield of 2.87% is modest relative to the quantum ($3.35–3.56 million average), and the PSF uplift from $593 to $762 — while directionally positive — is modest for a 13-year window. D13 is not a CCR district, and strata landed housing in the Serangoon fringe does not command the same capital growth trajectory as prime freehold landed on the Nassim or Orchard Belt.

That said, the lifestyle proposition is exceptional for its price bracket. Where else in Singapore can a family of five live in a 5,400 sqft freehold house with a private pool, less than 500 metres from an MRT station, with Maris Stella High Primary within 1.1 km, and no upstairs neighbours? For families who have found the right unit, Matlock Residences is a home — not a trade. And for freehold strata bungalow living at these sizes, $3.5 million in 2026 remains genuinely competitive against comparable private landed stock in the broader D13/D19 corridor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Matlock Residences a condominium or landed property?
Matlock Residences is classified as strata landed housing — specifically strata bungalows. Each unit is a multi-storey detached house on a strata title within a gated compound, managed by an MCST. This is distinct from outright freehold landed property, where the owner holds a full land title. Strata landed housing is subject to the same ownership restrictions and approval requirements as condominiums for non-citizens.
Can Singapore Permanent Residents or foreigners buy Matlock Residences?
Strata landed housing (as distinct from outright landed) may be purchased by Singapore PRs and, in some cases, foreigners subject to approval from the Land Dealings Approval Unit (LDAU) under the Residential Property Act. This is one advantage of strata landed over outright landed. Buyers should consult a qualified property lawyer to confirm eligibility before proceeding.
What are the unit sizes at Matlock Residences?
There are two configurations: four 5-bedroom units at 5,295 to 5,435 sqft, and two 4-bedroom units at 5,694 to 6,049 sqft. All units are multi-storey detached houses with private car porches (2 lots), individual patio-level jacuzzi pools, and BBQ areas.
Is Matlock Residences within 1 km of Maris Stella High Primary?
Yes. Maris Stella High Primary School is approximately 1.09 km from Matlock Rise — just outside the 1 km Phase 2C priority radius. Families prioritising primary school registration should verify the exact distance from their specific unit address and monitor Ministry of Education registration announcements each year.
What is the nearest MRT station to Matlock Residences?
Lorong Chuan MRT (Circle Line, CC14) is the closest station at approximately 0.47 km — a five-to-seven minute walk. Serangoon interchange (North-East and Circle Lines) is 1.13 km away, offering direct access to the NE line to Dhoby Ghaut and Harbour Front, as well as the CC line.
Why is the transaction volume so low for Matlock Residences?
With only six units, even a "high" turnover year might see one transaction. Since completion in 2011, only three resale transactions have been recorded — suggesting that original owners have largely retained their units. This is typical of ultra-boutique strata landed developments where buyers are long-term owner-occupiers rather than investors. Low volume makes price discovery difficult and valuations less reliable.
What is the maintenance fee (service charge) like for a 6-unit development?
Six-unit MCSTs typically have higher per-unit maintenance contributions than large condominiums because fixed costs (security, gardening, external cleaning, fire safety, common insurance) are divided among fewer owners. Prospective buyers should request the current MCST budget and arrears statement as part of their due diligence. A healthy MCST sinking fund is especially important in small developments where a single major repair could require a special levy.
Gerelateerde eigenschappen: