ShiokNest Monthly Market Report — May 2021

Market Report Updated
Key Takeaways
  • Total of 10,683 transactions recorded in May 2021 (-11.0% MoM).
  • Median sale price per square foot: $1,376, down 9.9% from last month.
  • Median monthly rent: $3,050 (-1.6% MoM).
  • Most active district: District 19 (Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol) with 490 sales.
  • Highest gross yield: 2.61% in the OCR segment.

Based on URA REALIS data, the Singapore private residential market recorded 10,683 total transactions in May 2021, down 11.0% from the previous month. Sales volume stood at 3,272 units with a median price of $1,376 per square foot, while the rental market saw 7,411 leases at a median rent of $3,050/month. For an overview of the buying process, see our Conveyancing Process Explained — What Your Lawyer Does.

Highest-Value Transactions

The top 5 transactions by total price in May 2021:

ProjectDistrictPricePSFSize (sqft)Type
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTD10$50,000,000$2,49420,049Resale
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTD10$44,300,000$1,41331,358Resale
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTD11$43,800,000$1,42930,659Resale
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTD11$43,800,000$1,42930,659Resale
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTD11$43,500,000$1,85923,403Resale

Key Figures at a Glance

3,272
Sales Transactions
↓ 10.3% MoM
$1,376
Median PSF
↓ 9.9% MoM
$1,435,000
Median Transaction Price
7,411
Rental Leases
↓ 11.3% MoM
$3,050
Median Rent
↓ 1.6% MoM
2.61%
Best Gross Yield (OCR)

Sales Market Deep Dive

The private residential sales market recorded 3,272 transactions in May 2021, representing a decrease of 10.3% month-on-month. The median price per square foot was $1,376 (down 9.9% MoM), while the median transaction price stood at $1,435,000.

Transaction Mix: Resale: 2,076 (63.4%) · New Sale: 1,143 (34.9%) · Sub Sale: 53 (1.6%)

Segment Performance: CCR, RCR & OCR

Performance across Singapore's three market segments shows differentiated pricing and demand patterns.

SegmentSales Vol.Median PSFRentalsMedian RentGross Yield
CCR (Core Central Region)505$2,2112,282$4,1002.22%
RCR (Rest of Central Region)961$1,6412,312$3,2002.15%
OCR (Outside Central Region)1,806$1,1702,817$2,6502.61%

For a deeper comparison, see Bukit Timah vs Holland Village: Which Premium Neighbourhood Offers Better Value?.

Top Districts by Activity

The most active districts by sales volume in May 2021:

DistrictAreaSegmentTransactionsMedian PSF
District 19 (Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol)Serangoon Garden, Hougang, PunggolOCR490$1,182
District 27 (Yishun, Sembawang)Yishun, SembawangOCR266$1,142
District 18 (Tampines, Pasir Ris)Tampines, Pasir RisOCR244$1,131
District 15 (Katong, Joo Chiat, Amber Road)Katong, Joo Chiat, Amber RoadRCR224$1,483
District 5 (Pasir Panjang, Hong Leong Garden, Clementi New Town)Pasir Panjang, Hong Leong Garden, Clementi New TownRCR212$1,601

Notable Transactions

The highest-value transactions by price per square foot in May 2021:

ProjectDistrictPSFPriceSize (sqft)Type
LES MAISONS NASSIMD10$5,930$39,000,0006,577New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$5,784$26,026,0004,499New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$5,320$17,178,0003,229New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$5,020$14,588,0002,906New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$4,993$14,458,0002,895New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$4,966$7,109,0001,432New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$4,859$14,068,0002,895New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$4,806$6,880,0001,432New Sale
PARK NOVAD10$4,742$6,789,0001,432New Sale
THE MARQ ON PATERSON HILLD9$4,305$13,300,0003,089Resale

Rental Market Snapshot

The rental market recorded 7,411 leases in May 2021, down 11.3% month-on-month. The median monthly rent was $3,050 (down 1.6% MoM).

Median Rent by Bedroom Type:

TypeMedian Rent
1BR$2,325
2BR$2,900
3BR$3,600
4BR$6,300
5BR$7,100
6BR$16,500
NA$3,200

Most Active Rental Projects:

ProjectLeases
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT169
NON-LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT160
SEASIDE RESIDENCES64
THE SAIL @ MARINA BAY47
GRANDEUR PARK RESIDENCES45

6-Month Price Trends

Tracking median PSF and rent over the past six months reveals the underlying trend beyond monthly noise.

MonthMedian PSFMedian Rent
2020-12----
2021-01--$2,500
2021-02$1,356$3,000
2021-03$1,548$3,000
2021-04$1,528$3,100
2021-05$1,376$3,050

Market volatility assessment: Volatile (based on 6-month coefficient of variation of median PSF).

For longer-term analysis, see Rental Trends by Bedroom Type — 2022.

Supply & Demand Signals

Primary vs Secondary Market: New launches accounted for 1,143 units (34.9% of total), while resales made up 2,076 transactions and 53 sub-sales were recorded.

Unit Size Demand: 5BR+: 518 (15.8%) · 4BR: 502 (15.3%) · 2BR: 684 (20.9%) · 3BR: 1,010 (30.9%) · 1BR: 379 (11.6%) · Studio: 179 (5.5%)

Price Distribution: <$500K: 2 · $500K-1M: 563 · $1M-1.5M: 1,178 · $1.5M-2M: 582 · $2M-3M: 444 · $3M+: 503

Explore our latest Condos with Best Views in District 17 (Loyang, Changi) for featured developments.

Outlook & What to Watch

Following the pandemic recovery, Singapore's property market rebounded strongly in 2021 with pent-up demand driving volumes higher across all segments.

Key takeaways for May 2021:

  • Prices have softened with median PSF falling 9.9% month-on-month.
  • Rental rates have eased with median rent down 1.6% MoM.
  • The resale market remained the primary source of transactions, indicating steady demand for existing stock.
  • The CCR-to-OCR price premium stands at approximately 89%, near historical averages.

Useful resources: How to Use the End-to-End Investment Calculator · ABSD Explained: Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty Rates

Bedroom Type Analysis

Prices and rents broken down by unit type help buyers identify value across different bedroom configurations.

BedroomMedian Sale PriceMedian RentEst. Gross Yield
0$848,800----
1$1,060,000----
1BR--$2,325/mo--
2$1,200,000----
2BR--$2,900/mo--
3$1,340,000----
3BR--$3,600/mo--
4$2,141,660----
4BR--$6,300/mo--
5$3,891,500----
5BR--$7,100/mo--
6BR--$16,500/mo--
NA--$3,200/mo--

Yields are gross estimates: (monthly rent × 12) / median sale price. Actual net yields vary with maintenance, taxes, and vacancy.

Useful Resources

Official Sources: URA · URA REALIS · MAS · SORA Rates · BSD Rates · ABSD Rates · CPF Housing

Methodology & Sources

This report is compiled from transaction data published by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) via the REALIS system. Median values are used throughout to minimise the impact of outliers from exceptionally high or low transactions. Month-on-month (MoM) and year-on-year (YoY) changes compare like-for-like periods.

Gross rental yield is calculated as (median monthly rent × 12) / median transaction price. Market segment classifications follow URA definitions: CCR (Core Central Region), RCR (Rest of Central Region), and OCR (Outside Central Region). Interest rate references use the Singapore Overnight Rate Average (SORA) published by MAS. Stamp duty rates reference IRAS BSD and ABSD schedules.

Data coverage: 971 condos with sales data and 1616 with rental data out of 3429 tracked properties for May 2021.