ShiokNest Monthly Market Report — May 2023

Market Report Updated
Key Takeaways
  • Total of 8,646 transactions recorded in May 2023 (-5.8% MoM).
  • Median sale price per square foot: $1,932, down 2.8% from last month.
  • Median monthly rent: $4,500 (-1.7% MoM).
  • Most active district: District 21 (Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan) with 560 sales.
  • Highest gross yield: 3.69% in the OCR segment.

Based on URA REALIS data, the Singapore private residential market recorded 8,646 total transactions in May 2023, down 5.8% from the previous month. Sales volume stood at 2,513 units with a median price of $1,932 per square foot, while the rental market saw 6,133 leases at a median rent of $4,500/month. For an overview of the buying process, see our Renting a Condo in Singapore: Complete Tenant's Guide.

Highest-Value Transactions

The top 5 transactions by total price in May 2023:

ProjectDistrictPricePSFSize (sqft)Type
KEW LODGED11$66,800,000$2,65325,177Resale
LES MAISONS NASSIMD10$45,000,000$5,2138,633New Sale
CAPITOL PARKD11$42,000,000$2,56216,396Resale
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTD11$32,200,000$2,28014,123Resale
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENTD11$32,200,000$2,28014,123Resale

Key Figures at a Glance

2,513
Sales Transactions
↑ 16.4% MoM
$1,932
Median PSF
↓ 2.8% MoM
$1,680,000
Median Transaction Price
6,133
Rental Leases
↓ 12.6% MoM
$4,500
Median Rent
↓ 1.7% MoM
3.69%
Best Gross Yield (OCR)

Sales Market Deep Dive

The private residential sales market recorded 2,513 transactions in May 2023, representing an increase of 16.4% month-on-month and down 16.0% year-on-year. The median price per square foot was $1,932 (down 2.8% MoM), while the median transaction price stood at $1,680,000.

Transaction Mix: Resale: 1,407 (56%) · Sub Sale: 107 (4.3%) · New Sale: 999 (39.8%)

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)340$2,5561,830$5,6002.92%
RCR (Rest of Central Region)1,237$2,4052,011$4,5002.96%
OCR (Outside Central Region)936$1,3452,292$4,0003.69%

For a deeper comparison, see Global Property Yield Comparison — Where Singapore Stands.

Top Districts by Activity

The most active districts by sales volume in May 2023:

DistrictAreaSegmentTransactionsMedian PSF
District 21 (Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu Pandan)Upper Bukit Timah, Clementi Park, Ulu PandanOCR560$2,448
District 15 (Katong, Joo Chiat, Amber Road)Katong, Joo Chiat, Amber RoadRCR360$2,636
District 19 (Serangoon Garden, Hougang, Punggol)Serangoon Garden, Hougang, PunggolOCR208$1,429
District 23 (Hillview, Dairy Farm, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang)Hillview, Dairy Farm, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu KangOCR185$1,363
District 10 (Ardmore, Bukit Timah, Holland Road, Tanglin)Ardmore, Bukit Timah, Holland Road, TanglinCCR146$2,664

Notable Transactions

The highest-value transactions by price per square foot in May 2023:

ProjectDistrictPSFPriceSize (sqft)Type
LES MAISONS NASSIMD10$5,213$45,000,0008,633New Sale
NEW FUTURAD9$4,645$12,500,0002,691Resale
ARDMORE PARKD10$4,472$12,900,0002,885Resale
ARDMORE THREED10$4,335$7,700,0001,776Resale
PARK NOVAD10$4,324$6,190,8901,432New Sale
KLIMT CAIRNHILLD9$4,117$9,750,0002,368New Sale
KLIMT CAIRNHILLD9$4,096$9,700,0002,368New Sale
3 ORCHARD BY-THE-PARKD10$3,871$10,000,0002,583Resale
KLIMT CAIRNHILLD9$3,870$5,540,0001,432New Sale
KLIMT CAIRNHILLD9$3,816$5,710,0001,496New Sale

Rental Market Snapshot

The rental market recorded 6,133 leases in May 2023, down 12.6% month-on-month. The median monthly rent was $4,500 (down 1.7% MoM).

Median Rent by Bedroom Type:

TypeMedian Rent
1BR$3,500
2BR$4,200
3BR$5,200
4BR$8,000
5BR$9,850
6BR$11,000
NA$4,800

Most Active Rental Projects:

ProjectLeases
NON-LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT120
LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT110
THE SAIL @ MARINA BAY39
ECO38
D'LEEDON32

Planning to rent? Check out our Buy vs Rent: Finding Your Break-Even Point.

6-Month Price Trends

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

MonthMedian PSFMedian Rent
2022-12$1,411$4,300
2023-01$1,648$4,400
2023-02$1,764$4,500
2023-03$1,707$4,500
2023-04$1,987$4,580
2023-05$1,932$4,500

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

For longer-term analysis, see Sales Trends by Bedroom Type — 2026.

Supply & Demand Signals

Primary vs Secondary Market: New launches accounted for 999 units (39.8% of total), while resales made up 1,407 transactions and 107 sub-sales were recorded.

Unit Size Demand: 5BR+: 173 (6.9%) · 4BR: 270 (10.7%) · 3BR: 735 (29.2%) · 2BR: 556 (22.1%) · Studio: 242 (9.6%) · 1BR: 537 (21.4%)

Price Distribution: $500K-1M: 302 · $1M-1.5M: 680 · $1.5M-2M: 685 · $2M-3M: 473 · $3M+: 373

Explore our latest Condos with Best Views in District 22 (Jurong) for featured developments.

Outlook & What to Watch

The 2023 market saw the impact of the April IRAS ABSD ratesABSD hike for investment properties, cooling speculative demand while owner-occupier buying remained resilient.

Key takeaways for May 2023:

  • Prices have softened with median PSF falling 2.8% month-on-month.
  • Rental rates have eased with median rent down 1.7% 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 90%, near historical averages.

Useful resources: How to Use the Mortgage 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$939,000----
1$1,491,538----
1BR--$3,500/mo--
2$1,751,512----
2BR--$4,200/mo--
3$1,782,000----
3BR--$5,200/mo--
4$2,830,000----
4BR--$8,000/mo--
5$4,700,000----
5BR--$9,850/mo--
6BR--$11,000/mo--
NA--$4,800/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: 741 condos with sales data and 1571 with rental data out of 3429 tracked properties for May 2023.