Faber Hills
Overview & Key Facts
Faber Hills occupies a quietly elevated position on Faber Avenue in District 5 — one of the most storied residential addresses in Singapore’s property history. Completed in 1978 and developed by United Overseas Land Ltd, the company that would later become UOL Group, one of Singapore’s most respected publicly listed developers, Faber Hills represents an era when Singapore’s private residential market was in its infancy. The development comprises just 96 units, a scale that was ambitious for Singapore’s nascent condo market in the late 1970s, and it sits on a generously sized freehold land parcel that reflects the planning norms of the time.
The UOL pedigree carries real weight here. United Overseas Land was founded in 1963 and has since grown into a diversified conglomerate with a portfolio spanning residential, hospitality, commercial, and retail assets across Singapore and the region. Its flagship residential projects — from the Park Infinia at Wee Nam to the more recent Avenue South Residence — are consistently associated with quality construction and long-term capital preservation. That this same developer delivered Faber Hills nearly five decades ago gives the development a lineage few vintage condominiums can claim.
At 46 years old, Faber Hills is an exceptionally rare asset: a freehold condominium on prestigious Faber Avenue with a developer pedigree reaching back to Singapore’s earliest modern residential era. Buildings from this period were typically constructed to different standards than today — concrete frames and structural systems that in many cases have proven more durable than expected. For buyers who understand Singapore’s land scarcity and the enduring value of freehold tenure in District 5, Faber Hills occupies a niche that newer developments simply cannot replicate.
Location & Connectivity
Faber Hills sits on Faber Avenue, a quiet, tree-lined residential road tucked between the lower flanks of Mount Faber and the broader Clementi/West Coast precinct. The address itself carries a prestige that numbers alone cannot capture — Faber Avenue is one of the few low-density, predominantly freehold residential corridors remaining in District 5, shielded from the arterial traffic of the West Coast Highway and Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) by the hill itself.
The nearest MRT station is Clementi (EW23) on the East-West Line, approximately 741 metres away — a comfortable 9 to 10-minute walk for most residents, or a very short drive. This positions Faber Hills meaningfully better than many vintage freehold condominiums in the area on the transit accessibility dimension. Clementi MRT provides direct access to the CBD via Raffles Place in under 25 minutes, and connects westward to Jurong East interchange, giving residents excellent network reach without transfers.
The Southern Ridges — Singapore’s most celebrated urban forest trail system — begins effectively at Faber Hills’ doorstep. The interconnected green corridor linking Mount Faber Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, Henderson Waves, HortPark, and Kent Ridge Park runs for roughly 10 km and is accessible via local paths from the immediate neighbourhood. For residents who value outdoor recreation, this is an extraordinary daily-use asset: trail running, cycling, and sunset walks to Faber Peak (where the Singapore Cable Car terminal connects to HarbourFront and Sentosa) are all genuinely within reach on foot. Few urban residential addresses in Singapore can claim such immediate access to a nature corridor of this quality.
For day-to-day errands, The Clementi Mall — one of Singapore’s most comprehensively planned suburban malls — is a short drive or direct bus ride away, anchored by a FairPrice Finest, Cold Storage, Cathay Cineplexes, and a range of F&B options. The National University of Singapore (NUS) campus and one-north / Science Park employment clusters are within a 5 to 10-minute drive, making Faber Hills a natural choice for academics, researchers, and professionals working in the western knowledge corridor.
Schools & Education
3 primary schools within the 1 km Priority Phase balloting radius.
| School | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nan Hua Primary School | primary | Within 1 km |
| One World International School (Nanyang) | international | Within 1 km |
| Clementi Town Secondary School | secondary | Within 1 km |
| Nan Hua High School | secondary | Within 1 km |
| Clementi Primary School | primary | Within 1 km |
| Qifa Primary School | primary | Within 1 km |
| Pei Tong Primary School | primary | ~1.2 km |
| NUS High School of Mathematics and Science | jc | ~2.0 km |
Facilities
Faber Hills was completed in 1978, when Singapore’s condominium culture was still taking shape. Facilities expectations at the time were modest: a swimming pool, covered parking, and communal landscaped grounds were considered premium. By today’s multi-facility standards — gyms, function rooms, tennis courts, aqua gyms — what Faber Hills offers is honest and unpretentious rather than comprehensive. Prospective buyers and tenants should approach the development’s facilities with this context firmly in mind.
The generous land-to-unit ratio that was typical of 1970s Singapore condo planning means the grounds at Faber Hills are more spacious per unit than most developments built in the past two decades. The pool area, while not competition-grade, benefits from ample surrounding greenery. The covered car park, a practical amenity often taken for granted, is properly proportioned for the 96-unit scale. What is notably absent — a well-equipped gym, multiple sports courts, function suites, a guard house with 24-hour security — reflects vintage expectations rather than any failure of the development per se.
“Old condo, but well-maintained grounds and the pool area is decent. It’s quiet and you don’t feel crowded. The low-rise character of the whole Faber Avenue stretch makes it feel very different from everywhere else in Singapore.”
— Resident comment via EdgeProp
Unit Sizes & Layout
One of the most compelling characteristics of Faber Hills — and a defining feature of condominiums from the 1970s era more broadly — is the sheer scale of the units. Singapore developers of this period built to expectations of space rather than price-per-square-foot optimisation. The average monthly rental quantum of approximately S$9,012 at Faber Hills is a strong data point: at prevailing D5 rental rates, this level of rental income points unmistakably to very large apartments — likely predominantly 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom configurations, or substantial 3-bedroom units well in excess of 1,500 sqft. By comparison, a typical new-launch 4-bedroom unit today might measure 1,300 to 1,400 sqft. The vintage units at Faber Hills are, in all probability, meaningfully larger.
Structural quality in 1970s Singapore construction was often excellent — buildings from this era used thick concrete slabs, higher floor-to-ceiling heights, and structural specifications that in many cases have aged remarkably well. What will require attention is the fitout: plumbing, electrical systems, kitchen fittings, and bathroom configurations will all reflect their vintage and typically require a comprehensive renovation programme before the units can be presented to modern standards. Buyers should budget accordingly — a quality full-unit renovation for apartments of this size can run S$150,000 to S$250,000 or more. The payoff, however, is a renovated apartment with a spatial generosity and ceiling height that simply cannot be replicated in any new launch.
| Bedrooms | Transactions | Avg PSF | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 BR | 3 | $1,616 | $2,668,333 |
| 5 BR | 34 | $1,527 | $6,229,785 |
Pricing & Market Position
Based on 37 recorded transactions, sale prices range from $1,990,000 to $10,000,000, averaging $5,941,019 (~$1,473 psf).
Rents range from $2,800 to $18,400 per month across 177 rental transactions. Current rental yield sits at approximately 1.5%.
Price Appreciation
From 2021 to 2025, the average PSF has appreciated by 15.3% (from $1,364 to $1,574 psf).
Neighbourhood Comparison
Buyers considering Faber Hills will naturally look at neighbouring developments along the Faber / Clementi / West Coast corridor. Faber Crest (1999, 99-year leasehold) and Faber Garden (1984, freehold) represent the most direct comparisons in terms of address. Faber Garden, being freehold and sharing the same Faber Avenue precinct, is arguably the closest analogue — though it is slightly older and carries a different unit configuration. Faber Crest offers a more modern facility set and leasehold tenure at a typically lower transacted PSF, making it the practical choice for buyers who prioritise facilities over tenure. For tenure-conscious buyers, the freehold comparison between Faber Hills and Faber Garden comes down to relative unit size, condition, and current pricing.
Broader D5 comparisons include the newer launches along West Coast Avenue and the Clementi corridor — developments such as The Clement Canopy (99-year, 2019) and various West Coast developments. These newer projects transact at PSF premiums of 30 to 60% above Faber Hills, reflect contemporary facility packages and building specifications, but offer leasehold rather than freehold tenure. The trade-off is explicit: at S$1,577 psf (freehold, D5, Faber Avenue), Faber Hills offers a tenure premium relative to the leasehold alternatives that is genuinely difficult to disagree with on a long-term land-value basis, even accounting for the renovation requirement and dated facilities.
| Development | Tenure | TOP | Units | ~Avg PSF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FABER HILLS | Freehold | 1978 | 96 | $1,473 |
| LANDED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT | Freehold | 2021 | 156 | $1,842 |
| NORMANTON PARK | 99 yrs lease commencing from 2019 | 2021 | 1,840 | $1,866 |
| PARC CLEMATIS | 99 yrs lease commencing from 2019 | 2021 | 1,450 | $1,888 |
| ELTA | 99 yrs lease commencing from 2024 | 2025 | 501 | $2,556 |
| FABER RESIDENCE | 99 yrs lease commencing from 2025 | 2025 | 399 | $2,158 |
ShiokNest Scores
Our proprietary scoring system evaluates FABER HILLS across multiple dimensions.
What Residents Say
“We’ve been here 12 years. The size of the unit is something you just can’t find anywhere in Singapore anymore at this price point. Our living room is bigger than some 3-bedroom condos I’ve seen. The whole stretch of Faber Avenue is just so peaceful — it feels like a different Singapore.”
— Long-term resident, quoted via EdgeProp
“The location is genuinely special. You can walk to the Southern Ridges in the evening, and Clementi MRT is not too far if you don’t want to drive. NUS shuttle is easy. The building itself is old but the environment makes up for it.”
— Tenant review via PropertyGuru
“Good for families who want space and don’t mind the vintage condition. Our unit needed full renovation but the bones of the place are solid. Ceiling height alone is worth it.”
— Owner review via 99.co
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Freehold tenure — permanent ownership on Faber Avenue, District 5
- UOL Group developer pedigree — one of Singapore's most respected listed developers
- Very large vintage units — spacious layouts typical of 1970s construction standards
- Southern Ridges hiking network accessible on foot (Mount Faber, Henderson Waves, HortPark)
- En-bloc score 62/100 — moderate-high potential for a 1978 D5 freehold with 96 units
- Prestigious, low-density Faber Avenue address with established landed enclave character
- Clementi MRT (EW23) approximately 741m — manageable 9-10 minute walk
- NUS, one-north and Science Park proximity — strong rental demand from knowledge corridor
- High ceilings and generous floor areas characteristic of 1970s construction — rare in modern market
- Rare asset class — 1978 freehold condo in D5 with UOL lineage cannot be replicated
- 1978 completion — full renovation required; budget S$150,000–S$250,000+ for large units
- Investment score 46/100 — composite yield and momentum metrics below average
- Facilities dated and minimal by modern condominium standards
- Walkability score 50/100 — car-dependent neighbourhood, limited pedestrian retail
- Dover MRT (EW22) very far at approximately 2.3 km — secondary station not useful
- No modern gym, tennis courts, function rooms, or 24-hour guard post
- Age-related maintenance risk — mechanical and electrical systems likely require significant upgrading
- Limited transaction volume — fewer comparable sales makes pricing and exit less predictable
- Not suitable for buyers seeking move-in-ready units or short-term yield strategies
Verdict
The core investment thesis for Faber Hills converges on three interlocking pillars: freehold tenure on Faber Avenue, UOL developer pedigree, and en-bloc optionality. Singapore’s land scarcity narrative is not abstract for properties like Faber Hills — it is existential. A 1978 freehold development on a prestige street in District 5, on what is almost certainly a large, well-configured land parcel, represents exactly the profile that en-bloc committees and developers have pursued in recent collective sale cycles. With an en-bloc score of 62 out of 100 — rated moderate-to-high on the ShiokNest scale — the development sits within realistic distance of collective sale viability. At 96 units, the consent threshold (80% of share values and strata area) is achievable with serious organising effort, unlike large developments where corralling hundreds of owners creates structural barriers.
The profile of the typical Faber Hills holder reflects the asset itself: long-term freehold owners who acquired or inherited units in an earlier era, legacy tenants occupying large family apartments at rents that reflect spatial value rather than PSF metrics, and a small number of investors who understand the en-bloc and land-value story. For this class of buyer, the investment score of 46/100 on our composite model — which weights yield, MRT distance, and price momentum heavily — understates the real-options value of the asset. The walkability score of 50/100, while reflecting the car-dependent nature of the address, also misses the Southern Ridges access, which is a qualitative amenity of a different character from pedestrian retail convenience.
Who should buy Faber Hills? Primarily those with a long-term horizon and a genuine understanding of Singapore freehold land value in the western district. The asset makes most sense as a multi-generational hold for own-stay in a prestigious, low-density setting; as a patient en-bloc play in one of Singapore’s most sought-after vintage freehold precincts; or for the informed investor willing to renovate and command premium rentals from the NUS, one-north, and international school catchment that anchors the D5 rental market. This is not a development for short-term yield optimisers or buyers seeking clean, move-in-ready units. It is a development for those who know what they are buying and why freehold land on Faber Avenue in 2026 remains a fundamentally scarce asset.