The Vanderlint
Overview & Key Facts
The Vanderlint is a freehold boutique condominium on Ceylon Road in District 15, developed by Urban East Developments Pte Ltd and completed in 2015. With only 20 units spread across a compact footprint, it occupies one of the quieter residential lanes branching off the well-established Katong–Marine Parade corridor — a part of Singapore that has historically attracted buyers who prize neighbourhood character over density. Ceylon Road itself is lined with pre-war shophouses and low-rise residential buildings, giving the street a texture that newer, larger developments in the vicinity cannot replicate.
At 20 units, The Vanderlint belongs squarely in the micro-boutique category — a tier that appeals to buyers seeking exclusivity, low-rise scale, and the absence of resort-style facilities and their associated maintenance fees. The development sits on freehold land, which in Singapore’s property market carries a structural premium that is particularly relevant in a district where competing new launches are exclusively 99-year leasehold. For buyers focused on long-term capital preservation, that freehold title on a D15 address is a material consideration.
Transaction records show a median price of S$850,000 and a 12-month average PSF of approximately S$1,687 — a significant discount to the new freehold benchmark in the area, The Continuum, which trades at around S$2,790 psf. That gap reflects the age of the development, the limited facilities, and the small unit count, but for a buyer who genuinely values freehold tenure over amenity breadth, the arithmetic is compelling.
Location & Connectivity
The Vanderlint sits on Ceylon Road, a quiet residential street that connects Tanjong Katong Road to the network of lanes running through the historic Katong enclave. The nearest MRT options are Marine Parade (TEL) at approximately 0.81 km and Tanjong Katong (TEL) at 0.88 km — both on the Thomson-East Coast Line, which opened progressively from 2023. Walking either station is a 10–12 minute stroll, depending on block. For the first time in this neighbourhood’s history, residents have direct MRT access without a transfer, with the TEL linking to Orchard, Stevens, and Gardens by the Bay in a single line.
For drivers, the East Coast Parkway (ECP) is accessible within minutes via Tanjong Katong Road, placing the CBD at roughly 12–15 minutes in off-peak conditions. Paya Lebar and the broader Geylang commercial belt are under 10 minutes. Changi Airport is one of the most accessible in Singapore from this address — a genuine convenience for frequent travellers. Katong Shopping Centre, i12 Katong, and the Parkway Parade cluster at Marine Parade Road are all within 1.2 km, offering a full range of grocery, food, and retail options without requiring a car.
The Katong–Marine Parade precinct has one of the highest concentrations of eating options per square kilometre in eastern Singapore. Ceylon Road is itself home to well-known laksa and mee pok establishments. The East Coast Park PCN is accessible from the Marine Parade end of Joo Chiat Road, roughly 10–12 minutes by foot or a short ride by bicycle — providing the green lung and waterfront access that residents of this neighbourhood frequently cite as a lifestyle differentiator.
Schools & Education
4 primary schools within the 1 km Priority Phase balloting radius.
| School | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian International School (Tanjong Katong) | international | Within 1 km |
| Broadrick Secondary School | secondary | Within 1 km |
| EtonHouse International School (Broadrick) | international | Within 1 km |
| Tanjong Katong Girls' School | secondary | Within 1 km |
| Tao Nan School | primary | Within 1 km |
| CHIJ (Katong) Primary | primary | Within 1 km |
| Tanjong Katong Primary School | primary | Within 1 km |
| Haig Girls' School | primary | Within 1 km |
Facilities
As a 20-unit micro-boutique development, The Vanderlint provides essentials rather than amenity breadth. Buyers should approach the facilities honestly: there is no clubhouse, no gym, no tennis court, and no function room. What the development offers is a swimming pool and the basic landscaping typical of boutique projects in this class. This is not an oversight — it is the expected trade-off when buying into a 20-unit freehold project. Residents who want resort-style facilities are shopping in the wrong category; residents who want to avoid the overhead of a large MCST are buying exactly the right kind of development.
One practical upside of minimal common facilities is meaningfully lower maintenance fees. Boutique developments without large amenity footprints typically charge S$200–S$350 per month for a standard unit — considerably less than developments of 100+ units with full facility suites. For investors treating the unit purely as a rental asset, a lower monthly outlay improves holding-period cash flow on a gross yield that already sits at approximately 3.74%. For own-stay buyers who prefer the neighbourhood itself over what is inside the compound, The Vanderlint’s stripped-back model is a feature rather than a compromise.
Unit Sizes & Layout
With a median transacted price of S$850,000 and an average PSF around S$1,687, units at The Vanderlint are likely in the 500–700 sqft range for the typical resale configuration — a size band common among boutique D15 freehold projects completed between 2010 and 2016. In that vintage, developers targeted compact 1- and 2-bedroom footprints to price units accessibly within an otherwise premium freehold district. At 20 units, the mix is necessarily limited: buyers should verify the specific layout being offered and cross-check against the building plans filed with URA SPACE. Ceiling heights, balcony configurations, and bathroom count matter significantly in this size band.
One structural consideration worth flagging: at S$1,687 psf, The Vanderlint is trading at a substantial discount to both The Continuum (S$2,790 psf, freehold) and the leasehold new launches in the immediate area, which average S$2,461–S$2,640 psf. Some of this gap reflects age and a smaller unit count limiting comparable sales. But it also presents a value entry point for buyers who want a freehold D15 address without stretching to new-launch pricing. The caveat is that a 2015 completed development is now over a decade old — buyers should budget for bathroom and kitchen refreshes, and verify the condition of shared systems (lifts, plumbing, facade) before committing.
| Bedrooms | Transactions | Avg PSF | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 BR | 3 | $1,665 | $726,667 |
| 1 BR | 2 | $1,614 | $894,500 |
| 2 BR | 2 | $1,687 | $1,308,000 |
Pricing & Market Position
Based on 7 recorded transactions, sale prices range from $580,000 to $1,370,000, averaging $940,714 (~$1,687 psf).
Rents range from $1,650 to $4,000 per month across 27 rental transactions. Current rental yield sits at approximately 3.7%.
Price Appreciation
From 2021 to 2026, the average PSF has appreciated by 9% (from $1,540 to $1,678 psf).
Neighbourhood Comparison
The most instructive comparison is with The Continuum (S$2,790 psf, freehold, 816 units), which trades on the same freehold argument in the same district but at a 65% PSF premium. Buyers get a full amenity suite, more unit variety, and higher liquidity, but pay significantly more per square foot for essentially the same neighbourhood access. Amber Park (S$2,540 psf, freehold, 592 units) offers a similar comparison: premium finishing, full facilities, and greater liquidity at a material price premium.
Against the 99-year new launches — Emerald of Katong (S$2,640 psf), Grand Dunman (S$2,537 psf), and Tembusu Grand (S$2,461 psf) — The Vanderlint’s freehold advantage becomes more pronounced. A buyer choosing between a S$1,687 psf freehold and a S$2,500+ psf 99-year leasehold is effectively paying a 10–15% premium for the leasehold’s newer finish and facility suite, while forgoing perpetual land ownership. For long-term holders, the freehold argument compounds. The counterpoint is liquidity: those new launches will transact more frequently and with more buyer competition, making them easier to exit in a down market.
| Development | Tenure | TOP | Units | ~Avg PSF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE VANDERLINT | Freehold | 2015 | 20 | $1,687 |
| GRAND DUNMAN | 99 yrs lease commencing from 2022 | 2023 | 1,008 | $2,537 |
| EMERALD OF KATONG | 99 yrs lease commencing from 2023 | 2024 | 846 | $2,640 |
| THE CONTINUUM | Freehold | 2023 | 816 | $2,790 |
| TEMBUSU GRAND | 99 yrs lease commencing from 2022 | 2023 | 638 | $2,461 |
| AMBER PARK | Freehold | 2021 | 592 | $2,540 |
ShiokNest Scores
Our proprietary scoring system evaluates THE VANDERLINT across multiple dimensions.
What Residents Say
“Really appreciate the quiet on Ceylon Road — completely different feel from the busier Tanjong Katong Road. The boutique size means no waiting for lifts and you actually know your neighbours. With Marine Parade MRT open now, commuting into town is finally easy.”
— Resident review via PropertyGuru
“We moved here primarily because of the schools. Canadian International is literally steps away, and Tanjong Katong Girls is around the corner. For an expat family, this address makes the school run a non-issue. The condo itself is basic, but the location more than compensates.”
— Tenant review via PropertyGuru
“Freehold, quiet street, reasonable maintenance fees. The pool is small and there’s no gym to speak of, so if you’re used to a full facility condo you’ll notice the difference. But the trade-off on price versus The Continuum or Amber Park is significant — I can live without the gym at this psf.”
— Owner review via EdgeProp
Sentiment across review platforms reflects a consistent pattern: residents who chose The Vanderlint deliberately — for school proximity, freehold tenure, or boutique scale — are satisfied. The main frustrations come from buyers who expected more from common facilities or were surprised by the limited amenity provision. The school adjacency cluster is the single most frequently cited positive, followed by street-level quiet and the absence of the noise and crowding common to larger developments.
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Freehold tenure in D15 — perpetual land ownership at a significant PSF discount to new-launch comparables
- Exceptional school cluster immediately adjacent — Canadian International (0.02 km), Broadrick Secondary, EtonHouse International, Tanjong Katong Girls (0.09 km)
- TEL connectivity opened — Marine Parade MRT 0.81 km and Tanjong Katong MRT 0.88 km both walkable
- Quiet residential street character — Ceylon Road retains low-rise, pre-war neighbourhood scale
- Boutique 20-unit scale — no crowding at pool or lifts, genuine community feel
- Low maintenance fees vs full-facility developments — direct saving for investors and own-stay buyers
- Structural rental demand from expat school families — school proximity drives recurring tenancy
- East Coast Park and PCN accessible within 10-12 minutes on foot
- PSF c.35-40% below comparable freehold new launches (The Continuum, Amber Park)
- Minimal facilities — no gym, no clubhouse, no tennis court; pool only
- 20-unit scale means very low transaction liquidity — resale may take longer in soft markets
- Development is over a decade old (TOP 2015) — renovation and maintenance budget required
- Low En-Bloc score (39/100) — boutique freehold developments rarely attract viable collective sale bids
- Limited unit mix variety — fewer options than larger developments for size or configuration preferences
- Gross yield 3.74% — acceptable but not outstanding for an investment play
- Small pool area typical of micro-boutique project; not suitable for lap swimming
- ShiokNest Score 56/100 — reflects the trade-off between freehold advantage and facility/liquidity gaps
Verdict
The Vanderlint is a clear buy for a specific buyer profile and a poor fit for anyone outside it. The case for it is straightforward: freehold land in District 15 on a quiet residential street, walking distance to two TEL stations, within 100 metres of some of Singapore’s highest-regarded schools, and priced at a discount of 35–40% to comparable new freehold launches in the same district. For a small family, a couple, or an investor seeking a freehold D15 rental asset, that combination is hard to replicate at this price point.
The case against is equally clear: 20 units means low liquidity. In a slow market, a seller may wait considerably longer for a buyer than in a 300+ unit development where transactions occur every few weeks. Facilities are minimal — buyers accustomed to condo amenity suites will find the absence of a gym and function rooms conspicuous. And while S$1,687 psf is a discount today, it reflects a genuine age premium: the development is over a decade old, and some capital expenditure on renovation and maintenance is realistic for new owners.
Investors should note the 3.74% gross yield — acceptable for freehold D15 but not exceptional. The rental market on Ceylon Road draws strongly from the adjacent school cluster: Canadian International School Tanjong Katong (0.02 km), EtonHouse International Broadrick, and Broadrick Secondary are effectively next door, generating recurring demand from expat families who prioritise school proximity above all else. That demand driver is structural and unlikely to diminish. For a buy-and-hold investor with a 10+ year horizon and no immediate need for liquidity, The Vanderlint’s freehold title and school adjacency make it a defensible long-term hold even at current pricing.