SINGAPORE (EDGEPROP) - Most buyers prefer to buy a new bungalow, one which they can move in without having to do any renovations. The more adventurous relish the idea of buying an old house and redeveloping it. The owner of a detached house on Linden Drive who only wants to be known as Lynette, did just that.
Finding the right house took two years. She engaged Serene Ang, management director executive at RealStar Premier Group, to help her in the search. Lynette was very specific as she wanted a location in the established private housing estate located off Dunearn Road in prime District 11. It is an area she is familiar with as her previous home was in the same neighbourhood.
The house is the only one on this cul de sac of Linden Drive with a modern grey exterior (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
Lynette wanted a site that is regular-shaped, with a wide frontage. They chanced upon just such a property located at a cul de sac on Linden Drive, off Dunearn Road. It is one of just eight built by a developer at least three decades ago. “As there are only eight houses on that street, they are known as ‘The Lucky Eight’,” says RealStar’s Ang.
Having purchased the property for $13.9 million ($1,409 psf) in August 2015, Lynette and her husband decided to tear down and redevelop the property. The result is a new, three-storey house that spans over 10,000 sq ft, sitting on a land area of 9,861 sq ft. It took about three years and $4 million to build the new house, which was completed in late 2019.
The new home was designed to accommodate a family of six: Lynette and her husband, their son, his future wife and two children. However, Lynette’s son and husband are both working overseas. Hence, most of the time, she is the sole occupant.
Still, she is happy with the way the house has turned out. During the “circuit breaker” lockdown, she appreciated the spaciousness of the house. She started to bake and cook during those months, and has become an avid baker with an active Instagram account. Hence, she appreciates the designer kitchen she has installed, with a wet and dry kitchen fitted with Brandt appliances and ample storage space including a large pantry. The shelves in the dry kitchen conceal a television, coffee machine, and wine glasses.
The dry kitchen and spacious dining area (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
While designing the house, Lynette and her husband also paid attention to the quality of materials used. “We wanted it to be a house that will endure, and will be easy to maintain,” she says. For instance, the kitchen countertops and even the dining table are customised by Dekton, a brand that is famous for its quartz countertops that are resistant to scratches, stains and UV light. There is a built-in trash chute with a lid next to the sink on the countertop of the kitchen, which makes it easy to clean up.
One end of the countertop in the dry kitchen has been lowered to a height that is comfortable for dining and serves as a breakfast nook or is ideal for an intimate group of four or five. For bigger groups or when entertaining guests, there is a long dining table that can comfortably seat 10.
The dining area has glass sliding doors on both sides. One opens out to her edible garden of herbs and fruit trees; the other to the 24.5m swimming pool and lawn. There is an outdoor area that is ideal for al fresco dining as well, and it is where Lynette enjoys having a quiet dinner.
The living room has a 10m-high ceiling, with full-height glass doors that open out to the swimming pool. A room located just off the living area has been converted into a home office for Lynette. As the room has an en suite bathroom, it is also ideal as a guest room or granny’s room.
10m-high ceilings make the living room feel airy and bright (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
The second level has four spacious bedrooms, all of which are en suite. There is not just one, but two master suites. Each has a spacious bedroom, master bathroom with double sink vanity top, bathtub, shower area and water closet as well as a walk-in wardrobe. The bigger master bedroom has two balconies. One overlooks the swimming pool and the lawn while the other overlooks the koi pond located at the front of the house.
The house has been designed such that there is adequate space for family gatherings and social interaction. The entrance foyer is spacious and has a dedicated powder room for guests. The foyer leads to all parts of the house — the living room on one side or straight ahead to the kitchen and dining area. A Schindler glass lift goes to every level of the house including the basement.
The staircase and lift landing on the second level has been designed as a spacious lounge and also a viewing gallery, as it overlooks the living area. Even the walkways leading to the bedrooms were designed to be wide to encourage conversation when heading to their respective bedrooms.
The soundproofed movie theatre in the basement fits 12 people (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
There is also a three-tiered, state-of-the-art home theatre in the basement. Designed to comfortably seat 12, the leather reclinable seats feature dedicated reading lights and drink holders. It is an ideal karaoke room too as it is soundproofed. Outside the home entertainment area is a “chill-out room”.
The entrance to the garage is at the basement level. The garage can accommodate five cars, but double that number if the driveway is included.
The house has also been designed to be energy-efficient and the whole house can be powered using the solar panels installed on the roof.
Lynette has decided to put it on the market for sale at an asking price of $23.8 million ($2,414 psf). Ang of RealStar Premier has been appointed the exclusive marketing agent for the property.
According to Ang, there has been a lot of interest in the house, particularly from “new Singapore citizens”. “They prefer buying a new house that they can just move into, without the hassle of having to renovate,” she says.
The view from the second-floor corridor (Photo: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)
The house is ideal for those with school-going children as top schools such as Raffles Girls’ Primary School, Methodist Girls’ School and Singapore Chinese Girls’ School are located nearby. Hwa Chong Institution and Hwa Chong International are also located within a 2km range, in addition to Nanyang Girls’ High School and National Junior College.
The proximity to Dunearn Road is an added convenience as it is close to public transport, with the bus stop and MRT stations nearby, says RealStar’s Ang. Sixth Avenue MRT Station is a 10-minute walk from the property. Additionally, the property is a 10-minute drive to Holland Village and a 15-minute drive to the Orchard Road shopping belt, she adds.
With Covid-19 restrictions extending into 2021 and beyond, there has been a stronger preference for larger homes: “It’s not just Good Class Bungalows (GCB), but the demand for bungalows of land sizes between 7,000 and 10,000 sq ft have increased, especially those in prime locations,” says William Wong, the managing director of RealStar Premier Group.
Even in the GCB market, the demand has increased for larger plots above 20,000 sq ft. Recent GCB transactions brokered by RealStar include one at Binjai Park sitting on a land area of 22,649 sq ft, that was sold for $31.35 million ($1,384 psf) at the end of January, another one at Holland Park and Chestnut Avenue.
RealStar is also said to have brokered a newly-completed linked detached house at Lengkok Merak in the One Tree Hill neighbourhood for close to the asking price. “Demand for newly completed homes is at an all-time high, partly because buyers understand that construction cost is higher, and that it will take longer to build a new home due to the pandemic,” says Wong. He reckons transaction volume has increased about 20% in 2020, compared to a year ago and projects that prices are likely to increase by about 5% to 7% this year.
Check out the latest listings near Linden Drive, Dunearn Road, Holland Village, Sixth Avenue MRT Station