9 Condos You Buy for Convenience

By Yong Yun Lin

/ The Edge Property |

June 21, 2016 2:25 PM SGT

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Don’t we all love convenience? We love having our favourite char kway teow anytime we want. We enjoy the short stroll to the supermarket in the evening to pick up our groceries. We prefer locations that are within MRTs. Need a dress right before the banquet? A mall is just right around the corner.

Connectivity and convenience are crucial for many when it comes to choosing a place, and this is why many properties in Singapore are marketed to promote nearby amenities. However, do we truly know which project offers the best selection of amenities? Thankfully, with the help of data technology, we now have some guidance.

We’ve crunched through millions of data points to find you latest projects with the best convenience or connectivity. For connectivity, we looked at the availability of MRTs, LRT stations and bus stops within 500m from the respective projects. For convenience, we looked through a diverse range of 14 amenities within the same radius — shopping malls, ATMs, bank branches, childcare centres, clinics, community clubs, dentists, groceries, kindergartens, libraries, national parks, petrol stations, hawker centres, schools and sports club. We built in an algorithm to account for the marginal returns of each variable, e.g. having 3 bus stops are less beneficial than having a combined amenities of 1 MRT, 1 LRT and 1 bus stop. We also account for the importance of each amenity, e.g. having a good school nearby is probably more important than a prominent hawker center for most people.

With these in place, we are pleased to present you a list of new condominiums you might consider buying (in no particular order), based on convenience. In our next write-up, we will shift our focus to projects which offer the best connectivity.

Don't agree with the list below? Think your condo has better access? Let us know here

Condos you buy for convenience in Core Central Region (CCR)

1. DUO Residences

DUO Residences, a joint iconic development by Malaysia’s Khazanah and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, is located right at the heart of Bugis. Expected to be completed in 2017, DUO is surrounded by eight popular shopping malls, such as Bugis Junction and Suntec City Mall. It is also home to a number of historical sites and important monuments. Feeling like a bookworm? Singapore’s central library is a 5-min walk away. This project would also likely generate strong rental yield, given the number of schools & colleges (16 to be precise!) that are available within walking distance from the property.

Click here to learn more about DUO Residences

2. RV Residences

This 999-year tenure project is nestled along River Valley Road in prime District 10, strategically located next to the Orchard Road shopping belt, Central Business District and Valley Point Shopping Centre. Hungry? Simply head to the shophouses along River Valley where a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and famous food eateries can be found.

Click here to learn more about RV Residences

3. Cairnhill Nine

You can’t go wrong with this prestigious development if you love to shop. It is located on the Orchard Road shopping belt, a short walk from Ngee Ann City and Paragon Shopping Centre. In total, there are 22 malls - ALL within 500 meters! Paragon Medical Centre which houses 43 dentists and 13 medical clinics is a sheltered walk away. Popular international and local schools such as Chatsworth International School, Finnish International School, Raffles Girls Secondary School, River Valley Primary School are located nearby.

Click here for more information about Cairnhill Nine

Other notable new projects in CCR: The Rise @ Oxley, Sophia Hills, Marina One

Condos you buy for convenience in Rest of Central Region (RCR)

1. Sky Vue

CapitaLand’s Sky Vue is three minutes’ walking distance of Bishan MRT station and Junction 8 shopping mall. An interchange station, Bishan is also within 20 minutes’ commuting time from major commercial nodes — City Hall and Raffles Place via the North-South Line as well as Paya Lebar and Buona Vista growth corridors via the Circle Line. Additionally, there’s a number of childcare centers, kindergartens and schools conveniently located within walking distance. Coupled with the relatively smaller layout, Sky Vue could be the ideal choice for young families.

Click here to learn more about Sky Vue

2. Highline Residences

Developed by Keppel Land, Highline Residences is located at Kim Tian Road of the vibrant Tiong Bahru, famous for its local food fare at the renowned Tiong Bahru Market & Food Centre, which was voted one of the best hawker centres in Singapore. Residents in search for eateries won’t have to travel far - numerous restaurants and bars have been shifting in these few years, making the estate a haven for foodies. Enjoy spending your weekend cafe hopping? The number of ‘hipster’ cafes and coffee shops around the neighbourhood would keep you busy.

Click here for more on Highline Residences

3. #1 Suites

This freehold residential development is one of the latest launches located in dynamic District 14. It sets a new benchmark for city-fringe living with a vast selection of amenities within the circle. Residents can enjoy numerous 24 hours eateries along Geylang Road and the nearby 51 Old Airport Road Food Centre. Geylang has been a top investment pick for years as the area has consistently commanded good rental yield, which is ideal for first time property buyer!

Click here for properties available at #1 Suites

Other notable new projects in RCR: Tre Residences, Sennett Residence, Sturdee Residences, The Poiz Residences

Condos you buy for convenience Outside Central Region (OCR)

1. North Park Residences

North Park Residences of Yishun is a one-of-its kind mixed development offering unique benefits through its integrations with NorthPoint City, which features more than 500 retails, F&B and a community hub. With the condo built on top of an integrated transport hub, residents can enjoy a short walk through a linked underpass to the Yishun MRT station and an air-conditioned bus interchange. This highly sought-after development provides absolute convenience, transforming Yishun into a coveted lifestyle destination. Potential for investment? We give it a green light.

Click here to learn more about North Park Residences

2. J Gateway

Located right in the heart of the biggest commercial hub outside city centre, the construction of J Gateway has transformed the landscape of Jurong Lake District. Living in this high-rise condo, one could possibly be spoilt by various choice of entertainment amenities such as IMM, Westgate, JCube, Jem and Big Box. The rest of the conveniences can be accessed effortlessly too - 22 schools, 15 healthcare and 4 bank branches, all within 500 meters!

Click here for to find out more about the prospects for J Gateway

3. La Fiesta

Fiesta often means ‘festival’ or ‘party’ in Spanish. Residents of La Fiesta can expect an adventurous and splendid living in Sengkang. With Compass One shopping centre and Kopitiam Square just across the road, picking up daily essential and good food are downright convenient. Accessibility wise, there is a covered linkway which connects the condo to the transportation hub in just 5 minutes. Lifestyle lovers would love the wide offerings of outdoor family fun as Sengkang Floating Wetland, Sengkang Sports & Recreation Centre, Punggol Promenade and Jetty are located just a stone's throw away!