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Last year, District 15 saw the launch of three notable residential projects: , Tembusu Grand, and , providing prospective homeowners with a variety of options in this sought-after area of the East. This year, anticipation surrounds a new project by Sim Lian Group, seemingly named “Emerald of Katong.” Given its proximity to the other three projects (it’s located next to Tembusu Grand), direct comparisons are inevitable. But perhaps what is of more interest to buyers would be its price. It was purchased at a lower land rate than the others and could spark keen competition among homebuyers if priced well. As such for buyers who are struggling to decide on which is a more suitable choice, this comprehensive overview will compare The Continuum, Grand Dunman, and Tembusu Grand, while also considering what we can expect from Emerald of Katong.  Let’s start with a look at how much each site was purchased for: Of the 4 projects, The Continuum at Thiam Siew Avenue stands out as it is the only project with freehold tenure. So it is no surprise that it was the highest priced at $1,440 psf ppr.  Another point to highlight was the trending decrease in bids for each following site. The Jalan Tembusu Plot 1 GLS started with a whooping eight bids, followed by the Dunman Road GLS and Jalan Tembusu Plot 2 GLS receiving only two bids each.  As the Dunman Road GLS site is going to be a large project, it is understandable why most developers had a more conservative stance when bidding for this site. This is more so given the current market conditions: the sale timeline, the slightly saturated supply in the neighbourhood, the and the supply of .  As such, the Jalan Tembusu Plot 2 GLS (Emerald of Katong) ensued an interesting response. It had the lowest number of bids and the lowest $PSF price of $1,069 PSF PPR. Compared to Tembusu Grand, this amounts to a $233 (17.9%) price difference PSF PPR.  Besides the earlier mentioned market conditions, one possibility for the lower price may lie with the – a policy rolled out last year in June 2023. This is because developers now have to take strata areas (like pesky aircon ledges that were previously omitted from the GFA) into account. If you want to see how that affects floor plans moving forward, you can take a look at our , the first project that was under the new GFA guidelines.  Interestingly enough, CDL (also the developer of Tembusu Grand) was the only other company that placed a bid for this GLS with an eyebrow-raising difference of just $1 PSF PPR. Yes, you saw that right – just a dollar.  Next, here’s a quick rundown on the key points of each project:  Currently, these are the balance units left for each project:  Here’s a look at the transacted prices of the developments.  These are the prices of what’s on offer: Considering that it’s the only freehold project on the list, it’s no surprise that The Continuum has the highest asking price in terms of $PSF and overall asking price, with a minimum starting price of $1,486,000 for the 1-bedder. But in terms of a premium gap over the rest, it may be somewhat surprising that The Continuum is only 10.8% higher than Tembusu Grand and is cheaper than Grand Dunman (at least, when comparing between the 3 bedder prices).  At first glance, all three projects have a very similar design with a long foyer that features a foyer kitchen upon entry. They also sport a rectangular-shaped living area and a balcony, along with a study space that can also double as a multi-use alcove for homeowners who require the added space. I do like that all the layouts give homeowners the choice to use it as a private study or the flexibility to combine it with the master bedroom and convert it into something else (like a walk-in wardrobe).  However, the differences in size between the common living areas and study nook means that those who are more sensitive at the price point would then be drawn to the slightly more compact Tembusu Grand.  On the same note, those who are looking for something even cheaper (and smaller) may be interested in Grand Dunman. It is currently the only new launch project that offers the more compact 1-bedroom unit sized at 452 square feet. So for those looking for the lowest entry price into the area, it would be an easy choice. This can be seen from its take-up rate as 89 out of the 92 1-bedroom units have already been sold.  Let’s head on to have a look at the 2-bedroom units.  Homeowners looking for a 2-bedroom unit would find that they have more options to choose from as all projects have several variations to cater to different buyers and their needs.  In addition to the standard 2 Bed 2 Bath layout, all three projects also come with the 2-bedroom + study layout. For a bigger range of options, Grand Dunman also offers dual-key units and The Continuum has a more spacious 2-bedder option.  Notably, all three projects share a very similar design and sport a dumbbell layout, which is generally preferred for space efficiency.  The key difference here would be the placement of the kitchen. In Grand Dunman and The Continuum’s case, these two layouts feature a foyer kitchen which has been a typical design for more space-conscious projects.  On the other hand, Tembusu Grand offers a designated kitchen nook. This is advantageous for those who cook more often – although granted, the space does not have a window for natural ventilation. Nevertheless, having a designated kitchen space is still a plus point.  As for the prices, The Continuum currently has a 6+% price difference when compared to Tembusu Grand and on average, is actually more affordable than Grand Dunman in terms of 2-bedders on an absolute price basis (though its $PSF is 8.4% more than Grand Dunman). With regards to the 3-bedders, it’s quite interesting to note that all three projects feature different layouts and sizes but with a rather similar total cost. The biggest price difference based on average prices (which is between Tembusu Grand and The Continuum) is around 13-14% on a $PSF basis.   Tembusu Grand has the most generously sized 3-bedders, with units starting from 990 sq ft.  At first glance, this might appeal to homeowners who prioritise having more space. However, upon a closer look at the floorplan, the unit might not be the most efficient as it features a long hallway and foyer which is generally not very usable space.  Grand Dunman, on the other hand, offers a comparable amount of liveable space but without the long hallway, foyer and home shelter. This results in it being 64 sq ft smaller and as a result, has the lowest average price among all 3 projects. On the other hand, The Continuum is the smallest and only project that offers a dumbbell layout, which is generally preferred for space efficiency. In this case, it is still able to offer all the same features as Tembusu Grand (including a storeroom) despite being 118 sq ft smaller.  Based on actual transactions, it still averages less than Tembusu Grand and when compared to Grand Dunman, it’s only 2.2% more expensive than Grand Dunman so far. Now, let’s take a look at the 4-bedders on offer:  Despite its highest $PSF price of $2,759 and being the sole freehold project, The Continuum surprisingly ranks as the most affordable entry point amongst all the new launch options for the 4-bedders as it recorded the lowest 4-bedroom price of $3,312,000. This is because it has the most compact unit size of 1,227 sq ft (and hence, lower total cost outlay) and the main difference is that it is a 4 Bed 2 Bath unit, while Tembusu Grand and Grand Dunman features a 4 Bed 3 Bath layout instead. That said, families looking at this price point anyway might not be too fussed at the higher prices, given the benefits of having an additional bathroom for bigger families.  On a final note, Grand Dunman had the highest entry price for the 4-bedders given the higher $PSF price of $2,642.  Last but not least, let’s look at the 5-bedroom apartments.  At first glance, the 5-bedders might look very similar, but each project has some unique points.  Starting with Tembusu Grand, the entry-level 5-bedders are quite spaciously sized at 1,711 sq ft and it comes with five bedrooms (two of which are ensuite) and three bathrooms (in which one has a jack-and-jill door for easier access).  As with all the other units in Tembusu Grand, it features a long hallway and a foyer. This unit also comes with a rather spacious balcony that spans across to the length of Bedroom 4.  The 5-bedder offered in Grand Dunman is slightly smaller and sized at 1,679 sq ft (which results in the lowest entry price of $4,016,000). In contrast, Grand Dunman offers a slightly more luxurious touch as it features a private lift, along with five bedrooms (three of them ensuite), and three bathrooms (one of them featuring a jack-and-jill component that is connected to two common bedrooms.  Last but not least, The Continuum is the most spacious unit out of the three (sized at 1,905 square feet) and has the highest asking price starting from $5,746,000. However, it also comes with more premium fittings, such as a private lift lobby, five bedrooms (including a junior master and master bedroom), three bathrooms, a powder room and a rather spacious balcony.  Furthermore, The Continuum is the only project that offers flexible room configurations.  To conclude, The Continuum is the only freehold option so those who are looking to hold for the long term wouldn’t have much of a choice. That said, its freehold title might not be a big advantage in this neighbourhood as D15 already has an extensive list of freehold condos (especially in the Joo Chiat area). Grand Dunman, on the other hand, is one of 2023’s largest mega projects and that comes with a wider range of facilities and lower maintenance fees (due to more units sharing the cost). However, this also comes with the downside of living in a denser environment, which might be a deal breaker for some folks.  What ultimately puts Grand Dunman at the biggest advantage is its location, which is a 3-minute walk to the Dakota MRT station. Depending on the unit of choice, the entry price is also quite competitive as it is more affordable than The Continuum but comparable with Tembusu Grand.  However, those who want to live the Katong lifestyle might find that Grand Dunman’s location can’t satisfy that sweet spot. The project is closer to Dakota than the shophouses (lined with restaurants and cafes) that D15 is well-loved for.  As such, buyers looking to live that lifestyle would be more drawn to Tembusu Grand, which is located a walking distance of Joo Chiat and Katong. Apart from the lifestyle appeal, it would also offer a lower living density and has one of the lowest $PSF prices, especially for those looking to own bigger units.