TLDR
A case study comparing condos near light industrial areas in Yishun and Bishan found that proximity to these zones does not negatively impact condo prices or profitability. In fact, condos closer to light industrial areas showed higher returns on investment (ROI) and better profitability over 10 years compared to those further away. Factors such as lower entry prices, good rental prospects from nearby workers, and market competition play a larger role in condo performance than industrial proximity. Heavy industries are usually far from residential zones, so light industrial areas near homes mostly consist of less disruptive uses like warehouses. Overall, industrial proximity is less significant than market positioning, entry price, and unit supply in determining condo value. For personalized real estate advice, consulting experts with data-driven insights is recommended.
Conventional wisdom in Singapore often dictates that proximity to industrial areas negatively impacts property values. However, this generalization oversimplifies the reality, as not all industrial areas are created equal. Heavy industries with significant pollution are typically located far from residential zones, while areas near homes tend to house lighter industries like warehouses and material suppliers. To examine the actual impact of these light industrial areas on condo prices, we conducted a case study in Yishun and Bishan.
We selected Yishun and Bishan because they offer a sufficient number of condos both near and far from light industrial areas for a meaningful comparison. Executive Condominiums (ECs) were excluded to avoid distorting the data, as they are subsidized and have specific regulations.
In Yishun, condos near the industrial area include Yishun Emerald, Yishun Sapphire, Eight Courtyards, Symphony Suites, and Rafflesia Condominium. Condos further away include Canberra Residences, Lillydale, The Canopy, and The Nautical.
Comparing their price movements and Return on Investment (ROI) over a 10-year period (2014-2024), we found a surprising result: condos nearer the industrial area had a higher approximate ROI (around 41.91%) compared to those further away (around 21.76%).
Yishun Emerald and Yishun Sapphire, with their relatively low starting prices, showed strong performance. Canberra Residences and The Nautical, located further from the industrial area, seemed to underperform, while The Canopy and Bishan 8 performed well regardless of proximity.
Factors contributing to these trends include the influx of newer condos near Canberra Residences, creating stronger competition, and higher starting prices for Canberra Residences and The Nautical limiting their appreciation potential.
Analyzing profitability from 2011 onwards (to account for SSD), condos near industrial areas like Eight Courtyards and Symphony Suites had nearly all profitable transactions. Yishun Emerald and Yishun Sapphire also showed strong profitability despite some losing transactions.
This suggests that proximity to light industrial areas did not negatively impact profitability in Yishun. In fact, factors like entry prices and rental prospects, particularly the ready supply of tenants from nearby workers, appear to outweigh the influence of industrial proximity.
In Bishan, Tresalveo, Boonview, Marymount View, and Seasons View are near the industrial area, while Sky Habitat, Sky Vue, and Bishan 8 are further away.
Similar to Yishun, Bishan condos near industrial areas had a higher approximate ROI (55.33%) compared to those further away (32.91%). This again suggests no negative impact from industrial proximity.
Marymount View (near industrial) and Bishan 8 (further away) were top performers, indicating that industrial proximity may have less impact than other factors. Marymount View’s strong appreciation was likely influenced by its lower entry price.
Looking at profitability, Sky Habitat had the highest percentage of losing transactions, potentially due to its relaunch at a lower price point. However, condos closer to the industrial area, with the exception of Boonview (due to a small number of transactions), seemed to fare better.
Based on our case studies in Yishun and Bishan, proximity to light industrial areas does not appear to negatively impact condo profitability. In many cases, condos near these areas performed better, potentially due to factors like improved rentability and lower starting prices.
It is evident that other factors, such as market positioning, entry price, and the number of units, significantly outweigh industrial proximity as a primary determinant of condo performance. This may also be attributed to the nature of light industrial zones in Singapore, which are typically kept separate from residential areas to minimize pollution and noise.
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