New property measures may target small units:DBS

Despite the proportion of buyers falling marginally to 33% in January 2011, channel checks confirmed that smaller size units remained popular.

According to DBS, they combed through the new-sale caveats lodged since Jan 2010 and found that the proportion of buyers who bought small units <800sf, climbed from an average of 24% early last 2010 (Jan - Jun 2010) to 34% in December 2010, before falline only marginally to 33% in January 2011.

Whilst this could be a function of developers downsizing unit sizes to make them more affordable, DBS questions the sustainability of the demand in the longer term.

URA guidelines on more stringent show flat requirements and site plans could be a sign that new measures could target this market segment.