Waterloo Street hotel redevelopment site up for en bloc sale

CBRE, as the exclusive marketing agent, is launching the public tender sale of Min Yuan, a 27-unit residential with commercial on 1st storey development at 62 Waterloo Street.

Waterloo Street
Image credit: CBRE

The Waterloo Street property sits on a 999-year leasehold site of approximately 14,629 square feet. While the site is currently zoned for “Residential with Commercial at 1st storey” use under the 2014 Master Plan, the site can be redeveloped to accommodate a hotel building at a plot ratio of 4.2, or with a maximum permissible gross floor area of approximately 61,443 square feet, subject to re-zoning guidelines and conditions fulfilment, based on URA Outline Planning Permission advice.

Galven Tan, Executive Director, Capital Markets and Residential Services of CBRE said, “The subject property presents a timely opportunity for buyers to capitalize on the government’s Draft Master Plan 2019 announcement to further invigorate and anchor the Bugis, Bras Basah, Fort Canning and Civic District as a cultural and lifestyle destination steeped in arts and heritage. Upon redevelopment, the future hotel development will enjoy a panoramic unblocked view of Singapore’s CBD skyline and Fort Canning Park.”

“Singapore remains a top investment market in the region. Against the backdrop of increasing tourism arrivals which grew 6.2% YoY to 18.5 million visitors in 2018, investment demand for hotel assets have risen and the momentum has continued into 2019. We have been receiving more enquiries for hotel opportunities; and in fact, the pre-marketing activities for the subject site have drawn strong interest due to its locational attributes, as well as the buzz around the recent hotel land sale transactions.” added Mr Tan.

The asking price for the Waterloo Street property is $145 million.

Including a payable development charge of approximately $19.55 million, the land price for the Waterloo Street site works out to about $2,678 per square foot per plot ratio. Comparable transacted land prices for the neighboring Waterloo Apartments and the Golden Wall Centre range from approximately $2,550 to S$2,720 persquare foot per plot ratio, after factoring in estimated payable development charges.

Strategically located in the heart of Singapore’s art, cultural and heritage district, the Waterloo Street property is close to many landmarks, including National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, Stamford Arts Centre, National Design Centre, Singapore Management University, School of the Arts and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The site is well-served by four MRT stations – Bras Basah, Bencoolen, Bugis and City Hall – all of which are located within 500 meters. Amenities are easily accessible at the nearby Bugis Junction, Bugi +, Bugis Village and DUO, among others.

The public tender exercise for the Waterloo Street site will close on 3 September 2019 at 3pm.

En Bloc Sales Process Singapore – A Definitive Step-by-step Guide

With the winding down of the success of residential en bloc sales, commercial properties are now trying to join in the bandwagon. Many commercial en bloc sale attempts fail because the asking prices are often too high. Two critical factors affecting the success of commercial sites going en bloc are pricing and location. Older commercial buildings especially, may see a need to catch the current wave as an exit strategy as their rental yields come under pressure due to competition from newer commercial buildings.

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Commercial properties such as the Waterloo Street site may be bought under personal name, but total debt servicing Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) will apply on the individual’s income on such purchases. To buy a commercial or industrial property under company name, total debt servicing ratio TDSR also applies on the individual director’s income if the company is an investment holding company or an operating company that is loss-making or does not have sufficient cash flow to servicing the repayment.

To buy a commercial or industrial property under company name where the company is well established with an existing operating business with strong financials, TDSR may be waived on the individual. However director is usually required to become personal guarantors of the loan the company undertakes. Hence this may affect the director’s other purchases, such as for buying a residential property, due to the loading from the TDSR for guaranteeing a loan.

Some banks even advertise 100 to 120% loan. This is due to a combination of working capital as well as commercial/industrial property loan, but this only applies to company with strong cash flow position. Commercial property is different from residential property and the considerations are more complex and varied, though the payoff may be worthwhile for discerning investors.

How to Secure a Commercial Loan Quickly

Are you planning to purchase a similar prime commercial redevelopment site but unsure of funding? Don’t worry because iCompareLoan mortgage brokers can set you up on a path that can get you a commercial loan in a quick and seamless manner.

Alternatively you can read more about the Best Commercial Loans in Singapore before deciding on your purchase.  Our brokers have close links with the best lenders in town and can help you compare Singapore commercial loans and settle for a package that best suits your commercial purchase needs. Our services are also very personalised and tailored to the unique needs of the buyers.

Whether you are looking for a new commercial loan or to refinance and existing one, our brokers can help you get everything right from calculating mortgage repayments, comparing interest rates, all through to securing the final loan. And the good thing is that all our services are free of charge. So it’s all worth it to secure a loan through us for your next purchase.

If you need advice on a new commercial loan  or Personal Finance advice.

If you want to speak to our trusted Panel of Property agents.

If you need refinancing advice.

Written by Ravi Chandran

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