2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As global uncertainties rise New Zealand continues to solidify its reputation as a safe haven for the world's most discerning individuals an extraordinary opportunity awaits: "The Homestead" a luxuriously-renovated historic home of some 800+ sqm (8,600+ sq ft) set on more than 6 hectares (15 acres) on the shores of Lake Hayes in Queenstown is one of the country's most iconic estates With guests previously paying up to 12,500 NZD per night for shorter vacations it's being made available for much longer periods of 3 to 24-months (starting at 65,000 NZD per month) with expressions of interest already being fielded from across the globe 'The Homestead' on Lake Hayes in Queenstown which has previously hosted A-list celebrities and global leaders is meticulously crafted to cater to every need of its privileged occupants The estate's secluded location in the South Island of New Zealand ranked as one of the safest and most stable countries in the world has made it highly sought after by affluent families looking for a sanctuary from geopolitical tensions and economic volatility "This is one of the most breathtaking alpine environments in the world" says Cam Winter Managing Director of Oliver Road | Luxury Real Estate privacy and security are increasingly rare commodities The Homestead offers a serene holiday destination or a safe place to land after pulling the ripcord." About Oliver Road | Luxury Real EstateOliver Road specialises in marketing New Zealand's most exclusive properties, connecting global elites with bespoke opportunities in luxury living. Photo / James Allan- A Queenstown mansion sold for $45.5m features lush gardens and a French-style mansion - The sale highlights a rebound in Queenstown-Lakes’ luxury property market with strong demand from international buyers A Queenstown mansion with a spectacular garden has sold for $45.5 million a 19-hectare estate on Lower Shotover Road sold in an off-market deal nearly two years ago but the sale has remained hidden until now OneRoof first reported the record-breaking deal in September 2023 but was unable to disclose the identity of the property or the exact sale price The estate is home to a garden of national significance The 19ha estate is in an area currently earmarked for development was only able to share details of his sale after it had settled “The sale was conducted off-market with a buyer from my database who truly appreciates the unique value of this property,” he told OneRoof Walker said Chantecler’s “lush gardens and prime location” made it an “exceptional investment opportunity” The large four-bedroom trophy home was designed by the vendors themselves and emulates French-style mansions - $1m gains: The big home-price winners since Covid-19 shook NZ - Award-winning home sells in secret for $5.5m - almost $1.5m above RV - Landmark mansion tipped to sell for more than double its $8.7m CV “The highlight remains the exquisite gardens and the serene environment that have been meticulously maintained by the vendors but a legacy of passion and generosity towards the community.” Walker noted that the property could be subdivided Part of the estate is in a zone earmarked for housing and commercial development with several estates along Lower Shotover Road selling for big money to various developers which is a combination of two deals – one for $35m the other for $10.5m – eclipses the previous house record of $38.5m which was set in 2013 for the former Hotchin mansion on Huriaro Place Walker & Co founder Hamish Walker: "The sale was conducted off-market with a buyer from my database who truly appreciates the unique value of this property." Photo / Supplied The property was designed by the vendors as their dream home with only one other home – the Coatesville mansion owned by the ZURU Toys billionaires – coming close with a sale price of $32.5m in 2016 Chantecler’s vendors wished to remain anonymous but OneRoof can report that they bought the property more than 20 years ago The Auckland couple got rid of the 1960s Oamaru stone bungalow that was on the estate and set about building their dream home and crafting the award-winning grounds Chantecler has been recognised as having a “garden of national significance” by the New Zealand Gardens Trust and has been a popular spot for tourists and garden-lovers was New Zealand’s most expensive home after selling for $38.5m was bought by the owners of ZURU Toys in 2016 for $32.5m A New Zealand Herald report from 2022 described the estate as “really seven gardens in one – English plus a formal garden with a picture-perfect moon gate draped with red Dublin Bay roses” The revelation of the sale comes amid a bounce in Queenstown-Lakes house prices The district’s average property value has grown 1.1% ($23,000) to $2.077m in the last three months Walker has revealed to OneRoof several other big residential sales he has completed in the Queenstown area is on the market looking for more than $5.95m which is one of the highest residential spots above Queenstown “There is no question the luxury market has started moving again We are now only around 20% below our peak sales of 2021,” he said adding that the bulk of the sales came in the second half of last year Figures show 35 properties sold for more than $5m in the region in 2024 While that is still down on the market peak of 2021 it is still a big turnaround on the previous three years Walker said that six of those deals were his including a $8.35m property in Millbrook and $6.2m in Dalefield “Demand is strong from buyers located in Auckland eastern Australia and Singapore and very recently other places such as America,” he said “When the market slowed a little during 2022 and 2023 I decided to get off my backside and fly over and meet buyers in other locations such as Singapore He said that while the rules on foreigners buying residential property in New Zealand would not change when the new foreign investment rules come into effect in April Walker said the time it took for foreigners to get approval from the Overseas Investment Office had sped up in the past year “I’m aware of one [application] that was processed in 20 working days There’s been a list of Americans looking to buy here That’s due to the political situation in America and secondly word has got around that the government is making it easier for foreigners to invest.” Walker said new or near-new properties were commanding a premium price for buyers who just want to get to Queenstown and enjoy their downtime One such property Walker and Barry Litten are marketing is a huge schist and cedar four-bedroom home at 4 Cardigan Street, Arrowtown Constructed by one of the region’s top builders for his family The agency is also listing a four-bedroom home at 12 Crows Nest, Arthurs Point the Remarkables and the Wakatipu basin and is situated on land that was once part of the goldmining route in the 1870s - Click here to find more properties for sale in Queenstown-Lakes Get access to premium insights and exclusive analysis Speak with our consultants for your buying/selling needs I am a regular reader of stacked homes and am reaching out in hope that you can give some good advice on investing in a property My partner and I currently own a 4 room HDB in Queenstown We are in our forties and our combined income is around 13k per month Our current HDB is fully paid and would probably fetch around 950k-980k and we are also renting out the 2 common rooms at 1.2k per month We also have cash/cash equivalent & CPF amounting to 1.2 million We have always considered getting a 2nd property for investment since our HDB MOP a couple years ago However we are unsure when would be a good time to enter the market and also We have been reaching out to various agents to explore our options all the agents are advising that we get new launches which doesn’t work for us as I don’t think we have sufficient funds to pay for 2 properties without selling the HDB first and we are also unwilling to consider renting while waiting for the purchased properties to be completed there are other investment options such as bonds treasury bills and equities that we can put our cash in as well so the expected return should be attractive as compared to other investment options we are hoping you can share your opinion on what is our best option if we want to invest our cash in property We are leaning towards getting 2 private properties as we do not wish to incur the ABSD and if possible,would rather not have tenants in our primary residency going forward we are concerned about the ease of selling 2 bedder condos as these tend to be on the smaller side and hence we also considered getting a dual key unit We are also unsure about the profitability of a dual key unit and whether it will be easy to sell further down the road should we decide to cash out for our retirement If the 2 bedders and dual key units are indeed harder to sell and profitability is a concern we are also willing to consider getting a larger condo and rent out the spare rooms if that makes the most sense I hope you can shed some light on some of our concerns and our options I’ve guided many HDB homeowners in optimising their property portfolios by capitalising on the profits from their HDB.  owning two private properties will always make more sense given the fundamentals of Singapore’s property market and how prices have moved.  let’s first examine your affordability you will receive the selling price as your cash proceeds Let’s assume this to be $950K worth of cash and CPF funds.  Let’s take a look at your individual as well as combined affordability.  *Here I’m assuming an equal split of $2.15M ($950K + $1.2M) Given that you do have a considerable amount of cash savings your individual affordability can easily be modified by adjusting the cash portion.  Now that we have a clearer idea of your affordability let’s look at the options you’re considering.  I generally recommend against paying the 20% Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) for a second property unless you are certain of keeping the existing property for the long term This stance is usually motivated by factors like the aim to secure consistent rental income into retirement or facing constraints in maximising leverage due to age or income considerations.  suppose you opt to retain the HDB and acquire an investment property priced at $1.5M the Buyer’s Stamp Duty (BSD) amounts to $44,600 with an additional $300,000 payable for ABSD It’s important to note that we haven’t factored in interest expenses on the loan here) it will take nearly 10 years to recoup the ABSD paid this is not an approach I recommend unless it’s necessary or if you intend to retain your first property for the long term Don’t get me wrong – there are instances where paying the ABSD could make sense An example is if your first property is worth retaining such as a freehold property that is likely to appreciate well over time it’s inevitable that its value will decline as it ages let’s look at the costs involved should you choose to proceed with this approach your Loan To Value (LTV) ratio will remain unaffected as you won’t be cashing out from your current property your combined affordability will be reduced Let’s assume you purchase an investment property at $1.5M with a rental yield of 3% and hold it for 10 years.  Total cost if you were to retain your HDB and purchase a second property: $376,863 – $17,440 = $359,423 but so did the Annual Value (AV) which is used to calculate the taxes: while it does make sense if you intend to stay and rent out for some income while still retaining a level of privacy – the target market when it comes time to sell is going to be smaller than a regular unit.  a 3-bedroom dual-key unit consisting of a 2-bedroom section and a studio would likely appeal to DINKs (Dual Income young couples with one child (or two if they’re comfortable with space constraints) 4-bedroom dual-key units (3+1) might have better prospects but the main obstacle would be the overall price quantum may be less inclined to sell at substantial appreciation the layout is also seen to be less efficient since the extra pantry or shared foyer space is redundant for those looking at own stay options only Let’s now examine the costs involved over a 10-year period assuming a purchase price of $2.8M and a monthly rent of $2,200 for the studio or extra bedrooms This is the typical “sell one buy two” strategy that many of my clients have enquired about The appeal of this strategy has dropped in recent years due to increased financing costs and where property prices are today but of course it’s still viable if your finances allow for it let’s look at the investment property a 2-bedroom unit would fall within the price range of $1.1-1.2M for a resale property Let’s assume this property is purchased under the husband’s name entry prices currently range between $1.5-1.6M for a 2b2b.  a 3-bedder in the OCR easily costs $1.4-1.5M now I will presume this to be purchased under the wife let’s examine the expenses over a 10-year period if you were to acquire two resale units I’ll base the calculations on a 3% rental yield for the investment property Investment property under husband’s name – $1.2M Personal residence under wife’s name – $1.5M Total cost if you were to buy 2 resale units: $310,731 – $68,848 = $241,883 it shows that Option 3 (involving the sale of the current HDB and the purchase of two separate private properties) incurs the lowest costs and leaves you with the most reserve funds the significant ABSD payable significantly impacts the overall expenses even without factoring in interest expenses it would take nearly a decade of renting out the unit just to break even on the ABSD paid Considering the gradual depreciation of the HDB over time holding onto it and paying the ABSD may not be the most worthwhile Option 2 combines your investment and own stay property into one necessitating sharing your home with tenants While a dual key unit is feasible in this scenario it may have drawbacks compared to a regular unit in terms of its potential buyer pool and profitability in the future Option 3 appears to be the most advantageous It maximises your available funds while still maintaining sufficient reserve funds it allows you to collect rental income while keeping your investment and own stay properties separate for greater flexibility in potential future decisions We hope that our analysis will help you in your decision-making. If you’d like to get in touch for a more in-depth consultation, you can do so here Where are all these 2 bedders that typically cost 1.1-1.2m and those 3 bedders that typically cost 1.4-1.5m I am struggling to get a 3 bedder that is relatively livable for less than 2m And that is already quite an old development You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image. The 5ha Chantecler property, at Lower Shotover, which was recognised as a "garden of national significance" by the New Zealand Gardens Trust, is part of a 19ha estate which was sold by Walker & Co Realty’s Hamish Walker for an eye-watering $45.5 million. The property includes a four-bedroom home, with several living areas, an outdoor pool and an extensive garden. The garden, in particular, was a passion project for the vendors, who developed the property after buying it in 2003. It includes four huge sequoia redwoods and two dawn redwoods, and an English garden, which features 1000 rhododendrons and azaleas, magnolias and camellias, underplanted with hydrangeas, trilliums and hostas. There are also Mediterranean, Japanese, native summer and meadow gardens, the latter featuring about 100,000 daffodils, and a woodland walk. "I’ve never stepped inside gardens like it," Mr Walker said. "It’s a very, very special property, and the owners have kept it in an amazing condition for a number of decades. "The previous owners did a huge amount for the community. They used to hold a heap of fundraisers there." The Otago Daily Times previously reported the property, which took its name from a country hotel in South Africa, had hosted about 30,000 people over the past 15 years, the vast majority of those during fundraisers for the likes of Plunket. Mr Walker said Chantecler sold off-market in 2023, but did not settle until last December. "[It was] a buyer off my database, but unfortunately I can’t say much more than that. "Those types of properties, you sort of approach people one on one. "I think the second person I approached was the one who bought it." According to OneRoof, the previous record in New Zealand was $38.5m, set in 2013 for the former Hotchin mansion in Orakei, Auckland. Photo / Fiona Goodall- A Queenstown mansion sold for $45.5 million - Agents say the sale highlights Queenstown's strong market and a potential for bigger sales - There's increasing interest from international buyers with calls to reconsider the foreign buyer ban Top real estate agents and property commentators have reacted to OneRoof's news that a Queenstown mansion has sold for $45.5 million and overtakes the $38.5m paid in 2013 for the former Hotchin mansion on Huriaro Place but agents believe it will have an impact on today's market said it showed the strength of the Queenstown property market especially when economies around New Zealand and the globe are struggling He added: "We also have a limited amount of land supply [in Queenstown] with mountains putting a cap on the [amount of] land available to develop." Walker told OneRoof that it was only a matter of time before the record was beaten "I have plenty of Americans on the books looking to invest here when the foreign buyer ban is reversed." who deals in high-end real estate in Auckland said $45.5m was "an extraordinary sale price" - Agent who can tell when you're lying: 'I swapped Hells Angels for house buyers' - Rich-lister finds a buyer for his '$50m' supermarket, but his mansion is still up for grabs "It just shows that Queenstown Lakes is the hottest area in New Zealand and with the amount of development there you’re seeing amazing development opportunity "Would there be a home like this in Auckland There are a few well-known properties that could get that Look at Graham Hart’s property [on Riddell Road "A brand new place going up in Orakei would cost $25m for the building alone so who knows what properties like that would get We’ve seen traditional houses over 25 years old go for over $20m." but if they did change the rules on foreign buyers New Zealand Sotheby's International Realty agent Paul Sissons, who got $21.84m for a mansion on Auckland's Paritai Drive last year and is selling equally stunning one on Remuera Road said he had noticed an upswing in enquiries at the top end of the market The Italian-style mansion on Paritai Drive The foreign buyer ban and confusion around New Zealand's investment rules were stymying sales "We’re getting strong enquiry from our marketing from both local and international buyers I’ve been working with an American couple who are moving to New Zealand for work They found us through the Sotheby’s network and are attracted to what we have," he told OneRoof "I’ve got a client here from Europe in the investor category waiting for the time to tick over so he can buy Some of them are ready to spend $20m to $30m on a house creating jobs and businesses and helping the economy One guy I know has bought three cars so far and they’re not second-hand Toyota Corollas "They've got a lot of money invested and this is the best we can do These people have been buying art and jewellery at Sotheby’s New York or London and for all the best reasons in the world Auckland's Herne Bay is home to some of the country's most expensive homes Sissons pointed to several homes in his patch that could get $45m: "The Hart property in Glendowie I know there are other vendors who would want $40m plus for their properties who has several high-end properties on the market including a $20m-plus mansion on Ronaki Road said he expected to see $45m in Auckland very soon "There are three properties for sale off-market that could be bought for that but we’re seeing a whole lot of Americans at the moment Word seems to have travelled about the foreign investment [rules] it’s people who come for the fresh air and empty spaces CoreLogic NZ head of research said Chantecler was a rare find "You don’t see that sort of thing come up very often at all - a very beautiful property and a development opportunity," he told OneRoof He said New Zealand didn't have the same depth of high-end stock that other countries did there are lots of properties that sell for tens of millions of dollars – and that’s just the homes Auckland and Queenstown do have international profile "With the changes to the golden visa to get people to invest in businesses the conversation turns straight away to 'How can you invest in a business here if you can’t buy a house "Maybe we need to look at certain luxury levels to allow this." - Click here to find more properties for sale NZ's first-ever property AI tool - Try OpesAI today NZ property marketTop 5 places to invest in New ZealandProperty Investment Our Resident Economist, with a GradDipEcon and over five years at Opes Partners, is a trusted contributor to NZ Property Investor, Informed Investor, Stuff, Business Desk, and OneRoof. Journalist and Property Educator, holds a Bachelor of Communication (Honours) from Massey University. FacebookTwitterCopy to clipboardCopied 0800 676 737 You might wonder: “Where is the best place to buy an investment property in New Zealand?” Currently, the top areas include Auckland, for its robust economic growth; Christchurch, known for its redevelopment projects; Wellington picking the right city to invest in is just as important (if not more) than picking the right property Here at Opes Partners we help over 450 investors find New Build properties every year These properties come from all over the country so we’re constantly looking for the best places to invest you'll learn the top 5 places to invest in the country and the reasons why we’ve picked them The country’s largest and most expensive city is the top of our list Yes, house prices are expensive and the yields can be low compared to the rest of the country But historically, house prices have increased faster than the rest of the country as a whole. Since 1992, Auckland house prices have increased 7.1% a year on average The rest of the country only increased 6.2% on average (Oct Auckland property prices appear to be 9.24% undervalued (Oct This means they are less expensive than we would expect them to be And that means in the medium term we believe they’ll increase in value faster than the rest of the country The other reason to invest in Auckland is that the population is growing very quickly Stats NZ forecasts that Auckland’s population will grow by 421,600 forecast over the next 25 years That’s the like everyone in Christchurch packing their bags and moving to Auckland All these people will need a place to live This will put pressure on house prices and rents Christchurch properties are more affordable than many other places in the country The average price is about $741,000 (Oct’ 23 That is about $168,000 less than the average price for the country as a whole Christchurch is also currently undervalued Prices there are 9.6% lower than we would expect them to be One of the main factors that drives house prices is access to new infrastructure despite the fact the earthquakes were over a decade ago So the council is still investing in infrastructure and the rebuild is still on And the Parakiore Recreation and Sports Centre will be finished by 2025 Once opened it will be the largest indoor recreation centre in NZ has now opened and is attracting more people to the city The neighbouring districts to Christchurch also make the list Selwyn and Waimakariri districts are home to towns like Rolleston and Kaiapoi Stats NZ expects Selwyn’s population will increase by another 47% over the next 25 years (2023 – 2048) Waimakariri’s population is expected to grow 25% over the same timeframe One factor investors look at when choosing an area is whether big box retailers are moving in; businesses like Countdown or The Warehouse These big businesses do more research than any of us on our own could do We understand Costco is planning to open a store in Rolleston And the Carter Group is planning to build The Station Both Selwyn and Waimakariri appear to be undervalued Prices there are 4.5% and 7.7% lower than we’d expect them to be One of the benefits of buying in these areas is that it’s still possible to buy a standalone house with a decent yield In larger cities standalone houses are usually too expensive to be a good investment The Wellington region is an interesting one For the last few years I advised investors against buying in the Wellington region That happened; Lower Hutt property prices fell 30% compared to their peak So now Lower Hutt prices are much more in line with where I’d expect them to be They were about 16% overvalued; now they’re about 1% undervalued Lower Hutt presents more of a buying opportunity than it used too On top of that, property prices are still cheaper than in Auckland, and rental yields tend to be good in the area That’s because Queenstown properties are expensive The average property value is almost $1.7 million (Oct ’23 But Queenstown still makes the list because prices have the potential to grow It’s an aspiration area and tends to attract wealthy people who want to live or holiday there This keeps the demand for properties and rental high But be careful about people telling you Airbnb will solve all your problems It’s not as easy as people make it out to be plus there are extra costs like commercial rates and commercial insurance Between 2015 – 2020 property prices in regional New Zealand boomed At the same time prices in some of the main centres stayed flat prices in Gisborne almost tripled from the end of 2016 to the peak in 2021 That stellar growth won’t continue forever and it looks like the next 5 years will see prices increase in the larger cities This will be primarily driven by high net migration. In the 12 months to September 2023, over 110,000 more people moved to New Zealand compared to those who left These people tend to move to the larger cities “What about [insert your area here]?” If we haven’t mentioned an area on this list we genuinely don’t believe it’s the best area right now here is a full comparison of every council area in New Zealand: Want to check out data on your region? Check out our Area Analyser. You can get free data for any suburb, council area or region in New Zealand.  Ed, our Resident Economist, is equipped with a GradDipEcon, a GradCertStratMgmt, BMus, and over five years of experience as Opes Partners' economist. His expertise in economics has led him to contribute articles to reputable publications like NZ Property Investor, Informed Investor, OneRoof, Stuff, and Business Desk. You might have also seen him share his insights on television programs such as The Project and Breakfast. Get the latest insights on New Zealand’s property markets, including trends, growth areas, and investment opportunities across regions. Gain insights into Auckland's property market with updated statistics on house prices, rental trends, and investment opportunities. New Builds are warm and dry, but are they too hot? Find out why some homes are overheating and what property investors can do about it. Property investment isn’t just about numbers — it’s emotional. Explore 20 years of market highs, lows, and the rollercoaster investors ride through it all. Te Ahuru, a small-town teacher with no investing background, grew her wealth by $280k in 18 months. From shares to property, she’s built a future on her terms — and inspired her sister to do the same Lower your insurance premiums without sacrificing protection. Learn how advisers set your policies, and the simple strategies you can use to make your insurance more affordable — while still covering what matters most. 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Photo / SuppliedMulti-millionaire wellness guru Matt Chapman has spent almost six years building a “shepherd’s hut” in Queenstown and was designed by prestige architects Fearon Hay then I had a caravan and then eventually I built Synchronicity I sort of begrudgingly built the house because I actually was very happy in the caravan,” he told OneRoof “I used to call it ‘Simplicity’ because when I was at that caravan it honestly made me really think about my life and what do you really want.” He said the land’s isolation was its appeal and from his modern-day hut he can look down on the peninsula from Treble Cone that really touched me because it can’t change in the future nowhere else in the world would you find that.” But Chapman is looking to find a new custodian for his creation he put his West Auckland estate on the market for sale He didn't find the right buyer but the process gave him clarity about his future and the future of his Wanaka home - Agent who just sold $8m house: I wouldn't turn my nose up at a million-dollar listing - Construction duo’s supersize resort up for grabs - but will it break records? - Dunedin’s secret trophy homes: Aussie buyers showing interest Keeping that balance between materialism and just being.” the then Singapore-based Australian (he is now a permanent resident of New Zealand) was travelling the globe running his international HR search business But the remoteness of Queenstown-Lakes stopped him in his tracks “Since I started living in New Zealand in 2017 I wanted to go deeper into the country I was very drawn to the serenity and peace of the South," he said His search led to the magnificent Roys Peninsula I felt like I was on the edge of the world,” he said The isolated peninsula means no other house or lights can be seen The two-word brief to architects Fearon Hay might have been “shepherd’s hut” but the execution is more elevated than shabby Chapman said he wanted to do the build of the 261sqm house properly with no expense spared glass and concrete has a modular interior with two each of sitting rooms and bathrooms (featuring Japanese-style onsen baths) joining the open-plan kitchen and sitting room a rock-clad outdoor conversation and fire pit there are wellness facilities: an ice bath all connected to nature with the extensive planting and trails to the lake “It’s more about the beauty of the land and something humble on it they say it is one of the most magical places they’ve ever seen the energy of the house with the land,” Chapman said Although the house has been finished for eight months now Chapman said he often takes friends back out to the caravan to remember how he first lived on the land is selling his Wanaka estate to build his new wellness network Chapman also owns the adjoining 97ha farm on the peninsula where he is building another house “It really connected me with the land and it made me understand what I needed to do for the future,” he said adding that part of that was to plant some 25,000 native plants a move that he’s shared with neighbours who equally value restoring the former farmland Two years later he bought the adjoining 97ha land and is now in the middle of building another Fearon Hay house that will become his next South Island base when it is finished at the end of 2026 who is marketing the property with Sarena Glass said that the privacy and rawness of the property was rare helped by a community who were big advocates for the environment I would feel that the new owner is going to be someone like that – leading a busy life elsewhere taking the opportunity to find a place that they can come back and find balance,” she said because there are only a few landholdings on that peninsula and they’re held on to.” McBride said that the tender process was to determine how the market saw the price A Wanaka record was set a year ago when an award-winning architect-designed house on Buchanan Rise Wellness facilities include Japanese-style onsen baths in each of the master suites The conversation pit was designed for friends to gather It’s an absolute honour to represent this in the market,” she said as he splits his time between North and South Islands Chapman is focusing on building his new Parihoa-based wellness network keeping the property until “the right kindred spirit comes” Parihoa Network is a global wellbeing network almost a network of good energy and the farm sits at the base of that concept “New Zealand has been a complete reset to the new me.” - West Wanaka Road, Roys Peninsula, Wanaka is for sale by way of tender, closing December 2 If you have been keeping track of playgrounds (ok maybe that’s only a thing we do here at Little Day Out) you would have noticed that there are many exciting Dawson playgrounds in the Queenstown estate.  To help you plan your day of playground-hopping with the kids here’s a guide to the various Dawson playgrounds in Queenstown These include wildlife-themed playgrounds to one with a giant creepy-crawly.  The list is not meant to be exhaustive but an overview of some notable playgrounds Inspired by a woodland habitat, the SkyParc at Dawson Playground is a play spot which aims to blend in with natural environment. The timber playground provides kids with various elements to explore and have fun, while showcasing local fauna. Get more details here There is a children’s playground at SkyTerrace @ Dawson Just beside it, there is also equipment such as parabolic sound discs and an elevated trampoline along Alexandra Canal Linear Park Officially known as The WonderLand Playground, the play area welcomes all to play by entering through one of two doors – a larger door for adults and a smaller ones for little kids. There is even a “magic shrinking potion” at the door. It is a fun themed spot for kids to have some fun in the neighbourhood. Find out more about the WonderLand Playground Mention spiders and most kids would probably run away. However, there is one arachnid which kids are running towards and that’s the spider playground at SkyOasis @ Dawson. With a sea foam green thorax and eight bright yellow legs, the spider playground stands out in the middle of the estate. Find out more about the Spider Playground There is also a small linear playground at SkyOasis @ Dawson, which also includes a family-slide and a climbing slope. Find out more about the roller slides at SkyOasis The most prominent feature at the SkyResidence @ Dawson playground is the “Treehouse” with its bright yellow slide. There is also a set of climbing ropes that make up various obstacles for kids to cross. Find out more about the Hills & Ribbon Adventure Playground A little secret play spot is a snakes and ladders play mat that can be found in the sky park at the blocks nearby The Forfar Heights playground, which looks out towards the car showrooms at Leng Kee Road, has several unusual looking pieces of play equipment. Interestingly, the playground also makes use of a dip in the terrain for its short, grey slide. Get more details here You may also be interested in our picks of the best outdoor playgrounds in Singapore You are not permitted to download, save or email this image. Visit image gallery to purchase the image one of the Whakatipu’s oldest stone buildings — built by farmer William Teal Marshall in about 1865 — sits on a 1.369-hectare terrace sloping down towards the walking track and wetlands had been referred to local premium buyers’ agent and something quite beautiful and historic." which had been listed by Arrowtown-based Luxury Real Estate director Terry Spice and he signed a conditional contract just before Christmas "The buyer was attracted by the history of the property the rare location and the potential for enhancing improvements," Spice says and the eventual result was very close to that." Eddington says she worked with a team of experts "and it was great because I had Terry helping me" A special challenge was navigating the 13-hour time difference for video calls She understands the buyer’s planning a thoughtful interior renovation enhanced landscaping and completing previously-approved two-bedroom accommodation at the rear of the cottage "There’s lots of work being created out of it because architects have got jobs and landscapers have got significant work." Statistics from the Real Estate Institute reveal only 152 properties valued at $5 million dollars or more were sold across New Zealand last year - a figure down 55 percent from 2021 Luxury sales in Auckland dropped by 14 percent in 2024 Other regions like the Queenstown Lakes District saw a 91 percent increase in sales between 2023 and 2024 and sales in the Bay of Plenty rose 20 percents in the same period Paterson Luxury Real Estate's Caleb Paterson said they had seen a number of luxury properties brought on to the market only to be withdrawn a few months later due to a lack of interest "The figures show a considerable shift in regional demand with Queenstown and Bay of Plenty picking up a share of the very top end of the residential market potentially at the expense of Auckland," he said "While the $5 million-plus market makes up only around one percent of the total market this could represent a noticeable migration of wealth out of the country's commercial centre "If we are seeing signs of an exodus from Auckland or simply a sharp increase in the number of high net worth families populating regional New Zealand from overseas or other parts of the country a wealth transfer of this level may have repercussions for businesses in all three regions particularly if it continues on its current trajectory." Paterson said while the last quarter of 2024 saw the lowest volume of sales early indications suggest a resurgence of ultra-premium property sales in Auckland every single property has had an increase in engagement and viewing over the past month." Queenstown is the first satellite town in Singapore The entire concept of having a “self-contained” township In fact, Queenstown is the iconic “mature estate”, and Buona Vista and Holland V both imitated Queenstown as a template when they got started (this was way back in the 1970s). Also, the first estate ever rebuilt under the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) is also in Queenstown since it has some of the oldest flats built by HDB Today, Queenstown is famous for its pricey, but much desired HDB flats Haw Par Villa and Alexandra Hospital are both here by the way as are the head offices of Grab and Razer.  the average flat price in Queenstown in the past 6 months is $564 psf This is a 6.6 per cent increase from $529 psf The average 3-room flat in Queenstown averages $470 psf The average 4-room flat in Queenstown averages $652 psf The average 5-room flat in Queenstown averages $662 psf Overall Non-Landed Private Residential Prices in District 3 Average condo prices in District 3 (Alexandra Queenstown) average $2,012 psf in the last 6 months up around 73.1 per cent from $1,162 psf 10 years ago One-North is a thriving tech and media hub One -North is now a hotspot for tech and media The 200-hectare district is also home to some of the biggest R&D names in Singapore and ST Engineering (via the Innosparks Open Innovation Lab) This cluster of companies also brings in foreign entrepreneurs and tech talent look at the map of private residential properties and you’ll see options are woefully limited in One-North itself (apart from One-North Residences) This leaves prospective tenants to seek out surrounding options such as properties in the Buona Vista area The presence of One-North has heightened rentability in many of the surrounding areas although it’s to be seen if Covid-19 will change this Tertiary education institutes help maintain strong demand here there are a huge number of educational institutes in Queenstown This has long made Queenstown a rental hotspot for students, all the way up to properties near One-North (where the condos are popular rental choices for INSEAD students).  we’ve yet to see if Covid-19 could change this; but landlords willing to rent to student tenants will find no shortage of demand here Rental yield is not significantly higher than most parts of Singapore (around three per cent per annum across the board) but landlords can see high rentability with few vacancies.  More new flats are expected in Queenstown in 2027 HDB plans for some 5,000 new flats in Queenstown The first batches of new flats could be launched as early as 2021 or 2022.  and even contentious – such a launch will push the conversation on whether it’s “fair” that some applicants can get flats in hotspots like Queenstown (it’s the equivalent of winning the HDB lottery) we would expect BTO launches here – when they come – to be among the most expensive It is debatable whether the launch of new flats in Queenstown will affect the existing resale flat values We have split opinions from the experts we asked.  Some analysts and agents expressed that more flats will prevent the (already high) resale prices in Queenstown from climbing further. However, we’ve also heard opinions that the effect will be negligible, as those who buy resale flats are those who can’t buy BTO flats anyway (e.g permanent resident families who don’t qualify for BTO It’s a little early to speculate; but brace yourself for the roaring demand if BTO flats are launched here.  In the meantime, you can check out the top properties in Queenstown and other areas by following us on Stacked Homes.  If you’d like to get in touch for a more in-depth consultation, you can do so here. has hit the market for sale this month for $12.5m Photo / SuppliedQueenstown has seen a sudden surge in properties hitting the market with one agent saying it feels like it’s suddenly switched back to being a buyer’s market OneRoof figures show the number of new residential listings for Queenstown-Lakes in the three months to the end of October 2024 was 35% higher than the previous three-month period This month alone has seen an extra 63 properties hit the market for sale Walker & Co director Hamish Walker told OneRoof the lift in new listings benefitted volumes at the bottom and top of Queenstown’s housing market we get a flood of properties hitting the market in October it has turned into a buyers’ market,” he said “There’s some pretty good buying at the moment.” and a later-than-usual ski season impacting Airbnb bookings had all played their part - Grand Designs house that blew the budget finally sells after overseas interest - No trick, just treat: Beach town’s iconic Witch Hat bach for sale for $799,000 - 95-year-old Country Road fashion icon selling her Remuera classic “I’ve got buyers who say they are going to wait another few months because they can see a lot of space in the market and a lot of options to buy And then I’ve got vendors who say buyers should get in now because the market will heat up once falling interest rates take effect.” the number of homes for sale in Queenstown-Lakes with search prices of $3m-plus jumped to just over 100 in the last month Eight of those have search prices of more than $10m !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r Many of the prestige homes up for grabs are architectural stunners that make full use of the surrounding landscape Walker’s listing at 6 Caldwell Lane, in Lake Hayes was designed by architect David Ponting and boasts panoramic views of the nearby mountain ranges Another Walker listing, a five-bedroom home at 4 Fishermans Lane, in Mount Creighton a protégé of noted British designer Sir Terence Conran Over in Wānaka, at 24 Briar Bank Drive Colliers agent Craig Myles is selling an architecturally designed home that looks out to Lake Wānaka and the surrounding mountain ranges All three homes have price expectations of upwards of $7m A designer home at 4 Fishermans Lane in Mount Creighton has been looking for a new owner for several months six-bedroom home has a price indication of $10m-plus Luxury Real Estate director Nick Horton told OneRoof he had been working with a number of clients who were looking to bring their Queenstown homes to market in the coming weeks and months because most vendors wanted to make the most of the warmer weather and its effect on their gardens and landscaping we enjoy direct flights from three major cities as well as Auckland Wellington and Christchurch so we have abroad range of potential buyers – this shields us from some of the market fluctuations recently seen in other regions,” Horton told OneRoof “With only 18 houses on the market over $8m it would only take three buyers from each city to clear the current stock in the sector of the market.” A resort-style home at 37 Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road overlooking Lake Hayes has an asking price of $7.995m High net worth buyers started showing interest in the large architecturally-designed home at 6 Bendemeer Lane as soon as it hit the market for sale Ray White Queenstown co-owner Bas Smith said Queenstown was a “small but intense” market but some of the best capital gains in the world Over the past two-and-a-half years it had been the only major metro not to suffer a drop in value “Because Queenstown receives such a big slice of the media exposure many assume there is a city-sized supply of properties to choose from Both Smith and Oliver Road managing director Cam Winter had witnessed a big uptick in buyer engagement and activity over the past few weeks “We’ve noticed a clear shift in buyers shopping with more intent It’s important to remember that for the most part No one needs to buy a $10m property,” Winter told OneRoof A large eight-bedroom and seven-bathroom property at 6 Bendemeer Lane, in Lake Hayes had only just been listed for sale and had already attracted interest from high net worth buyers which has a hidden underground wine cellar “The scale as much as its style and quality is uncommon even at this end of the market,” Winter said A lot of the more expensive Queenstown properties tended to be purchased as holiday homes and it was also less likely that they would be rented out as visitor accommodation “The relatively small financial benefit is far outweighed by their desire to have a fully available unencumbered second home they can escape to at the drop of a hat “You will find people at these properties while the owners aren’t in residence But it is here to stay and is making calls easier to connect in the resort. Residents of Lake Hayes Estate and Shotover Country came home last week to find a 16m-tall cellphone tower with a streetlight arm attached, on Eleventh Avenue. The tower also features a red light beacon on the top of the cell site, which was added at the request of the hospital to help guide helicopters to the landing pad. One Lake Hayes Estate resident said the tower was "an ugly and unsightly eyesore in our community". Another resident described the tower as "obscene" and said it was visible from their home a couple of streets back from the tower. Queenstown Lakes District Arrowtown-Kawarau ward councillor Melissa White said she was personally not a fan of the tower. "Apparently there are some people that don’t have very good cellphone coverage here — so this is going to hopefully solve that for them. "I just thought it could go in a slightly different place, but I didn’t have any luck with the provider in terms of changing it. "I did try to convince them that maybe there would be a slightly better place for it kind of aesthetically, but unfortunately I was unsuccessful in being able to get it moved or anything like that." Cr White said there was a possibility trees would be planted around it. The tower was constructed by mobile tower infrastructure company Conexxa. A Conexxa spokesperson said it was hired to make improvements to the mobile network for the Lake Hayes community due to there being more houses and businesses in the area, along with the increasing demand. "Choosing where a cell site is located is a complex process— we follow a robust process where subject matter experts visit site locations to assess the local environment, ground conditions, access to power and fibre as well as mobile coverage requirements for the area," the spokesperson said. Coverage is for all telecommunication companies. "The location best meets all the technical requirements and delivers the best connectivity outcomes for the community. It is positioned on a hill and can see in all directions, allowing services to be available to the wider community." The cell site had been granted a resource consent by Queenstown Lakes District Council. Photo / SuppliedWanaka’s housing market keeps getting bigger and better with ever bigger dollar signs attached to listings The South Island town and its surrounds are attracting Queenstown money as wealthy people look for a more laidback lifestyle away from the international hubbub and congestion of the neighbouring tourist destination Gilchrist recently sold a country estate on Stevenson Road which had been marketed in the $10 million price bracket and is selling a similar-sized property that was the wedding venue of Richie and Gemma McCaw The 40-hectare property he sold consists of three linked pavilions It was bought by a Wanaka local and while Gilchrist would not reveal the exact price - Revealed: The Kiwi homes earning more than a top CEO's pay - Bach bought for less than $2m sells 15 years later for $8m - Hire a helicopter - remote bays in Marlborough Sounds up for grabs The four-bedroom house was of high enough calibre it could have fitted in on the recent TV show New Zealand’s Best Homes hosted by UK real estate celebrity Phil Spencer But Gilchrist says the size of the properties on offer at Wanaka’s top level is attracting wealthy buyers who value privacy “Most people that are wealthy are busy people and they want to be able to just come and fly into the airport get to their holiday place and just relax,” he says While the 39-hectare Stevenson Road property did not have lake views “Every sale seems to be another step up in the higher end,” Gilchrist says A luxury home on a sprawling 39ha estate on Stevenson Road The property was billed as a private haven A recent Queenstown-Lakes listing with a lake view, 280 Wanaka-Mount Aspiring Road was being pitched to buyers with $20m-plus to spend Dubbed Barn Pinch, the 34ha plot of land is up for grabs for the first time in 100 years and is not far from the spot where one of the world’s richest men, tech billionaire and Trump supporter Peter Thiel, wanted to build a house (although recent media reports suggest Thiel has abandoned his plans) who is co-marketing Barn Pinch with Bayleys Real Estate says the property comes with 1970s-era architecturally designed house overlooking the lake Someone applying to build on a rural block of land so close to the town and the lake would likely be knocked back these days but the fact Barn Pinch has a pre-existing house means renovating Barn Pinch is where Richie and Gemma McCaw tied the knot Barn Pinch is being sold by tender with an October deadline to give people enough time to do their due diligence The property also comes with The Olive Grove wedding venue which has seen many high-profile ceremonies and which has a lease due to end in September Gilchrist says the stretch of land from Wanaka to Glendhu Bay is a magnet for the uber-wealthy and the house once owned by country music icon Shania Twain Gilchrist says the area is popular because owners are able to come and go without anyone knowing “They don’t want people knowing what they’re doing they don’t want photographers watching them,” he says there’s going to be some very heavy hitters buying these sort of properties in the future.” He adds: “You’d be surprised how many Kiwis have got a lot of money There is a phenomenal amount of money in New Zealand you just don’t hear about.” Gilchrist has been selling real estate in Wanaka for 20 years during which time the town has enjoyed phenomenal growth strict building rules mean the view over the lake and to the mountains is protected “That’s why it’s very hard for people like Peter Thiel to get their properties through.” The town still had plenty of development room going back in an easterly direction and it had the ability to develop without the physical constraints and congestion problems of nearby Queenstown Tech billionaire and Queenstown-Lakes resident Peter Thiel has reportedly given up on plans for a new home near Glendhu Bay He expects Wanaka to outgrow Queenstown in years to come noting that the money was already heading Wanaka’s way whereas Queenstown had become an international tourist destination While the top end of the real estate market was thriving Gilchrist says people would be hard-pressed to find anything for under $1m and those prices tended to be in the suburbs on the fringe of town A four-bedroom house in a new subdivision in town would cost more like $1.5m and properties with lake views went up from there - Click here to find more properties for sale in Queenstown-Lakes including two projects under the prime location public housing (PLH) model in Dover Forest and Farrer Park These two projects – one in the mature estate of Queenstown and the other in the mature estate of Kallang/Whampoa – come with stricter buying and selling conditions including a 6 per cent subsidy clawback upon their sale There are three other projects in the first sales exercise of the year – another in Kallang/Whampoa that does not come under the PLH model and in the non-mature estates of Jurong West and Tengah The five projects have a median waiting time of about 4.4 years HDB said all four-room flats offered in the two non-mature estates are below $400,000 A total of 732 three-room and four-room units are on offer in Ulu Pandan Glades in Queenstown It is situated in the eastern half of Dover Forest and is near Dover MRT station Prices range from $372,000 to $498,000 – without grants – for a three-room flat and $541,000 to $711,000 for a four-room flat making these flats the most expensive in this launch Buyers will also have to wait the longest for these units as they will take about 68 months – or around 5.6 years – to be completed Ulu Pandan Glades is the second of three BTO projects to be launched in the eastern half of Dover Forest also came under the PLH model in the November 2022 sales exercise with most first-time applicants likely to have a chance to select a unit Prices ranged from $362,000 to $504,000 for a three-room flat and $546,000 to $725,000 for a four-room flat in the project which is nearer to the MRT station than Ulu Pandan Glades The second PLH project in the current sales exercise is Farrer Park Fields three-room and four-room flats on a site between Little India and Farrer Park MRT stations Prices for this project range from $356,000 to $449,000 for a three-room flat and $484,000 to $631,000 for a four-room flat Buyers will have to wait for about 53 months – around 4.4 years The other BTO project in Kallang/Whampoa is Rajah Summit which offers 510 three-room and four-room flats on a site in Jalan Rajah next to Kallang River Prices for this project range from $326,000 to $443,000 for a three-room flat and $459,000 to $631,000 for a four-room flat Flat owners in the two PLH projects will have to pay 6 per cent of the resale price or valuation to HDB when they sell their homes on the open market for the first time The clawback applies to the first resale transaction and not to subsequent sales Owners will also be bound by a 10-year minimum occupation period (MOP) before they can sell their flats Standard BTO flats come with a five-year MOP and do not have a subsidy clawback clause Owners are also not allowed to rent out their whole unit For the BTO projects in Tengah and Jurong West at least 95 per cent of the four-room and larger flats and at least 85 per cent of the three-room flats are set aside for first-time applicant families Buyers will have to wait for just under four years for their flats four-room and five-room flats are on offer at Brickland Weave on a site in Brickland Road near Choa Chu Kang town Prices range from $291,000 to $375,000 for a four-room flat and $401,000 to $503,000 for a five-room flat 271 three-room and four-room flats are on offer at Jurong West Crystal These flats are the most affordable in this launch with prices ranging from $187,000 to $249,000 for a three-room flat and $288,000 to $372,000 for a four-room flat Applications close at 11.59pm on March 6 on the HDB flat portal about 5,400 BTO flats in towns such as Tengah Kallang/Whampoa and Serangoon will be launched HDB will offer between 5,200 and 6,200 flats in Choa Chu Kang HDB said it is monitoring housing demand closely and is prepared to launch up to 100,000 flats in total from 2021 to 2025 if needed This article was first published in The Straits Times These new RVs, based on a property’s likely sale price on September 1 last year, show the median house value was $1,610,000 and the median land value was $860,000. In the Whakatipu, the biggest increase from 2021’s RVs is Arrowtown’s Millbrook — its capital value (CV) rose 32.63% to an average $6,751,045. Lake Hayes Estate/Shotover Country rose 26.22% to an average $1,527,686. And Frankton rose 25.12% to an average $1,711,114. And Jack’s Point’s average CVs rose only 2%, with about half the CVs dropping, according to Walker & Co Realty’s Hamish Walker. "Jack’s had a huge lift of about 50% over three years in the peak — the peak was about 2021 — and since it’s actually dropped 25%. "Sales have increased a lot over the last six months because buyers are now seeing reasonably good value." Q Property director Barry Murphy, a registered valuer, attributes Jack’s Point’s consolidation to it fitting within "the most challenging sale price bracket, $2.5m to $4m, [where properties] are taking longer to sell". "This market was very strong through 2021 and 2022 but may have slowed due to the softening of other markets nationwide." Explaining Kelvin Heights’ variance between CV and land value, "this could be down to the limited vacant land available and the fact there have been strong land sales on the Peninsula since the last RV, and with many improved properties having older dwellings on them, purchasers either demolish or significantly renovate them". Walker says the increases for Frankton, Lake Hayes Estate and Shotover Country reflect what he’s been saying about these being ‘hot’ suburbs. "Those are still very affordable suburbs compared to others." Comparing sales over the past two weeks with the six-months-old RVs, "generally properties in Kelvin Heights and Frankton are selling for a touch under the CV, Lakes Hayes Estate and Shotover are selling for above the new CVs". From recent sales, local Harcourts branch manager Priscilla Uhrle suggests "properties that were advertised as a doer-upper, were tired or required remedial works sold between $104,000 and $163,000 below the new RV" — she notes valuation calculations don’t include physical inspections. "Unique offerings, in short supply, are achieving well above the new RVs." Local Bayleys CEO Stacy Coburn says "the general narrative regarding the latest rateable values is the majority of them seem to be in line with current market values". However, an owner serious about selling should still get a proper appraisal from a good real estate agent, he advises. Interestingly, Murphy says as a registered valuer he doesn’t consider RVs — "we look at the market transactions up to the date of valuation". Property owners have till April 24 to object to their valuation. Katherine Harbrow, council GM assurance, finance and risk, notes: "An increase in your property value may not mean you pay more in rates. "Any rates increase is determined by your property value increase compared with the average increase around the region." The inaugural Queenstown HawkerFest will take place from Nov 18 to Dec 17. The event will be held from Nov 18 to Dec 17. (Photo: Queenstown Community) Queenstown is an estate we Singaporeans hold dear in our hearts. After all, it's home to five iconic hawker centres: ABC Brickworks, Margaret Drive Food Centre, Mei Ling Market, Tanglin Halt Market and Alexandra Village. This year, Queenstown is celebrating its 70th birthday and as part of the festivities, the estate is holding its first-ever Queenstown HawkerFest from Nov 18 to Dec 17. The month-long extravaganza will celebrate the estate's hawker culture through multiple exciting events. Here's what you can expect at Queenstown HawkerFest. This event marks the opening of Queenstown HawkerFest and they are going big – literally. After a speech by Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development, organisers will unveil Singapore’s largest plate of chicken rice. Once the record has been confirmed by the Singapore Book of Records, popular food blogger Zermatt Neo will attempt to finish the entire plate of chicken rice. And mind you, this is all happening within the first hour of the event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by QueenstownSG (@queenstownsg) A competitive eating competition will also be open to the public which will see the person who finishes a plate of chicken rice in the fastest time walking away with S$700 worth of vouchers. Interested applicants can register here Free chicken rice will also be given out to lower income families and individuals you'll learn more about the history behind Queenstown's five iconic hawker centres each participating hawker centre will have an official Heritage Trail Booth where participants can collect trail cards and specially designed stamps Those who collect all five stamps from the hawker centres will stand a chance to win up to S$300 NTUC vouchers you can indulge in reimagined hawker classics at the following well-known cafes: KEK Seafood created in collaboration with Queenstown’s hawkers from the five hawker centres With so many iconic hawkers at Queenstown, this event will allow everyone to vote for their favourite simply by filling up this form Participants can share a story of their favourite memory at the featured hawker centres and the top three entries will each be awarded with a S$100 NTUC voucher who is also Adviser to Tanjong Pagar GRC Grassroots Organisations (Queenstown) from being Singapore’s first satellite town to the mature and vibrant estate it is today "We hope that through this inaugural HawkerFest we can connect both young and old to celebrate and commemorate Queenstown’s rich 70-year history through our collective love of our local fare We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read Chantecler at 14 Lower Shotover Road Queenstown The $45.5 million sale of a Queenstown property eclipsed the $38.5m sale of an Auckland home but one local investor with experience buying and selling in the area said the southern deal was so large because the site has “such big development potential” was said to be a record for a residential price beating the 2013 price of $38.5m paid for the former Hotchin home on Huriaro Place The place near Lake Hayes has a significant garden open to appointment viewing: “Nestled in the heart of the Wakatipu Basin Queenstown and surrounded by majestic snow-covered mountains lies Chantecler a 40 acre property that includes 12 acres of mature gardens Chantecler has been ‘themed’ to ensure visitors have a special experience,” its website says owner Mike Henry gave an interview to the Otago Daily Times telling of the significance of the property to him and wife Maureen The entrepreneur was reported as having left the business world behind in Auckland in 2006 to vastly expand the gardens on the property The couple had also transformed an original Ōamaru stone bungalow into a French-inspired home Henry told the Herald yesterday that the property had been sold in 2023 but he and Maureen would remain there until the end of this year “We’ve never been trying to sell our place and when it did sell It’s a long settlement but he paid,” Henry said of the buyer He also explained how the property had been split into two titles but said he was reluctant to discuss sales details One local said it was obvious why it had sold for so much: “It’s flat in a great location near Lake Hayes and is going to be developed into hundreds of homes.” the Ministry for the Environment released information about the Flints Park West plan by New Zealand-incorporated company Glenpanel Development considered under the Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-Track Consenting) Act 2020 The developers planned to subdivide 8.6ha of an 18.4ha site and build “approximately 315 residential units or approximately 180 residential units if a school and a church/chapel is developed” Supporting infrastructure and roads and public open space are planned The project is located at 14 Lower Shotover Rd released under the Official Information Act The property has frontages to the Frankton Ladies Mile Highway the ministry also released information about Glenpanel Ladies Mile Te Pūtahi by developer Maryhill That project is to subdivide a further 95.9ha of land and build about 450 new homes or 365 if a school and childcare centre are developed commercial buildings and infrastructure like roads and public open space That project is at 429 Frankton Ladies Mile Highway The local said the sale of the Lower Shotover property for $45.5m was not a shock to anyone in the area due to the immense development potential of such a site “The price was big because the sale included so much flat land adjacent to the house but the house itself and its site is probably worth $10m to $15m,” the local estimated Anne Gibson has been the Herald’s property editor for 25 years written books and covered property extensively here and overseas The casino operator has downgraded its earnings guidance for the second time Queenstown's white hot housing market has cooled slightly in 2024 while the pressure on rentals has also eased High interest rates and restricted household spending have seen residential sales volumes reduced by about 40% since the market peak in 2021 There's been an increase in the supply of homes for sale according to Colliers annual Otago Property Market Review and Outlook for 2024 /25 has seen a softening and slowing phase in the market resulting in dynamics shifting in favour of buyers," Colliers registered valuer / property consultant Heather Beard says Queenstown has bucked the national trend of value reductions and has instead displayed continued value growth across the residential market." Those continuing price increases mean Colliers now considers 'high-end' to be over $5m because there are so many sales over $3m now it doesn't represent the top end While there are not too many properties coming to market in Lake Hayes Estate or Arrowtown there are more listings in newer subdivisions such as Hanley's Farm perhaps indicating more highly-leveraged owners There's also a townhouse development boom underway as developers look to meet demand from first-time home buyers with multiple new subdivisions offering two-to-four bedroom terraced and semi-detached homes in the sub-$1m bracket there's very little land available in the entry price range The final two dozen-or-so of Hanley's Farm 1700 sections are now on the market (priced $550k/364sqm to $860k/1090sqm) and while there are 10 other subdivisions in the pipeline the most progressed ones are mid-to-high value They include the 33.7ha Silver Creek at the top of Goldfield Heights which will be released in 15 stages over the next 10 years; Koko Ridge a consented 20-site subdivision with lifestyle blocks of 5,000-15,000sqm off Alec Robins Rd Lifestyle section sales volumes in 2022/23 were the lowest since 1997 as the median price jumped 30% from $1.5m to $1.95m all the headlines were about the rental housing crisis and people living in cars "The dynamics have eased in favour of tenants now." the weaker start to the ski season and the headlines scaring renters off are both factors the likes of NZSki converting former backpacker accommodation into worker accommodation has eased shortages Beard says prime retail property in town continues to perform strongly with rental increases and a shift to high-end retail following the streetscapes project Any vacancies are being backfilled by high-end brands global cosmetics chain Macca is taking over the Hallensteins' premises on Beach St "The transformation is evident in the prime retail areas where there is nil vacancy and an influx of prestigious brands." with 7% vacancy across 10 tenancies in early September 2024 Prime retail CBD rents are $1850 - $2400 per sqm That's because most of the locals now prefer to work and shop in Frankton Frankton retail rents (100-120sqm) are $500-$800 and office space is the same price as the CBD - $350-$500 per sqm "The office and retail sectors in Frankton have reached a maturing stage There's also been a notable rise in suburban retail There's also virtually no vacancies in Queenstown's limited industrial market Tenants are feeling the pinch and resisting further rises but new leases are still typically obtaining market-leading rates more affordable industrial premises have become scarce as the entry price point into Frankton has lifted and affordability for small businesses has diminished." A Frankton workshop / warehouse rents typically for $180-$200 while an industrial office is $225-$350 and land is $1700-$2000 Queenstown's tourism property market is "in the maturing stages of the post-Covid recovery and growth cycle" with an 11% growth in internationals coming through Queenstown Airport offset by subdued spending and soft domestic market The full report is available here. The Lakes Weekly is part of Queenstown Media Group (QMG) QMG is Queenstown’s leading locally owned and operated media company with print online and social platforms that engage locals with what they care about — everything local The Lakes Weekly delivers stories and news that connects with local so they come away each week better connected to their community Advertising sits within this curated content environment and it’s a trusted relationship between readers and the Lakes Weekly Advertisers benefit from the association with the LWB brand values The Lakes Weekly is hand delivered to every business in Queenstown Five Mile Remarkables Park and Glenda Drive on Tuesday libraries and drop boxes throughout the region and every supermarket throughout the Queenstown basin and Wanaka Online the issue is available Monday afternoon Associate Judge Dale Lester said Andrew McIntosh’s actions after settling an agreement to buy two sections in the Forestlines Rise subdivision from a Cyprus-based businessman in 2021 were "at best, opportunistic". In his decision, which follows a hearing in the High Court at Invercargill last month, Associate Judge Lester said Lev Papoyan agreed to sell the land to McIntosh’s company B Property Group for $5.5 million. Mr Papoyan, who had a dwelling built from two shipping containers on one of the sections, excluded it from the sale as he had an agreement to remove it and sell it to a third party for $100,000. However, after the land sale was settled in mid-2022, McIntosh refused Mr Papoyan access to the land to remove it. Mr Papoyan applied to the court for orders enabling him to recover the building, and damages for the opportunity he had lost to complete its sale. Associate Judge Lester said emails between McIntosh and Mr Papoyan’s real estate agent in 2021, before the land sale was signed, made it clear "beyond any doubt" McIntosh knew the building was not part of the deal. In October 2021, the agent told McIntosh: "the container is 100% not for sale ... it has never been associated with the sale and has never been mentioned as so". McIntosh abandoned his defence during the trial that he had been misled by the agent, and his position otherwise was "wholly without merit", the judge said. Denying Mr Papoyan access to the property so he could recover the building was a "deliberate flouting of the clear and unambiguous agreement that the [building] was not included in the sale". Associate Judge Lester ordered McIntosh to pay punitive damages of $5000, and further damages in the form of interest on the sum of $100,000 for the period McIntosh had unlawfully possessed the building. He must also pay Mr Papoyan’s litigation costs. The proceedings would not be dismissed until Mr Papoyan had recovered the building, "lest there be some attempt to frustrate that relief". The Otago Daily Times has previously reported on McIntosh’s long-running legal dispute with Singapore businessman Kurt Wagner over the latter’s $10 million investment in B Property Group’s stalled Kitea Hotel development in Wanaka’s town centre. The pair subsequently reached a confidential settlement over the matter. In July, the Environment Court granted consent to another McIntosh company for a proposal to build a 20-villa luxury lodge complex at Queenstown’s Bob’s Cove. is looking for long-term renters willing to pay $15,000 a week for up to two years Photo / Supplied- Weekly rent for luxury homestead in Queenstown Lakes is 25 times the national average - The five-bedroom home offers tenants a heated pool - Renters can get a small discount if they commit to a longer tenancy A luxury homestead in Queenstown Lakes with an RV of more than $8 million could be yours for just $15,000 that isn’t the sale price but the weekly rent The five-bedroom heritage home at 19 Ellen Johnson Terrace, in Lake Hayes is available from April next year but the rental listing has gone live on OneRoof to give potential tenants enough time to get their ducks in a row Those willing to commit to a longer tenancy can get a bit of a discount – with the landlords offering a monthly rate of $60,000 which works out at just under $14,000 a week the rent is almost 25 times the average weekly rent in New Zealand and 20 times the average weekly rent in Queenstown-Lakes boatshed and fire pit on the edge of Lake Hayes The pool and gardens include a heritage orchard told OneRoof the owners were working to complete another property project nearby so had decided to rent out their homestead for an extended period of time The homestead has previously been rented out for shorter periods Winter said that while some people might struggle to get their head around the price point “the reality is that it’s the typical cost versus value sort of equation” “There are plenty of short-term properties of a similar calibre that are rented out for one or two weeks to a maximum of a month substantial estate that has attracted A-listers and others capable of paying up to $12,000 a night over the peak season.” - South Island lodge sells for more than $10m as worried expats look for Queenstown escape - Agents save real estate boss’s skin with quick sale - ‘there were some sleepless nights’ - Rat-infested mould house sells for $866,000 at heated auction tenants will get a luxury home with a heated swimming pool and hot tub all set on 6.15 hectares of land with lake and mountain views The Homestead is currently available for short-term stays Guests have the option to call on the services of a chef The house was renovated to a design by architect Andrew Patterson an art lobby (the owners’ extensive collection is displayed throughout the house) There is even a grand piano and a courtyard with a giant chess board for entertainment and as well as the pool pavilion there are other outdoor lounges in the orchard and gym gardening and property maintenance are included in the rates The 6.15-hectare property has lake and mountain views and rents in the summer for up to $12,500 per week Residents get to gather their own food from the heritage orchard chicken coop and organic herb vegetable garden lavender beds and groomed gardens (the house comes with a flower-arranging room and garden library) and walk the 3km of trails around the farm paddocks and lake-side wetlands Winter said his company was marketing the rental through the Institute of Luxury Home Marketing to some 100 international websites specialising in luxury rentals “The potential tenants could be someone who perhaps lives locally but are in the process of building a property themselves,” he said “Whilst our area of speciality is the sale of luxury properties we simply couldn’t pass on the pleasure of representing such a special property on the international stage we’ve already fielded enquiry from several groups out of the US and Europe.” The Homestead made headlines in 2015 when the then Singapore-based owners gained Overseas Investment Office approval to invest in the rundown property which had been passed over by numerous less-brave buyers The nearly three-year renovation restored the original homestead enhanced the surrounding buildings and restored the neighbouring wetland The homestead and farm were previously owned by former Queenstown mayor Jim Boult for 10 years - 19 Ellen Johnson Terrace, Lake Hayes, Queenstown is available to rent from April 2025 Photo / George HeardHomeowners in Queenstown-Lakes could see a jump in their rateable values (RV) when they are released early next year if average property value increases over the last three years is anything to go by where average values fell 20% between revaluations average values in Queenstown-Lakes have jumped 27% The tourist town’s housing market performance has remained among the strongest in the country following the slump suffered by most areas after the Covid peaks with all Queenstown’s suburbs increasing in average value !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r The snapshot of values used for the three-yearly rateable values was taken in September this year with homeowners due to find out their new RVs in March OneRoof’s analysis of property values in the district’s suburbs between the two valuation dates found sharp spikes in all but a handful of suburbs The biggest percentage increases were in John Creek (up 60% to $1.92m) and Glendhu Bay (up 52% to $9.9m) although both suburbs have seen few sales in the last 12 months The biggest dollar increases were in Glendhu Bay (+$3.38m) and Speargrass Flat (+$1.79m to $5.88m) The smallest rise was in Sunshine Bay – up just 11% in the three-year period - Most popular NZ homes of 2024: Celebrity pads and budget buys top list - Revealed: The hot 100 New Zealand suburbs to watch in 2025 - Queenstown's mini-boom - ‘no one needs to buy a $10m property' The spikes come amid a flurry of big sales in the wealthy enclave in the last 12 months. A luxury home on Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road fetched $9.5m in May this year, while the lakeside Wanaka estate where sports stars Richie and Gemma McCaw tied the knot sold last month for what is expected to be a record amount senior research analyst for OneRoof’s data partner said properties in Queenstown were selling for well over their 2021 RVs but said RVs should not be used to price properties as they were simply a way for councils to divvy up the rates Some agents in Queenstown report there is not much buzz about RVs but say that could change next year if there is a rates hike along with increased RVs said there could be challenges to higher RVs especially by homeowners at the lower end of the property market who were hurting financially because any decrease in rates would be helpful for them “First home ownership in Queenstown doesn’t really exist Affordable housing – I don’t think those two words go together so there are some people who are doing it tough down here “I have to feel for those younger crew who are servicing a pretty high debt I would say that every dollar counts in that regard.” But Bevin pointed out even if RVs were challenged as being too high lowering them might not affect the rates bill by much “It’s going to maybe go down a couple of 100 bucks if you wanted to get your rates adjusted by $100,000 or along those lines then you have to go through and pay for a registered market valuation and kind of prove it.” A luxury property on Arrowtown-Lake Hayes Road said the market had remained stable and that the lower South Island had held up better than other parts of the country said the cost of living was high in Queenstown he was yet to hear much talk about RVs which he said people should not use as the sole tool to assess the market value of their property “If you are buying or selling your property it’s a gauge you don’t totally rely on that when assessing value.” said he assumed RVs would go up a lot but also said RVs had no real relevance other than to the council “We don’t really put a whole lot of weight at all on the rateable values properties were selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars more than the RV – and Bramwell said he had never seen a sale in Queenstown for less than the RV Valocity senior analyst Wayne Shum says homeowners should avoid using RVs to price properties “I’m sure on the odd occasion it does happen but I don’t take too much notice of the rateable values at the moment A lot of buyers did follow RVs so agents had to be aware of them but Colliers did not base appraisals on them a lot of sales had taken place so there was more data to base RVs off but high-end Queenstown property was diverse and properties could sell for vastly different amounts compared to their RVs The RV affected what people paid in rates: “I guess if you’re a seller you’d like it up and if you’re a holder you’d probably like it down Bramwell said while Queenstown’s market had performed well there had been a drop off in buyers from Auckland over the last 12 months probably because some of those buyers have had trouble selling their homes in Auckland’s stalled market “They’re losing equity and not getting what they want out of any sales that they need or if they are leveraging off an Auckland property they haven’t got much leverage “I’m assuming that those buyers will sort of be drifting back into the market when things change a bit.” - Click here to find properties for sale in Queenstown-Lakes Prices in the local authority have hit a new high Photo / Getty ImagesHouses in New Zealand’s most expensive region are the most expensive they’ve ever been The average property value in Queenstown-Lakes hit a new peak of just over $2 million at the end of July but the house price story outside the wealthy enclave wasn’t so encouraging for homeowners New Zealand’s average property value dropped 1.5% to $962,000 in the three months to the end of July as economic uncertainty and high interest rates continued to take their toll on the housing market The rate of house price decline accelerated across much of the country with Auckland and Wellington feeling the worst of the new slump Auckland house prices tumbled 2.4% over the quarter and 0.2% year-on-year the city’s average property value is only $8000 above its post-slump trough point at the end of June 2023 Wellington’s average property value is 2.4% higher than a year ago but its quarterly fall of 2.5% was the country’s steepest House prices dropped in another eight regions although recent positive headlines around interest rates and inflation may put the brakes on further falls Several factors have contributed to the recent decline in property values higher living costs and rising unemployment have sapped buyer enthusiasm while the withdrawal of First Home Buyer has put some first-time buyers on the back foot There’s still a glut of stock on the market which has suppressed price growth and led to Value growth was strongest in lower-value regions and towns – Gisborne was up 4% over the quarter where the average property value was up 1.8% ($37,000) over the quarter to $2.05m That’s a new value peak for the tourist hotspot OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan said: “Queenstown-Lakes has benefited from strong buyer interest – domestic and international – in Arrowtown and Wanaka and a flurry of $5m-plus sales seem to be in a rush to beat the heat of the next boom.” Christchurch’s dip of just 0.9% over the quarter reflects its resilience to current economic pressures and market stability Christchurch prices are still affordable for first-time buyers Higher interest rates don’t hurt so much,” Vaughan said OneRoof editor Owen Vaughan: "A more sustained market recovery will depend on lower mortgage costs." Photo / Fiona Goodall Vaughan said momentum was building for a cut to the Official Cash Rate by the end of 2024 setting the scene for a market revival in 2025 “The slump appeared to be over this time last year but the price lifts enjoyed in the closing months of 2023 were more of a ‘dead cat bounce’ “A more sustained market recovery will depend on lower mortgage costs The first round of interest rate cuts is likely to reignite buyer interest Of the 835 suburbs with 20-plus settled sales in the last 12 months only a quarter enjoyed quarterly value growth with the biggest lifts in Netherby (+12.4%) and Tinwald (+7.6%) – all Canterbury suburbs and all in the $500,000 to $700,000 price bracket The biggest dips over the quarter were in the central Auckland suburbs of Mount Wellington (-7.9%) and Onehunga (-7.2%) – all too expensive for first-time buyers but not desirable enough for cashed-up movers The return of the slump has eroded growth across much of the city values falling over the quarter in 90% of the city’s suburbs The picture was similar in Dunedin and Tauranga - Click here to find properties for sale When I first heard about the Commonwealth Towers condo I immediately assumed it was located at Commonwealth And I think it is safe to assume that most people would make this perfectly reasonable assumption too the road outside is actually called Commonwealth Avenue Commonwealth Towers is actually located in Queenstown which is a very attractive point in its favour Even though it was the first “new” launch in the Queenstown area many more have sprung up in the past few years Which leads us to the real question: Is Commonwealth Towers condo any good Coming into the development for the first time, it feels modern and has quite a high-end feel to it. If I had to compare it to any other condominium, it has similar vibes as the Echelon condo The arrival court area is really spacious and very hotel-like which I’m sure will be well-utilised by the many tenants that will be living here I like that the Commonwealth Towers condo has two separate entrances for visitors and residents. Lots of older condominiums combine the two together which results in a jam for residents when the security has to screen visitors before letting them in Another advantage of having separate lots for visitors is you do not get residents complaining of visitors parking in the wrong areas I always like brightly lit car parks and those that have the epoxy floor coating on them and the Commonwealth Towers condo is no exception and the car park will look less scruffy too Over at the corner of the car park, there is a Parcel Santa as well which is always good to have for those who order online shopping a lot but are not at home during the day to receive them the two imposing blocks of the Commonwealth Towers loom over you In between both blocks is a large courtyard area with a huge water feature and some benches The metallic C sculpture goes some way into evoking a more upscale development I am a fan of the current greyish modern style and it is done well here considering it is more of a mass-market condominium Once you get down to the end of the courtyard you will find yourself at the main swimming pool It’s great that the developers have decided to incorporate two swimming pools here as there are 845 units in the Commonwealth Towers It’s a pity that the upcoming Dawson HDB blocks are facing the pool as this renders the swimming pool not as private as before I would actually prefer the swimming pools to be located at the front as the only eyes looking in would perhaps be the occasional MRT train swooshing by I can understand the consideration to allow for a wider frontage between the towers and the HDB blocks There is a nice sheltered barbeque area at the end I like this location as it feels more intimate and the planted greenery around certainly helps with the ambience of the place And behind the barbeque pavilion is actually the tennis court which is quite well hidden by all the creepers growing on the side gates but it’s not the biggest especially considering the number of units there are I think it would have been better placed on the higher levels but it is definitely long enough to do proper swimming laps in it is good that there are more than enough deck chairs lined along the side At the front of the swimming pool is another sheltered pavilion for hosting gatherings and entertaining but this one is less private than the one at the end there is a small jacuzzi area that also contains the aqua gym which gives you access to the Dawson area and the Alexandra Canal Linear Park This actually leads all the way down to Alexandra Canal which then becomes the Singapore River where there is a Sheng Siong for your grocery needs this is a great option for residents at the Commonwealth Towers as the whole stretch is incredibly private and unused It’s really super for a nice evening stroll at the end of the development is a really private spa pool section there is a clubhouse area and another swimming pool The swimming pool on the second floor is squarish in shape and definitely catches more of the breeze here Tucked away under the blocks are some private seating areas you have another barbeque area by the pool you can expect to have more kids splashing about in the pool as compared to the one at the ground level And quite a large pavilion at the back with more seating there is a staircase that will lead you directly to Queenstown MRT and probably the biggest selling point of this development To get to each block you will need the resident’s key card or have to be dialed up for additional security you do get a level that is dedicated to some other facilities Lots of comfy couches in the nooks and crannies The viewing decks offer views of the Dawson HDB area There are also some outdoor fitness stations you would know by now my thoughts towards these fixtures Some of the seating areas are really quite private and you are high up enough such that it offers pretty nice views of the Queenstown area there is a dining area where you can entertain your guests too I do like the dark shades that the building has been painted with as over time these are easier to hide blemishes and dirt as compared to white walls But the disadvantage here is that it can look a bit dark and gloomy even during the day without appropriate lighting I have always liked the location of Queenstown and you have enough amenities in the area that you don’t really have to go too far away it never feels overly crowded and can be quite quiet in certain areas too I think it is certainly possible to appreciate the appeal of the Queenstown estate it does not have the vibrancy of Tiong Bahru but it does have a different allure – one that is more homely yet remains super central Commonwealth Towers condo was actually the first condominium launched in the Queenstown area since the Queens If you are looking to stay in a condo in Queenstown you do have quite a number of options to choose from But I think that it does carry the distinction of having the best location (along with the Queens Peak) For the simple reason that it is located right in front of Queenstown MRT station Queenstown MRT is located on the East-West Line and is highly favoured as a city fringe location as it is only four stops away from Tanjong Pagar and the central business district Not everyone likes to live directly in the city for reasons such as the density of people and buildings Queenstown is certainly an attractive proposition for those who want a blend of convenience and liveability Buona Vista is also just two stops away by train where many big companies have set up shop in Metropolis You also have the Mapletree business city and Alexandra Technopark over at the Pasir Panjang side Although it isn’t linked by a direct train there are buses that can get you there in a jiffy the Commonwealth Towers condo does extremely well but it is also just so convenient to get to all these different business locations This could just be my personal favourite place to live in if I was working in any of these places Where I do not rate the Commonwealth Towers as highly is in terms of proximity to a wet market or supermarket Let me just preface this slightly by saying that there are wet markets/supermarkets nearby for sure but it is a bit far if you were to be buying any heavy-duty stuff Mei Ling Market and Sheng Siong at Dawson are the closest by (and to a certain extent but at 10 minutes I would not consider them to be close enough to be really convenient Another option would be to take the MRT to Commonwealth where there is a large 24-hour Sheng Siong although you will have to take a bus or drive to get there You could also take a train to Commonwealth where Tanglin Halt Food Centre is a good option as well it is not the end of the world as Queenstown MRT actually contains a Mr Bean as well as two Chinese food stores while you do not have a proper shopping centre and one of them is a 10-minute walk away from Commonwealth Towers Anchorpoint Shopping Centre is just across the road it isn’t particularly interesting for shopping at all but there is a KFC and a Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe that opens past midnight on weekends Alexandra Central Mall could have been something promising for the area but the premise was weak from the beginning the mall is really only useful for a couple of dining options on the first floor Queensway is every Singaporean’s favourite go-to place for sportswear and shoes Despite online shopping being super common nowadays it still can get very crowded on the weekends One more thing that I really like about the location of the Commonwealth Tower is that the entrance of Alexandra Canal Linear Park is right beside the development While I can’t say the same for most people it is really enjoyable to have a scenic place to take in the outdoors and if you are an avid jogger it is actually quite a long route Perhaps the last downside to the location of the Commonwealth Towers is the proximity of good schools nearby You could also walk to Queenstown Secondary School Probably the best-known school is Crescent Girls but that is located more than 1km away from the development Not that any of these are bad schools by any means I would say that that is one of the weaker points about the location of the Commonwealth Towers The Commonwealth Towers is built on an irregular piece of land along Commonwealth Avenue There is only one entrance and exit to the development and in most cases that would be an issue but as this is along the main road the accessibility is actually quite good If you are driving in the opposite direction there is a U-turn just after the MRT station so it is convenient The only thing you will have to take note of would be that you have to cut three lanes to get across so you can take advantage of the break-in traffic I think the plan for the facilities could have been better thought out The location of the swimming pool at the back would have been perfect if not for the towering blocks at Dawson that are currently being built I also think that the long driveway is a little unnecessary as it takes up valuable space on the surface as it is not as if the Commonwealth Towers is blessed with lots of land the best stacks are 5 – 8 and 15 – 19 as they are set further away from the MRT tracks and the main road so it is a lot quieter which is a huge plus point since it seems as if Singapore is getting hotter day by day This would have been perfect if not for the HDB blocks being built at the back so the downside here is that your views aren’t fantastic Especially if you compare to the front-facing blocks as the higher levels will be able to capture a view of the sea it’s really a trade-off between nicer views and general liveability I prefer stacks 5 and 16 for 1 bedroom units because the balcony is in the living area and is rectangle and not odd-shaped so it is more usable For 2 bedrooms The only thing I would point out is that for stacks 7 and 17 the common bedroom is pushed out slightly but it is pretty much identical here My picks for the 3 bedroom units are stacks 4 If you have the option for it I would go for the ones with a yard as I think yards are highly overlooked by developers nowadays But having this area to dry your clothes is really beneficial Commonwealth Towers condo was targeted toward small families and singles They’re likely to be renters who do would appreciate the connectivity to Queenstown MRT The units at the Commonwealth Towers are not big for sure, but they are very much in line with what you would expect from a new launch in the current market you cannot be too picky in terms of living space in the development You can see from the average prices around the vicinity for the new condominium developments are all very comparable I prefer the design of the Commonwealth Towers as compared to the Queens Peak Prices for the Stirling Residences are very similar too but bear in mind that it is set further away from Queenstown MRT station and is still some time away from achieving its TOP status If you are more budget-conscious, the current average price for the Queens is actually quite attractive You still get the perks of an excellent location and bigger living spaces this comes at the expense of a dated exterior and much older development With the Commonwealth Towers, it is very clear that if the location is your number one priority, this is a place worth looking at. What the developers have achieved is an upmarket-looking development, and if you are a fan of the sleek modern lines, it is certainly very much in trend with the new launches of 2019 I wouldn’t say that the Commonwealth Towers condo is going to be everyone’s cup of tea but for those younger working singles or couples Perhaps my only reservation is the facilities available might be a bit of a squeeze if the development is at full capacity There are a total of 845 residential units The Commonwealth Towers condominium offers a variety of amenities including an outdoor swimming pool every pet must have a clean bill of health from a vet within the last 30 days – be up to date on all shots every pet must be registered with their management office The monthly service fees cover things like the use and maintenance of common areas such as the gym and swimming pools The area surrounding Commonwealth Towers is bustling and exciting cosmopolitan neighbourhood with lots of great restaurants schools and MRT stations with the Queenstown MRT station just outside that will give you easy access to all parts of Singapore The Commonwealth Towers Condominium is surrounded by a gated fence They are also located near Singapore’s Central Business District which means that security is always at hand Sean has a writing experience of 3 years and is currently with Stacked Homes focused on general property research still beat out the “near” condos of Queens (29.6 per cent) and Commonwealth Towers (27.4 per […] My name is Sean and our goal is to help home buyers and sellers in Singapore make the best decision for themselves Send us an email at: hello@stackedhomes.com Stay ahead by getting up to date on what truly matters Sign up to get the latest insights delivered to your inbox 2x a week.