Land at Jalan Merbok Open for Sale with Potential for Educational or Care Facilities Development

A parcel of land located at Jalan Merbok, near Jalan Jurong Kechil, is currently available for sale through an expression of interest (EOI) exercise. Knight Frank Singapore, serving as the exclusive marketing agent, has not disclosed a guide price, and is inviting potential buyers to submit their offers accompanied by a concept for the site’s development.

The land spans approximately 94,907 square feet and is designated for “Educational Institution” use as per the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Master Plan 2025. It is being offered with a new 103-year leasehold tenure. Recommended developments for this site include facilities for senior living and care such as assisted living, a nursing home, or a day care and training center for health and medical care, pending necessary approvals.

Adjacent to this site is the Canossa Mission Singapore spirituality center, managed by the non-profit Canossian Sisters. The redevelopment of this plot offers the potential for a care and community campus that complements the existing spirituality center, as suggested by Knight Frank. This could foster a unique environment focused on care, wellbeing, reflection, and community engagement, while maintaining independent operations for each facility.

The plot lies in the Toh Tuck landed housing area, close to Bukit Batok, Beauty World, and Upper Bukit Timah, within an established residential zone that includes both private and public housing. Melvin Chay, interim head of capital markets at Knight Frank Singapore, noted that this site is ideally positioned to cater to varying levels of support required by senior residents, thereby minimizing disruption for both the residents and their families.

Mary Sai, executive director of capital markets at Knight Frank Singapore, pointed out that the demand for senior living and care facilities is expected to increase as Singapore’s elderly population grows. She highlighted that this site offers a promising opportunity for investors and operators to develop a premier senior living community centered on enhanced care, wellbeing, and overall quality of life.

The deadline for the EOI submission is set for November 6 at 3 PM. Interested parties can explore opportunities like the one provided by this plot for potential real estate investments in senior living and care facilities. For more insights into similar properties or to understand market trends, visiting Singapore Condo could provide valuable information.

HDB Resale Market Trends in 3Q2026

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) of Singapore reported a modest decline in resale flat prices for the third consecutive quarter in 3Q2026. According to the latest flash estimates, the Resale Price Index (RPI) decreased by 0.2% quarter-on-quarter, a slight improvement from the 0.3% drop seen in the previous quarter.

Despite the dip in prices, market dynamics showed positive signs, partially influenced by recent adjustments in housing policies. Christine Sun, the chief research and strategist at Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group, pointed out that the removal of the 15-month waiting period for private property owners and former private property owners to purchase non-subsidized resale flats, effective from July 28, has buoyed the market sentiment. This change has notably increased enquiries and buying interest among private homeowners aiming to downsize.

For those interested in exploring various housing options, including upscale condominiums, visiting Singapore Condo provides insights and listings that can help prospective buyers make informed decisions in a fluctuating market.

Transaction Volumes and Market Response

Evidence of renewed interest was clear in the transaction numbers, with a significant 17.7% quarter-on-quarter increase, totaling 7,528 resale transactions in 3Q2026. Lee Sze Teck, senior director of data analytics at Huttons Asia, commented that even though private and ex-private property owners have been actively purchasing larger flats since the policy revision, the price effects remained muted, alleviating concerns about potential price spikes caused by these buyer groups.

Surge in Larger Flat Transactions

The sales of larger flat types like five-room and executive flats have seen a notable uptick, driving the overall resale volume. Eugene Lim, key executive officer at ERA Singapore, highlighted that sales of 1,822 five-room flats and 535 executive flats marked increases of 23.7% and 39% respectively over the previous quarter. Additionally, the resale market saw 597 transactions of million-dollar flats, making up 8.5% of the total transactions during the quarter.

Million-Dollar Flat Market Dynamics

The demand for high-priced flats has been particularly robust, driven likely by cash-rich private homeowners now facing fewer entry barriers into the HDB resale market. This segment saw prices climbing to an average of $1.16 million in 3Q2026, a 1.1% increase from the previous quarter. Notably, the proportion of such transactions in non-mature estates reached 11.4%, the highest recorded so far.

The peak of this trend was marked by the sale of a five-room flat at The Pinnacle @ Duxton for a record $1.72 million in September, surpassing the prior record set days earlier.

Outlook and Government Policies

Looking forward, the resale market might encounter challenges due to the recent raise in income ceiling for Built-To-Order (BTO) flats, which could divert potential buyers towards newer, possibly more affordable BTO flats. However, changes in school allocation policies could benefit resale flats near certain schools, potentially buoying market sentiment in those areas.

As the year progresses, Huttons estimates that transactions could range between 22,000 to 26,000, with price movements hovering between -1% and 1%. Conversely, ERA projects a volume around 26,000 transactions with a potential annual price increase of 2% to 5%, aligning with the government’s goal for a stable and sustainable HDB resale market.