While the broader property narrative for 2025 boasts impressive numbers and the highest quarterly sales since 2010, a closer look at Singapore’s prime districts reveals some truly eye-watering financial hits for high-end investors. This divergence is occurring despite bullish forecasts that total developer sales for the year will hit 9,000–10,000 units.
Even as new launch sales soar, the resale market for existing luxury units has become a minefield for select owners. A glaring example of this misfortune is found at OUE Twin Peaks, a completed condo in the prime district highlighted for having no profitable transactions recently. In fact, owners there faced staggering setbacks, with recorded losses exceeding $3 million in 2025, proving that a prestigious address does not always guarantee a prestigious return.
OUE Twin Peaks owners faced staggering losses exceeding $3 million, proving a prestigious address doesn’t guarantee a prestigious return.
The situation gets markedly grimmer when examining long-term holdings in traditionally safe areas. One specific freehold condo located in District 10 dealt its owner a massive $6.29 million loss upon resale. Despite holding the property for 13.5 years—a period usually sufficient to ride out market volatility—the final sale price reflected a 28.2 percent drop in value, annualized at a negative 2.4 percent.
Elsewhere in the Core Central Region, July 2025 saw multiple unprofitable condo sales reaching losses of up to $1.38 million. Much of this recent financial pain stems strictly from the COVID-era buying boom, where short-hold owners who entered at peak prices are now exiting with losses ranging between $400,000 and $1.55 million. This contrasts sharply with private condos in non-prime locations that have benefited from immediate rental income without the restrictions faced by Executive Condominium owners.
These figures stand in stark contrast to the general market optimism. Such confidence is bolstered by the recently reported 45 units transacted for $584.26 million in the luxury apartment market during the first half of the year. While new non-landed prime district home prices grew by 27 percent cumulatively over the past five years, this performance substantially lagged behind the city fringe and suburbs, which surged by 47 percent and 46 percent respectively, leaving prime assets in the dust.
Ultimately, high-net-worth individuals are discovering that while lower interest rates and demand from new launches like Skye at Holland are helping the general market, they offer little solace to those stuck with assets that simply haven’t appreciated as hoped.
For these specific investors, the 2025 property boom is less of a celebration and more of a harsh cautionary tale regarding entry price and timing.
