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Is This Orchard's Last $2,900 PSF Launch?

Josh Tay · Singapore Property
Key takeaways
  • Orchard-area new launches around $2,900 psf reflect prime District 9 scarcity.
  • 'Last at this price' framing depends on rising land costs pushing future launches higher.
  • Assess against comparable prime launches and resale, not the headline pitch.

Orchard launches today are few and far between. And when one comes up below $3,000 psf, it deserves your full attention. The one I'm watching: Upperhouse at Orchard Boulevard, launching 12 July 2025.

Why Upperhouse Is a Big Deal — Location

Upperhouse sits at 22 Orchard Boulevard, District 10 — a street lined with embassies, international schools and elite condos like Four Seasons and St. Regis, where projects often command $4,000–$5,000+ psf. It's next to Orchard Boulevard MRT, walking distance to Tanglin Mall, Camden Medical, Forum and ION Orchard, diplomatic zones, five-star hotels, and ISS International and Overseas Family School. This kind of real estate isn't being built anymore — the land is already spoken for.

Who's Behind It: UOL & Singapore Land Group

If you've walked past The Nassim, MeyerHouse or the Pan Pacific hotels, you've seen their work. UOL builds timeless legacies — a green flag for developer credibility.

The Product

Upperhouse is a 35-storey single tower with about 280–301 units, from 1+Study to 4-bedrooms. Highlights: private lift access for selected larger units, Swiss appliances and Italian cabinetry, interiors by Massone Ong, an infinity pool, hydro spa, wellness spa and sky gardens, and thoughtful modern layouts. Maintenance is only about S$680/month — unheard of for District 10 luxury of this standard.

Be Real: The Trade-offs

It's 99-year leasehold, not freehold, and completes in 2029 — not for urgent movers. But that's why it's priced this way: you're paying 2025 prices for a 2029 Orchard asset. With a stable luxury market and shrinking CCR supply, this is one of the last few new plots in the area.

The Numbers (June 2025)

Project Tenure Avg PSF Completion Units
Upperhouse 99 yrs $2,917 avg 2029 ~301
Klimt Cairnhill Freehold $3,380–$5,500 2023 138
19 Nassim 99 yrs ~$3,400 avg 2024 101
Cuscaden Reserve 99 yrs ~$3,100 avg 2023 192

Against W Residences (from ~$3,800–$6,000 psf), Upperhouse is the best value proposition in the CCR today. You're entering Orchard from about $1.5M for a one-bedroom, averaging around $2,917 psf — prime D10 pricing before the next wave of premium launches.

Rental Returns

Expected rents: ~$6,000/month for 1BR, ~$10,000–$13,000 for 3BR — a gross yield of 2.5–3.5%. Not high, but the strength here is prime location and low early entry price, with easy-to-rent demand from medical, diplomatic, finance and global families. The next time Orchard launches, you'll likely be looking at $3,800–$4,000 psf minimum — this may be your last chance to enter Orchard at a reasonable price for the next decade.

Frequently asked questions

Is $2,900 psf reasonable for an Orchard launch?

For prime District 9 it is within range; value depends on the specific project, layout and comparable transactions.

Will Orchard prices keep rising?

Land costs and scarcity support prime pricing, but no rise is guaranteed — compare each launch to peers.

Is an Orchard condo a good investment?

It offers prestige and rental appeal, though liquidity is thinner and 60% ABSD affects foreign buyers.

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