Chantel's Choice is a series of articles dedicated to projects that I have come across and really love, the objective is to shine a light on properties that I think are worthy of a shout out in a very crowded private property space where many projects are shouting pick me, pick me!
My first article will be for Verticus located at Balestier. The reason why I have chosen Verticus is because I’m a true blue Whampoa Balestier girl and I hope my in-depth knowledge of this location will add value to your understanding of this area.
Verticus is a Freehold condo located at 3 Jalan Kemaman. To appreciate Verticus, you will need to know and love Balestier!
During the circuit breaker, one of the most delightful activities for me is to take my walks to the Fairprice Finest at ZhongShan Mall to pick fresh avocados and fresh meat from the Culina butchery. What makes these walks enjoyable are the green views and cute dogs (out for walks with their owners) that cross my path as I walk through this park connector which is located beside the rows of Apartments/houses located along Balestier.
Character, Convenience, Cuisine
Whenever I walked through the park connectors and streets leading to ZhongShan Mall, my heart is simply filled with much love for this eclectic neighbourhood.
In this area, you will be able to see an array of modern condos, older apartments, terraces, shophouses, old factories.
Balestier is also well known for being a food haven.
This neighbourhood is well served by Whampoa Market and Balestier Market which house some of the best Rojaks, Chicken Rice, Prawn Noodle Soup, Hokkien Mee, Fish Head Steamboat. This is also the place to find some of the best and famous Bak Ku Tehs and Durians.
In recent years, there is also more hip and new eateries added to the neighbourhood which includes the Wheeler’s Yard, Caveman Restaurant and Bar and Artisan Boulangerie Co
If you are familiar with the small roads, there are also shortcuts that will bring you to the rangoon road area which will lead you to more interesting cafes that are located in the vicinity.
Weaving through the small roads off main Balestier Road will also bring you to the Novena area which consist of Malls (Novena Square) and more interesting food options along the small shops along Thomson Road.
For those who like to walk, explore and enjoy good food, there are ample places in Balestier that one can walk and explore and can end up with a yummy treat.
Besides a wonderful place for foodies, it's an awesome place for pet owners. There are several pet grooming shops, vets and pet suppliers located around the stretch of balestier that ensure your fur babies receive good care.
Verticus Developed By SoilBuild
Project Name: Verticus
Address: 3 Jalan Kemaman
Tenure: Freehold
Total Number of units: 162
Carpark Lots: 162 (Excluding 3 Handicap Parking Lots)
Estimated Top: 31 December 2024
Unit Types:
1 BR
2BR, 2BR + study, Dual Key (2+1)
3 Br, 3 BR Premium
Dual Key (2+1) Penthouse
3 Br Penthouse
4 Br Penthouse
5 Things that I love about Verticus
1.Full Condo Facilities In A Low-Density Project
As a tennis lover, I think it’s fabulous that there is a tennis court included in this project
with less than 200 units! It’s super rare to find low-density development that comes with tennis courts. The facilities are also well designed with 2 good size pools, a sky gym and various gourmet decks for entertainment.
These are features that are not common in similar low-density condos.
2.Well Design and Efficient Layouts
One potential pitfall in a property purchase is in paying for areas that are wasted spaces which are often found in unnecessarily big AC ledges and odd balcony space that does not have a
functional use. As both balcony and ac ledge size is factored into the square footage that makes up the total price of your property, choosing an efficient layout will give you the best value for what you pay.
The 1 bedroom layout at Verticus is an example of an efficient layout as the AC Ledge is kept to a size that fits in the compressor and enough space for servicemen. For the balcony, the shape is squarish and it’s designed to be able to fit in zip track blinds which helps to block out rain and noise.
This is a proposed use of the balcony for the 1 bedroom layout and I think it’s really innovative.
This efficient layout can be found in all the other units types in the project as well.
Dual Key layout available in Verticus
There is a Dual Key Layout in Verticus
which is ideal for the following group of buyers
- investor looking to enjoy maximum rental yield by renting out the two units
- buyers who like to have a hybrid option to stay in one side and rent out the other
- multi-generation family who like to have separate living spaces but still be close by.
3.Awesome Location
Besides the character and access to food that I mentioned earlier. The condo is located within a 5 minutes walk to Shaw plaza which is currently under revamp, once the project is completed, it will be a brand new ball with Cinema.
This project is in between Toa Payoh and Novena MRT Station which is about 10-15mins walk. If you don’t like to walk, the project is also a 5 minutes walk to the bus stop that is served by buses that go to the MRT station, Orchard, the CBD.
4. Strong Growth Story and Various Tenant Pools
Being an RCR project that is close to the CBD, Balestier is one of the popular options for tenants from the CBD and Orchard area. The rental demand is also supported by the private university that is within walking distance to Verticus, namely Curtin University and EASB,
Besides the mature retail and office options from Novena, another exciting development and growth story in this area will be from the Novena Health City.
It is a mega project occupying 17-hectare of space that will be completed in 2030, that will link Tan Tock Seng (TTSH), volunteer and public health-care facilities and a medical school.
This will be a mega project that will create new job opportunities in the area, create rental demand from the professionals who will be working in this dynamic health city.
5. Good Quality from Strong Team of Builders and Civil Engineers
Soilbuild which is the developer is also the main contractor for this project.
They have a good record in successful projects in Balestier for example The Mezzo and Montebleu.
I also noted that the civil engineers used are from Arup, which is a reputable firm that consults for many high profile projects in Singapore which includes Marina Bay Sands, Gucco Tower and Jewel at Changi
The developer’s choice of quality consultants gives me confidence this will likely be a good quality project that will be well built.
Final Thoughts
Verticus, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated condo in 2020.
2 of the most expensive units, the biggest penthouse were sold during the soft launch which I think speaks volumes of the quality and appeal of the project.
But of course every project has its strength and weakness.
For Verticus I feel that it’s weakness is that it’s not within a short walk of 5 mins to MRT Station and does not have the additional features in mega projects like concierge service.
But it’s strength far outweighs its weakness in terms of the value it offers as a freehold property, with reasonable entry price, in a neighbourhood that oozes of character, which is a short drive to the airport and CBD.
If you are someone who is looking for a low density project, that has character, full facilities, with good rentability and nice views, this will be a good project to consider.
As this is a new launch project that is still at the first stage of construction, it means that your cash outlay will be relatively lower compared to purchasing a resale unit. This is because new launch project follows the progressive payment schedule where payment is billed after the completion of each stage of construction.
This might be good for those who want to lock in a good unit and take advantage of the current low-interest mortgage environment but are uncertain about rentability at this point, or for buyers who are looking to buy for your own stay, but need a longer time to move your funds.
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About The Author
Chantel Teo is fiercely loyal, insatiably curious and always hungry.
A licensed real estate broker based in Singapore. She has transacted properties with a combined value of more than $60 million, from Tanjong Pagar to Orchard to SengKang to Bukit Panjang. In the journey of helping her clients, buy, sell, lease and manage their properties, she has collected many stories and life lessons.
She writes as a form of catharsis and connection. Through her writing, she hopes to share practical and useful insights as well as stories that can enrich her readers.
Buildings and houses is her passion and she has a special love for walk-up apartments and buildings built before the 90s, probably because of the character, charm and history that comes with these buildings. Besides buildings that can stand the test of time, she also appreciates the cultivation of personal substance and character that endures.
One of her favourite quote goes
“Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike” - Theodore Roosevelt. Her belief is that good character will be a solid foundation in which she builds her career and the people around her.
When she is not hustling at work, she enjoys nice coffee, hearty meals, long walks and a good read. She also has a soft spot for all things furry.
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