60 years leasehold condominium in Singapore.

When I was told many years ago that residential properties in Hong Kong generally come with a 50 years lease, I was amazed. 

So, if someone in his 30s were to buy a condo in Hong Kong and if he should live to be 90 years old, he could be kicked out of the property as there is no guarantee that the lease would be extended?

To someone from Hong Kong, a 99 years leasehold property in Singapore is probably a steal! The lease is twice as long as back home and the prices are probably lower too, like for like. However, what I have read in the papers today could change things in Singapore for the next generation.

A 1.02 ha residential site in Jurong Kechil comes with an unusual 60 years leasehold term.  This is believed to be the first time a private housing site is being sold on such short tenure under the GLS.

Developers have options for a 30, 45 or 60 year lease period for the plot, URA said. The development conditions for the site cap the maximum number of units at 203 units and can be built up to part 5 storeys and part 8 storeys. The tender will be launched in about two weeks.

Industry experts are expecting a top bid of between $200 to $250 psf ppr and a sale price of $550 to $600 psf. This compares with freehold developments in the area going for about $1,000 psf.

(Source: The Business Times, 6 September 2012)

The government did mention some time ago that it would explore offering residential sites with shorter leases to bring down the cost of home ownership in Singapore.

Possibly, I am out of touch with the reality on the ground. Foreigners, new citizens and younger Singaporeans are probably less concerned with shorter land leases. 

They might just want a home in their living years or to reap as much rental returns as possible in the same years. A project that is freehold or 999 years leasehold and selling at a premium might only be attractive to older Singaporeans over time.

Now, in my 40s, maybe, I would consider buying a new private residential property with a 60 years lease if I could save 40 to 50% compared to buying a similar property which is freehold or has a longer lease. This is for self stay only as the property could be hard to resell as its lease gets progressively shorter. 

Just pray I do not live to be a hundred.

However, for someone in his 20s or 30s, would he buy a new private residential property that comes with a 60 years lease? By the time the project gets its TOP, the property would only have 55 years left to the lease...