Singapore's new-home market bounced back in September, but the rebound came off a very low base and only 40 of the month's sales were in the prime districts. According to figures from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) reported by The Business Times on 15 October 2026, developers sold 296 new private homes (excluding executive condominiums) in September, nearly double the 153 units sold in August and 16.1% higher than the 255 units a year earlier.
For buyers watching Districts 9, 10 and 11, the detail behind the headline is worth a closer look: where the sales happened, what price bands buyers chose, and why analysts have trimmed their full-year forecasts.
September 2026 at a glance
Developers launched 158 units (excluding ECs) in September, up from 116 in August and almost eight times the 20 units launched in September 2025. Including ECs, developers sold 319 units, against 171 in August and 270 a year earlier. August had been quiet because of the absence of major launches and the Hungry Ghost Festival period.
Christine Sun, chief researcher and strategist at Realion (OrangeTee & ETC Group), said about two-thirds of September's transactions took place between 11 and 30 September, suggesting buyers returned after the lunar seventh month. She added that October's new sales had already reached 380 as at 15 October, surpassing September's total.
Zooming out, though, the third quarter was weak. Nicholas Mak, chief research officer at Mogul.sg, said private home sales fell 44.9% to 1,180 units in Q3 from 2,141 units in Q2 – the steepest third-quarter decline in 13 years, even allowing for the Hungry Ghost Festival period.
Sales by region: the prime districts were quiet
| Region | New homes sold, Sept 2026 | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of Central Region (RCR) | 131 | 44.3% |
| Outside Central Region (OCR) | 125 | 42.2% |
| Core Central Region (CCR) | 40 | 13.5% |
Mark Yip, CEO of Huttons Asia, said the RCR and OCR remain favoured segments because of their entry prices. The CCR – the band covering Orchard, Tanglin, Bukit Timah, Newton and Novena – has little fresh stock at the moment, which helps explain its small share. It is a reminder that CCR volumes tend to follow launch timing rather than a change in appetite; for the price side of the story, see our look at prime condo prices in Q2 2026.
Best-sellers and the one launch
According to Huttons, the top-selling projects in September were:
- Terra Hill (RCR): 32 units at a median S$2,209 psf
- The Sen: 25 units at S$2,386 psf
- Amberwood at Holland (District 10): 24 units at S$3,021 psf
Amberwood at Holland was the only project launched during the month: of its 212 units, 70 were released in the first phase and 24 were sold, Huttons said. Landed homes were also active, with 19 units sold – the highest monthly volume since April 2018, according to Yip.
Buyers moved up the price ladder
ERA Singapore CEO Marcus Chu, citing URA caveat data as at 15 October, said units priced below S$2.5 million made up 38.8% of new non-landed private home sales in September, down from 60.3% in August. The share priced between S$2.5 million and S$3 million rose to 23.1% from 13.5%.
At the top end, Chu said the priciest new non-landed transaction in September was at Skywaters Residences, where a Singaporean buyer paid S$11.48 million, or S$5,498 psf, for a 2,088 sq ft unit. That was also the priciest new home sold across the wider private market that month, ahead of an S$8.88 million deal for a 3,942 sq ft semi-detached house at Tuan Sing Park.
Forecasts trimmed, with interest rates in focus
Leonard Tay, head of research at Knight Frank Singapore, now expects full-year new private home sales of 6,500 to 7,500 units, below his earlier projection of 8,000 to 10,000, citing fewer launches in Q3 and increasingly selective homebuyers. He described the outlook as having turned "hazy" in Q3, noting that the US Federal Reserve's latest interest rate hike has "introduced concerns that borrowing costs will increase in the months and year ahead". He also pointed out that retrenchments rose from 3,830 in Q1 2026 to 4,620 in Q2 2026, despite low unemployment.
Mohan Sandrasegeran, head of research and data analytics at SRI, said that with several launches expected, sales will be "increasingly shaped by the timing, scale and positioning of these projects". The fourth quarter is expected to include the 1,268-unit Thomson Reserve on Bright Hill Drive and The Serra Residences on Bassein Road.
What it means for prime-district buyers
- Launch calendar drives the numbers. Monthly sales swing with what is on offer; one month's jump or dip is not a trend.
- Financing matters more. If borrowing costs are rising, stress-test your monthly repayments before committing.
- Look beyond the headline psf. Compare tenure, completion date, layout and stack across projects in your budget.
- Freehold prime stock is scarce. Small freehold projects such as 32 Gilstead in District 11, which is fully sold, are rare. More market coverage is in our news archive.
If you are looking at prime-district launches, current options include Dunearn House, Chancery Hill Collection and The Serra Residences in District 11, Amberwood at Holland and UpperHouse at Orchard in District 10, and River Modern in District 9. WhatsApp us for price lists, floor plans and showflat appointments.
This article is for general information only and is not financial or investment advice. Figures are from the sources below as at their publication dates.
Sources
- The Business Times, New private home sales nearly double in September to 296 units, 15 October 2026
