Bidadari Alkaff Oasis Review: Within walking distance of two MRT stations

Alkaff Oasis is a HDB BTO project launched in the February 2016 BTO launch. Located at 110 Bidadari Park Drive, it is part of the transformation of the Bidadari housing estate in the Toa Payoh planning area.

The Bidadari area was formerly occupied by a cemetery. The graves have since been exhumed to make way for the new housing estate. Unsurprisingly, this generated quite a bit of controversy when the redevelopment plans were first announced. But homebuyers seem to have forgotten about this, as evidenced by the popularity of HDB projects in the area.

Alkaff Oasis received its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) in June 2021 after a delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bidadari Alkaff Oasis BTO Review (Summary Table)

*Information from 99.co, PropertyGuru, and other property listing websites is accurate as of time of writing.

Alkaff Oasis BTO Price

At the February 2016 HDB BTO launch, Alkaff Oasis 2-room flexi flats were priced at $154,000 to $244,000, 3-room flats at $303,000 to $356,000, 4-room flats at $440,000 to $521,000, 5-room flats at $546,000 to $633,000 and 3Gen flats at $553,000 to $639,000.

Redevelopment of the Bidadari estate began in 2013, with the first flats being ready for habitation in 2021. That means none of the owners of flats in the project have served their full Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), and there are currently no flats on the resale market. As such, we have to look at other HDB flats in the area to try and estimate potential price trends.

Nearby HDB Resale prices

On Potong Pasir Avenue 1, there are a few 4-room HDB flats for sale on PropertyGuru. These flats are about 15 to 16 minutes’ walk from Potong Pasir MRT station, with a TOP date in 1984. They are going for $688,000 to $900,000, according to their PropertyGuru listings.

Meanwhile, 3-room flats on Potong Pasir Avenue 1, located 13- to 14- minutes’ walk from Potong Pasir MRT and with a TOP date in 1984, to are going for $450,000 to $490,000.

Despite the fact that these resale flats are over 40 years old, they still command significantly higher prices than the BTO launch prices of Alkaff Oasis. In my opinion, this indicates that capital gains for the first batch of Alkaff Oasis buyers could potentially be very attractive.

The Bidadari area looks set to enjoy further developments in the near future, with an upcoming integrated transport hub and the future opening of the scenic Bidadari Park and Alkaff Lake in the works. The ongoing transformation of the neighbourhood could raise property values in the coming years.

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Alkaff Oasis BTO Feng Shui

The fact that the Bidadari estate used to be a cemetery might perturb some. According to feng shui masters, however, the land on which Alkaff Oasis is built is on land that is auspicious for certain types of industries including investments, commerce and finance.

Alkaff Oasis is located at a very busy area. While that can mean more convenience, it can also translate to higher noise levels and too much activity. So, owners of affected units are advised to ensure their flats are well insulated.

Buyers should also be aware that the nursing homes in the area might not be good feng shui and could also hurt resale prices.

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Alkaff Oasis Location

Alkaff Oasis is located at 110 Bidadari Park Drive, 9 minutes’ walk from both Woodleigh and Potong Pasir MRT stations, both on the North East Line.

The flats enjoy easy access to a decent range of amenities, including The Woodleigh and The Poiz Centre, which are next door to Woodleigh and Potong Pasir MRT stations respectively.

Other amenities located within walking distance include Potong Pasir Community Club, the upcoming Alkaff Lake and Bidadari Park.

A key draw for families is the high number of sought-after schools located within walking distance, including Cedar Girls Primary and Secondary Schools, Maris Stella High (Primary and Secondary), St Andrew’s Junior School, St Andrew’s Secondary School, St Andrew’s Junior College and Stamford American International School.

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Alkaff Oasis Floor Plan

You can find Alkaff Oasis floor plans here.

Alkaff Oasis consists of the full range of flat types—2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room, 5-room and 3Gen.

2 Room Flexi

The 2-room Flexi flats measure 38 or 47 sqm, inclusive of air-con ledge. The 38 sqm layout is a highly compact and space-efficient one, with no corridor and little wasted space. The larger 47 sqm layout has a bigger kitchen and living/dining area, but is also a little less space efficient as there is a bigger hallway at the front door.

3 Room Flat

The 3-room flats measure 68sqm, inclusive of air-con ledge. The layouts are typical of new 3-room flats, with both bedrooms lined up side by side. Buyers can choose to go with an open kitchen layout or add a partition wall separating the kitchen from the living and dining area.

4 Room Flat

The 4-room flats measure 93 sqm, inclusive of air-con ledge. The bedrooms are lined up on one side, an L-shaped living and dining area on the other. There is a choice between an open kitchen or including a partition wall that divides the kitchen from the living and dining area.

5 Room Flat

The 5-room flats measure 113 sqm, inclusive of air-con ledge. Like the 3-room and 4-room flats, there is a choice between an open kitchen or an enclosed one. The living and dining area is L-shaped, with the possibility of setting up a study or home office in the living room.

Overall, these layouts are typical of BTO flats. I personally think the choice of opting for an open or closed kitchen is a nice touch, and the spacious living rooms in the 5-room flats cater nicely to those who work from home and wish to set up an office there.

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Alkaff Oasis Rent

The current Alkaff Oasis residents have not served their MOP yet, so none of the units are currently being put up for rent.

But we can look at nearby HDB flats to get an idea of the kind of rental prices Alkaff Oasis could potentially command.

4-room flats on Potong Pasir Avenue 1 located 3 to 16 minutes’ walk from Potong Pasir MRT are currently being put up for rent on PropertyGuru for $3,800 to $4,200 a month.

This is a very attractive potential rental yield for those who managed to snag a flat at the BTO launch. But even for those who buy Alkaff Oasis flats on the resale market later on, if these rents are anything to go by, the rental yield should still be great and could fully cover the home loan installments for a 25-year loan.

In my opinion, due to the proximity of so many popular schools in the area, Alkaff Oasis is a convenient choice for families looking to rent a flat. Rents are much lower than for condos in the same area, making Bidadari Alkaff an attractive choice for those looking for good value for money in a popular, established neighbourhood with excellent connectivity to and from the city centre.

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Alkaff Oasis Review

It’s easy to see why Bidadari has been such a hit with BTO applicants. It offers the chance to live in the popular Toa Payoh area and enjoys fairly easy access to the city centre. I think it is particularly attractive to families with kids thanks to the presence of many sought-after schools.

As an investment, I believe Alkaff Oasis can potentially offer a very attractive rental yield. Due to upcoming developments in the Bidadari area, I also think that flats in the area could be very promising in terms of potential capital gains.

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