The Continuum Condo Review: Rare freehold condo launch in Tanjong Katong

The Continuum Condo is an upcoming development that offers buyers the chance to own freehold property in the popular Tanjong Katong area, which is sought-after due to its variety of eateries, pleasant living environment and proximity to goods schools.

Launched by a joint venture between Hoi Hup Realty and Sunway Developments, The Continuum will be located on Thiam Siew Avenue, which connects to both Tanjong Katong Road and Haig Road. It will receive its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) in 2027.

At The Continuum’s launch on 6 May 2023, 216 of its 816 units, or 26.5%, were sold at an average price of $2,732 psf.

The Continuum isn’t the only launch in the Tanjong Katong area, but it has the distinction of being a rare leasehold condo. Oher recent launches nearby, such as Emerald of Katong and Parktown Residence, are 99-year leasehold.

One interesting feature of The Continuum is that the site will house a conservation bungalow, repurposed as a clubhouse. This brings to mind another upcoming development, 99-year leasehold Lentor Mansions, whose clubhouse will be a black and white colonial bungalow-lookalike. The difference is that The Continuum’s clubhouse will be the real thing--an authentic conservation bungalow, not a reproduction.

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

The Continuum Condo Price

At The Continuum’s launch on 6 May 2023, the starting price for 1-bedroom units with a study measuring 560 sqft was about $1.45 million, or $2,585 psf. The starting price for 2-bedroom units was $1.67 million, or $2,586 psf, while that for 3-bedroom units was $2.3 million, or $2,637 psf.

The average psf launch price was $2,732.

At the moment, available The Continuum units are being sold for $1,400,000 to $6,669,000, or $2,035 to $3,437 psf. 3-bedroom units are listed on PropertyGuru for $1,920,000 to $4,000,000, or $2,035 to $3,437 psf.

Let’s take a look at nearby freehold condo Bella Casita for comparison’s sake. This condo, which received its TOP in 2013, is located on Ipoh Lane, a three-minute walk from The Continuum.

1-bedroom units at Bella Casita measuring 452 to 506 sq ft are being put up for sale on PropertyGuru for $830,000 to $1,040,000, or $1,836 to $2,055 psf. As this is a small development, price trends over the years aren’t that obvious, but we can see that decent capital gains have been enjoyed by sellers over the years.

The Continuum Condo Site Plan

You can find The Continuum site plan here. The site plan shows the layout of the shared facilities within the estate, as well as the position of the residential blocks.

Amenities include swimming pools, barbecue pavilions, and a sky garden with a jacuzzi, hot tub and gym. There is also a multi-purpose recreational court that includes a tennis court and a half-basketball court. And of course, there is the famous conservation bungalow converted into a clubhouse, with a library and club room.

The Continuum Condo Location

The Continuum’s location is on Thiam Siew Avenue, which leads to Tanjong Katong Road on one end and Haig Road on the other.

The nearest MRT station is Dakota, located a 12-minute walk away. There is a second MRT station, Paya Lebar on the East West Line and Circle Line, located a 14-minute walk away.

This is an attractive location for families with kids, as the Tanjong Katong area is home to many reputable schools. The Continuum is located within 1km of three popular primary schools, namely Kong Hwa School, Tanjong Katong Primary School and Haig Girls’ School. Other schools located within easy walking distance include Tanjong Katong Secondary School and Chung Cheng High School (Main). A half hour away on foot, there are even more sought after schools, such as Tao Nan School and Dunman High School.

Kids or no kids, in terms of amenities and lifestyle perks, this is also a highly attractive area to live in. The area is known for its availability of excellent food options, with clusters of eateries located on Tanjong Katong Road and the Joo Chiat and East Coast area. East Coast Park is also accessible on foot, offering waterfront views and a wealth of recreational amenities such as bicycle rentals and wakeboarding facilities.

The Continuum is also located within walking distance of several shopping malls, such as i12 Katong and Katong Shopping Centre.

If I had to nitpick, I would say that Dakota MRT station being a 12-minute walk away does add quite a bit to travel time, considering that Raffles Place in the CBD is under 15 minutes away via car in smooth traffic. But it’s otherwise a great location for all types of households.

The Continuum Condo Floor Plan

You can find The Continuum floor plan here.

1-Bedroom

The 1-bedroom units come with a study and measure 52 sqm (560 sqft). Note that some units have a balcony measuring 3 sqm, the size of which is included in the total area. One thing to note is that the study is a small nook wedged in between the bedroom and the bathroom, and may not receive much natural light. Also, the entrance opens directly into the kitchen, so there is no real hallway.

2-Bedroom

The 2-bedroom units, with and without studies, measure 60 to 67 sqm (646 to 721 sqft). All layouts place the living room in between both bedrooms with the entrance opening directly into the kitchen, without a hallway.

3-Bedroom

The 3-bedroom units measure 81 sqm to 116 sqm (872 to 1,249 sqft), with the largest units housing studies. There are numerous layouts, most placing the three bedrooms side by side, and one placing one of the bedrooms on the other side of the living/dining area. The units with studies also have a private lift lobby. This is one of the rare developments equipping some 3-room units with a private lift lobby.

4-Bedroom

The 4-bedroom units measure 84 to 189 sqm (1,227 to 2,034 sqft). If that sounds like a huge size range, it’s because the 4-bedroom premier units are massive. The master bedrooms are equipped with a huge bathroom and walk-in wardrobe and a private lift lobby.

5-Bedroom

The 5-bedroom units measure 177 sqm (1,905 sqft), with a private lift lobby and an enormous wet kitchen big enough for a team of cooks.

The Continuum Condo Rent Price

Let’s look at nearby Bella Casita to get an idea of the kinds of rents The Continuum could potentially command.

1-bedroom units at Bella Casita measuring 452 to 517 sqft are being put up for rent on PropertyGuru for $2,900 to $3,300, while 2-bedroom units measuring 820 to 974 sqft are going for $4,000 to $4,200.

Mapped against The Continuum’s prices, this is an acceptable rental yield, but I personally would not pick this property if I were relying on it mainly as a source of rental income.

The Continuum Condo Review

The Continuum enjoys a highly attractive location thanks to the proximity of an abundance of good food options, lifestyle destinations such as East Coast Park, as well as reputable schools. It’s also in a sought-after neighbourhood with a nice, laid back atmosphere.

While I would recommend The Continuum as a home for a wide range of households, whether families with kids, couples without kids, singles or people working in the CBD, from an investor’s point of view, there are more profitable areas out there if the goal is to rent out the property.