Fernvale Dew Review: May 2018 BTO project near Jalan Kayu

Fernvale Dew is a HDB housing project that was launched in the May 2018 HDB BTO exercise. Located in Sengkang on Fernvale Lane, Fernvale Dew is about 14 minutes’ walk from Fernvale LRT station.

Initially scheduled to receive its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) in June 2022, the construction of Fernvale Dew was delayed, with the first batch of residents collecting their keys only in February 2023. Soon after key collection, some residents complained about defects in their flats. These issues have since been rectified.

Want to check out the Fernvale Dew BTO flats? Take a virtual tour here.

Fernvale Dew Review (Summary Table)

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

Fernvale Dew Price

At Fernvale Dew’s launch in May 2018, the indicative price of 2-room Flexi flats was $99,000 to $147,000, that for 3-room flats was $187,000 to $227,000, that for 4-room flats was $279,000 to $342,000, and that for 5-room flats was $362,000 to $426,000. I think these prices are affordable compared to other BTO launches.

The first batch of owners has not yet finished serving the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP), which will only expire in February 2027 at the earliest. There is thus no information about resale prices.

But we can look at similar HDB flats in the area to get an idea of the kind of resale prices Fernvale Dew flats will command in the future.

Let’s look at the 5-room flats situated on 435 Fernvale Road, about 4 minutes’ walk from Fernvale LRT station. These flats received their TOP in 2013 and are now being put up for sale on PropertyGuru for $735,000 to $800,000.

This is almost double the launch price of the Fernvale Dew flats. Granted, 435 Fernvale Road does enjoy a more attractive location due to its closer proximity to Fernvale LRT station. But the robust resale prices indicate that Fernvale Dew buyers can probably look forward to healthy capital gains as well.

Back to top

Fernvale Dew Feng Shui

According to feng shui masters and geomancers, the site Fernvale Dew occupies is not ideal. The blocks are located at a T-junction, which causes an aggressive rush of energy towards the flats. However, this is mitigated somewhat as the blocks closest to the T-junction are placed at an angle and the empty void decks remove the problem of possible collisions with oncoming vehicles.

When it comes to choice of unit, geomancers recommend that Fernvale Dew buyers avoid units that face the central rubbish bins or the corridor leading to them. It is also best to avoid units that are too close to the electrical sub-station, and to pick a higher floor for units facing the precinct pavilion.

Back to top

Fernvale Dew Site Plan

You can find a site plan for Fernvale Dew here.

Fernvale Dew is located at 400A Fernvale Lane, about 14 minutes’ walk from from Fernvale LRT station. The nearest MRT station, Sengkang, is a whopping 45 minutes’ walk away. Residents who prefer not to use the LRT system will have to take a bus or cycle to Sengkang MRT station instead.

In my opinion, the public transport situation is quite inconvenient. Not only is it a hassle to have to take the bus or LRT to reach the MRT network, but Sengkang MRT station itself is also quite a distance from the CBD. Those who work in the CBD might find it quicker to take the bus to Yio Chu Kang MRT and then take the train directly to Raffles Place.

Most of the neighbourhood’s key amenities, such as shopping mall Compass One and the Sengkang Public Library, are clustered around Sengkang MRT.

In the immediate vicinity, residents can enjoy the proximity of Jalan Kayu, with its famous roti prata shops.

In my opinion, the selection of nearby amenities is not great, with the main highlight being Fernvale Square, which has an ActiveSG gym. The rest of the estate is overwhelmingly residential.

For families with children, there are a few schools located in the area, including Fernvale Primary School, Sengkang Green Primary School and Pei Hwa Secondary School.

Overall, I am not too excited about the location. The main reason to move here would be to take advantage of the relatively affordable prices.

Back to top

Fernvale Dew BTO Floor Plan

You can check out the Fernvale Dew BTO floor plans here.

The Fernvale Dew BTO project consists of 2-room Flexi, 3-room, 4-room and 5-room flats.

2-Room Flexi BTO Floor Plan

The 2-room Flexi flats measure 40 to 47 sqm, including the air-con ledge. While there are a few layouts, they all look more or less the same to me, with the 47 sqm flats having a more spacious living room, bedroom and hallway than the 40 sqm flats.

3-Room BTO Floor Plan

The 3-room flats measure 69 sqm, including the air-con ledge. Again, the layout is typical of BTO flats, with the two bedrooms lined up side-by-side.

4-Room BTO Floor Plan

The 4-bedroom flats measure 90 sqm, including the air-con ledge. The layout is quite typical of 4-room flats, with an L-shaped living and dining area. All three bedrooms are lined up side-by-side.

5-Room BTO Floor Plan

The 5-room flats measure 113 sqm, including the air-con ledge. The three bedrooms are lined up side-by-side, as is typical of such flats. A suggested study area has been indicated on the plan in the living/dining area, giving residents the possibility of setting up a home office there.

Overall, I think these layouts are quite typical of new BTO flats, with no big surprises.

Back to top

Fernvale Dew Rent

As the first batch of Fernvale Dew owners has not yet fulfilled their MOP, none of the units have been rented out yet.

But we can look at the HDB flats at 435 to 436 Fernvale Road to get a better idea of the kind of rents Fernvale Dew owners can expect. At the moment, 4-room flats at that address are being put up for rent on PropertyGuru for $3,400 to $3,600.

While the flats at 435 to 436 Fernvale Road are about 10 minutes closer on foot to the nearest LRT station compared to Fernvale Dew, they offer an idea of the kinds of rents Fernvale Dew buyers can expect when they have served their MOP.

Given the relatively low BTO launch prices commanded by the Fernvale Dew flats, the rental yield could potentially be fantastic for the first batch of buyers, and could also more than cover the monthly home loan repayments. For those who eventually upgrade to a private property, holding on to Fernvale Dew for rental income might be a good financial choice.

For potential tenants considering renting at Fernvale Dew, due to the poor public transport connectivity, I feel like the flats would probably be best for families with a car, or those who work from home and do not need to commute often to the city centre.

Back to top

Fernvale Dew Review

Overall, I feel like the biggest disadvantage of Fernvale Dew is its location. It is just a bit too far from the nearest LRT station for comfort, and the fact that one must take the LRT or bus to the nearest MRT station is a big disadvantage.

Due to the relatively affordable launch prices, Fernvale Dew is likely to become a good investment for the first batch of buyers currently awaiting the end of the MOP. For future buyers of resale flats there, while the capital gains are unlikely to be as good as what the first batch of buyers will enjoy, I think there is a good chance that Fernvale Dew will still offer an attractive rental yield.

Back to top