Forett at Bukit Timah Condo Review: 10 Pros & cons of this freehold condo on Toh Tuck Road

The Toh Tuck area is a peaceful residential enclave that has gained in popularity ever since Beauty World MRT opened nearby. The area has undergone numerous changes as a result of the improved public transport connectivity brought about by the MRT station.

Forett at Bukit Timah, a new freehold condominium in District 21 developed by Qingjian Realty Group and Perennial, is evidence of that. It is being built on the site of the former Goodluck Garden on Toh Tuck Road following an en bloc sale of the latter.

On 8 August 2020 over the National Day weekend at the height of the pandemic, Forett at Bukit Timah sold 30% of its 633 units through a remote launch via Zoom. The development is expected to receive its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) on 6 September 2024.

Forett at Bukit Timah Condo Review (Summary Table)

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

Forett at Bukit Timah Price

At its launch on 8 August 2020, units at Forett at Bukit Timah were sold at an average of $1,880 psf, which I personally find to be a very affordable price for freehold property in the area. The launch occurred in the early days of the pandemic, when private property prices were at a low.

Since then, property prices have rebounded. According to data on PropertyGuru, units at Forett at Bukit Timah are currently being put up for sale for $1,099,000 to $3,550,000, which works out to $2,046 to $2,746 psf. As you can see, the psf prices are now significantly higher, indicating that sellers are enjoying decent capital gains after less than four years.

Part of the reason is the huge rebound the property market took after the early days of the pandemic.  Property prices are currently very high and the government has been trying to bring them down with multiple rafts of cooling measures. So there is no guarantee that capital gains will be as attractive in the short- to medium-term. However, the redevelopment of the area around Beauty World and Jalan Anak Bukit could very well give a boost to future capital gains.

For comparison’s sake, at The Creek @ Bukit, another freehold condo on Toh Tuck Road about 9 minutes’ walk from Beauty World MRT station, units are being sold for $880,000 to $3,300,000, translating to a psf price of $1,556 to $2,765 psf. This condo has had annualised capital gains over 8 years of 1.46% for its 3-bedroom apartments, which is quite weak.

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Forett at Bukit Timah Brochure

You can find the Forett at Bukit Timah brochure here. It contains information about the neighbourhood in which the condo is situated, the various shared amenities and the floor plans of the different unit types.

You can find the Forett at Bukit Timah balance unit chart here to check which units the developer has not yet sold.

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Forett at Bukit Timah Location

Located at 32 to 38 and 40 Toh Tuck Road, Forett at Bukit Timah is located about 11 minutes’ walk from Beauty World MRT station on the Downtown Line. Connectivity is good by MRT or by car via Bukit Timah road, which leads to the city centre. However, those who travel by bus might be frustrated as there are only three bus services serving nearby bus stops.

Bukit Timah Food Centre

This residential area in the west is quite sought-after thanks to its proximity to numerous popular concentrations of eateries, including those on Cheong Chin Nam Road and Lorong Kilat and at Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre.

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

The proximity of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, about 20 minutes’ walk away, and Bukit Batok Nature Park, about 28 minutes’ walk away, will also appeal to nature lovers.

Beauty World Centre

There are plans to redevelop the area around Beauty World Centre and Jalan Anak Bukit. A new integrated community building will be erected next door to Beauty World MRT, with a new market, hawker centre, community library and sports hall. These developments could have a positive impact on the investment potential of of Forett at Bukit Timah.

Schools in the immediate vicinity include Bukit Timah Primary School, Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School and Ngee Ann Polytechnic. A bit further down on Bukit Timah Road, residents will have easy access to elite schools on the Bukit Timah belt, including Methodist Girls’ School, Nanyang Girls’ High School, National Junior College and Hwa Chong Institution.

Overall, I think the area around Forett at Bukit Timah is quite attractive thanks to its variety of eateries, amenities and schools. With the nearest MRT station not far away, it also enjoys fairly good connectivity.

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Forett at Bukit Timah Floor Plan

Forett at Bukit Timah consists of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, 4-bedroom and 5-bedroom apartments, meaning that there is something for households of all sizes.

1 Bedroom

The 1-bedroom units measure 474 sqft (44 sqm) to 506 sqft (47 sqm) and all come with a study. Only one of the layouts has a balcony. There are two layouts with a front door that opens directly into the kitchen, and two with a front door that opens into a foyer. The latter are slightly less space-efficient and have a more cramped kitchen. Personally, I would prefer to have a larger kitchen instead of a foyer.

2 Bedroom

The 2-bedroom apartments measure 549 sqft (51 sqm) to 764 sqft (71 sqm). They come with and without studies, and there are also larger deluxe units. You can choose between layouts with the living room in the centre and the bedrooms on either side, or the living room on one side and the bedrooms clustered side by side on the other. If you are renting out your rooms individually, bedrooms on separate sides would offer more privacy. However, if you entertain often at home, having the living room on one end might be less disruptive to those retiring to their rooms.

3 Bedroom

The 3-bedroom apartments measure 947 sqft (88 sqm) to 1,109 sqft (103 sqm). You can choose between deluxe and premium units, the premium ones being larger with a more spacious living room and dining area. There is also a dual key layout. I would opt for this if I were hoping to rent out some of my rooms.

4 Bedroom

The 4-bedroom units range from 1,281 sqft (119 sqm) to 1,442 sqft (134 sqm), and include suites. One of the suite layouts has a top floor balcony with a canopy. Most but not all the 4-bedroom units come with a walk-in closet attached to the master bathroom.

5 Bedroom

Finally, there is one 5-bedroom suite layout measuring 1,884 sqft (175 sqm). It comes with a private lift lobby, walk-in closet, a balcony at the top floor fitted out with a canopy, as well as a spacious service yard behind the kitchen.

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Forett at Bukit Timah Rent

As Forett at Bukit Timah is still being built, none of the apartments have been rented out yet.

At The Creek @ Bukit, the rental price range is currently $3,200 to $6,800 a month, with 3-bedroom units going for $5,500, according to data on PropertyGuru. The rental yield for 3-bedroom units has been 1.84% to 2.68% over the past five years. I find this rental yield unimpressive but unsurprising, since this is an area that is populated mostly by owner-occupiers and may not see high demand from tenants.

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Forett at Bukit Timah Condo Review

Overall, I think Forett at Bukit Timah is quite a good buy for those who wish to live in a tranquil residential area with decent connectivity. The area is pleasant and offers access to nature and lots of food options. It’s also a good choice for families due to the proximity of popular schools in the area.

In addition, the upcoming development of the Beauty World and Jalan Anak Bukit area could be good news for those who wish to benefit from capital gains in the future.

Pros

• 11 minutes’ walk from Beauty World MRT station
• Easy access to nature
• Many good food options nearby
• Close to schools on Bukit Timah elite school belt
• Stands to benefit from development of Beauty World and Jalan Anak Bukit
• Good potential for capital gains
• Peaceful neighbourhood
• Availability of 3-bedroom dual key units

Cons

• Rental yield uncertain
• Not many bus services

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