Fernvale Crest Review: Quiet HDB project near Jalan Kayu and Seletar

Fernvale Crest is a HDB project in Sengkang, launched in the June 2009 HDB BTO sales exercise. It received its Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) in 2014, so flats have been placed on the resale market since 2019.

Fernvale Crest is located at Sengkang West Way, a five-minute walk from Fernvale LRT station, which connects to Sengkang MRT station.

Despite its rather far-flung location, Fernvale Crest has actually proven to be highly profitable for the first batch of HDB BTO buyers, thanks in part to low launch prices and the development of Sengkang’s amenities over the years.

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

Fernvale Crest Price

At the June 2009 HDB BTO sales launch, 2-room Flexi flats at Fernvale Crest were sold for $74,000 to $98,000, 3-room flats for $116,000 to $157,000 and 4-room flats for $203,000 to $250,000. If that sounds ridiculously low to you, it just goes to show how much BTO prices have risen over the last 15 years.

Fernvale Crest has proven to be highly profitable over the years for the first batch of BTO flat buyers. Current resale prices are three times higher than what BTO buyers paid for their flats.

2-room Flexi flats at Fernvale Crest are currently being listed for sale on PropertyGuru for $380,000 to $385,000, 3-room flats are going for $568,000, while 4-room flat are selling for $620,000 to $660,000.

These prices are consistent with those of similar flats in the area. For instance, 4-room flats on nearby Fernvale Link that received their TOP in 2015 to 2017 are currently being listed for sale on PropertyGuru for $618,000 to $770,000.

Sengkang is considered quite far-flung, but the rise in work-from-home arrangements could be beneficial to future investors, as Singaporeans might now be more willing to live far away from the city centre.

Fernvale Crest Site Plan

You can find the Fernvale Crest site plan here. The site plan shows the layout of the blocks within the estate, as well as the shared amenities, such as the children’s playground and fitness stations.

I would say that Fernvale Crest is not as well-equipped with communal amenities as newer flats, which now often come with rooftop or community gardens.

Fernvale Crest Location

Fernvale Crest is located at Sengkang Way West, a five-minute walk from Fernvale LRT station. Sengkang MRT station is a 34-minute walk away, and thus not within walking distance for the purposes of daily commuting.

The distance from the city centre and having to use the LRT system makes this quite an inconvenient location, so it would be most suitable for those who can work from home.

In terms of amenities, Fernvale Crest enjoys the convenience of being within an 8-minute walking distance from The Seletar Mall, which offers a decent selection of shops, eateries and a Fairprice Finest supermarket.

From a lifestyle point of view, Fernvale Crest’s most attractive attribute is that it is a stone’s throw from the Seletar and Jalan Kayu area, with its many eateries and chic cafes.

There is also a decent selection of nearby schools, including Sengkang Green Primary School, Fern Green Primary School and Fernvale Primary School, all three of which are located within 1 km. Other nearby schools include Anchor Green Primary School, Hougang Primary School, Nan Chiau Primary School and Springdale Primary School.

For those who like taking long walks in nature, Sungei Punggol with its riverside trail is accessible on foot, while the swathes of farmland in the Seletar West area are a short walk away, offering the rare opportunity to enjoy rural Singapore.

In my opinion, this is a decent location for families with kids and lovers of the outdoors, but inconvenient for those who need to commute to the city centre every day.

Fernvale Crest Floor Plan

You can find the Fernvale Crest floor plan here.

2-Room Flexi Floor Plan

The largest 2-room Flexi flats come with a 46 sqm floor plan, inclusive of air con ledge. The flats have an L-shaped living/dining room and a surprisingly spacious kitchen. The bathroom can be accessed either from the kitchen or the bedroom.

3-Room Floor Plan

The 3-room flats measure 67 sqm, inclusive of air con ledge. While some units have a fairly typical 3-room flat layout, with two bedrooms lined up side by side and accessible via a corridor, there is also a novel elongated layout that offers access to the two bedrooms via a small corridor leading away from the living room, with the entrance of each bedroom on either side of the corridor.

4-Room Floor Plan

The 4-room flats measure 92 sqm, and are fairly standard, with the bedrooms accessible via a corridor extending from the living/dining area. The three bedrooms are lined up in a row, with a shared bathroom accessible on the other side of the corridor.

Fernvale Crest Rent Price

3-Room flats at Fernvale Crest are currently being put up for rent on PropertyGuru for $3,000 a month, which would offer a good rental yield to resale flat buyers, given the relatively affordable purchase prices.

These rents are typical of flats in the area. For instance, the going rate for flats on Fernvale Road, located a three- to six-minute walk from Fernvale LRT station, is $3,000 to $3,200 a month based on PropertyGuru listings.

Potential tenants include young families waiting for their flats to be ready, and young adults looking for an affordable room to rent.

Fernvale Crest Review

Due to its distance from the city centre, I view Sengkang as a good location for affordable HDB flats. Fernvale Crest is particularly suited to those who can work from home and value having easy access to nature or nearby schools. The proximity of The Seletar Mall offers easy access to basic amenities such as supermarkets and shops, while nearby Jalan Kayu is a hotbed of popular eateries.

However, I don’t think this is the most convenient or exciting option for those who work in the city centre or who are looking for a dynamic environment suited to young working adults.

In terms of investment value, the first batch of BTO buyers benefitted greatly from the development of the Sengkang area. Moving forward, I would say this is a decent choice if you’re hoping to make some rental income out of it after fulfilling the five-year Minimum Occupation Period (MOP).