Newport Residences made a confident entrance into Singapore’s prime residential market, with 57% of its units sold over its launch weekend from Jan 31 to Feb 1. Located in the heart of Tanjong Pagar, this freehold development stood out not just for its take-up rate, but also for what it represents — a rare chance to own a modern freehold home within the CBD, at a time when most new launches are on 99-year leases.
Priced at an average of $3,370 psf, the project attracted strong interest from local buyers, underscoring continued confidence in well-located, long-term city assets.
Who’s buying — and what they’re choosing
The buyer profile reflects broad-based demand, led primarily by Singaporeans.
Infographic: Launch weekend snapshot 📊
🏙️ Units sold: 57% of total supply
💰 Average price: $3,370 psf
🇸🇬 Singaporean buyers: ~82%
🌍 Permanent Residents: ~15% (Indonesia, China, Malaysia, UK, Germany, Canada, others)
🛏️ Most popular unit types:
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1-bedroom
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2-bedroom
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3-bedroom
Smaller unit types drove the bulk of demand, a familiar trend for centrally located developments with strong rental appeal.
Why Newport Residences stood out
Redeveloped from the former Fuji Xerox Towers, Newport Residences sits within Newport Plaza, a mixed-use “vertical town” integrating residential, serviced apartments, offices and retail.
Infographic: Key project highlights 🏗️
🏢 Tenure: Freehold
📍 District: 2 (Tanjong Pagar / Anson Road)
🏙️ Residential floors: Levels 23 to 45
🚇 Connectivity:
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Tanjong Pagar MRT (EWL)
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Upcoming Cantonment & Prince Edward Road MRT (Circle Line)
🌊 Sea-facing appeal:
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All sea-facing 2-bedroom units fully sold
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Sea-facing 1-bedroom units almost fully taken up
Sea views, combined with height and proximity to the CBD, clearly resonated with buyers.
A standout performer in District 2
According to market observers, Newport Residences delivered the strongest launch performance in District 2 in at least seven years.
For comparison:
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One Bernam (2021 launch): ~23% take-up
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Sky Everton (2019 launch): ~40% take-up
Both are now fully sold and completed — a data point many buyers would have considered when assessing Newport Residences’ long-term positioning.
Freehold scarcity meets CBD transformation
One key theme repeated by multiple industry leaders is scarcity. Freehold residential projects in the CBD are exceptionally rare.
Infographic: Why freehold in the CBD matters 🔑
🏛️ Only six freehold residential projects launched in Tanjong Pagar since 2000
⏳ Most new CBD launches today are 99-year leasehold
🏙️ Government push to revitalise CBD into a live-work-play district
📈 Ongoing projects like Guoco Tower and Keppel South Central add vibrancy
This backdrop has strengthened the appeal of Newport Residences as a long-term holding option, particularly for buyers focused on tenure, location, and future replacement costs.
Who is Newport Residences for?
While investors formed a large portion of demand — especially for one- and two-bedroom units — there was also healthy interest from families.
Three-bedroom units appealed to households seeking:
- Proximity to work in the CBD
- Nearby amenities like 100AM, Guoco Tower, Tanjong Pagar Plaza
- Accessibility to Cantonment Primary School
The mix suggests Newport Residences isn’t just about short-term appeal, but about supporting a more residential CBD in the years ahead.
Summary: Key takeaways from Newport Residences’ launch ✅
✅ 57% of units sold during launch weekend
✅ Rare freehold residential project in District 2
✅ Strong demand for sea-facing 1- and 2-bedroom units
✅ Predominantly Singaporean buyer profile
✅ Benefits from long-term CBD rejuvenation plans
Final thoughts & call to action
Newport Residences’ performance reinforces a clear message: well-located, rare-tenure city homes continue to attract demand, even in a selective market. If you’re exploring opportunities in prime or CBD-fringe developments and want to understand how projects like this compare to upcoming launches or resale options, feel free to reach out — I’ll be happy to walk you through it.