Condo Guide: Sims Urban Oasis

The Sims Drive and Sims Avenue area is one of those places that encompass the up and coming Geylang/Aljunied zone.

Close enough to the city that you can get into the CBD on a 12-minute train ride, yet not close enough to see the exorbitant prices that come from downtown properties.

This zone is exactly where Sims Urban Oasis sits in. This Guocoland condominium, slated for completion in 2020, is a 99-year leasehold luxury mixed-use development that will have 1024 residential units.

The “luxury” in this development comes from the large spaces, sky terrace pool, gymnasium, and a wide range of configurations like high-ceiling loft spaces and dual-key apartment options. The development is built with 1-room to 5 room deluxe floor plates, so singles, as well as families, have options to choose from.

See more: 20,000 new homes in Central Area planned under URA Masterplan

As with all property purchases in Singapore, the key to whether a development will thrive or not is location, so let’s take a closer look at how well Sims Urban Oasis is located.

Proximity and Connectivity

First of all, kudos to Guocoland for capitalising on the site of this development. Once owned by HDB, this plot of land sits right on the outer edge of the city’s fringe, but still manages to be one of the most convenient and connected city fringe locations.

Most places have an MRT station nearby, but this development has 3. It is a stone’s throw away from Aljunied MRT (East-West Line), a short walk away from Dakota MRT (Circle Line) and Mattar MRT (Downtown Line).

Residents who drive will appreciate the proximity to both the PIE and the KPE. This ensures that the CBD is within a 10-minute drive, while the Orchard Road shopping belt will be within a 12-minute drive.

Finally, the icing on the cake is that this location means residents will most likely be able to see the National Day fireworks from the condominium’s Sky Park.

Neighbourhood in Development

Sims Urban Oasis sits in a zone that can be considered as an up and coming neighbourhood, with Paya Lebar, Geylang Serai, Bidadari and Kallang all either already growing or slated for development in the next few years.

The Paya Lebar area has already been developed into a mini commercial centre, with more office buildings and retail options coming online in the coming years. Right next to the Paya Lebar Central area sits the vibrant Geylang Serai neighbourhood, with a new civic centre coming up this year.

Meanwhile, Bidadari’s influx of developments like a new 10-hectare park, and Kallang’s lively water sports activity zone are all within reach from the Sims Urban Oasis development.

See more: Neighbourhood watch – Geylang Serai

Retail and Food Overload

All this development means a ridiculous number of shopping malls within striking distance. Paya Lebar Centre, One KM, Kallang Wave, Aperia Mall, City Plaza and Kallang Leisure Park surround the condominium. These malls are further augmented by the malls like Bugis Junction and Bugis+ in the Bugis area, just 4 MRT stops away.

Needless to say, residents will be spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping, groceries and dining options.

Keep in mind that Sims Drive is near the Little India/Jalan Besar area, which is also another great food hot spot that has standouts like Swee Choon Dim Sum, Berseh Food Centre, and countless
cafes and hidden restaurants.

See more: Bugis: Upscale Riverfront Living

Pricing and Availability

Units at the Sims Urban Oasis run the gamut, with smaller, more basic units starting at around $725,000 and the larger units topping out at approximately $2.5 million. So, costs are still slightly
higher than heartland HDBs.

Considerations For This Considerable Investment

The higher than the average cost for this new condominium should raise some questions for buyers, or at least give them pause for thought. While the location is pretty solid, the question we want to pose potential buyers is whether they think the price of entry is justified by the convenience of the location.

Additionally, the 99-year leasehold is something that buyers will need to take into consideration when they assess the price of units in this development.

We think that if these buyers are looking for both price appreciation and rental opportunities, Sims Urban Oasis has the potential to be a good buy. The location’s up-and-coming neighbourhood and close proximity to the city are both price catalysts and will give owners great leverage when negotiating rents.

This location is primed for investors who are looking for strong value and solid locations to work with.

See more: Current and upcoming property trends