The largest bungalow tract on Melrose Drive is for sale for $16.8 million

A family of three generations property located at 3 Melrose Drive in Braddell Heights Estate will be offered for sale on the 18th of October with an expressions of interest. The property is located on the freehold site with 14,175 square feet and is priced at a cost at $16.8 million.

There are two homes on the site One is a bungalow with a single storey built in the mid-1980s front and behind there is a detached 2 1/2-storey home built from 2013 by the couple of Paul as well as Stephanie Masefield.

Watten House Bukit Timah upmarket neighborhood, formerly known as Watten Estate, is famed for its magnificent, contemporary bungalows and illustrious residents, making it an excellent haven for anyone seeking peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The single-storey bungalow is the place Stephanie’s parents reside since they bought the property in 1988.

when Stephanie along with her mother and father first relocated into Braddell Heights Estate nearly 35 years back, there were not many houses within the estate’s private landed estate as she recalls. The areas around it including Lorong Chuan and Serangoon, were also in the early stages of development. “It’s been a fantastic neighborhood for us to call home and watch the surrounding area grow and mature, with plenty of amenities and conveniences,” Stephanie says. Stephanie.

The first single-storey bungalow on Melrose Drive that her parents bought over 34 years ago is unaltered. The home is built up area of around 3000 sq feet and has three bedrooms. The furnishings and interiors are also unaltered. “Walking through the house is like going back to an Singapore that was once a distant memory,” says Stephanie, who is a Singaporean. She recalls a time in which even her grandmother was there as well. So that four generations have been through the home.

Stephanie as well as Paul’s very first home was an HDB apartment in Bishan. When they had their twins they decided they required an additional home.

Upsizing

When the couple were house hunting Stephanie’s father suggested they construct their new house in the backyard behind his house located at 3. Melrose Drive. The bungalow that was originally built is located on the on the front side of the property with a vast landscape behind. It is also possible that Stephanie and Paul may build their future home there.

This meant that the family could reside on the same property however, in separate houses. Instead of purchasing an entirely new property it meant that the Masefields only had to cover the building costs of their new house.

“Still it was not an easy choice considering the inconvenience it could cause my grandparents, who were forced to live near an construction site for more than one year while their new home was being constructed.” Stephanie says. Stephanie.

An escalator connects the single-storey home to the more modern 2 1/2-storey detached home behind. This connection allowed Stephanie as well as Paul’s kids access to the two homes and also allowed them to have more interaction with grandparents when they were growing to be adults.

The more modern 2 1/2-story home includes five bedrooms as well as an interior space of 6,000 square feet. The main level of the house is equipped with a large living and dining room that leads to a terrace. There’s also an en guest room with the utility room, and a room for a helper on the same level.

The second floor has three bedrooms with en suite bathrooms which include the master bedroom and a family space. The attic is home to an area for relaxation and a gym with a bathroom that is en suite. The new owner is able to convert it into an additional bedroom.

“Change in lifestyle”

Stephanie’s father decided that it was the right time to let go of his property after living there for over 35 years. “My parents aren’t getting any younger I believe it’s the right thing to realize the value of this asset when they begin to prepare for their retirement,” says Stephanie.

The couple also expect that they will no longer require an enormous house as they grow older and also after their adult children leave. “It’s an adjustment in our lifestyle that we’re preparing for,” states Stephanie. “The children were quite small when they first came into the home in 2013. And they were able to run around the house and around the entire house.”

Both homes have been maintained well over the years, claims Martin Goh, principal consultant at Realstar Premier Group and the sole marketing agent on behalf of the property.

This property’s $16.8 million cost is equivalent to a price of $1,185 per square foot based on the land area.

Possibilities for a new buyer

Based on Goh The bungalow site located at 3. Melrose Drive will be the largest available in the Braddell Heights Estate today. The site boasts a 40m frontage. The buyer is able to keep the detached home of 2 1/2 stories that is relatively new. It also offers the option of developing the old bungalow.

Goh estimates that building the new 5,000 sq feet home will cost between $2.5 millions to $3.2 million at present. “This is a good alternative for homeowners looking to move into their homes sooner, and also they won’t have to remodel both properties particularly with the increasing construction costs in today’s market,” he says.

If you want to construct their dream house on the site could consider tearing down both homes and transforming them into one big detached home. This could cost anywhere from $8 million to $10 million, based on the layout, design and the materials employed, Goh estimates.

Apart from the homeowners Goh believes that the site on Melrose Drive attracting boutique developers also. He believes that the 14,175 square feet site could be transformed into three smaller detached homes according to the preliminary feasibility study. URA stipulates that detached homes must be built on land with a minimum area of 400 square meters (4,306 sq feet).

Bungalow zone

Inside Braddell Heights Estate. Braddell Heights Estate there are only Melrose Drive, Sunridge Park Road, Matlock Road, Lynwood Grove, Cotswold Drive and Chiltern Drive have a two-storey bungalow zoning, according to Goh. The homes in other areas of Braddell Heights are either two-storey semi-detached or terraced.

“The appeal that comes with living in the area of Braddell Heights is enjoying the accessibility to numerous amenities and transportation connections,” says Paul. “Yet the area around us remains tranquil and private, which makes the neighborhood distinct.”

Goh says he agrees. “This area in Braddell Heights Estate is a good example. Braddell Heights Estate has long been a secret from many homebuyers who tend to be drawn towards Serangoon Gardens or the prime residential area in Bukit Timah.”

Area of school catchment

The most popular primary schools within the 1km distance of the 3 Melrose Drive include CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School and St Gabriel’s Primary School. Secondary and tertiary institutions in close proximity comprise St Gabriel’s Secondary School Zhonghua Secondary School and Nanyang Junior College.

It is worth noting that the Australian International School and Stamford American International School are located nearby and are also within. Therefore, that the Braddell Heights and Serangoon Gardens estates are popular among families from abroad.

Nearby amenities comprise Lorong Chuan MRT Station on the Circle Line and it is the Serangoon Interchange Station on the Circle and North East Lines that is connected with the Nex shopping malls as well as the newly-opened Woodleigh Mall, which is connected directly to Woodleigh MRT Station on the North East Line.

With the cost of housing in the districts 9,10, and 11 rising to record levels in recent times and homebuyers are discovering the advantages that come with Braddell Heights, says Goh.

Prices for transactions on the increase

The last sale of a detached residence on Melrose Drive was for a property that was located on the freehold site that covered 4,315 square feet, which was sold to the value of $6.8 million ($1,576 per square foot) in the month of November 2022. according to caveats that were lodged in the name of URA Realis. The house was constructed in the year 1996.

Prior to that, a detached house that was on a freehold site that was 10,199 square feet was auctioned off at $18.98 million ($1,861 per square foot) in accordance with an agreement signed at the end of June in 2022. The house was constructed in 2014 and is situated just across the street from the 3rd floor of Melrose Drive.

“Landed properties in Singapore are a long-lasting asset and this kind of property is extremely sought-after and a long-lasting investment option for many Singaporeans,” says Goh. “Prices of homes that are landed are likely to increase in the near future because of the limited availability and high demand.”