The Antares
Situated literally right next to Mattar MRT station, The Antares has positioned itself to be one of the most value-for-money new launch condos in 2021
Over the 2 years, The Antares has gone under the radar of many prospective homebuyers.
This new development next to Mattar MRT Station (DT25) was launched back in September 2019. And yet, I believe even you reading this may not even know about this new launch condo until recently.
Despite having an MRT station right at its doorstep, only 24 units were sold between September to December 2019.
Things got even worse in 2020 that only 44 units were sold in the entire year, comparing to other unsold condo units in Singapore.
However, there seems to be a change of fortune for The Antares.
At the time of writing this review or post (June 2021), The Antares managed to sell a total of 20 units within a single month (in May 2021).
In other words, that’s almost 10 percent of the total number of units available.
There are obvious reasons for that and I will cover them in my review below.
From there, you should be able to determine whether The Antares condo is a good buy in 2021 or not.
But first, let us take a look at its details.
The Antares Project Overview
Here’s a quick overview of The Antares – details, and specifications for the whole development.
| Project Name | The Antares |
| Address | 19 Mattar Road, Singapore 387728 21 Mattar Road, Singapore 387729 23 Mattar Road, Singapore 387730 25 Mattar Road, Singapore 387731 |
| Type | Residential |
| Developer | FSKH Development Pte Ltd |
| Architect |
C168 Architects
|
| Tenure | 99-year Leasehold from 14 Aug 2018 |
| Site area | 67,061 sq ft |
| Total number of units | 265 |
| Total number of carpark lots | 212 lots, plus 3 handicap lots and 68 bicycle lots |
| Number of blocks | 5 |
| Number of storey | 17-storey (1 block) 18-storey (2 block) 5-storey (2 blocks) |
| Expected TOP date | May 2023 |
The private residential site at Matter Road was acquired for $223 million back in April 2018, via the government land sales programme.
That works out to be around $1,109 psf ppr.
The Antares Developer
The developer of The Antares is FSKH Development Pte Ltd. It is a joint company formed by 3 property firms.
Hock Lian Seng Holdings
The property development firm, Hock Lian Seng Holdings was first established back in 1969. It started off as a construction company and went public in 2009.
The firm’s main businesses involve Civil Engineering, Property development and investment, and Building & Construction.
In recent years, Hock Lian Seng Holdings was heavily involved in various government projects.
For instance, a couple of those projects were the design and construction of the Marina Coastal Expressway, and the construction of Maxwell MRT station, and the extension of Marina Bay station (for the Downtown Transit Line).
For the development of The Antares, Hock Lian Seng Holdings holds a share distribution of 45 percent in FSKH Development Pte Ltd.
That is to say, they are the majority shareholder in the consortium.
Keong Hong Holdings
Headquartered locally in Singapore, Keong Hong and its subsidiaries’ principal business activities are in the building construction segment, and property & hotel developments and investments.
Besides Singapore, the Group also develops and owns real estate projects and hotels in countries such as Japan and Maldives.
Keong Hong’s first entry into Singapore’s real estate development scene was back in 2012.
Their maiden residential project was Twin Waterfall, a 728-unit executive condominium (EC) project located in Punggol. It was a joint venture project together with a subsidiary group of Frasers Property.
After that, the Group has subsequently gone on to develop other EC projects such as SkyPark Residences, The Amore, and Parc Life.
In addition, they have also developed private condos such as Seaside Residences and now, The Antares.
TA Corporation Ltd
Established back in 1972, TA Corporation has been one of the most well-known property development and construction group in Singapore.
Meanwhile, they have been also known to develop properties that target the middle to upper class for well over 15 years.
Some of its completed private residential projects in Singapore include the likes of Leonie Hill Residences and Starlight Suites in prime District 9.
Furthermore, the Group has stable revenue streams of rental income coming from warehouses and commercial spaces that they own in Singapore.
The Antares Location
The Antares is located along the Mattar Road stretch, District 13 of Singapore.
It is just adjacent to Mattar MRT station and right across the Home United Youth Football Academy.
As you can see, this precinct has a rather lower density as compared to most residential estates in Singapore that have an MRT station within a short walking distance.
To clarify, there aren’t many residential developments in this area.
Most of them are situated within the Macpherson estate, just across the Pelton Canal Park Connector.
Some may feel that The Antares location is ulu (means “remote” in Malay) at this point.
Take a look at the URA Master Plan 2019. You will figure out that there’s more to come.
And we all know what happens to home prices when more residential development comes up.
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at what the location has to offer right now.
A stone’s throw away to Mattar MRT Station
This has to be the biggest and most noticeable plus point of living at The Antares.
As a matter of fact, this probably tops most of the homebuyers’ or investors’ checklist when acquiring a residential property.
The Antares is just literally a minute or two (for really slow walkers) away from the Mattar MRT station.
Moreover, the path from the condo to the MRT station will be fully covered/sheltered.
Hence, you won’t have to worry too much about getting drenched even when it rains.
The Matter MRT station (DT25) is situated along the Downtown MRT line of Singapore.
That is to say, you will enjoy direct and seamless connectivity to the city center or key business districts.
For instance, you will be able to commute to the Central Business District (CBD) within 6 to 8 stops.
In other words, the train ride will take around 18 to 20 minutes.
The Paya Lebar Business District is another key business node nearby. And it is just 2 MRT stops away.
Near major shopping malls and eateries
The Antares has plenty of amenities nearby. Here’s a quick overview of it (provided by Singapore Realtors Inc).
You can see that future resident at The Antares will be well-served by an abundance of amenities.
There are food centres, eateries, and a supermarket- all within walking distance.
Personally, I would love to have a major shopping mall nearby, and the closest one among all is the Paya Lebar Quarter (or PLQ Mall).
It is only 2 MRT stations away (to Paya Lebar MRT station) from The Antares or 6 minutes drive.
The NEX shopping mall will be the second closest. It is just 4 MRT stations away (to Serangoon MRT station).
Reputable schools nearby
This is likely one of the most important criteria for parents of school-going children.
You will be happy to know that there are plenty of good primary schools within the area.
For instance, Canossa Convent Primary School and Geylang Methodist School (Primary) are both within a 1-km radius.
There are also other schools within the 1 to the 2-km radius. They are Cedar Primary, Kong Hwa Primary, and Maris Stella High School.
In addition, there are choices for international students.
The Stamford American International School and Nexus International School are also within close proximity to The Antares.
The Antares Floor Plan and Unit Types
The Antares has a total of 265 private residential units.
The units are spread across 5 residential blocks and it is expected to receive its T.O.P by May 2023.
Here is The Antares floor plan for each unit type available for sale:
- 1-Bedroom (452 to 603 sqft)
- 2-Bedroom (657 to 883 sqft)
- 3-Bedroom (883 to 1,367 sqft)
- 4-Bedroom (1,367 sqft)
The Antares Showflat Location
The Antares showflat is located along Geylang Road. In other words, it is not at the actual site of the development.
It is diagonally opposite the Lorong 1 Geylang Bus Terminal and the closest MRT station to the showflat is Kallang MRT Station.
The opening hours are from 11 am to 7 pm daily. However, it may be subjected to changes.
Hence, do drop me a note using the form below, or a Whatsapp message for more details and updates.
The Antares Price Guide
Here’s a quick look at The Antares price indication for each respective unit type, based on their availability (as of 11 October 2021).
| Unit Type | Size | Starting Pricing | PSF Price |
| 1-Bedroom | 603 sqft | $988,000 | $1,638 |
| 2-Bedroom | 829 to 883 sqft | $1,347,000 | $1,525 |
| 3-Bedroom | 883 to 1367 sqft | $1,594,000 | $1,805 |
| 4-Bedroom | 1367 sqft | $2,283,000 | $1,670 |
But do note that the above prices are all subjected to changes in the future.
So feel free to contact me to get an update on unit availability and the latest price for each unit type.
The Antares Review
Let’s put the price aside for a moment.
Here’s a general poll – What are the number 1 criteria for homebuyers when it comes to buying a property?
I am sure most would say having an MRT station nearby – and that’s been true for several years, or even decades.
The Antares certainly presents itself as a rare preposition to homebuyers and investors.
However, it hasn’t been getting enough attention from the market. Probably due to insufficient marketing from realtors to get the word out there.
So let me help you with that and here is my review of The Antares.
Let’s start with some things I really like about this development.
First-mover advantage
Take a good look at the existing MRT stations or those that are upcoming.
I would say more than 90% of the MRT stations in Singapore were built with intention.
There are either built to cater transportation needs to an existing community/neighborhood, or for future demand.
Here’s how the URA Master Plan 2019 look like for its surrounding.
No doubt there will be more residential buildings coming up.
Because clearly, it doesn’t make sense for the government to spend millions to build an MRT station just to serve this amount of residents currently living within the Mattar precinct.
This brings me back to the days when MRT stations at Sengkang and Punggol were built – or even Woodleigh.
Back then, there was barely anyone living there, or most parts of District 13 and District 19.
However, more homes were developed over the years. Both private and public housing.
And look at how home prices escalated since then. It’s just incredible.
From the above chart, you can see that home prices in District 13 and 19 have grown by 284 percent and 162 percent in 2 decades. It’s really quite impressive.
I truly believe it’s going to be the same in this area.
It may not turn out to be as big as a township like Sengkang, Punggol, or even Bidadari (at Woodleigh and Bartley MRT), but the growth will be somewhat similar.
This is really just the tip of the iceberg.
There’s really a lot to look at if you dive deep into the potential of the entire precinct or even district.
Attractive & competitive price point
Just by looking at the average PSF ($1,760 psf) of The Antares alone, many prospects will think that it’s absolutely crazy.
But if you study closely and compare it with other new launch condo projects that are available right now, you will notice that it’s not exactly true.
Firstly, here’s a quick price comparison between The Antares and the other nearby launches (provided by Singapore Realtors Inc).
Doesn’t so bad now, does it?
Secondly, let’s compare its price within the entire Rest of Core Central Region (RCR).
Yes, The Antares may not be the cheapest or most affordable among all.
You have to also consider the fact that this development is right next to an MRT station.
So the question is, how many new launch condos can you find that are equally near to an MRT station and selling at the same price point?
You might be thinking I am being biased because I am marketing The Antares.
But if you’ve read through my reviews and writeups, I have always look at new launch projects from a neutral perspective.
Is there anything I don’t like? Sure there is.
Facilities don’t scream “wow”
Personally, what really turns me off is the spread of facilities.
I am not a big fan of an indoor or sheltered swimming pool, to be honest.
Furthermore, the initial feel of the exterior just feels cheap and it doesn’t give off that homecoming feel.
I do understand the developer’s constraint because The Antares is sitting on relatively small land size.
And that’s also the reason why it has an apartment status instead of a condominium status.
Lack of activities and amenities
I’ve mentioned many times to my clients that if you are buying a private residential development, it has to feel private, to begin with.
But that’s on the inside.
To be completely straightforward and honest, the outside of The Antares is just old and lifeless.
It’s going to be like that at least for the next couple of years.
It’s clearly not as vibrant as compared to some of the bigger housing estates.
Furthermore, it’s going to exceptionally hard to even grab a quick bite or have a coffee somewhere nearby.
While some people are totally fine with it, personally I do enjoy some form of community interaction and liveness around where I live.
If you are like me, who grew up in a “kampong” type of environment, you will know what I mean.
Final Word
As a private residential development, I personally feel that The Antares delivers most aspects that appeal to homebuyers and investors.
Its proximity to the Mattar MRT station is clearly the biggest selling point.
However, its lack of amenities in the area and demographic of the precinct may be a turn-off for some.
Especially for those who are looking for something that has convenience or some sort of vibrancy in the neighborhood.
While it may not be one of the biggest or most stylish new launch development, its location and seamless connectivity around Singapore for its residents are something that is very very hard to come by.
Definitely worth taking a look at!