2 positive signals from URA's Q1 private home flash estimates

Singapore

THE Urban Redevelopment Authority's flash estimate for its first quarter 2017 private home price index provided a couple of positive signals for the market, at least for the condo and private apartment segment.

For the first time after 13 quarters of decline, the price index for non-landed private homes remained flat. It had eased 0.8 per cent quarter-on-quarter in Q4 2016.

It was also the first time that the sub-index tracking prices of non-landed private homes in the suburbs or Outside Central Region (OCR) turned positive, with a 0.1 per cent rise, after 13 quarters of decline.

That said, the URA's index for landed…