# A million-dollar 'dream' come true: How this Woodlands HDB flat sold for $1.01 mil

- **Source:** EdgeProp Singapore
- **Published:** 2026-09-08T08:01:20.000Z
- **Author:** Fiona Lam
- **Original:** https://www.edgeprop.sg/property-news/million-dollar-dream-come-true-how-woodlands-hdb-flat-sold-101-mil
- **Topics:** HDB & Public Housing, Private Residential, Transactions & Deals

## Featured rationale

The quick sale and multiple offers signal demand for spacious, well-renovated flats with flexible layouts, which may support premium pricing despite shorter remaining leases.

## AI summary

A 1,582 sq ft Woodlands executive apartment sold for $1.01 million in May, setting a new quantum high for comparable-sized executive units in the town.

## Original article

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When Ming Yen and Sandy put their HDB executive apartment on Woodlands Street 81 up for sale, the couple and their property agent Sidney Lin had a target in mind: to cross the million-dollar mark.

They eventually sold the 1,582 sq ft flat for $1.01 million this year, placing it among the highest-priced transactions for resale flats in Woodlands — even above the prices fetched by some larger executive apartments and maisonettes in the town.

Originally from Taiwan, Sandy is now a Singapore citizen, while Ming Yen is a permanent resident.

The couple had bought the flat in 2019 as their first home together in Singapore, and spent about $200,000 renovating and furnishing it.

Read also: What's moving the market: Singapore's biggest property deals and hottest searches (Sept 4)

"We really, really love this house," Ming Yen tells EdgeProp Singapore in an interview.

They also credit Lin for his role in their home ownership journey: helping them buy their Woodlands home in 2019, selling it six years later, and securing their next home.

One of the priciest flats in Woodlands

At $1.01 million, the couple's flat stands out among HDB resale transactions in Woodlands in a few ways.

For executive units of the same 1,582 sq ft size in the town, the transaction set a new price high, based on data as at Sept 6.

The sale price also works out to about $638 psf. At the time of the transaction in May, this was the top psf price among executive units of a comparable size in Woodlands.

That psf-price benchmark was surpassed in August, when a slightly smaller 1,518 sq ft executive apartment changed hands for $988,000, or $651 psf.

The $1.01 million quantum of the couple's flat also exceeded that of many larger executive units transacted in Woodlands over the past year. These included executive apartments and executive maisonettes measuring around 1,800 to over 2,000 sq ft, several of which changed hands for $1 million or less.

Read also: What's moving the market: Singapore's biggest property deals and hottest searches (Aug 28)

The lease for the couple's flat started in 1994, leaving about 66 years and eight months at the time of the sale. Even so, it still fetched a higher price than some similarly sized, newer flats in Woodlands with longer remaining leases.

How the $1.01 mil sale compares with other Woodlands executive flats:

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Note: Selected comparable resale transactions in Woodlands from July 2025 to September 2026, based on data as at Sept 6, 2026. Source: HDB, EdgeProp Research.

The story behind the seven-figure deal goes back six years, to 2019, when Ming Yen and Sandy were house-hunting and first began working with Lin.

Bigger home than planned

Back then, they were not looking for an executive apartment. The couple were renting in Woodlands and had focused their search mainly on standard four- and five-room resale flats in the vicinity.

Woodlands was convenient for them, with Ming Yen working nearby in the education sector. Sandy, who is in the banking and finance industry, could easily commute to the CBD.

After speaking with a few real estate agents, the couple were introduced to Lin through a former colleague of Ming Yen’s.

Read also: Why this long-term renter has called co-living home for four years — and counting

The Woodlands executive apartment was the first property Lin took them to view.

"Initially, we thought, wow, this might be too big for just the two of us," says Sandy. "We weren’t planning to get such a big unit."

The couple did not have children then, and were wondering whether they would really need that much space.

But they decided to buy it after a second viewing. "We actually loved it very much because there's so much space," says Ming Yen.

The size of the flat also felt familiar to the couple, who had grown up in larger homes in Taiwan.

Sandy recalls Lin encouraging them to keep an open mind despite their initial reservations about the size.

"Sidney told us there’s no harm to see," she says. "He opened a new world to us."

Designing the flat for the future

At first, Ming Yen and Sandy designed the home around just the two of them, with largely independent living spaces on either side of the flat for each person.

Sandy took the right side, where the original master bedroom was reconfigured to include her 138 sq ft bedroom with a super-king bed, a 145 sq ft walk-in wardrobe and home office, as well as the 72 sq ft master bathroom.

Her bedroom also has custom floor-to-ceiling padded wall panels, which cost around $7,000.

Ming Yen's space was on the opposite side of the flat. It comprised a 151 sq ft junior master bedroom with a 39 sq ft en suite bathroom, and a 126 sq ft common room that served as his home office.

Between the two individuals' living spaces were the shared areas. These included the 315 sq ft living room, a wet kitchen that was extended to 172 sq ft, and a smaller dry kitchen and coffee bar with a custom marble countertop.

At the heart of the dining room is a custom marble dining table with built-in electrical power points, so it can double up as a work-from-home desk.

A slatted wooden partition cuts through part of the living room in the middle of the flat, creating a natural dividing line between the two sides.

The open passage through the partition was planned so that a door could be added later if they wanted to separate the flat to create a dual-key layout.

This was part of a longer-term idea suggested by Lin: that the couple could potentially reconfigure the flat into a dual-key unit later in life, so they could live in one section while the other side could be for their parents when they visit from Taiwan, or to rent out in retirement.

The renovation included an extensive overhaul of the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring and carpentry. The home was also fitted with smart devices and cameras that could be accessed remotely.

These works coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, which pushed up construction material costs and delayed the renovation.

In total, it took about six to seven months to complete and furnish, costing an estimated $200,000.

When two became three

Halfway through the renovation, their plans took an unexpected turn: Sandy became pregnant.

Both break into grins and laughter as they recall the news, which Ming Yen describes as a "blessing". "That's when everything went haywire," he quips.

With their family about to grow, the duo adjusted some of their original plans for the home.

One of the main changes was to the common room that Ming Yen had intended to use as his study and gaming room.

After learning that Sandy was pregnant, they cleared the room entirely so it could be adapted to whatever their child might need.

They deliberately kept the room free of built-in fixtures, with furniture that could be moved around as needed. Electrical power points were also positioned higher on the walls to keep them out of a young child’s reach.

As their son grew older, a single bed was added, and Ming Yen reclaimed a small corner for a pared-down study and gaming setup.

The child's play area has also spilled from the common room into the adjoining living area, furnished with a child-sized table and chairs, an easel and drawing paper, as well as shelves of books, toys and plushies, with ride-on toy vehicles parked next to the entrance foyer.

The couple also hired a live-in helper after their son was born. They converted what had been meant as a yard and laundry area into a dedicated room, with an adjoining bathroom, for her.

The door to the helper’s space is integrated into the vertical wall panelling, allowing it to blend into the dining area while giving the helper more privacy.

"We made some changes here and there, but most of the layout and main concept remained the same," says Ming Yen.

Lin adds that the flat's size was what gave the couple enough flexibility to adapt for a growing household.

"Because it's such a huge space, they can have the lifestyle they want while also welcoming a newborn into their family," Lin shares.

Enjoying the home while they could

Even before the renovation was completed, the couple knew that with a child on the way, they would eventually have to leave Woodlands.

Ming Yen had in mind a primary school in Toa Payoh for their son, and commuting there daily from Woodlands would have been impractical. They thus planned to move closer to the school.

"We already knew that six years later we were going to move," Ming Yen says. "So we tried to enjoy ourselves for six years."

That did not make them any less attached to the home.

Over those six years, the family had plenty to celebrate in the apartment. Sandy's pregnancy was one of numerous milestones, and she later received a promotion at work after giving birth.

The spacious flat also became a favourite gathering place, with the couple hosting social get-togethers and their son often having his friends over.

The view was another highlight: they were able to watch fireworks light up the sky during National Day and New Year's Day celebrations.

"Our son is also very happy about this home. All his friends love this place," says Sandy.

Ming Yen adds: "This house has treated us very, very well. So we really have no complaints."

When the six years were nearly up and the family began preparing for their next move, they turned again to Lin.

The agent first helped the family secure their next resale HDB flat in Toa Payoh, before putting the Woodlands executive apartment on the market.

Setting their sights on a seven-figure dream

For the Woodlands flat, Lin and the couple decided to test whether it could cross the million-dollar mark.

"We had a dream. We wanted to cross $1 million," says Lin. "I suggested a strategy I thought was worth a try, and they were on board."

The unit was listed at around $1.15 million. A steady flow of enquiries after the listing went live gave them confidence that their goal might just be achievable.

Chief among the flat’s selling points was its potential to be reconfigured into a dual-key layout.

As planned during the renovation, the two sides of the home could be separated in the future, giving the next owner more options for how the space could be used.

The flat's extensive renovation and its well-maintained condition also meant a buyer could move in immediately.

Lin estimates that a "decent" renovation for a flat of this size today could easily cost upwards of $100,000 to $150,000.

"Even if you were to spend $50,000 to touch up, it’s still a lot of cost savings," he continues.

The flat also benefitted from its transport connectivity. A bus stop sits at the foot of the block, while a sheltered pathway leads directly to Causeway Point mall, Woodlands MRT Interchange and the Woods Square mixed-use development.

Moreover, the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) has shortened journeys from Woodlands to the city.

Connectivity is set to improve further with the upcoming Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link, which is slated to open in January 2027 and will allow passengers to travel across borders via a mere five-minute train journey. Singapore’s Woodlands North RTS Link station, which connects to the TEL, was completed on Sept 4.

Another factor in the group's favour was that they had already secured their next home and did not need an extension of stay after selling the Woodlands flat. This gave the agent more room to negotiate with prospective buyers.

"As I had all these trump cards in my hand, to the credit of my sellers [Ming Yen and Sandy], the negotiations with buyers were just about getting a very good price at the end of the day," Lin says.

During the marketing period for the executive apartment, Ming Yen and Sandy accommodated viewings around their work and family schedules, and always kept the home presentable for prospective buyers.

"We were very aligned in our goals throughout the whole process," highlights Lin. "That's how we managed to pull off this record. We are proud to achieve it together."

For their part, the couple were happy for Lin to take the lead on key decisions during the sale process.

Finding a buyer who saw the same potential

Several offers came in for the executive apartment. The couple initially issued an option to purchase to a prospective buyer, but he later withdrew due to concerns over the potential cash-over-valuation amount.

The eventual buyer first viewed the HDB flat on a Sunday before returning the next day for a second look.

The potential dual-key configuration turned out to be particularly important to him, as he was planning for retirement.

By then, his children would be older and likely have moved out, which would allow him to rent out the other half of the flat.

"The buyer wants a unit that can give him that flexibility to convert into a dual-key format in the future," Lin says.

It was a notion that resonated with the sellers too. "It's quite similar to our retirement plan," says Ming Yen.

Less than a month passed between the flat being listed for sale and the couple receiving the $1.01 million offer — even with the waiting period arising from the previous option to purchase.

"Sidney also got us a very good price for this one," says Ming Yen. "We were amazed after checking other transactions in Woodlands."

Sandy considers themselves "so lucky to have Sidney". She adds: "We trust him a lot, and just let him handle everything."

Settling in closer to school and city

The family has since moved to a slightly smaller HDB resale flat in Toa Payoh.

Their new home is on a high floor and close to the primary school they are enrolling their son in.

The family also values the proximity to MRT stations and bus stops as they do not own a car.

For Ming Yen and Sandy, leaving Woodlands is bittersweet.

During viewings for the Woodlands flat, they often told prospective buyers about their time in the apartment and why they felt fortunate to have called it home for six years.

The eventual buyer visited several times, giving them the opportunity to share their story with him as well.

Sandy says: "We love this house very, very much. It has really treated us well, so we hope it will treat the next owner well too."

Property Diaries is a new series that goes behind the scenes of real estate transactions, featuring homebuyers, investors and renters sharing their search journeys, decisions and lessons learnt.

Have a story to share? Write to us at propertyeditor@edgeprop.sg.

Check out the latest listings for Woodlands properties

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 百万新元「梦想」成真：这套兀兰组屋如何以新币1.01百万售出

这户家庭心爱的执行公寓斥资新币20万装修，以总价及每平方英尺单价刷新同类物业纪录。

当Ming Yen和Sandy把位于兀兰Street 81的组屋执行公寓挂牌出售时，夫妇俩和房产经纪Sidney Lin心中有一个目标：突破百万新元大关。

他们最终在今年将这套1,582平方英尺的单位以新币1.01百万售出，跻身兀兰转售组屋最高价成交之列——甚至高于该镇一些面积更大的执行公寓和执行公寓式排屋的成交价。

Sandy原籍台湾，现为新加坡公民，Ming Yen则是永久居民。

夫妇俩于2019年买下这套组屋，作为两人在新加坡的第一个共同家，并花费约新币200,000元进行装修和布置。

另读：市场动向：新加坡最大宗房产交易与最热搜索（9月4日）

「我们真的、真的很爱这套房子。」Ming Yen在接受EdgeProp Singapore采访时说。

他们也将置业历程归功于Lin：2019年帮他们买下兀兰的家，六年后将其出售，并锁定下一套住房。

兀兰最贵组屋之一

以新币1.01百万成交，夫妇这套组屋在兀兰组屋转售交易中有几处突出之处。

就该镇同样1,582平方英尺的执行单位而言，根据截至9月6日的数据，这笔交易刷新了价格高点。

售价折合每平方英尺约新币638元。在5月成交时，这是兀兰同类面积执行单位中最高的每平方英尺单价。

该每平方英尺单价纪录在8月被打破：一套略小的1,518平方英尺执行公寓以新币988,000元易手，折合每平方英尺新币651元。

夫妇这套组屋新币1.01百万的总价，也超过了过去一年兀兰许多面积更大的执行单位成交价。这些单位包括约1,800至超过2,000平方英尺的执行公寓和执行公寓式排屋，其中数套以新币100万或以下成交。

另读：市场动向：新加坡最大宗房产交易与最热搜索（8月28日）

夫妇这套组屋的租约始于1994年，出售时剩余约66年零8个月。即便如此，它的成交价仍高于兀兰一些面积相仿、较新且剩余租约更长的组屋。

新币1.01百万成交与其他兀兰执行组屋的比较：

注：所选可比转售交易为2025年7月至2026年9月兀兰成交，数据截至2026年9月6日。来源：建屋发展局（HDB）、EdgeProp Research。

这笔七位数交易的故事要回溯六年，到2019年Ming Yen和Sandy看房、并开始与Lin合作之时。

比计划中更大的家

当时，他们并没有在找执行公寓。夫妇租住在兀兰，搜寻重点主要是附近的标准四房式和五房式转售组屋。

兀兰对他们很方便，Ming Yen在附近教育行业工作。任职银行与金融业的Sandy则能方便地通勤至中央商务区（CBD）。

在与几位房产经纪交谈后，夫妇经Ming Yen的前同事介绍认识了Lin。

另读：为何这位长期租户以共居为家四年——而且还在继续

兀兰这套执行公寓是Lin带他们看的第一套物业。

「一开始我们想，哇，这对就我们两个人来说可能太大了。」Sandy说。「我们没打算买这么大的单位。」

当时夫妇还没有孩子，也在考虑是否真的需要那么大的空间。

但第二次看房后，他们决定买下。「我们其实非常喜欢，因为空间很大。」Ming Yen说。

这套组屋的面积对夫妇来说也有熟悉感，他们在台湾都是在较大的房子里长大的。

Sandy回忆，Lin鼓励他们保持开放心态，尽管

预计于2027年1月开通，乘客只需约五分钟火车车程即可跨境出行。新加坡连接汤申-东海岸线（TEL）的兀兰北新柔捷运（RTS Link）站已于9月4日竣工。

对这个团队有利的另一个因素是，他们已经锁定下一套住房，出售兀兰组屋后不需要延长居住。这让经纪在与潜在买家谈判时有更大空间。

「我手里有这些王牌，要归功于我的卖方（Ming Yen和Sandy），与买家的谈判到最后就是要把价格谈得很好。」Lin说。

在执行公寓营销期间，Ming Yen和Sandy配合工作和家庭安排接待看房，并始终把家里收拾得适合潜在买家参观。

「整个过程中我们的目标非常一致。」Lin强调。「我们就是这样拿下这项纪录的。我们为一起做到这一点感到自豪。」

就夫妇而言，他们乐于让Lin在出售过程中的关键决策上主导。

找到看见同样潜力的买家

这套执行公寓接到数个出价。夫妇最初向一名潜在买家发出购买选择权，但对方后来因担心可能的超过估价现金（cash-over-valuation）金额而撤回。

最终买家先在周日看了这套组屋，次日再来看了第二次。

潜在的双钥匙格局对他尤为重要，因为他在为退休做规划。

到那时，他的孩子会更大，很可能已经搬出，这样他就可以把单位的另一半出租。

「买家想要一个将来可以改成双钥匙格局、给他这种灵活性的单位。」Lin说。

这个想法也引起卖方共鸣。「这和我们的退休计划挺像的。」Ming Yen说。

从挂牌到夫妇收到新币1.01百万的出价，不到一个月——即便中间还有前一份购买选择权带来的等待期。

「Sidney这次也帮我们谈了一个很好的价格。」Ming Yen说。「我们查了兀兰其他成交后都很惊讶。」

Sandy觉得自己「有Sidney真的很幸运」。她补充道：「我们很信任他，一切都交给他处理。」

安顿在更靠近学校和市区的地方

这家人此后搬到了大巴窑一套略小的组屋转售单位。

新家位于高楼层，靠近他们为儿子报名的小学。

由于没有私家车，这家人也很看重靠近地铁站和巴士站。

对Ming Yen和Sandy来说，离开兀兰五味杂陈。

在兀兰组屋看房时，他们常常向潜在买家讲述自己在这套公寓的时光，以及为何觉得有幸在此住了六年。

最终买家来过好几次，他们也因此有机会把故事分享给他。

Sandy说：「我们非常、非常爱这套房子。它真的善待了我们，所以我们希望它也能善待下一位业主。」

《Property Diaries》是一个新系列，深入房产交易幕后，由购房者、投资者和租户分享他们的寻房历程、决策和经验教训。

有故事想分享？请写信至 propertyeditor@edgeprop.sg。

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