New Private Home Sales Drop 79% in August 2026 Amid No Launches

The combined effect of property developers holding back or delaying new project launches, as well as some buyers holding off on property purchases, resulted in a sharp drop in new private home sales last month. Market activity took a back seat during the Hungry Ghost Month, which lasted from Aug 13 to Sept 10 this year.

This seasonal lull typically sees most developers plan new project launches around the lunar seventh month, when a meaningful proportion of local buyers tend to hold back their purchases of big-ticket items like property, says Christine Sun, head of Chief Researcher & Strategist of Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Group.

As a result, developers only sold 153 new private residential units over the entire month of August 2026, and the decline represents a quarterly drop of 79.1% compared to the 731 new private homes sold in July 2026.

There were no new launches last month, which means that all of the units sold by developers came from previously launched projects.

New Sales Volume and Launches

Source: URA, Realion (OrangeTee & ETC) Research

Most market watchers say that seasonal breaks like this throughout the year, that result in lower buying rates, should be considered in the context of  limited fresh supply rather than a real indication of prevailing homebuying demand.

“New project launches are typically a key driver of transaction activity in a healthy property market.  The decline in sales therefore reflected a seasonal lull and a wait-and-see approach among buyers, rather than a weakening in underlying demand,” says Marcus Chu, Chief Executive Officer of ERA Singapore.

Likewise, the fall in new private home sales represented a temporary breather for the primary market as buyers awaited the next wave of project launches, says Mohan Sandrasegeran, Head of Research & Data Analytics at SRI.

Buyers sweep up leftover launched but unsold inventory

The latest residential statistics indicate that all 153 sales last month were from previously launched new projects. The transactions also included 10 new Executive Condominium (EC) units.

Top Selling Private Residential Project (ex. EC) in August 2026

Source: Propnex Research, URA

The 380-unit Dunearn House sold the highest number of new private residential units last month. The project launched for sale in July, selling at least 212 units (56%) over its opening weekend sales, and setting an average selling price of $3,140 psf.

The latest units sold by the developer fetched a median price of $3,008 psf. Based on URA caveats, the project has moved a total of 227 units (59.7%) and the average selling price is about $3,114 psf.

Meanwhile, Lentor Gardens Residences was the second best-seller last month, in terms of number of units sold. The 499-unit development, the latest condo in Lentor Hills, sold 15 units last month at a median price of $2,367 psf.

The development also launched for sale in July, and moved 270 units (54%) – while setting an average selling price of $2,350 psf – during its opening sales weekend. To date, the project has sold at least 282 units (56%) and the average price has adjusted to $2,357 psf.

There have been no new project launches since Dunearn House and Lentor Gardens Residences. “The quieter launch calendar has reduced competition for buyer attention, allowing existing projects to maintain greater visibility among prospective homebuyers and investors,” says Sandrasegeran.

The Sen, a 347-unit development on Jalan Jurong Kechil, has sold 45% of its units.

With no major new launch project vying for the attention of new condo buyers, it gave already-launched projects a chance to close a handful of deals. The Sen in Upper Bukit Timah, Union Square Residences on Havelock Road and Hudson Place Residences in one north also managed to sell several of their units, at prices ranging from $2,300 psf to $2,800 psf.

Meanwhile, Coastal Cabana, an EC project in Pasir Ris which launched in January, sold 12 units last month at a median price of $1,800 psf. The development was the first new project to hit the market this year, and has since sold 619 units (82.7%) while setting an average selling price of $1,749 psf.

Separately, The most expensive non-landed sale in the primary market in August 2026 was a 2,788 sq ft unit on the 36th floor at Canninghill Piers. The five-bedroom unit was sold for $8.4 million ($3,009 psf) on Aug 26. According to PropNex, the unit was sold to a Permanent Resident.

Developers Eager To Launch New Projects

This month, market activity in the new launch market is expected to kick off in a big way to make up for the dearth of new projects last month. At least three new projects are expected to make an appearance, with the public preview of 212-unit Amberwood at Holland begun last weekend.

Check out our comprehensive review of Amberwood at Holland here, as well as our Price Review of the new project.

New condo buyers can also look forward to the preview of Lucerne Grand, a mixed-use development by City Developments LTD (CDL) that is connected to Lakeside MRT station. Thereafter, we expect to see the preview of The Serra Residences by Far East Organization at the start of October.

On the whole, market activity in the new launch market is expected to heighten this month, marginally damped by the week-long school holidays. Market watchers like Chu of ERA noted that economic fundamentals in Singapore remain robust, which will support strong buying activity in the property market and local homebuying demand.

“The stronger 2026 growth forecast should also boost homebuyers’ confidence, although they are likely to remain selective on pricing and value,” he says, citing MTI’s GDP projection change from 4.5% to 5.5%.

But some property analysts flag a different type of risk ahead. Sandrasegeran of SRI says that a potential increase in U.S. interest rates and inflationary pressures in energy and commodities markets can also squeeze local homebuyers. “External economic and financing conditions are likely to become increasingly important considerations for homebuyers,” he says.