Largest bungalow plot on Melrose Drive for sale at $16.8 mil

At 3 Melrose Drive in Braddell Heights Estate, a multi-generational freehold property of 14,175 sq ft will be put up for sale by expression of interest on Oct 18, with a price tag of $16.8 million.

Two houses sit on the site: an unaltered mid-1980s single-storey bungalow, which was purchased in 1988 by Stephanie Masefield’s parents and is now home to a fourth generation of the family; and a 2½-storey detached house, built by husband and wife Paul and Stephanie in 2013.

When they first moved to Braddell Heights Estate 34 years ago, Stephanie remembers there being fewer houses in the private estate and the surrounding areas, like Lorong Chuan and Serangoon, being nascent. Even her grandmother had been able to live in the home at one point.

Stephanie and Paul Masefield in the kitchen of their home.

The idea of rebuilding a bigger home on the garden of the original bungalow came from Stephanie’s father. It meant that the close-knit family could all stay together, albeit in separate properties. It also cost them less, as they only had to pay for the construction cost of their new home.

It wasn’t an easy decision to make though, as Stephanie’s parents had to live through the disruption of a construction site for over a year.

The 2013 2½-storey detached house has a built-up area of 6,000 sq ft, five bedrooms, and a spacious living and dining area that opens to a patio on the ground floor. The second level consists of three en suite bedrooms and a family room. The attic has been converted into a lounge and gym room with an en suite bathroom.

The single-storey bungalow has a built-up area of about 3,000 sq ft and three bedrooms.

Stephanie’s father recently decided it was time to sell the property after having lived there for nearly 35 years. The couple also anticipate that they will not need such a big home as they get older, and when their adult children eventually move out.

Martin Goh, principal consultant at Realstar Premier Group and the exclusive marketing agent for the property, notes that the freehold site with a 40m wide frontage offers various possibilities for buyers.

Zion Road Condo offers a wide array of choices for investors, from one to five-bedroom units of varying sizes and layouts to satisfy the needs of all kinds of residents. An array of facilities and thoughtful details complete the exquisite living environment and provide the perfect backdrop for modern living.

The buyer can retain the 2½-storey detached house, redevelop the older bungalow, tear down both and redevelop into a single large detached house, or build three new smaller detached houses. Goh estimates that a 5,000 sq ft bungalow would cost around $2.5 million to $3 million today.

Popular primary schools within a 1km range of the property include CHIJ Our Lady of Good Counsel, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School and St Gabriel’s Primary School. Secondary and tertiary education institutions nearby include St Gabriel’s Secondary School, Zhonghua Secondary School and Nanyang Junior College. The Australian International School and Stamford American International School are also nearby.

Amenities in the area include Lorong Chuan MRT Station, the Serangoon Interchange Station, Nex shopping mall and the newly opened Woodleigh Mall.

The property’s price tag of $16.8 million translates to a unit price of $1,185 psf based on land area.

Transaction prices of detached houses along Melrose Drive are on the rise too. The last transaction of a detached house along Melrose Drive was for a house sitting on a freehold site area of 4,315 sq ft that changed hands for $6.8 million ($1,576 psf) in November 2022.

Goh says that landed prices in the area are expected to continue rising over the long term, due to a relatively limited supply and strong demand.

For Stephanie and Paul, they find that this corner of Braddell Heights Estate offers the best of both worlds – the proximity to many amenities and transport connections, yet still retaining the quiet and private vibrancy of the area.

It’s time now for a new family to take advantage of this unique opportunity, and make Melrose Drive their own.