Auction listings up by 7.1% q-o-q in 1Q2025, mortgagee sale listings likely to continue growing: Knight Frank
The Singapore property auction industry found a total of 136 public auction lists (including repeat listings and omitting real properties marketed beyond public auction) in 1Q2025, up 7.1% q-o-q contrasted to the previous quarter, based upon data put together by Knight Frank Singapore.
Looking forward, Knight Frank anticipates the uptick in mortgagee sale listings to proceed throughout the year, as more troubled possessions materialise as a result of the prolonged high interest rates in 2023 and 2024. Furthermore, the extensive tolls revealed by the Trump management could cause a dampening influence on the realty sector.
In regards to real property kind, non commercial properties composed 45.6% (62) of total listings, up from the 46 home listings in the last quarter. Industrial real estates made up 38 (28%) listings, making up 36 retail units and two workplace units, contrasted to 36 retail units and 6 offices listed in 4Q2024. Industrial properties comprised 23.5% (32) of the general listings, up by one listing contrasted to the last quarter. There were likewise 2 shophouse listings in 1Q2025, contrasted to five in the past quarter.
“While there was no significant surge in listings in 1Q2025, this could be the calmness before the storm of cleaning global tariffs and a looming trade battle strikes,” claims Sharon Lee, head of public auction and sales at Knight Frank Singapore.
The auction sector additionally saw a greater growth rate in 1Q2025. Seven lists were knocked down last quarter, reflecting a success rate of 5.1%. This is dramatically higher than the 1.6% success rate reported in 4Q2024. The seven postings comprise five mortgagee sales and 2 owner sales.
Mortgagee sales accounted for 83 home listings in 1Q2025, up 23.9% q-oq from 67 listings in the previous quarter. Knight Frank associates the quarterly rise to the prolonged effect of high rates of interest all over 2023 and 2024, that created a boost in distressed assets to go into the public auction market.
While initial buyer interest was observed in 1Q2025, Knight Frank anticipates buyers to re-adopt “a mindful wait-and-see position” in the middle of the expanding uncertainty. That said, with further rates of interest cuts prepared for, the agency notes that there could be a renewed interest from real estate investors looking for to capitalise on the increase in mortgagee sale postings.
Knight Frank connects the higher success price to more purchaser interest, as US interest rate cuts ever since September 2024 have motivated buyers to look out for opportunities. The properties successfully auctioned in 1Q2025 had an overall gross sale worth of $11.9 million.
In General, Knight Frank is predicting a results price of around 5% for the whole of 2025, in line with the typical yearly auction growth price of 5.1% extending the last one decade.
According to the company, the boost was “unforeseen”, as it matched with Chinese New Year events that commonly cause a time-out in auction activity.
Four of the properties were cost their respective opening prices: A three-bedroom condo at Scotts Square fetched $4.1 million; a HDB shophouse in Serangoon was cost $1.9 million; a retail outlet at The Commerze @ Irving brought $637,000; and a manufacturing facility unit at T99 altered controls for $635,000.
Another property, a two-bedder house in D’Ecosia, was torn down at $1.7 million– a 14.7% premium to its opening cost of $1.5 million. On the other hand, a manufacturing facility unit at In-Space and a one-bedder at Le Wood were brought $1.9 million and $ 1 million respectively, equating to price cuts of 3.8% and 2.9% from their opening costs.
Proprietor sale lists clocked in at 43, dropping 23.2% q-o-q from 56 listings recorded in 4Q2024. The standing ten auction postings were for other sorts of sales– five residential units listed as sheriff sales, three liquidator sales of manufacturing facilities, a bank sale of an industrial unit, and an estate sale of a non-landed residence.
