Would You Still Pay More For A Private Condo, If The EC Next Door Looked The Same?

“Which crazy person will buy this condo, the EC next door is $X psf cheaper.” 

That’s the kind of offhand remark that sends prospective buyers spiralling into existential dread; and I’ve heard it more times than I care to admit. And I get it, because of the direction ECs have been going in.

Yes, there are differences – ECs are subsidised, there’s a five-year MOP for the first batch of buyers, and so on; but still, the optics are brutal. ECs today have much better finishing and detail than their counterparts from 20+ years ago. Same stylish facades, same landscaping, and facilities that can match their private counterparts. In blind guessing games, where I’ve asked people to guess whether it’s an EC or fully private from the photos, most of them struggle to tell.

When you throw in the lower price point, there’s a natural fear of how future buyers will react. It’s not just theoretical:…