RUSTIC shophouses, good food and a strong Peranakan heritage make Katong a real gem in the East Coast area.

The housing developments are mostly low-rise, with shophouses and boutique condominiums the mainstay, although there are quaint colonial houses for lease along Kuo Chuan Avenue.

Apart from the old-world charm, there is 24/7 shopping at Cold Storage in Katong Mall.

There are few new developments, though more may come as there have been several collective sale targets.

Sea Breeze Apartments was sold en bloc and should become an 88-unit project while a 229-unit condo in Jago Close is also expected, said CBRE.

Most of the properties here are small and rather old, so interest has not been very strong, with prices done in the past year or so at between $400 and $787 psf, said CBRE.

Developments such as Ceylon Crest and Katong Gardens transacted recently at about $540 to $550 psf on average.

Others such as East Galleria and Bellezza @ Katong go for about $650 psf on average.

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