3,600 new homes are launching in 2H 2026 — here's how to choose well

If you've been waiting on the sidelines for more choice, the second half of 2026 is your moment: 10 private condo launches plus one Executive Condominium are lined up, adding about 3,608 new units between them. That's a lot of showflats. Before you spend every weekend in one, let me walk you through what's coming, region by region.

The city fringe is where the action is

The Rest of Central Region (RCR) takes the biggest slice — about 1,352 units, or 37% of the pipeline. The biggest name is Thomson Reserve, at 1,268 units the largest launch of the half. Mega-developments like this tend to suit families: more layouts to choose from, more facilities, and in this case Ai Tong School, Upper Thomson MRT and MacRitchie all within easy reach.

For something completely different, The Island Residence on Keppel Island is just 84 units of low-density waterfront living — a quieter, more private option that should also benefit from the long-term Greater Southern Waterfront transformation.

Prime districts: few units, familiar postcodes

The Core Central Region offers only around 748 units across four projects — about a fifth of the pipeline. The names tell the story: Dunearn House (first mover in the Turf City transformation, near Sixth Avenue MRT), The Serra Residences (freehold, 133 units, near Novena), Amberwood At Holland (230 units in a quiet landed enclave near the Bukit Timah school belt), and One Leonie Residences (25 freehold units — genuinely boutique).

When central supply is this thin, well-priced units in good stacks tend not to wait around. If one of these fits your plan, do the homework early rather than at the launch-weekend queue.

The suburbs keep working for upgraders

The Outside Central Region contributes about 1,088 units. Lentor Gardens Residences (502 units) continues the Lentor build-up — the MRT, Hillock Park and the new mall have turned it into a proper neighbourhood faster than many expected. Out west, Lucerne Grand (575 units) sits beside Lakeside MRT inside the Jurong Lake District, with five primary schools within 1km — parents, take note.

And there's exactly one EC: the Woodlands Drive 17 project (420 units), a short walk from Woodlands South MRT. As the only EC of the half, and with EC rules recently tightened, expect attention — but also do your sums more carefully than the crowd does.

Insights — what this means for you

• More choice cuts both ways. Eleven launches means you can afford to be picky — and it also means not every project will fly. The right question isn't "which launch is hottest?" but "which one fits my budget, timeline and exit plan?"
• Upgraders have real options this half — Thomson Reserve, Lentor and Lucerne Grand were practically designed for you. But work out your selling and buying sequence (and the bridging numbers) before you fall for a showflat.
• If you want central, move deliberately. With only ~750 CCR units coming, central homes really are in short supply — but that is never a reason to overpay for a poor unit.
• EC buyers: do your sums carefully. One project, new rules, likely strong demand. Get your finances assessed before ballot day, not after.

I'm happy to run through any of these launches against your situation — including whether waiting is actually your best move. Sometimes it is, and I'll tell you so.

Figures from ERA Research & Market Intelligence (original article).