New homes in Hougang with electric car included
Local developer JS Homes is launching a pair of freehold semi-detached homes in Tai Keng, Hougang. The properties, named CHŌ, are being marketed with a unique feature: an AVATR 07 electric car is included in the purchase price, excluding the Certificate of Entitlement (COE).
The collaboration between JS Homes and Chinese carmaker Avatr is a key part of the offering. The two homes are located on a corner plot at the junction of Jalan Lokam and Tai Keng Gardens. Each residence is a four-storey structure, designed to accommodate six bedrooms, making them suitable for multi-generational families.
Architectural Inspiration and Design
The project’s name, CHŌ, is the Japanese word for butterfly. The design concept, developed in partnership with local architecture firm EHKA Studio, was inspired by the layout of the two adjacent plots. From a bird’s-eye view, the roofs of the two homes form a shape resembling a butterfly’s wings.
Director Joy Sim of JS Homes notes that EHKA translated the butterfly’s character into the building forms. This is seen in the sweeping roof eaves, layered façades, and curved cantilevered balconies. The design is described as contemporary and sculptural, with elements reminiscent of the 1930s Streamline Moderne style. The butterfly motif is not overt, but appears in details like the eaves and staircases, encouraging discovery.
Developer’s Background and Market Shift
Although JS Homes is a new development company, its roots trace back 20 years to a construction firm founded by Sim’s father. That company has built over 100 landed homes in the last 18 years. Sim explains that developing landed homes was a natural next step, leveraging their construction expertise.
Traditionally, buyers often purchased an older house to rebuild. However, rising land and construction costs have made rebuilding more challenging and expensive. As a result, a growing number of buyers are turning to developer-built homes, paying a premium for the assurance of quality and a move-in-ready property. This shift allows developers to work more closely with buyers to tailor homes to their preferences.
The developer believes the luxury of space is not about maximizing built-up area, but about preserving open areas like gardens and pools. The properties are fitted with high-end appliances, including V-ZUG and Hansgrohe fixtures, and come with smart home technology, EV charging, and solar panels. JS Homes has received healthy enquiries since the project’s launch, focusing on buyers who connect with its architectural style.
Indoor-Outdoor Living and Smart Features
The properties are optimised for indoor-outdoor living. The gate at 33A opens to a large car porch and a swimming pool with a curved deck. This design preserves more garden space. The pool area connects to the living space via double-volume ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The living areas feature sculptural staircases. Natural light and landscaping create a sense of movement. The ground floor includes a living and dining area. There is also a dry kitchen, a wet kitchen, and helpers’ quarters. A spiral staircase leads to the second floor, which has two bedrooms and an entertainment room. This floor also has an outdoor terrace that cantilevers over the car porch.
Specific Home Layouts and Premium Fittings
The home at 33 Jalan Lokam has a different layout. It also has a spacious car porch at the front. A free-form swimming pool runs along its side, framed by a terrace. The entertainment room and two ground-floor bedrooms open to this deck. A small backyard is at the rear.
The primary living and dining space for this home is on the second floor. This design offers more privacy from street level. The living room features a curved window and a cantilevered terrace. The third floor has three bedrooms and a courtyard. The fourth floor holds the master suite with two terraces and a jacuzzi. Large, double-layered windows with perforated metal screens soften sunlight and provide privacy.
Both homes are fully fitted. They have light oak timber floors and finishes like natural stone, sintered stone, and veined marble. Decks outside are laid with flamed granite strips. The master bathroom has dual sinks. Common bathrooms use fluted tiles and speckled stone. Kitchens are equipped with V-ZUG appliances. Hansgrohe taps and fittings are installed throughout.
The properties include smart home technology. They also have provisions for EV charging and solar panels. This integration provides modern convenience and sustainability for the homeowners. The larger home at 33A Jalan Lokam sits on a 4,212 sq ft plot with a total built-up area of about 7,464 sq ft. According to the developer, the semi-detached houses are within 1km of Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary) and Maris Stella High School.
How does the price stack up to other similar projects?
This year, we have seen other successful developer-built landed homes, such as a pair of freehold semi-detached homes at Jalan Labu Manis in Bartley Rise which sold for $8.5 million in July 2026. New freehold terraces on Tan Sim Boh Road in Novena also fetched prices starting from $9.38 million in May.
Since the start of 2026, there have been a total of nine landed developer sales in District 19, according to URA resale records. The majority of them were terrace house sales that transacted between $1,765 and $3,754 psf. There were two semi-detached sales that transacted, with the only other freehold semi-detached new sale transaction occurring on Rosyth Road, which sold for $9.5 million or $2,111 psf in July 2026. Meanwhile, the largest sale in terms of price quantum was a detached 999-year leasehold property that transacted for $11.388 million or $2,702 psf.
This puts the price range of $2,612 – $2,861 psf for the semi-detached houses at CHŌ close to the top of the area’s primary market. While the freehold homes at CHŌ are cheaper when we consider their psf land prices, they cost more in terms of built-up area at about $1,357 to $1,474 psf.
