When my colleague mentioned she was considering Narra Residences in Dairy Farm Walk, I’ll admit I was skeptical. Like many people, I’d always assumed the best property investments were in the Central Business District or nearby prime areas. But after researching what’s happening in District 23, I realized something important—the definition of “prime location” is changing fast in Singapore.
The trend is clear. Young professionals and growing families aren’t just chasing proximity to the CBD anymore. They’re looking for something different: a balanced lifestyle that doesn’t force them to choose between career convenience and quality of life. This shift is reshaping how we think about property value in 2025.
The New Math of Property Investment
Here’s what caught my attention about developments like Narra Residences. The project sits in an area that offers genuine connectivity—Hillview MRT Station on the Downtown Line means you’re still well-connected to major business hubs. But unlike properties in hyper-competitive zones, you’re not paying a premium for every square foot just to be in the “right” postal code.
What makes this interesting from an investment perspective isn’t just the current pricing. It’s the trajectory. The Dairy Farm area has something many established prime districts don’t: room to grow. With the government’s ongoing urban planning initiatives for Bukit Panjang and Upper Bukit Timah, infrastructure improvements aren’t speculation—they’re already in motion.
Why Location Intelligence Matters More Than Location Prestige
I spoke with three property consultants while researching this piece, and they all pointed to the same shift. Today’s savvy investors aren’t asking “Is this address impressive?” They’re asking “Does this location solve real problems?”
For families, Dairy Farm Walk addresses several pain points at once. You’ve got established schools within the crucial 1-2km radius—critical for primary school registration priority. The Dairy Farm Nature Park and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve offer actual green space, not just landscaped gardens. And here’s the part that surprised me: the BKE and PIE access means you’re often reaching Orchard or the CBD faster than from some supposedly “central” locations that require navigating through congested surface roads.
The Rental Demand Factor Nobody Talks About
If you’re considering investment potential, here’s an angle worth examining. Expatriate tenants and young professionals working in the Jurong Lake District and surrounding business parks are increasingly looking at properties along the Downtown Line. Why? Because they’ve done their own math.
A tenant paying slightly less in monthly rent but spending 20 minutes less commuting each way isn’t just saving money—they’re buying back time. That’s a value proposition that holds up even when economic conditions fluctuate. Properties that offer this kind of lifestyle equation tend to maintain stronger rental yields because they’re solving a genuine need, not just riding on address appeal.
Understanding Developer Track Record
When you’re putting down serious money, the developer’s reputation matters. Santarli Realty and Apex Asia Development bring decades of construction experience to the table. These aren’t newcomers testing the waters—they’re established names with a track record of delivering quality residential projects on schedule.
This matters more than people realize. In a market where delays and compromised build quality can erode your investment returns, working with experienced developers reduces risk. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the kind of due diligence that protects your capital.
The Scarcity Element
Here’s something I didn’t fully appreciate until digging into the supply situation. The Dairy Farm and Hillview area doesn’t have many upcoming launches. The GLS site for Narra Residences is one of the few remaining developable land parcels in this mature estate.
In property investment, scarcity isn’t just about exclusivity—it’s about supply and demand fundamentals. When new supply is limited in an area with growing demand, basic economics suggests prices tend to hold firm or appreciate. It’s not a guarantee, obviously, but it’s a factor that deserves weight in your decision-making process.
What This Means for Different Buyer Profiles
If you’re a young couple planning ahead, the school proximity and family-friendly environment might be your primary draw. For investors focused on rental yield, the Downtown Line connectivity and proximity to employment hubs could be more relevant. And if you’re someone who values lifestyle quality—actual access to nature, lower density living, but still wants urban convenience—this type of location offers something you won’t find in high-density prime districts.
The key is knowing what you’re optimizing for. Not every property needs to be in District 9 or 10 to be a smart investment. Sometimes the smarter play is identifying areas where value and fundamentals align before they become obviously overheated.
The Bottom Line
I started researching Dairy Farm Walk expecting to find the usual trade-offs: affordability versus convenience, space versus accessibility. What I found instead was more nuanced. Developments like Narra Residences represent a middle path that doesn’t feel like compromise—it feels like recalibration.
The Singapore property market is mature enough now that “prime” isn’t just about heritage addresses anymore. It’s about infrastructure, planning, lifestyle quality, and long-term value creation. For buyers willing to look beyond traditional prime zones, there are opportunities that offer both immediate lifestyle benefits and solid investment fundamentals.
Whether you’re buying your first home or diversifying your property portfolio, the question isn’t just “Where should I buy?” It’s “What kind of value am I looking for, and where does that exist in today’s market?” The answer might surprise you.