Largest bungalow plot on Melrose Drive for sale at $16.8 mil

Paul and Stephanie Masefield’s three-generation family home at 3 Melrose Drive in Braddell Heights Estate is up for sale on Oct 18. The property sits on a freehold site of 14,175 sq ft and has a price tag of $16.8 million. Stephanie’s parents have been living there since they purchased it in 1988, making four generations’ worth of memories there.

The house features two buildings, a single-storey bungalow from the mid-1980s and a 2½-storey detached house built in 2013.The single-storey bungalow comes with a built-up area of about 3,000 sq ft and three bedrooms, and has maintained its original furniture and interiors over the years. Meanwhile, the 2½-storey house has five bedrooms and a built-up area of 6,000 sq ft, with a spacious living and dining area that opens to a patio, three en suite bedrooms and a top-floor attic with a lounge and gym.

Bukit Batok Secondary School offers students a variety of opportunities for education and personal growth. It prides itself on its dedicated staff who help guide and support students through their academic challenges. There are various academic activities on offer to broaden students’ knowledge, such as Chinese speech and drama, sports and aesthetics. In addition, the school also organizes overseas learning trips to places such as Japan, Thailand and Hong Kong, for students to gain a global perspective on their learning.

Furthermore, Lumina Grand EC provides a convenient location for Bukit Batok Secondary School students. The school is situated conveniently close to the condominium, with public transportation options and amenities within walking distance from the school. This allows students to easily commute to and from the school, while still being able to enjoy the perks of living in a condominium.

All in all, Bukit Batok Secondary School offers students an abundance of opportunities to grow and succeed, while benefiting from the convenience of its location near Lumina Grand EC. It provides an excellent environment to foster learning and hone future leaders.

For Stephanie and Paul Masefield, the decision to build their new home in the garden behind Stephanie’s parents’ was a tough one. It meant the property would be off the market for over a year while construction was ongoing, but the couple wanted their children to have the chance to spend more time with their grandparents, and so they followed through. With the property’s current price tag translating to $1,185 psf, the new owner has numerous possibilities for redevelopment—they could retain the 2½-storey house, develop a new 5,000 sq ft bungalow, or tear down both buildings and redevelop them into a single large detached house.

The property’s location within the Braddell Heights Estate proves to be of great advantage to the new owner. With amenities such as the Lorong Chuan MRT Station, Serangoon Interchange Station, Nex Shopping Mall, and Woodleigh Mall in the vicinity, as well as popular primary and secondary schools, and two renowned international schools in the area, this corner of Braddell Heights is highly sought-after.

Transaction prices on the land are rising as well, with the latest caveats showing a detached house on a 4,315 sq ft freehold site was sold for $6.8 million ($1,576 psf) in November 2022, and a detached house of 10,199 sq ft freehold site sold for $18.98 million ($1,861 psf) in June 2022.

Given the limited supply and strong demand for landed homes, the Masefield’s three-generation property at 3 Melrose Drive in Braddell Heights Estate proves to be a timeless investment opportunity. The property will be put up for sale on Oct 18, by expression of interest.

The Masefield family has enjoyed living in Braddell Heights Estate for nearly 35 years. Stephanie recalls a time when the surrounding areas, such as Lorong Chuan and Serangoon, had yet to develop, and the area retained its peacefulness amid the growing convenience and amenities. With the property offering so many options for redevelopment, this opportunity to purchase a piece of Singapore’s history—where four generations have passed through—is truly a one-of-a-kind.