Verticus

Overview & Key Facts

Verticus is a freehold boutique development of just 162 units located at Jalan Kemaman in District 12 — the residential pocket wedged between Toa Payoh and Novena. Developed by Soilbuild Group and completed in 2021, Verticus occupies a quiet, low-profile street that sits within Singapore’s Rest of Central Region (RCR), giving it a city-fringe positioning without the price tag of Core Central developments.

What makes Verticus distinctive is not its size or facilities — at 162 units, it has neither the scale for resort-style amenities nor the unit count to generate high transaction volumes. Its edge is tenure and location scarcity: freehold condominiums in District 12 are genuinely rare. The surrounding area is dominated by 99-year leasehold stock, making Verticus one of a small handful of permanent-tenure options in the Balestier–Toa Payoh corridor.

The development comprises a single 24-storey tower with a mix of one- to four-bedroom units. The compact footprint means every unit faces outward — there are no inward-facing stacks looking at corridor walls. Pricing has appreciated steadily since TOP, moving from approximately $2,049 psf to $2,275 psf over four years, reflecting the market’s recognition of the freehold premium in a well-connected RCR location.

Location & Connectivity

Jalan Kemaman is a short, quiet residential street that runs parallel to Balestier Road. For anyone unfamiliar with the area, the easiest way to think about Verticus’s location is: one block from Balestier Road’s famous food stretch, midway between Toa Payoh MRT and Novena MRT, and about a 10-minute drive to Orchard Road.

The nearest MRT is Toa Payoh station (North-South Line) at approximately 810 metres. That’s walkable — barely — in Singapore’s climate. It’s the kind of distance that feels fine on a cool morning but less appealing at 2 pm in July. Novena MRT (also North-South Line) is about 1.01 km away, giving residents a second option that also connects to the Novena medical hub and Velocity@Novena Square mall.

For drivers, the location is strong. The CTE is accessible within minutes via Moulmein Road or Thomson Road, putting the CBD roughly 12–15 minutes away in off-peak traffic. Orchard Road is a straight shot down Thomson Road. The Pan Island Expressway (PIE) is also within easy reach via Toa Payoh.

The real everyday asset is Balestier Road itself — one of Singapore’s most storied food streets. Bak kut teh, claypot rice, roast meat, and prawn noodles are all within a five-minute walk. Zhongshan Mall and Shaw Plaza provide basic retail. For serious shopping, Novena Square and United Square are under 1.5 km away, while Toa Payoh Central offers heartland-style wet market, hawker centre, and HDB Hub amenities.

Schools & Education

2 primary schools within the 1 km Priority Phase balloting radius.

Facilities

Let’s be direct: at 162 units, Verticus is a boutique development, and its facilities reflect that scale. This is not the place to look for a 50-metre lap pool, tennis courts, or a grand clubhouse with function rooms. What you get is a compact but well-maintained set of amenities designed for a small resident community.

The development features a 25-metre swimming pool, a children’s wading pool, a gym, a BBQ pavilion, and a sky terrace on the upper floors. There is also a rooftop garden area that offers views toward the city skyline — a genuine perk given the 24-storey height in a predominantly low-rise neighbourhood.

The trade-off is straightforward: fewer facilities means lower maintenance fees and less competition for booking. Residents who have lived in mega-developments and spent weekends battling for BBQ pit slots will appreciate the relative calm. But buyers who want a resort-style experience with tennis, badminton, and multiple pool zones need to look elsewhere — this is fundamentally a “live here, play outside” development.

Unit Sizes & Layout

Verticus offers a straightforward unit mix across its single 24-storey tower: one-bedroom, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and four-bedroom configurations. As a 2021-completion development, the layouts follow contemporary design norms — efficient use of space, decent ceiling heights, and functional kitchen and bathroom layouts that reflect post-2018 developer standards.

The single-tower design means most units enjoy unobstructed outward views, with higher floors offering sightlines toward the city skyline and the landed housing estates in the Balestier area. North-facing stacks look toward the Toa Payoh HDB heartland, while south-facing units benefit from the low-rise Balestier shophouse corridor that is unlikely to see significant redevelopment.

Build quality is generally consistent with what you would expect from a mid-to-upper-market boutique launch of this era. Soilbuild’s track record is primarily in industrial and commercial property, so Verticus represents one of their residential ventures — the finishing is competent without being exceptional. Buyers coming from older resale stock will find the fittings modern and functional; those comparing against luxury CCR launches may find the specification mid-range.

Pricing & Market Position

Across 131 recorded transactions (all-time), sale prices range from $958,000 to $2,756,000, averaging $1,602,870.

Over the last 12 months, transactions averaged $2,305 psf.

Rents range from $2,800 to $8,500 per month across 117 rental transactions. Current rental yield sits at approximately 3.0%.

Rental Yield by Bedroom Type

Blended yield hides the spread between unit sizes — smaller units at VERTICUS typically rent harder per dollar of purchase price. The final column shows monthly rent per $100,000 invested, so unit sizes compare on equal capital:

Price Appreciation

From 2021 to 2026, the average PSF has appreciated by 15.1% (from $2,049 to $2,358 psf).

Neighbourhood Comparison

The competitive picture in the Toa Payoh–Novena corridor is shaped by a fundamental split: new launches at premium pricing versus older resale stock at lower psf. Verticus sits in a unique position as a relatively new freehold option.

The Orie ($2,730 psf, 99-year) is the newest entrant and commands the highest psf in the comparison set. Buyers there are paying for brand-new status and potentially better facilities at scale, but surrendering freehold tenure. Over a 30-year hold, Verticus’s freehold advantage becomes increasingly significant as The Orie’s lease depreciates.

The Arcady ($2,593 psf, freehold) is the closest like-for-like comparison — also freehold and in the same general area. The Arcady is newer and positioned slightly upmarket, but at a roughly 14% premium over Verticus. Buyers choosing between the two are essentially weighing newer finishes against Verticus’s lower entry price and established track record.

Eight Riversuites ($1,639 psf, 99-year) and Trevista ($1,696 psf, 99-year) represent the value end of the spectrum. Both offer significantly lower psf but carry 99-year leases that are now 10–15 years into their terms. For pure value buyers, these are compelling — but the lease differential explains the bulk of the price gap, and that gap will widen over time as the leasehold stock ages.

Gem Residences ($1,831 psf, 99-year) sits in the middle ground — newer than Eight Riversuites and Trevista, with better facilities than Verticus, but again on a 99-year lease. For buyers who want more amenities and are comfortable with leasehold tenure, Gem Residences offers a balanced alternative.

ShiokNest Scores

Our proprietary scoring system evaluates VERTICUS across multiple dimensions.

What Residents Say

“Very quiet development, you really feel the difference from a boutique condo vs big developments. Balestier food is amazing and just a short walk away.”

— Resident review via PropertyGuru

“Freehold in this location is hard to find. We looked at many options in D11 and D12 and kept coming back to Verticus for the tenure.”

— Owner review via EdgeProp

“Pool is small, gym is basic. If you want facilities, this is not for you. But the location is convenient for daily life and the unit layout is practical.”

— Resident review via 99.co

The feedback pattern is consistent with what the numbers suggest: residents chose Verticus for tenure and location, not for lifestyle amenities. The Balestier food scene and quiet street environment are frequently cited as highlights, while the limited pool and gym size are the most common criticisms. The predominantly owner-occupied profile means the development is well-maintained and quiet — a contrast to some larger developments with high tenant turnover.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Verdict

Verticus occupies a clear niche: it is a freehold boutique option in a District 12 market dominated by leasehold mega-developments. For buyers who place a premium on permanent tenure and are willing to accept modest facilities and a not-quite-MRT-doorstep location, Verticus delivers something that most of its competitors simply cannot — a title that never expires.

At $2,275 psf, it sits below The Orie ($2,730) and The Arcady ($2,593) but above the older leasehold stock like Eight Riversuites ($1,639) and Trevista ($1,696). The premium over 99-year competitors is real but arguably justified: in a district where land is scarce and redevelopment cycles are long, freehold tenure removes the single largest risk factor in Singapore property — lease decay.

The honest trade-offs: MRT access is adequate but not excellent (810 m to Toa Payoh, no covered walkway), facilities are minimal for the price point, and the development’s small size means thin resale liquidity — when you want to sell, you may need patience. The investment score of 53 and walkability score of 50 reflect these limitations fairly.

For the right buyer — an owner-occupier who values Balestier’s food heritage, proximity to the Novena medical hub, freehold security, and quiet low-density living — Verticus is one of the better options in D12. For investors chasing yield or capital appreciation, the numbers suggest looking at larger, more liquid developments with stronger rental demand.