Set on the southern part of Singapore is a tropical resort island with pristine white sandy beaches, very different from the concrete jungle and skyscrapers lining the urban city on the mainland.

One of Asia’s most prestigious oceanfront residential communities live on this island called Sentosa. Marketed as the “world’s most desired address”, Sentosa Cove is a playground for the rich and famous. The exclusive residential enclave is a result of the Southern Islands development guide plan by Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Secluded from the more touristy recreation areas, the integrated residential-cum-marina resort development sits on the east side of Sentosa and houses a yacht club, a marina, a hotel, connected by a waterfront promenade lined with upscale restaurants, bars and shops.

Sentosa Cove is hugely popular with foreigners and locals alike for its resort lifestyle. After all, Sentosa Cove is zoned as a prime living area in Singapore. It is also the only place where foreign ownership of restricted residential properties is allowed.

Some notable names who own an address in Sentosa Cove includes celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee, Australian banker Stephen Fisher, Australian mining heiress Gina Rinehart, Spanish tycoon Ricardo Portabella Peralta and India telecom mogul Bhupendra Kumar Modi.

Spanning an area of 116.9 hectares, there are 3.9 kilometres of seafront properties, 1.7 kilometres of marina waterfront properties and 6.8 kilometres of canal-front properties. Over 2,000 luxury homes were designed to face the sea or the waterway. Consisting of condominium units, terrace houses and bungalows, the residential developments are clustered into the North Cove and South Cove.

As you enter the gated community, the first property in sight is The Residences at W Singapore Sentosa Cove, which offers 228 exquisite residences. Four distinguished condominiums sit on the North Cove – The Azure, The Berth by The Cove, The Coast at Sentosa Cove and The Oceanfront at Sentosa Cove.

On the South Cove, there is a development featuring cluster terrace houses at The Green Collection. Condominiums include Marina Collection, Turquoise, Seascape, Seven Palms and the latest Cape Royale.

There are also three man-made islands in the North Cove – Coral Island, Paradise Island and Treasure Island carved out for landed properties. Sandy Island and Pearl Island in the South Cove make up the remaining of the five islets on the island.

One of the earliest developers to see value in Sentosa Cove was Ho Bee Land, and most of the properties in Sentosa Cove are developed solely or jointly by them. Projects include 21 bungalows at Coral Island, 29 stylish 2-storey villas on Paradise Island, 8 units of terrace house at The Berthside, 18 units on Pearl Island, 151 waterfront homes at Seascape and 91 exclusive apartments at Turquoise. The larger developments are Cape Royale, offering 302 luxurious units and the 249-unit The Coast at Sentosa Cove that was completely sold when it was marketed in early October 2006.

Prices start from $850 psf when the first project was launched in end-2004 and hit $2,600 psf during the peak in 2007. Today, prices for homes in Sentosa Cove range from $1,250 psf to as high as $3,900 psf at Seven Palms. This is after the market correction following several rounds of cooling measures. One of the latest transactions on the island saw prices at $1,900 psf for Marina Collection. 

For those looking for a respite away from the crowd, the notion of a sea fronting property with private yachts berthed alongside and going for long walks in an idyllic resort setting, or simply chilling while enjoying the picturesque view, are just some of the reasons to call Sentosa Cove home.