SINGAPORE - Sales of new private homes appeared to be on an upswing as developers sold 381 private homes in January.

This figure was 17.6 per cent higher than the 324 units sold in the same month last year, according to data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday (Feb 15).

It was also 3.8 per cent higher than sales in December 2016, when developers sold 367 units.

Mass market condominiums in the suburbs made up the bulk of the sales, with 238 units moved.

This was followed by 110 units in the city fringes and 33 units in the core central regions.

These figures exclude executive condominiums (ECs). Including ECs, developers sold 565 units last month.

This was 17.7 per cent higher than the 480 units moved in January last year.