Bukit Timah - condos to avoid?

migratingbird · Post by **migratingbird** » Mon, 14 Jul 2014 8:39 pm

Hi,

We move to Singapore in a week and I haven't yet made a decision about where to live. I'll be working around Holland Rd, and hubby will hopefully be at NUS. Looking at prices and bus routes, we're thinking Bukit Timah...more likely the upper part. Are there any condos people would suggest are best avoided? At the moment, our shortlist is Southaven II, Symphony Heights, Parc Palais, Hume Park I and II, The Hillside, Springdale. Any suggestions or advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Mon, 14 Jul 2014 8:50 pm

Easier if you remind, with:

Nationality, ages,
family size, have car/s or not
Workplaces, housing budget
type of home wanted (house vs condo, say 1 bed flat vs 5 bed villa w/garden)
Have pets/need garden? Have children/need access to schools?

... the more in, the better out

p.s. what to aim for is a reasonable target. 'What to avoid?' is much harder, as you see few if any people saying 'avoid this building altogether'. I.e. if people are unhappy with a place it's usually because of their particular landlord, rather than the building/condo itself... HTH!

migratingbird · Post by **migratingbird** » Mon, 14 Jul 2014 8:57 pm

Thanks - I'm British, hubby Kenyan, baby both. No car. Budget $3.5k. I'm at Nexus, him (hopefully) at NUS. condo. No pets. Could do with walkable distance to day care for baby (one that takes 18 month+).

Completely agree that a lot of people base their views on one specific thing...was hoping to guess those doing that...but sounds like you give thought out advice

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Mon, 14 Jul 2014 9:54 pm

Ok, that helps a lot...
I'll get back tomorrow with some further thoughts - going out now!

- Perhaps have a look at the 'Relo/Moving' subsection of the forum, meanwhile. Browse earlier 'Where to live' type topics that have been presented, developed, and worked through.

To be followed up tomorrow

the lynx · Post by **the lynx** » Tue, 15 Jul 2014 9:33 am

migratingbird wrote:Hi,

We move to Singapore in a week and I haven't yet made a decision about where to live. I'll be working around Holland Rd, and hubby will hopefully be at NUS. Looking at prices and bus routes, we're thinking Bukit Timah...more likely the upper part. Are there any condos people would suggest are best avoided? At the moment, our shortlist is Southaven II, Symphony Heights, Parc Palais, Hume Park I and II, The Hillside, Springdale. Any suggestions or advice greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Hume Park will be too far for your family you're looking for proximity to Nexus, NUS and Holland Road. And it is old, with problems that old buildings usually give. For the same reasoning, no to Parc Palais and Symphony Heights. Basically Hume Road area condos. Bad idea. Too high up and too few public transport options for your comfort.

Southaven 2, Hillside and Springdale are much closer down. So they are ok. But if you can get a condo within Ulu Pandan, Clementi, Dover, Holland or Buona Vista area, that would be the best. Maybe your budget of $3.5k would be too little for BV and Holland but you can get something decent at Dover and Clementi (especially Sunset Way area).

Hope this helps. I live around those areas so ask if you have more questions.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:50 am

^ Good stuff from Lynx.

Not much to add. But looking solely at a map I'd start by looking at say Queenstown or Clementi. The former was Singapore's original 'new town' so that would have the benefit of the area coming with all the useful facilities designed in (transport, shopping, F+B etc) ...

No idea on prices though. I can see why you're pondering Bukit Timah, but be aware that that name has a lot of cachet, and that that might well translate into prices in that area.

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:15 pm

^^^^^^

Cuddle Pie?

Methinks that's a name for an erotic escort.

cuddlepie · Post by **cuddlepie** » Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:24 pm

more of a gumnut baby. an aussie children's book...

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:47 pm

cuddlepie wrote:more of a gumnut baby. an aussie children's book...

Ahhhhh... I should have been an Aussie.

migratingbird · Post by **migratingbird** » Wed, 16 Jul 2014 2:53 pm

Ahhh thanks people. Springdale looks like a good option, to be honest. The Lynx - we've been shown a few properties around where you are suggesting, and none of them were any good, which is a shame as it would be ace to live so close to work. It would help if estate agents posted pics of the rooms themselves rather than just the condo facilities!

the lynx · Post by **the lynx** » Wed, 16 Jul 2014 3:11 pm

migratingbird wrote:Ahhh thanks people. Springdale looks like a good option, to be honest. The Lynx - we've been shown a few properties around where you are suggesting, and none of them were any good, which is a shame as it would be ace to live so close to work. It would help if estate agents posted pics of the rooms themselves rather than just the condo facilities!

I have no knowledge of Springdale, except that I would pass by it whenever I hike up Bukit Timah Hill behind that place. The whole forest reserve is a gem (as well as the park connector system) if you like nature, although a bit small.

Anyway, regarding estate agents, always, always view the place in person. Preferably view it during sunset/sunrise so that you will know if the morning sun or late afternoon sun will turn your place into a furnace (good to know if you plan to sun dry your laundry). And also it will be indicative of noise level because that's when people move around a lot. Photos may not be representative of the actual place. Enough to have an ideal of the layout but not enough to show the state of the unit.

Getting to Nexus shouldn't be a problem by bus directly outside of your condo. Getting to NUS, on the other hand, may require one bus change mid-route (not sure about it yet, haven't used Google map to check).

Good luck.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Wed, 16 Jul 2014 4:06 pm

Strong Eagle wrote:^^^^^^

Cuddle Pie?
Methinks that's a name for an erotic escort.

Que?

Anywayz, if that were the name of a condo here it would be d'Cuddle Pie

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Wed, 16 Jul 2014 4:19 pm

migratingbird wrote: It would help if estate agents posted pics of the rooms themselves rather than just the condo facilities!

Most properties have such small rooms that they cannot realistically be photographed; at least not in a meaningful never mind flattering way.

You know...
- square box #1, white walls, tiled floor
- square box #2, white walls, tiled floor
etc...

Floorplans would be eminently more useful. But if they had to provide those it'd reveal how much they lie about how the total habitable space dimensions get padded out by c30% to arrive at a quoted Gross Floor Area. Also, preparation of a floorplan would require the vendor/landlord to pay money for it... so forget about that.

This is why you usually have to go and physically see so many properties here before finding something suitable. The ability to pre-sift candidate property beforehand is extremely limited.

PNGMK · Post by **PNGMK** » Wed, 16 Jul 2014 4:42 pm

Strong Eagle wrote:
cuddlepie wrote:more of a gumnut baby. an aussie children's book...
Ahhhhh... I should have been an Aussie.

They were great books. I remember being given some to read in some old dears house....

PNGMK · Post by **PNGMK** » Wed, 16 Jul 2014 4:55 pm

JR8 wrote:
migratingbird wrote: It would help if estate agents posted pics of the rooms themselves rather than just the condo facilities!
Most properties have such small rooms that they cannot realistically be photographed; at least not in a meaningful never mind flattering way.

You know...
- square box #1, white walls, tiled floor
- square box #2, white walls, tiled floor
etc...

Floorplans would be eminently more useful. But if they had to provide those it'd reveal how much they lie about how the total habitable space dimensions get padded out by c30% to arrive at a quoted Gross Floor Area. Also, preparation of a floorplan would require the vendor/landlord to pay money for it... so forget about that.

This is why you usually have to go and physically see so many properties here before finding something suitable. The ability to pre-sift candidate property beforehand is extremely limited.

With practice online backed up real world visits you'll quickly be able to wade through the condos and work out which ones you'll accept.

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Bukit Timah - condos to avoid?

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