21 year old male - where do I live?!

[benjiiiiii]

Hey!

Thank you for your answers, I have a few questions while I will add inline:)

>Ah I see.
>There are plenty of cheaper options, 'but they come at a price', as such Smile

>With your sort of package I don't think you should consider HDB, at least not
> now. They don't allow pets, and tend not to have any facilities (gyms, >swimming pools). Plus, er, you know, expats don't tend to lease HDBs... you're >going to be like the sole white newbie who is flat-hunting in the Bronx or >something... why not mitigate the culture shock, start with a 2 bed condo, and >once you've settled in for the lease term see how you feel about going local. ]

This makes sense to me


>If you were to be satisfied with a 'zone 2' location, maybe a 30 minute >commute, you could tick all your boxes on a condo for $4k, easy. We have an >almost brand new 3-bed, walk to shops/MRT etc, full-facilities etc condo for >that. But note: If we were just off Orchard I'm sure it would be double++.

Could you suggest a zone 2 location? I lived in the suburbs (zone 6) of London for a bit and preferred being central(zone 2), although I have no idea if this is comparable.

WRT to what you said about dogs, I think I will scrap that idea. Doesn't sound fair at all, thank you for the heads up

[JR8]

London Zone 6 ... , hoo, you like commuting!! I honestly hadn't realised there is a Zone 6, where is it, Brighton or something.... lol! Well, my God, you're going to feel central almost where ever you live here after that...


I'll PM you and tell you where we live but pls don't repeat it publicly, it's a very small country. I don't mind if friends know, but not for broadcasting... we all tend to be this kinda way, and take note/consider why for your future ref too.

[benjiiiiii]

I understand, thank you.

Haha yes, Zone 6 was Harrow on the Hill, which was rather.. uneventful. My stay there didnt last long !

I think I will ask my agent to show me D9/10/11 and also some a little further away, so I can compare price/living situation if that makes sense, and will look into flat sharing a little more maybe, but suspect I won't pursue that due to personal preference

Thanks all for all the help so far!

[Akimbo]

They don't allow pets, and tend not to have any facilities (gyms, swimming pools). Plus, er, you know, expats don't tend to lease HDBs... you're going to be like the sole white newbie who is flat-hunting in the Bronx or something... why not mitigate the culture shock, start with a 2 bed condo, and once you've settled in for the lease term see how you feel about going local.

My British friends recently moved out of a condo and rent a whole HDB unit in Bishan by themselves. There's 4 of them right now renting the place.

Anyway, like what JR8 says, try for a short-lease term first to see how it feels for ya. Which is minimum 6 months here, I think.

I've sent the PM I owe ya, Benji. Try that site.

If you are working in the Chinatown area, and you would most likely commute using the MRT purple line (the tube), the areas would be...

Outram Park, Red Hill, Queenstown, Potong Pasir, Farrer Park, Bugis, Aljuneid.

Try finding a place with those keywords instead D1-19 whatchamacalit...honestly, I could never remember what those numbers mean to which area

[JR8]

I think I will ask my agent to show me D9/10/11 and also some a little further away,

This is the expat trap.

It's like a SGn moving from Woodlands or Tuas to London saying 'Oh I think I'll start with Knightbridge, Belgravia and Kensington'.

You currently live in Zone 6 London, how about starting here with the equivalent? This is one of the topmost expensive countries there is, you can't afford to live 'opposite Harrods' (in other than a tiny matchbox).

Get out of the comfort zone. After a month here, you'll be kicking yourself black and blue for renting any such '10-yards off Orchard Road' matchbox.

[benjiiiiii]

I'm currently in zone 2 (zone 6 was previously ), but I do understand your point.

The estate agent I'm liasing with has got multiple options for me, we will do D9/10/11 the first day, and then further afield second day, so I get a good idea of the differences. I'm scouring . at the moment so I go into the situation with a proper idea of what to expect

[JR8]

I'm currently in zone 2 (zone 6 was previously ), but I do understand your point.

The estate agent I'm liasing with has got multiple options for me, we will do D9/10/11 the first day, and then further afield second day, so I get a good idea of the differences. I'm scouring . at the moment so I go into the situation with a proper idea of what to expect

Ok good stuff.
Wouldn't it be great if there some kind of VR-thing that could convey how you'll feel about the Orchard area on Day #1, versus Day #90?

Of course some people land at/on Orchard and that defines their horizons, and they're perfectly happy. But one suspects their rent is being paid by someone else...

[x9200]

For the 4-5k budget he may have a VERY decent place within the mentioned zones (some at least) and far far away from a shoebox. C'mon, his agent pays for the tour, let him go to visit around.

[JR8]

I was paying $3k/mo in D9 20 years ago. So when we came back in 2008 it was natural to look once again at D9/10/11 (my then natural comfort zone). The result was shocking, shabby amenity-less units perhaps half the size of what was previously affordable.

So I was forced out of my horizons, a whole couple of MRT stops.

And thank heavens I was. The rewards of being 10 minutes by MRT further out far outweigh any benefits of being super-central.

I'm just trying to impress that the natural inclination for the newbie is comfort zone/central. But there's so much more and better on offer if you can just try and let that go a little ... as I saw, just a few MRT stops can make a huge difference.

[x9200]

Before posting my comment I checked some places I know. For example, the condo where I lived before (Viz@Holland). It is a very nice 6 yo condo, with a lot of 2+2/100m2 units within 4.0-4.5k range. I bet there are dozens like this around as the development work was in this area very intense.

[JR8]

I'm sure that despite being named after a usually profane adult British comic [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viz_(comic) ], that it's a lovely place.

I do and always have advocated starting out casting a wide net.

[x9200]

I do and always have advocated starting out casting a wide net.

Sure. That's the whole idea - include also more central areas if they can be afforded. I did not say, stay away from the other districts.

[benjiiiiii]

Hi all

Thanks again for all the replies and help. I made an account on a certain website and have been messaged a property at $2900 2 bed in Geylang 'penthouse'. Seems almost too good to be true, are rental scams common in Singapore? In the UK they are prolific so I'm suspicious.

Many thanks

[JR8]

Hi all
Thanks again for all the replies and help. I made an account on a certain website and have been messaged a property at $2900 2 bed in Geylang 'penthouse'. Seems almost too good to be true, are rental scams common in Singapore? In the UK they are prolific so I'm suspicious.
Many thanks

There's far less consumer protection/comeback here than in the UK. Send us a link to this hallowed red-light sunlight upland.... hehe...

Also be aware Geylang is mega-seedy, like Soho in the 70s. Not somewhere anyone respectable lives... at least that's the stereotype.

[benjiiiiii]

Not sure if this will paste;

http://www...com.sg/Listings ... 9048532644

The things that struck me as off:
Photo of owner looks ~~~
Phone number on account didnt match whatsapp number she asked me to message
Price

Ah, ok. I think I will just avoid then