Moving to Singapore in 3 Weeks

[milokos]

Hi

I am a young expat (from London) due to move to Singapore in three weeks. I will be working in the Central Business District.

My company will be providing me with accommodation for the first few weeks of my stay. However, I am keen to nail down some accommodation of my own ASAP.

Do you have any areas/complexes that you could recommend within max 30 minute commute of the CBD? My max budget at this point is around the $2500 mark for a one bed apartment/condo. I am also looking for a tenancy shorter than 1 year, if possible. Ideally, I would love to live in a building that has a gym on site.

Any other tips for a first-time expat in Singapore would be much appreciated! Cheers!

[JR8]

Search using the above buttons. What do they return?

[the lynx]

Hi

I am a young expat (from London) due to move to Singapore in three weeks. I will be working in the Central Business District.

My company will be providing me with accommodation for the first few weeks of my stay. However, I am keen to nail down some accommodation of my own ASAP.

Do you have any areas/complexes that you could recommend within max 30 minute commute of the CBD? My max budget at this point is around the $2500 mark for a one bed apartment/condo. I am also looking for a tenancy shorter than 1 year, if possible. Ideally, I would love to live in a building that has a gym on site.

Any other tips for a first-time expat in Singapore would be much appreciated! Cheers!

Tips:

1. SGD2500 is too little for your own condo within 30 minutes of commute to CBD. But for your own bedroom with own attached bathroom in a shared condo within 30 minutes of commute to CBD - yes.

2. Double that for tenancy less than a year. Normally the longer your tenancy, the cheaper the rent. Take note that you cannot rent for less than 6 months by law.

3. Only condos have gym. If you need to rent a HDB because of your budget, CBD have wonderful gyms all over with good shower facilities. You can gym before work, during lunch break, and after work.

[JR8]

My max budget at this point is around the $2500 mark for a one bed apartment/condo.

If HR has suggested that that is possible, then I'd be inclined to ask them to send a few links to such representative listings, 'as I have had no success identifying suitable properties within that budget'.

p.s. You could also lay out what your basic search criteria are, and ask them if any elements might be 'asking too much'.

[zzm9980]

Look at the shoebox-condos around Paya Lebar MRT. It'll be close, but you might be able to pull off your budget. You'll be 15 minutes from MRT, but that 1 bedroom will have 400sqft or less.

[GSM8]

Look at the shoebox-condos around Paya Lebar MRT. It'll be close, but you might be able to pull off your budget. You'll be 15 minutes from MRT, but that 1 bedroom will have 400sqft or less.

Negotiation might be possible in the current market. I rented a 2 bedroom condo near Paya Lebar MRT for $3k (10% less than asking) in March. But below that $3k limit (currently at least) choice seems to be more limited. I didn't use an agent (just called up online listings) and landlord was acting as his own agent (not typical).

Also search some of the other threads on this forum which will give much more detailed perspective as "the wheel isn't about to get reinvented here".

[thismyvoice]

Try Balestier. The rental is rather reasonable, maybe $2500 for a studio unit. About 30min trip to city depending on mode of transport.