initial information needed

[xmj]

Thanks Beppi and JR8.

Guess the maintance of cars is up to the company.
But you are right: sleeping in Taxis/ cars with drivers is one of my favourite (and perfectly refreshing) things to do in traffic jams.
Fortunately I am not in discussion of moving to India, so a driver will definetely not be part of a package.

[xmj]

Taxico:

Sounds very bad to have a car

These informal caps... I know 2 Kinds of them from SH: either Black caps (w/o insurance in case of pessengers harmed during a crash)

And the limousine service able to print invoices if required.
Looking like a private car; booking by call (& guanxi)

Had to take premium Taxi last night for the airport transfer .. waited 30 min But the line in front of the hotel was still too long. What's going on Friday night 23h???
aaargh! My Smartphone hates English, so pls Excuse strange typings & words!

Btw: as I finally reached my plane in time: Sydney might also be a nice place to live

But lets talk about Singapore for now!

Beppi & JR8.
sounds like a longer action to understand property agents and learn the logic
will search for the plan (latest in Germany - I need to be outside and save sun+heat for the upcomimg frosty & dark December- But the Beach is w/o WLAN)

I have Seen the thread about ' here is home'.
And I am also facing that problem. Only 5 years abroad- But moved also with in Germany several times.
with the holiday house I have a home (But of course for working I am flexible).

Are your regarding Singapore as home - or as location for some (-/+) years?

A colleague from SA changed his passport; so for his family it is definetely home now.

[xmj]

Another question concerning mobility

(Hope it is okay to all to mix topics as this is not that much relaxed to relocating).

What about scooters, e-bikes (booth:China Version / European version), motorbikes?


What is allowed or not, what need which kind of driving licence, plate, ... ?
What is your experience (traffic, heat, risk, traffic,..)?

and what about E-kick-boards?
I have seen some in CZ .... was wondering whether to buy one because of the suitable size for Germany...... or now maybe Singapore.

[maneo]

PS: guess I need to learn more about these districts listed in the condo list

Can you suggest a map linked twith names to all districts (in google map seems not be be applicable -or I am just too tired)

The "district" system was officially abolished before I moved to Singapore in 1996.
It only survives in the heads of property agents (who are inert to any reasonable change).

I think the old system still also co-exists with the new one.

So you'll still quite commonly hear people refer to District 9, 10, 11, 12, and so on. Certainly I immediately know where they are and 'what they represent' socially. 'Wah dat unre, he think he so distrik 10 hor'

There is a postcode converter out there (Google it), it might be on the Singpost site... I don't recall.

Look forward to replying to your other points when time allows due consideration tomorrow. TTYL!

There's one on the URA website:
https://www.ura.gov.sg/realEstateIIWeb/ ... tricts.htm

For those that prefer visual images:
http://www.singaporeexpats.com/housing- ... -guide.htm

Note: Edited to use Singaporeexpats' own portal map

[JR8]

JR8 > I should also say that there is a difference between doing an ‘internal corporate transfer’ and negotiating for a position in a new company. The former tends to more of a fixed package on the table kind of situation. The latter offers more latitude to negotiate.
XMJ >> it is the corporate transfer so I guess I need to wait for their first offer
Yes I think that’s the way for you to play your hand (‘of cards’). Wait for them to make an offer, and meanwhile just continue as if no transfer is happening/agreed. I have been in a position where I was offered a transfer with a date, and was mentally readying for it. But when the offer finally came, after a laborious budget/approval process, it was clearly inadequate so I then had to negotiate at the last minute (primarily in the ‘Benefits’ area, i.e. rent allowance, flights home etc). Better you proceed now as if you have no commitments. And if your coolness/uncertainty is questioned... “Well you know, as much as I relish the opportunity I haven’t even had an offer, so unfortunately I can’t really assume anything yet”.


XMJ >> it is so amazing, as most of my expat colleagues and managers here have company cars - I was not considering it as so high end & expensive. ... the advise with 'taxable income' sounds not that nice
If they offer you one, together with all associated costs, then it is worth considering. But just be aware as mentioned owning a car here is highly expensive. Also, I had in mind that after arrival your immediate focus here will probably be a small geographic area (well served with public transport), and you don’t need a car for that. After some time here when you’re settled in, you’ll start wanting to visit more outlying areas, and if that’s frequent enough then there’s a point where a car can be justified.


XMJ >> Thanks for the advise with the change of trip distances. a UK colleague mentioned today that he is not even leaving Singapore as in MAY the Singapore name plate is seen as invitation for creating problems? is that true?!
Lol! Traffic rules here are very strict (though when you see the driving you might not believe this). So you’ll have many SGns who will go over to Malaysia (MY) to... basically go and give their cars a work out and have a burn-up. The highway from SG to Kuala Lumpur (KL) is notorious for this. I’ve only done this journey once and it was intermittently terrifying the speeds we were going with drivers simply not used to such driving.
So the MYn police know very well that this is going to be going on, and pulling over people in SGn plated cars is their ‘cherry patch’. Pay any fine on-the-spot in cash, no receipt, and you’re on your way.


XMJ >> Thanks!The weather is perfect I have been to BOM last week, some days in frosty Germany and now heading over to SYD.

Lol! After Germany it will seem that way. But in due course you’ll probably start to bitch about it, especially during the monsoon seasons when the weather gets really oppressive.

[JR8]

@Taxi
Can I propose and OMG*3?

You're going somewhere like Paterson Road (behind Ion Orchard), but because of roadworks you miss your turn into a side-road, you then end up driving miles (few U-turns here) just to get back to the right area.

We did that yesterday and the 'getting back' took about 30 minutes in jammed traffic. The rain didn't help either. So all in all we left in plenty of time for a simple (3 miles?) journey, and ended up about 45 minutes late... which is probably enough to lose a reservation at most decent restaurants.

[sigh]

[JR8]

Another question concerning mobility

(Hope it is okay to all to mix topics as this is not that much relaxed to relocating).
What about scooters, e-bikes (booth:China Version / European version), motorbikes?
What is allowed or not, what need which kind of driving licence, plate, ... ?
What is your experience (traffic, heat, risk, traffic,..)?
and what about E-kick-boards?
I have seen some in CZ .... was wondering whether to buy one because of the suitable size for Germany...... or now maybe Singapore.

Can I suggest you start this in a new topic? Some of us (like me) are still getting to grips with the new forum layout/buttons. I used to be able to reply to a few posts from one poster in a single reply. Now I feel pretty relieved to successfully reply to one at a time!

Same goes for 'Is SG your home?'... discussion of that should best stay in that topic IMHO...

(This is why I am having to post so many separate replies.... apologies for the board-clutter! )

[JR8]

And finally I've tried to boil it down to the details...

---
XMJ: >> Let's start with the questionnaire
- Priorities: - your budget (approx range)
>> 2500 SGD +
---

This serves two purposes. One, it helps us understand your wishes and so suggest areas that might work. Secondly, it helps you focus your mind on what your real priorities are. SG is so expensive that you might end up having to compromise, so knowing your real priorities helps. Also, once you have a focused wish-list, with an attainable budget, flat-hunting will be much simpler and less stressful. There's nothing worse than throwing yourself at the mercy of an agent, not really knowing realistically where you want to live, or can afford, and then spending days looking at dozens of places none of which work for you or meet your expectations.

---
- your workplace/s (don't name names, just approx neighbourhood)
- the size and/or type of property that you are seeking (#bedrooms, on-site facilities etc)
>> Kallang. 1- 2 bedroom(s) (mandatory only 1 bedroom, the 2nd one nice to have for friend's visiting), min. 50 sqm bathroom with both tube + shower preferred, Gym & pool on site, loving high floors (e.g. stayed in 32nd in the past) - but not mandatory
---

Right, so that suggests you want a condo, rather than HDB. But the first issue it to get a condo on a $2.5k budget in any location that works (that is arguably 'tight' IMHO).
I'm not being funny but consider the frequency of having friends to stay. The average visitor to SG stays for 2.5 days. How much are you willing to fund a 2nd bedroom for these occasional guests?
If you could get the budget up to (maybe, say) $3.5k your task would be simpler.
As Kallang is City-East, you might want to focus consideration on the 'East Coast' say between Kallang and Bedok. Look at a map and consider, find the district codes and do a search on that area. That area would also facilitate your regular need to get to Changi.

---
- proximity to transport required. MRT-subway/buses/the airport/Malay border post (if so, which one).
>> near working place (are condos available around PICL building?), near MRT
---

I've no idea what that building is. But beware the natural instinct to live as near to work as possible. Having some distance apart between work and home is mentally good for you, or you can feel rather as if you are never really off-duty. In the area suggested, you can see on Google/Maps which areas fall within walking distance to an MRT. But don't forget the bus network; it is also very efficient.

---
Nice to have:
- will you need to be able to say walk to the local shops, a library, your doctor, a market, and so on?
>> in a dream world: walking distance to some nice bars, coffeeshops, supermarkets - and maybe a park (something green)
---

It's not an area I'm familiar with in detail. But I know 'Joo Chiat' is starting to get something of a restaurant/bar scene. Check prices there. There may be other such neighbourhoods, maybe East Coasters can suggest? ...

---
- access to any specific sport, social, and recreation facilities?
>> dream world: Gym & pool on site (not dedicated to the appartment - just to the condo.)
---

Haha! And there was me earlier thinking you wanted a 50m2 bathroom! Hehehe...
Anyway, what you describe fits with what'd you'd expect from a typical condo.

[Noted: No, car, children, pets, in-laws].

---
Your current home and commute:
- are you already a city dweller? i.e. Are you used to city-centre hustle and bustle, or would you hope for a bit more peace and quiet?
>> both: for Germany I prefer the country side (as it is rural nature) - for metro cities like Singapore or Shanghai center is fine (as you can enjoy everything at short distances)
---

Fine noted. That makes things simpler. SG is a city, if you needed suburban or peace and quite that would take you further out from the centre. So finding a place closer in (with the buzz and urban hubbub) isn't an obstacle.

---
- what is the size and type (apartment, house+garden etc) of your current home?
>> both: house with garden next to the sea - appartment with balcony next to work.. around 150 sqm in totla (only the appartment to relocate)
---

Lucky you!
I'll be totally honest and suggest you should be looking at maybe half that here. Also be aware of how they calculate GFA/Gross Floor Area here. It includes, any balconies, the external ledge your air-con condensers sit on, the bomb-shelter, plus any internal window ledges. The 'non-habitable' areas might equal say, maybe, 20% of the GFA. So an apartment advertised as GFA 75m, might have habitable space of 60m! It's better you know this and are for-warned.

---
- what are any current commute times like?
>> home to home: 3.5 -6hours, appartment to work: 10 minutes. So if office & appartment could be in walking distance, that might solve all questions about cars
---

Noted, but as previously suggested some distance is better, and a reliable (say) 30 minute commute would open up a lot more possibilities for you.

Lastly: Be aware that you are likely to get agents PMing you via this forum, promising the moon on a stick. Be very cautious (in fact you might want to report any such message to a Moderator).
Define your potential target (as we are here), and then if possible get a referral from a friend/colleague for an agent, or indeed consider using the agent who are the kind hosts of this website.

[xmj]

Wow, thanks a lot for your replies, JR8 and the links, Maneo.

I will go through everything in details later.