Where should we live?

[rarkins]

I've never liked commuting so always lean towards shorter times, but clearly people weigh up the trade-offs differently.

In under ~20 or so minutes you could consider UE Square or Central Green. Keeping it to 30 minutes and you can head north by MRT to Kerrisdale, Simsville, Astoria Park, Casa Merah or Optima, which all have a lot of apartments in your price range. By bus and close to east coast park are The Shore Residences or The Esta. West by MRT and you have Valley Park, Spring Grove or The Anchorage. These should all have pool, gym and tennis court but quality definitely varies (especially gyms!) so do your own research.

One more piece of advice is work out a shortlist you can give to your agent, i.e. any in this list are OK to go view if within budget. Assuming they're a good agent, don't forbid them from suggesting you any others though, but insist on screening any additions in advance so you don't spent half your weekend being driven to places that don't satisfy your criteria - that's happened to many a newcomer.

[JR8]

Are you an agent rarkins? I'm unused to people just reeling of lists of condo names without giving the districts.

[rarkins]

Hi JR8, no - not an agent or in training. I'm just careful (as per forum rules) not to link to the site I use to research travel times, so type condo names in by hand here. Funny you mention districts though, as I thought *only* agents really care about them and don't understand why the real estate industry is so fixated on them. I think they're one of the more distracting factors of learning where to live in Singapore and people moving here would be better off ignoring them completely and instead referring to area names, e.g. river valley, marine parade, tanglin, holland village, etc.

[JR8]

Hi JR8, no - not an agent or in training. I'm just careful (as per forum rules) not to link to the site I use to research travel times, so type condo names in by hand here. Funny you mention districts though, as I thought *only* agents really care about them and don't understand why the real estate industry is so fixated on them. I think they're one of the more distracting factors of learning where to live in Singapore and people moving here would be better off ignoring them completely and instead referring to area names, e.g. river valley, marine parade, tanglin, holland village, etc.

Well then perhaps include area names with your suggestions?
I've lived here some years, and you reeling off a load of condo names means zero to me. What might it mean to a newbie?...

[rarkins]

I see what you're getting at. I just figured that ultimately they're after condo suggestions, but happy to add area names too where relevant.

[sundaymorningstaple]

For the record, the "Districts" were based on the old postal code system before current 6 digits code system which came into effect in 1995. Prior to that it was a 4 digit postal code and the first two integers were used by the real estate industry to conveniently map out the island into identifiable zones. They still use that old zone map today as it is much easier than the 6 digit zipcode of today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_codes_in_Singapore

[the lynx]

For the record, the "Districts" were based on the old postal code system before current 6 digits code system which came into effect in 1995. Prior to that it was a 4 digit postal code and the first two integers were used by the real estate industry to conveniently map out the island into identifiable zones. They still use that old zone map today as it is much easier than the 6 digit zipcode of today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_codes_in_Singapore

That's gold. Gotta save this.

[JR8]

That's gold. Gotta save this.

Ah, so young ah?

[Strong Eagle]

For the record, the "Districts" were based on the old postal code system before current 6 digits code system which came into effect in 1995. Prior to that it was a 4 digit postal code and the first two integers were used by the real estate industry to conveniently map out the island into identifiable zones. They still use that old zone map today as it is much easier than the 6 digit zipcode of today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_codes_in_Singapore

And now, 287172 refers to precisely one address in Watten Estates.

[rarkins]

That history of the districts explains though why I think their use for real estate is frustrating. They're too big and arbitrary so don't really represent contiguous neighbourhoods in contemporary Singapore. I think it gives newcomers the mistaken impression that there's some Hunger Games-like importance of "the districts". As mentioned earlier, when generalising about locations I prefer the URA's planning areas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_plan ... _Singapore

[JR8]

That history of the districts explains though why I think their use for real estate is frustrating. They're too big and arbitrary so don't really represent contiguous neighbourhoods in contemporary Singapore. I think it gives newcomers the mistaken impression that there's some Hunger Games-like importance of "the districts". As mentioned earlier, when generalising about locations I prefer the URA's planning areas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_plan ... _Singapore

Well of course there is, and it's created by the locals.

Back home we have W2, W10, W11, W8, W9, W11, and so on, and I know all the nuances that come underneath that.

Why would one change that, ever? Something to hide? Here, everything is about the status of district, and everyone knows 'that number'. What, you think by scrambling the postal code system, that the leopard will be forced to lose his spots?

[sundaymorningstaple]

^^This.

[Primrose Hill]

That history of the districts explains though why I think their use for real estate is frustrating. They're too big and arbitrary so don't really represent contiguous neighbourhoods in contemporary Singapore. I think it gives newcomers the mistaken impression that there's some Hunger Games-like importance of "the districts". As mentioned earlier, when generalising about locations I prefer the URA's planning areas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_plan ... _Singapore

Well of course there is, and it's created by the locals.

Back home we have W2, W10, W11, W8, W9, W11, and so on, and I know all the nuances that come underneath that.

Why would one change that, ever? Something to hide? Here, everything is about the status of district, and everyone knows 'that number'. What, you think by scrambling the postal code system, that the leopard will be forced to lose his spots?

Yup. W11 is better than W14. W6 is so-so and of course W8 is good too. Just like NW3 is better than NW6. NW8 is favoured by Japanese. No no to NW10

[Primrose Hill]

and now I am in 268733

[perfectdark]

I see what you're getting at. I just figured that ultimately they're after condo suggestions, but happy to add area names too where relevant.

Thanks rarkins. Personally, I find having condo names quite useful, particularly once you have managed to narrow down your search to particular neighborhoods. The districts are a good reference point (mainly to understand what locals are talking about when they say 'D11' etc) but for accommodation hunting aren't very helpful, because they are quite large.