Help for possible locations to live : Couple moving in newly [Using format given]

[karanmaroo]

Priorities:
- Budget: SGD 2,500 per month
- Office in: Marina Bay Financial Center
- 2 rooms
- will you have a car here? No
- A proximity to the MRT is a must. Would prefer the red/yellow line but I'm fine with the other lines as well
- will you have any accompanying children needing to attend school? If so, age/s? No

Nice to have:
- access to squash, badminton and gym/yoga trainer facilities
- an access to the library would be a plus but is not necessary
- an access to the market will be nice
- an access to some open area for jogging would be a plus as well
- my wife would be looking for an active social life (presuming its not easy finding jobs for her)
- not fussed about living in condos, am fine with HDBs also

Your current home and commute:
- looking for two rooms (plus a kitchen and a living room)
- willing to commute upto 45 minutes one way, but only by walk/MRT

[rarkins]

I would like to clarify - when you say "2 rooms", do you mean 2 bedrooms? Most countries like Singapore indeed classify accommodation based on bedrooms so I'm assuming that's what you mean, however some countries do indeed use "rooms" terminology in real estate, where "2 rooms" would normally mean living room + 1 bedroom.

[sundaymorningstaple]

rarkins, I thought the OP made it pretty clear...

Your current home and commute:
- looking for two rooms (plus a kitchen and a living room)

[x9200]

Priorities:
- Budget: SGD 2,500 per month
- Office in: Marina Bay Financial Center
- 2 rooms
- will you have a car here? No
- A proximity to the MRT is a must. Would prefer the red/yellow line but I'm fine with the other lines as well
- will you have any accompanying children needing to attend school? If so, age/s? No

Nice to have:
- access to squash, badminton and gym/yoga trainer facilities
- an access to the library would be a plus but is not necessary
- an access to the market will be nice
- an access to some open area for jogging would be a plus as well
- my wife would be looking for an active social life (presuming its not easy finding jobs for her)
- not fussed about living in condos, am fine with HDBs also

Your current home and commute:
- looking for two rooms (plus a kitchen and a living room)
- willing to commute upto 45 minutes one way, but only by walk/MRT

With the given budget AND the wife looking for an active social life (understood by me as interacting with other expats wives/spouses) AND a vicinity of MRT, it may be a difficult puzzle to solve even if you are fine with HDB. I would suggest you first look for HDB estates along the yellow line and see if anything reasonable could be found.

[karanmaroo]

@rarkins - My apologies if I was not clear. Trust @sundaymorningstaple has clarified it.

@x9200 - Many thanks for your revert, much appreciated. Been going through the forum over the last few days and understand that I could look at the following areas for my set of requirements:

1) The stretch from Tao Payo to Yishun: I understand that I could get HDBs within 10 minutes walking distance of the Tao Payo station, or closer to the Yishun MRT station - either ways, my travel time one way to MBFC would be about 50 minutes.

2) Bedok - Simei stretch

3) Clementi, Jurong East

4) Kovan - Punggol stretch

5) Serangoon (Will explore your suggestion here on more stations along the yellow line)

6) I also understand that I could look at options along the East Coast (Telok Karua, Marine Parade) as the flats in these areas are not very expensive. The MRTs, of course, could be at a distance of 3-4 kms from these flats. However, it looks like the buses to downtown are fairly comfortable (and could also allow me seating space ). Is my understanding here correct?

Many thanks

[x9200]

@rarkins - My apologies if I was not clear. Trust @sundaymorningstaple has clarified it.

@x9200 - Many thanks for your revert, much appreciated. Been going through the forum over the last few days and understand that I could look at the following areas for my set of requirements:

1) The stretch from Tao Payo to Yishun: I understand that I could get HDBs within 10 minutes walking distance of the Tao Payo station, or closer to the Yishun MRT station - either ways, my travel time one way to MBFC would be about 50 minutes.

2) Bedok - Simei stretch

3) Clementi, Jurong East

4) Kovan - Punggol stretch

5) Serangoon (Will explore your suggestion here on more stations along the yellow line)

6) I also understand that I could look at options along the East Coast (Telok Karua, Marine Parade) as the flats in these areas are not very expensive. The MRTs, of course, could be at a distance of 3-4 kms from these flats. However, it looks like the buses to downtown are fairly comfortable (and could also allow me seating space ). Is my understanding here correct?

Many thanks

East Coast,Toa Payo and perhaps Simei (not sure) could probably be the best bets in respect of your wife's local, walking distance entertaining circle but I would suggest to forget about your wife - Singapore is small and she could travel to meet other people - then all these locations are fine.

General rule: further away from the central part, West/North, less expats in the condos and one order of magnitude lesser in HDBs. Outside the more central places (including the whole Bukit Timah stretch) there are only some few areas I believe where there is sufficient critical mass of expats so if she goes out she is going to meet them regularly. For example, I always see Caucasians (lets assume they are an indicator) in Bishan Park or Pasir Ris Park.
You could also consider Bukit Batok / Bukit Gombak - Bukit Batok Nature Park is in a walking distance and a very popular place among expats for running/exercising, walking, playing with children...

[karanmaroo]

East Coast,Toa Payo and perhaps Simei (not sure) could probably be the best bets in respect of your wife's local, walking distance entertaining circle but I would suggest to forget about your wife - Singapore is small and she could travel to meet other people - then all these locations are fine.

General rule: further away from the central part, West/North, less expats in the condos and one order of magnitude lesser in HDBs. Outside the more central places (including the whole Bukit Timah stretch) there are only some few areas I believe where there is sufficient critical mass of expats so if she goes out she is going to meet them regularly. For example, I always see Caucasians (lets assume they are an indicator) in Bishan Park or Pasir Ris Park.
You could also consider Bukit Batok / Bukit Gombak - Bukit Batok Nature Park is in a walking distance and a very popular place among expats for running/exercising, walking, playing with children...

Many thanks @x9200 , much appreciated!

From what I understand, I think you're talking about wife being more flexible w.r.t her social life - Very good point, will keep that in mind. The best thing, of course, would be for her to find a job. However, I understand that it's not easy to just land up in the city and be able to find a job; it could take months for the same.

Thanks for the suggestion about Bukit Batok / Bukit Gambok; I was not sure about it thus far because of the requirement of changing trains at Jurong East. However, I'd add it now to my to-explore list.

One more query - with regards to nightlife, which are the better areas to look at amongst the locations discussed? I reckon I might be being too choosy with the stringent budget which I have; however, it would be nice to be around a place which is in the neighbourhood of districts which could offer me a good night life. From whatever I've read, Dhoby Ghaut, China town, Clarke Quay, Orchard are the places which offer me a vibrant nightlife? In that sense, a location like Tao Payoh could serve my purpose?

(Obviously I cannot have everything - parks / social life / night life at this budget and at one location - Just trying to weigh my options here which will give me a good balance)

Thanks again!

[x9200]

Yes, Toa Payoh (as probably the nearest the areas you mentioned). There is also some night life I believe within the East Coast area but nothing to compare to Clarke Quay and the others (as of the density of pubs etc).

[Addadude]

I would imagine that your missus might find it easier to socialize in a condo environment. (I've lived in a HDB flat for the last 10 years and by and large I find my neighbours to be not so outgoing - which I have to say suits me just fine.)

With that in mind, and taking into account the different kind of leisure activities you want to be close to, a condo might be your best bet. These days a budget in and around $2.5k should get you something decent and not necessarily in the boon docks.

I did a quick check on a certain property website and found quite a choice of 2 bedroom apartments in the $3000 range.

(ALWAYS offer 20% below the asking price. You'll get it. And that should bring even a "$3000 per month apartment" well into your budget.)

I would also suggest that you don't just look at places near MRT lines as the bus service in Singapore is generally excellent. (And these days a LOT more reliable than the MRT.) For example, if you were to stay in a place like Pasir Panjang Road, you will have at most a 40 minute commute by bus to Marina Bay.

[ts77fox]

In our own search process, we thought Potong Pasir, MacPherson etc are good areas - near enough to CBD but not too near as to make it expensive, but environment is not the most ideal. The other option is Hillview (near Bukit Batok Nature Reserve) ... better environment but farther away.

[karanmaroo]

@x9200 - Thanks! Will definitely keep an eye on the east coast now, as it seems to tick a lot of boxes

@Addadude - Thanks for your inputs. It certainly gives me a little more encouragement in terms of possibilities of finding condos as against HDBs. As you've suggested, I've been looking up on property sites. The 20% pointer is fantastic, thanks a lot!
Regarding transportation - are metro lines and buses in Singapore integrated? As in, can I get a monthly pass kind of a thing if I need to combine the two for travel?

@ts77fox - Thanks a lot mate; will add these to my search areas. How is the access from these areas?

[Addadude]

Regarding transportation - are metro lines and buses in Singapore integrated? As in, can I get a monthly pass kind of a thing if I need to combine the two for travel?

Yes. You purchase what is in effect a stored value card that you can top up whenever you need to and it works seamlessly for trains and buses. http://ezlink.com.sg/

Some of the banks here even have EZLink integrated into their credit cards.

[karanmaroo]

Regarding transportation - are metro lines and buses in Singapore integrated? As in, can I get a monthly pass kind of a thing if I need to combine the two for travel?

Yes. You purchase what is in effect a stored value card that you can top up whenever you need to and it works seamlessly for trains and buses. http://ezlink.com.sg/

Some of the banks here even have EZLink integrated into their credit cards.

Thanks a lot. Will keep this in mind.

[karanmaroo]

Hi all,

Would be moving to Singapore shortly and will have about a month to look for my house and explore various areas. One query: Has anyone used Santa Fe as agents for finding a place to stay? They seem fairly elaborate with their work and have the following fee for commision:

Rents below $2000 -> 1 month's rent for 1 yr lease and 2 yr lease
Rents $2001-$3500 -> $2000 for 1 yr lease and 1 month's rent for 2 yr lease

Will certainly not be going above that amount

Thanks,
Karan

[karanmaroo]

Hi all,

Found a few interesting condos in my budget at Dakota/Mountbatten. Specifically along Guillemard Road and Geylang Road. Any insights as to how good these areas are? I walked around and could find a couple of fair price stores very closeby. Also, will I be able to find any sports facilities nearby? How is the access to east coast park?

Thanks,
Karan