WOW! Thanks JR8, it is very helpful. Especially since you put it into London's perspective. So where are the areas you think are more "family friendly", since you know the whole two of us "youngish", and one 3 year old!JR8 wrote:I realise you don't seem to have looked this this http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/viewtopic.php?t=101985 ['FAQ: Where should I/we live...'].
I realised because the places you list are clustered in the Central area, will be $$$, and so on. If you were moving as a youngish single that might work. But you have a wife and child with you and after a while I think they, and hence by extension you, might be climbing the walls.
The FAQ was compiled as this is a simple 'trap' to fall into. SG is small so districts and the facilities and their vibe changes over a short geographic distance. Living on Club Street, the stuff of nightmares for me, might be like living on a Chinese Brick Lane. Holland Village ('HV')/Tanglin like Knightsbridge/Belgravia... complete with similar ar$ey neighbours. Tanjong Pagar.... dunno... maybe like Farringdon. The Quays, -> Leicester Square if it were on the Thames? And so on. All fine and great to visit, but I'd not wish to live in any of them. [My perspective is previously working in the City and living in E1/W2/9/14/SW5].
I reckon your wife and child might appreciate a bit of space, and facilities. Facilities (pools, tennis, communal BBQ facilities etc) are one of the first things you lose when you head 'downtown' to the kind of places you list, since land is so $$$. Also consider that you get almost exponentially more for your rent when you consider beyond the Orchard/HV/Quays etc. districts. Space is still a compromise compared to back home, even in SGs zone-2, but at least decent outdoor facilities goes some way to making up for it. Esp. for family members who might be spending a lot of time at home during the day.
p.s. Be aware of agents now bombing you with Private Messages and promises. Look via the hosts of this forum (i.e. an agent). Or ask your HR to recommend an agent. Better still see if you can take out a company lease on a place, i.e. the flat in the company's name. IME agents are less likely to try and stuff a company, than a walk-in customer (tenant) who's here today, gone tomorrow.
Primrose Hill wrote:JR8 you certainly put some colour to the areas.
I would say Club Street is more like Soho/Covent Garden/Camden. Tanglin/Holland V/Bukit Timah more like Primrose Hill/Hampstead/Marylebone. Orchard is more like Knightsbridge/Chelsea. Tanjong Pagar is more like City (Liverpool St/Moorgate)/Canary Wharf/Shoreditch.
It depends on what you like and is used to. I live in HV and used to live in London, similar areas. But that's not for everyone, whereas it works for us.
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