Couple moving from Zurich, interested in CBD

[talentedmrshoe]

First time poster...my wife and I are relocating to Singapore for my job...both in our early 40's

Following the suggested template/questions...

Priorities:
- your budget (approx range) 6,000 - 7,000
- your workplace/s (don't name names, just approx neighbourhood) CBD - One Raffles Place
- the size and/or type of property that you are seeking (#bedrooms, on-site facilities etc) 2-3 bedrooms, gym, pool, sauna
- will you have a car here? No
- proximity to transport required. MRT-subway/buses/the airport/Malay border post (if so, which one). Would prefer to be within walking distance of work, preferably underground
- will you have any accompanying children needing to attend school? If so, age/s? No
- will your employer being funding any fees; or will you, 'out of pocket'? Out-of-pocket

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? It would be nice to have a park nearby in which to jog
- access to any specific sport, social, and recreation facilities? A decent pub nearby with access to American and British sports would be nice
- are you considering bringing any pets. If so what kind, and will they require outdoor access and/or exercise? We have a Shiba Inu, black & tan…we would need to walk her twice a day for exercise and relief
- are you considering bringing any parents/in-laws etc? Do they have specific needs (for example difficulty climbing stairs?) Nope

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? We live about 14 miles outside Zurich, on the lake. We’re ready to have a change and try city dwelling
- what is the size and type (apartment, house+garden etc) of your current home? Currently we are in a 3 floor townhouse with 4 bedrooms
- what are any current commute times like? My current commute is 45 minutes door-to-door

Eager to hear about experiences with CBD apartments/condos because there seems to be a lot of varied opinions and disdain for a few of the places. We are fans of modern fixtures and appliances and would like to turn one bedroom into a walk-in closet

[the lynx]

First time poster...my wife and I are relocating to Singapore for my job...both in our early 40's

Following the suggested template/questions...

Priorities:
- your budget (approx range) 6,000 - 7,000
- your workplace/s (don't name names, just approx neighbourhood) CBD - One Raffles Place
- the size and/or type of property that you are seeking (#bedrooms, on-site facilities etc) 2-3 bedrooms, gym, pool, sauna
- will you have a car here? No
- proximity to transport required. MRT-subway/buses/the airport/Malay border post (if so, which one). Would prefer to be within walking distance of work, preferably underground
- will you have any accompanying children needing to attend school? If so, age/s? No
- will your employer being funding any fees; or will you, 'out of pocket'? Out-of-pocket

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? It would be nice to have a park nearby in which to jog
- access to any specific sport, social, and recreation facilities? A decent pub nearby with access to American and British sports would be nice
- are you considering bringing any pets. If so what kind, and will they require outdoor access and/or exercise? We have a Shiba Inu, black & tan…we would need to walk her twice a day for exercise and relief
- are you considering bringing any parents/in-laws etc? Do they have specific needs (for example difficulty climbing stairs?) Nope

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? We live about 14 miles outside Zurich, on the lake. We’re ready to have a change and try city dwelling
- what is the size and type (apartment, house+garden etc) of your current home? Currently we are in a 3 floor townhouse with 4 bedrooms
- what are any current commute times like? My current commute is 45 minutes door-to-door

Eager to hear about experiences with CBD apartments/condos because there seems to be a lot of varied opinions and disdain for a few of the places. We are fans of modern fixtures and appliances and would like to turn one bedroom into a walk-in closet

Hello and welcome.

I'll try my best to answer one by one:

1. Your budget gives you a lot of room to most high-end condos within 30 minutes commute to your workplace (especially with large space, balcony, sauna, gym, pool).

2. I do not own a dog but you will find this link helpful regarding your dog's quarantine procedures when you all move to Singapore: http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/viewto ... 28#p672428

3. I presume by American and British sports, you meant American football, rugby, ice hockey, basketball, cricket, soccer/football (EPL, BPL, La Liga etc), right? If you just want to be able to watch, just get a sports package under TV subscription (Singtel mio sports and Starhub). But if you want to be able to watch with like-minded people to be able to cheer together, fist bump, hug and cry together, it is a very variable thing. One pub may show just one thing and all of them are spread all over Singapore. And remember, the difference in time zone doesn't gel well for some businesses. For example,
- Football - no problem. Almost any pub shows one.
- Rugby and cricket - only Australian and British pubs show those.
- Ice hockey - almost non-existent. Probably Chilli's at the ice rink in JCube (Jurong East) have replays. There is no Canadian/American pub here, nor any pub that consistently shows all ice hockey games.
- American football - same as above.
- Baseball - worse.
Advice? Get your own sports cable, or be prepared to be diligent to do your homework on location of live telecasts each season.

4. Locations to consider (always, always check if they can accept dogs)
- East Coast area (Katong, Siglap, Bayshore, Joo Chiat) - Lots of condominiums with access to the oh-so-wonderful parks and their Park Connector Network routes, excellent for cycling, skating and jogging. Some have bus routes that ply into the city (Raffles, Marine) directly. Some good pubs around there.
- Harbourfront area (Carribean, Reflections) - Very spacious condominiums with dog-friendly policies, lovely waterfront area for walking dogs and jogging. Labrador Park is excellent. Sentosa Island is close enough to walk in for more dog-walking and running. Not many pubs but most people just take taxi ride to the city for better pubs anyway. Also with bus routes that ply directly into the city (Chinatown, Tanjung Pagar and Raffles).

[JR8]

Lynx has it covered very well. So there is little I can add (at this point).

I'd just note something I've mentioned to other's in your shoes. You're 14 miles outside Zurich (on the lake, how glorious that must be!). Be very mindful that 95% of Singapore is a highly developed city. If you were to move to within walking distance of work, not only would you be paying through the nose for it, it probably wouldn't be dog-friendly either. A risk is it'd be like moving right into the middle of an entertainment district, fun for a few weeks, but not (for most people) a few years.
Early 40s, married, 'settled down', +dog... I think you should push your horizons out a bit further. Your current commute time covers a huge area of SG... don't know, maybe 50% of it. Your budget is great and gives you a lot of choices. Try and consider areas with say a 3-year view, rather than the immediate post-arrival stage.

I think what Lynx writes is gently encouraging you to push these boundaries a little, and I agree with her.

Keep the thought-process going. I'm very confident you'll find somewhere great for your long-term needs. And welcome to the forum!