Where to live? Single professional - Early 30s

[TwentyHundred]

Priorities:

Budget: Circa 4,000 SGD
Workplace: Novena
Size and/or type of property that you are seeking (#bedrooms, on-site facilities etc):
- At least 700 sq. ft+, preferably 1 bedroom with large living space (don't want to feel cramped) combined with kitchen (2 bedrooms if possible to accommodate visitors but preference for a larger common space than a separate room)
- Modern condo complex is preferred, i.e. no old buildings or HDBs
- On-site facilities are not a requirements but a gym and pool are nice-to-haves
Cars: No
Proximity to transport required: I would need to be really close to transportation options - mainly MRT - as I want my commute to work to be at a maximum 25 minutes, with minimal time spent outdoor walking. Can't tolerate being too long in the heat / humidity, especially in work clothes.
Accompanying children needing to attend school? If so, age/s? No
Will your employer being funding any fees; or will you, 'out of pocket'? Employer has offered paying to move my furniture. I am considering though whether I should negotiate a lump-sum and rent furnished and/or buy furniture here in SG (IKEA, similar)


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? Being close (walking distance or within one MRT stop or a few bus stations) to shops and restaurants is extremely important.
Access to any specific sport, social, and recreation facilities? Yes
Are you considering bringing any pets. If so what kind, and will they require outdoor access and/or exercise? No
Are you considering bringing any parents/in-laws etc? Do they have specific needs (for example difficulty climbing stairs?) No.

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? City-dweller. I like being close to amenities.
What is the size and type (apartment, house+garden etc) of your current home? Apartment, around 1000sq.ft in a major North American city. No garden.
What are any current commute times like? Current commute time is circa 30-40 minutes by car (working in the suburbs... commuting from the city) but I would like to reduce this to 25 minutes with minimal transfers (i.e. Hop on, Hop off, walk to office)

Thanks.

[Girl_Next_Door]

why don't you live in Novena? There are a lot of new condos that is right next to the train station. You can walk to work (always a bonus in my opinion). Its 2 stops away to Orchard, and a cab ride to most water holes. There are a few water holes around like "Pigs can fly" and Brauhaus at Novena. Novena is a popular family area but the location is pretty central, and accessible.

[JR8]

The thing to consider with working in Novena is you're in the main ulta-urbansied central 'red line corridor', just 2 stops to Orchard, where you might find some of the higher rents on the island. By considering just a couple of stops further out you get a lot more possibilities for your money. You'd also have some physical and mental separation between work-place and home, a good thing to have IMO. Close enough to have easy access, far enough to not have to live right in the middle of it. Which means you get things like some parks and greenery, and condos have more than postage-stamp sized swimming pools.
So I'd be looking at the 3-stop stretch of MRT between Toa Payoh, Braddel and Bishan. You could tick all of your boxes, plus get a little space to breath away from the uber-downtown hubbub.

[TwentyHundred]

Thanks all for your feedback.

[BBCWatcher]

Bishan has the advantage of also being a station on the Circle Line. As you might expect with an interchange station, it's connected to a shopping mall (Junction 8). There's not much private housing, though, but plenty of HDB units. For private housing the Bishan 8 condos are the closest to the station -- very close, actually. Bishan Loft is bit of a walk from the station or a short bus ride. (But if you hop on the bus you'd just stay on the bus to Novena anyway if that's where you're headed. It does go there.)

That said, I'd still consider living in/near Novena, perhaps a couple bus stops away from work for that "separation." Yes, there's a bit of a premium (or you have to downsize a bit), but I think it's worth it in this case.

[rarkins]

FYI, large one-bedroom apartments are not too common in Singapore - most developers can't resist the urge to have two bedrooms by the time you hit 700+ square feet. A little bit smaller (600-700 sqft range) will give you a handful of walking distance options around Novena though.

[rajagainstthemachine]

I think it would be easier to live in say Newton or even botanical gardens if you can find something, both those areas are nice, and they are quite reachable by mrt and plenty of buses also ply on that route.

[dreamyjez]

Yah Singapore condos do not have large bedrooms or even common spaces. Remember Singapore has limited land space. I think that Toa Payoh or Ang Mo Kio are great areas to stay. They are more mature estates with all the amenities and close to novena/ orchard.