Relocating to SG from France

[Lophophora]

Hello,

We are a family with 3 children and will be moving to SG in April. I would like your suggestions regarding the best places to live in SG. Here are the details of our project:

Priorities:
- your budget: S$8500
- your workplace/s: Biopolis (between Buona Vista and Commonwealth MRT)
- the size and/or type of property that you are seeking: 5 bedrooms, pool, quiet place
- will you have a car here?: not decided yet, looking at a budget leasing (S$1200)
- proximity to transport required: yes
- will you have any accompanying children needing to attend school? Yes: 11y boy, 9y boy and 6y girl.
- are you looking at private (international/fee-paying, or local schools?): Yes, looking at Int'l schools.
- will your employer being funding any fees; or will you, 'out of pocket'? Housing and schools are paid by employer.
- is remaining within a national curriculum important; if so what nationality are you? No.
- have you identified any such schools yet? if admissions are accepted, 11y boy wil go to the Canadian Int'l School and the 9y boy + 6y girl will go to Dover Court.

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? Would be nice, yes
- access to any specific sport, social, and recreation facilities? Running or biking nearby would be great
- are you considering bringing any pets. If so what kind, and will they require outdoor access and/or exercise? No pet.
- are you considering bringing any parents/in-laws etc? Do they have specific needs (for example difficulty climbing stairs?) Family will be visiting but we will manage (children will share their rooms)

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? Not at all, we live in a quiet country in a 350 people village...
- what is the size and type (apartment, house+garden etc) of your current home? 6 bedrooms 170 m² house with 1200 m² garden.
- what are any current commute times like? 25mn

[Krohl]

Hello,

I hope your transition to Singapore goes well. We moved here 8 years ago with 3 kids, and I can tell you finding a 5 bedroom house will not be easy! Housing prices are good right now so your budget should get you a lot of house, but 5 bedrooms with a pool may be a stretch.

If you want to be near Buona Vista then you could consider living near Holland Village as there are some large houses there. Another location to consider is the West Coast area. We live on Pasir Panjang Rd near Clementi Rd and really enjoy being so close to West Coast Park.

In addition to the park, we are also very close to the International Community School where our kids attend. It is a small private school here in Singapore with an American curriculum. Our kids have received a top notch education and the staff is excellent! They really love the students! It's definitely worth considering! Check it out at www.ics.edu.sg

I hope your move goes smoothly! Best of luck to you!

[JR8]

Not an area I know at all well but have you done a search via the site listings above? Possibilities like -> http://property.singaporeexpats.com/pro ... RESIDENCES come up.

[Barnsley]

My friend lives at Heritage View and works at Biopolis , easy walking distance.

Not sure they have any 5 bed places at that condo.

Maybe have to look at some landed action in or around Holland Village, but I am not sure if 8.5k gets you a 5 bed place.

[BBCWatcher]

Conceivably you could rent adjacent 3 and 2 bedroom units, or 4 and 1 bedroom units (or 4+studio units). The second unit would presumably be the (not quite) live-in housekeeper and/or visiting guest unit. Or the kids go in the 3 bedroom unit while the parents stay in the 2 bedroom unit, for example. Lucky kids.

Occasionally you see floor plans that work quite well for that sort of arrangement, with a shared, locked outer door, a foyer, and two inner doors. Or sometimes two units per floor with a secured elevator leading to that floor. They're marketed as two separate rental units (because they are), but they can be grouped together as a practical, functional matter. I'm not sure if there is a limit on the number of units that a foreign couple can lease, but that'd have to be checked. Most likely one adult would have to be "attached" to each unit, even if informally that adult "sometimes" (ahem) stays in the other unit.

I'm not necessarily recommending this, but conceivably it's an option.

I'd also look at units advertised as "4 bedroom" since sometimes they have a workable 5th bedroom (or "bedroom") as a practical matter, such as a study, loft, or large walk-in "closet" that a child would take, or even be excited to take. Also, that extra "guest" bedroom is an expensive luxury in Singapore, and if it's going to be mostly empty then it's worth considering doing without. You can buy a lot of hotel nights for the extra rent that extra bedroom attracts. I figured that out a while ago.

[Lophophora]

Hello and thank you for your feedback.

We have made our min for a landed house in Sunset Way and it has what we required. We are in the process of completing the kids applications to the schools and will hopefully be settled there in 3 weeks!

[BBCWatcher]

Sounds great!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Most condos that advertise 4 or 5 bedrooms that I've seen are actually 3 or 4 plus a half-sized room that could be called a den/office or maid's bedroom, thus qualifying to be called the 4th or 5th bedroom. My HDB flat is a 4 BR flat but it's a much older flat built in 88 or 89 and actually has a MBR (for you PC geeks, not the same acronym) and 3 identically sized full regular bedrooms. one of which actually has a solid glass door that opens out onto what once upon a time a balcony as well as having a sliding glass half wall taking up the balance of the side facing the patio.

But glad you found something that fit's the bill.

[x9200]

Hello and thank you for your feedback.

We have made our min for a landed house in Sunset Way and it has what we required. We are in the process of completing the kids applications to the schools and will hopefully be settled there in 3 weeks!

The neighbourhood around Sunset Way is generally very nice but I wonder how did you plan for commuting, or did you decide already to have a car?

[Lophophora]

My wife plans on alternating between MRT (there's a shuttle bus to the MRT that stops next to our house) and cycling to work on the nearby ulu pandan park connector. We plan on a car, but she won't use it to go to work.