Housing and schools question

[tokyomom]

My family is being moved from Tokyo to Singapore this summer. I have already been on one house hunting/school hunting trip to Singapore and have 2 questions.

1. How negotiatble is the housing market right now in Singapore? If someone is asking $15k sing dollars for a house, what can you actually get it for in this market? Should we offer $12k, or would this be insulting?

2. I am a bit confused about schools. We are considering SAS and UWC. But, SAS told us no waiting list for us and the real estate agent told us not to waste our time with UWC as the wait list is 2-3 years. How can that be if Singaporeans do not go to International Schools? Is there that stable of a expat community in Singapore that can wait for 3 years to get into a school? And is it really worth the wait? Or is this just a bit of a rumor and the real wait list is just a month or so and not really 2 years? Is SAS just as good? If so, why no wait list? Why would I choose one over the other?

Any info/help would be great!

[I've heard]

I am not sure how helpful my reply will be as we will go on house hunting trip next week. But here is what I have heard from MANY, MANY others re: schools. Some excellent schools I have heard about are SAS, UWC, OFS. SAS is very highly recommended especially if your children will return to US curriculum in US or elsewhere. It is very expensive, it is a very large school so that may be the reason for no waiting list. Also, some people think Woodlands is too far away but then others love being out of the "town" area & many live in town & bus their kids. We are looking at UWC, and OFS schools too... but unfortunately I have not heard as many details about those schools as I have about SAS. I have only heard "we love it" etc but not a lot of info about them. I'm sure it will be a tough decision and I'd love to learn more before we get there too!

[Hope this helps]

1. How negotiatble is the housing market right now in Singapore? If someone is asking $15k sing dollars for a house, what can you actually get it for in this market? Should we offer $12k, or would this be insulting?

2. I am a bit confused about schools. We are considering SAS and UWC. But, SAS told us no waiting list for us and the real estate agent told us not to waste our time with UWC as the wait list is 2-3 years. How can that be if Singaporeans do not go to International Schools? Is there that stable of a expat community in Singapore that can wait for 3 years to get into a school? And is it really worth the wait? Or is this just a bit of a rumor and the real wait list is just a month or so and not really 2 years? Is SAS just as good? If so, why no wait list? Why would I choose one over the other?

Any info/help would be great!

1) A good agent will be able to tell you the bottom line price without you having to fret about negotiations. That's what they are paid for. I got my apartment through Singapore Expats and they did a good job in bargaining down for me.

2) I don't have children yet but do know these facts. Most singaporeans would send their children to a local school for the obvious reasons, the govt provides subsidies. My colleague has children that couldn't get into UWC because of the wait list, but got into SAS without one. Maybe its the time of year that you're coming in. But places like OFS and ISS are quite flexible and heard they're great.

Good luck with your move and settling in!

Cheers

[beenhere10years]

Very few parents have had children in both SAS and OFS or UWC. If you are American or returning to an American curriculum any time soon, then you should give SAS a lot of consideration. 95% of American expats send their kids to SAS. Without knowing your specific concerns, its hard to recommend one school over another. I seriously doubt the information regarding the waiting lists. property agents are notorious for giving false or just misguided information. Best to go and see and speak to parents directly.

[I've heard....]

I've been told that when given the land in Woodlands for the purpose of enlarging SAS, there is an agreement with the gov. that the school hold 3700 students. They are in the last phase of building and once complete, they will be able to hold this amount of students and I then think you will see the wait lists grow. There are some wait lists due to nationality as they can only take a certain percentage from any one country. There is also the fact that most Americans are here on shorter contracts so the student body changes quickly. If you look at the facilities, and the fact that there is very little turnover in staff, you will see that is is an excellent school to keep on your short list. Good luck!

[tokyomom]

Thanks everyone for all of your advice! We have decided to go with SAS
and feel very good about it. UWC was not willing to discuss alternate grade placement for my child, so that one was immediately ruled out (not very flexible or interested in individual students needs!). I have heard nothing but great things about SAS and they were willing to take my son at the appropriate grade level. So, thanks again!!