Anyone with in Singapore but live in Batam?

[Lisafuller]

Years ago, at least the condo was giving you more space but now that is gone. Of course, there are other attributes with the condo like environment, facilities, status (for those that care), and location (some areas are condo heavy). But for the nuts and bolts of living, I'd put more weight into nearby amenities, transportation, facing/view (can be limited in some HDBs but also nothing short of terrible in some condos; it all depends).

For example, the 4 room and 5 room HDBs at 1,000 and 1,200 square feet are quite competitive (layout wise) with most mass market 3 BR condos (probably 900 - 1,100 square feet) (and the same probably holds true for a 3 room HDB vs. 2 BR condo).

I actually have the impression that the newer flats are smaller than older ones, so condos would afford you more space.

Newer condos are getting smaller and smaller. Unless you are willing to spend $$$$$. I doubt that would suit the average middle class retiree. Staying put in your old condo or "downgrading" to an HDB is the way to go in retirement.

Agree, I live in an older development, and I believe that's definitely the way to go. The grounds are huge, facilities have been updated, pool is known in the area to be the largest, units here can go up to 5/6000 SF.

[Lisafuller]

I found this web.
Detail explain what does HDB flat 5I 4I mean


https://www.teoalida.com/singapore/hdbflattypes/

My God that was a lot to take in... there are so many types of flats.

[Lisafuller]

My son is in your area. He bought a 5i about the same size as mine but with a different 3 BR layout. he's only 8 minute walk from the LRT and 5 minute walk to the Phoenix MRT downtown line (which he takes to his Barbershop that is across the street from the Jalan Besar station DT22 and one block in on Mayo Lane. However, his place is a PITA to use public transport to get there from my place in Serangoon North due the the Macritchie pond. LOL

Isn't phoenix in CCK?

[Lisafuller]

https://www.hdb.gov.sg/residential/livi ... ecess-area
Need to meet all these requirement.

Downsize is .. when you want to sell. Does the buyer want these recess area or not.

I come across a unit when I'm looking a resale flat.
I pass that unit. as it come with recess area which I don't need.
Why I need to pay extra for a excess area which is at the common area that every neighbor need to pass thru. I cannot gate it. Basically it is a white elephant

you can't gate it? I recall seeing a video where someone turned the recess area into a larger entryway to the home.

bcoz that recess area and the unit is separate by a common corridor.
If gate up, mean the neighbor inside cannot walk to the lift.
The unit is just next to the lift and there are few unit inside along that common corridor.

I dont understand why the owner purchase that recess area. waste money

Maybe his unit was away from the lift then

[x9200]

I don't think I've ever seen a balcony in an HDB... must be very rare.

They are not that common indeed and often converted into extra "rooms" so sometimes not that obvious...
https://www.google.com/maps/@1.3465934, ... 384!8i8192

Wow, those are HDBs? I drive past once in a while as there's a cheap gas station nearby, always assumed those were condos.

Yep. True-blue HDB. Void decks below. No fence.
But I saw a weird one the other day, where a carpark was in the place of the void deck below.

[Lisafuller]

They are not that common indeed and often converted into extra "rooms" so sometimes not that obvious...
https://www.google.com/maps/@1.3465934, ... 384!8i8192

Wow, those are HDBs? I drive past once in a while as there's a cheap gas station nearby, always assumed those were condos.

Yep. True-blue HDB. Void decks below. No fence.
But I saw a weird one the other day, where a carpark was in the place of the void deck below.

Looks real nice. I wonder how the prices compare to the more conventional looking HDBs.

[smoulder]

The newer the HDB block, the more modern it looks. At least based on my observations. So in the end, the prices follow from the area, the age and the current market conditions. No different from any other property or any other type of HDB.

[Lisafuller]

I would've assumed that in an area with newer looking blocks and older ones, the newer would sell for more (assuming other factors like size were the same).

[smoulder]

I would've assumed that in an area with newer looking blocks and older ones, the newer would sell for more (assuming other factors like size were the same).

What I said

[Wd40]

I know room rents got inflated during the lockdowns… has it not come back down? I can’t imagine paying $1000/mo for an HDB room with a common toilet, unless it’s in a prime area. For that kind of money, I might look for a place to pitch a tent!

Prices are crazy right now! Apparently they're up to 70% more than they were last year, so I believe that's an understatement.

Indeed, the rent for a whole 3 bedroom HDB house is 4k right now. I think anyone who lives here with their family and currently renting, should start budgeting to pay 4k rent.

My current rent is 2.3k for a 3 bedroom hdb which is a steal. My lease is due for renewal later in the year and although my landlord is reasonable, I am expecting the rent to increase to 3.5k.

Luckily last year I got a 10% salary hike and the year before I got 5% hike. This year I am again hoping for a 10% hike in the best case scenario and worst case I am hoping 5%. So cumulative my salary would have gone up by about 2-2.5k since the pandemic started. This would nullify the rental increase. Although it feels sad that all my hard work and promotion just goes straight into the landlords pockets, I guess it is a case of beggars can't be choosers.

Just to update. We got our love letters this week and this year my hike is 7.36%. So in the last 3 years my salary went up by $2383 per month ie. 25% increase over 3 years. This pretty much equals the cumulative amount of potential rent increase over that I am going to face in the worst case scenario.

I got 2 promotions in this period, one is a title promotion and another is just skill grade promotion. So this is not a normal hike for everyone. But ironic thing is inspite of this the skill evaluation tool for EP application says I will get only an S Pass for renewal later this year after Sep. Reason I am 43 and for my age my salary must be like 11.5k for a financial industry role and I am short by less than 1k, lol. But if they add my pension fund contribution and my yearly bonus I am there.

Coming back to rents, I used to rent my 5i HDB flat for $1800 and then it jumped to $2300 and now later this year, I am kind of preparing for $3500.

[taxico]

you can't gate it? I recall seeing a video where someone turned the recess area into a larger entryway to the home.

bcoz that recess area and the unit is separate by a common corridor.
If gate up, mean the neighbor inside cannot walk to the lift.
The unit is just next to the lift and there are few unit inside along that common corridor.

I dont understand why the owner purchase that recess area. waste money

he probably didn’t buy the whole area outside his flat. if he did, he’s an idiot.

he can use the private space for his bicycle and pmd and shoe racks and joss paper burner and potted plants and bench and TC can’t do shiite to him…?

[thismyvoice]

many yr back, condo build very big balcony bcoz it is cheaper compare to build living area. and Can sell same psf as living area. Higher profit.

Room, living area all small.
Balcony area as big as can put 1 single bed.

BCA (I think) come out regulation to limit how big can the balcony be.

Previously government gives, I think, 20% free space to developers for open spaces. This was gradually reduced over the years. These spaces don't incur development charges. However, despite receiving them as free space, developers sell these spaces to buyers in the form of balcony, planters, etc.

I think ex Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was the one who started the practice of giving developers free spaces for balcony, to encourage people to "green" Singapore. Sadly, many developers make a mockery of this scheme. You start seeing small shoebox units with large balcony. Naturally, people start putting washing machine, dining table in their balcony.

I believe total balcony size is now capped at 15% of nett area. The other ridiculous abuse was the aircon ledge. But that is another story.

[lobster]

Hi all ... am also a Brit and have done this - several points
1) as long as you have a valid pass in Spore i dont (did not) see any reason indo Imm would give you a hard time - esp (assume) your Indo wife lives in Batam.
2) room cost in Spore are well in excess of SGD 1000 for anything half decent and if talking bout two people (couple) then look $1500 plus makan etc. Then also got the wife permit etc to consider.

I would agree with other posters - although i did this for a year and a bit i only went to spore 3 deys a week and also depends your age etc. While a 25 yr old might enjoy the "adventure" it grates on you if you are 50 plus.

One should also look at VISA on arrival (daily costs vs married Visa)

Al lin all is "do able" but if it were me I would try and structure it as 100% work from home and go into Spore at your lesisure .. PM me if want more info on local scene and also consider JB? .. ta John

[PNGMK]

Hi all ... am also a Brit and have done this - several points
1) as long as you have a valid pass in Spore i dont (did not) see any reason indo Imm would give you a hard time - esp (assume) your Indo wife lives in Batam.
2) room cost in Spore are well in excess of SGD 1000 for anything half decent and if talking bout two people (couple) then look $1500 plus makan etc. Then also got the wife permit etc to consider.

I would agree with other posters - although i did this for a year and a bit i only went to spore 3 deys a week and also depends your age etc. While a 25 yr old might enjoy the "adventure" it grates on you if you are 50 plus.

One should also look at VISA on arrival (daily costs vs married Visa)

Al lin all is "do able" but if it were me I would try and structure it as 100% work from home and go into Spore at your lesisure .. PM me if want more info on local scene and also consider JB? .. ta John

Good one John. Flying over Batam it looks dreadfully polluted and destroyed. Is it as bad as that on the ground?

[Kimmig]

many yr back, condo build very big balcony bcoz it is cheaper compare to build living area. and Can sell same psf as living area. Higher profit.

Room, living area all small.
Balcony area as big as can put 1 single bed.

BCA (I think) come out regulation to limit how big can the balcony be.

Previously government gives, I think, 20% free space to developers for open spaces. This was gradually reduced over the years. Many people therefore looked for new sweeps cash casinos on sweepscash.com and hoped to make some decent gambling money there. These spaces don't incur development charges. However, despite receiving them as free space, developers sell these spaces to buyers in the form of balcony, planters, etc.

I think ex Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong was the one who started the practice of giving developers free spaces for balcony, to encourage people to "green" Singapore. Sadly, many developers make a mockery of this scheme. You start seeing small shoebox units with large balcony. Naturally, people start putting washing machine, dining table in their balcony.

I believe total balcony size is now capped at 15% of nett area. The other ridiculous abuse was the aircon ledge. But that is another story.

Yeah people will always find some ways to abuse the law. But I can understand them too. They don't have much space in the city and need to use every square meter. I'd prefer a greener Singapore too tho and hope that the government will make the right decisions.