Anyone with in Singapore but live in Batam?

[Lisafuller]

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

[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

[smoulder]

I've seen a few HDB blocks, some fairly new with balconies that are quite aesthetically pleasing. Not very common but certainly not unheard of.

[malcontent]

Having a good sized balcony (around 2m x 6m) is one of the main reasons we like our condo. I love to sit out there, especially when there is a thunderstorm coming, the cool air plus the lightning display.

[Lisafuller]

Having a good sized balcony (around 2m x 6m) is one of the main reasons we like our condo. I love to sit out there, especially when there is a thunderstorm coming, the cool air plus the lightning display.

Yes! I love to do yoga out there, we live by a forest so it's really calming to sit out there and relax/read.

[Lisafuller]

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.

[Lisafuller]

I've seen a few HDB blocks, some fairly new with balconies that are quite aesthetically pleasing. Not very common but certainly not unheard of.

Do they tend to be in certain areas? Maybe I just haven't been looking in the right places.

[therat]

I've always been confused by the way HDB defined the flat types.

HDB term
2 room flat - 1 room + 1 living rm
3 room flat - 2 room + 1 living rm
4 room flat - 3 room + 1 living rm
5 room flat - 3 room + 1 living rm + 1 dinning rm ==> OLD 5 room flat come with balcony .

Condo
2 bedded - 2 room
3 bedded - 3 room
4 bedded - 4 room

[therat]

Yes, mine is a 5i corner flat 1200sft, but there isn't much difference between the rents for 4A and 5i in my area. Right now there is a huge disparity of rents between those owners who let their tenants continue with the old rents of around 2.5k Vs more opportunistic landlords who want the current market rent of close to 4k. So the averages are screwed up, but I think in a year or two rents will settle to the new normal of 4k. Salaries will also go up to the new normal of 12k for EP holders, so on a real basis hopefully we are at the same level.

I see. Most of these (newer) floor plans are pretty efficient, with slight variations around the kitchen, yard, and shelter/storage area. I wish more of them had a (small) balcony or (large) planter box off the living area to dry clothes.

This is the actual layout of my house. The place where it says balcony in the living room is not really a balcony, I dont know why it says that. That is where we keep our TV.

This is a very old HDB flat. Build before late 1990s
There are no bomb shelter.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I also have a late 80's 5i (non-corner built 88-89) no bomb shelter but my 5i is a 4 BR unit so no dining room per se (is part of hall). Mine is a wee bit larger (1305 sq/ft) It's a low floor unit that I bought on the resale market after the Asian Financial Meltdown of 1997 when the property market bottomed out in Jan 1999. Market started rebounding in Mar 99 so got a good deal. Bought it at valuation (no COV). The BRs are 3 same size (give or take a bit-like WD40's) and larger MstBr. (none are the half-BR/Den size in some newer flats). Balcony was weatherproofed by original owner (who I bought it from) and is located off both hall and 4th BR. It became my workshop.

[therat]

I learned recently that HDB offers residents the option to buy back the recess area in front of their unit, provided it meets certain conditions. A nice way to expand the home, though it only applies to older flats.

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

[NYY1]

I've seen a few HDB blocks, some fairly new with balconies that are quite aesthetically pleasing. Not very common but certainly not unheard of.

Do they tend to be in certain areas? Maybe I just haven't been looking in the right places.

Checkout this site for some of the layouts. Most are relatively small compared to condo balcony, which are usually more than 100 sq ft (for 1,000 sq ft+ unit). So good to dry clothes (vs. the hanging rack in kitchen/yard) or step out for a few minutes, but probably not great for some other things.

I think the above description is accurate; not very common but not unheard of either.

https://www.btofloorplans.com/balconies

[therat]

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.

[Lisafuller]

I've always been confused by the way HDB defined the flat types.

HDB term
2 room flat - 1 room + 1 living rm
3 room flat - 2 room + 1 living rm
4 room flat - 3 room + 1 living rm
5 room flat - 3 room + 1 living rm + 1 dinning rm ==> OLD 5 room flat come with balcony .

Condo
2 bedded - 2 room
3 bedded - 3 room
4 bedded - 4 room

Thanks for clarification - so a 5 room flat is really a 3 room! I was more so referring to how the naming system was confusing (3g/5(a/b/I?).

[Lisafuller]

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.

Wow, such stingy developers. Willing to do so just to save on one concrete wall.